Pole dance = Sexual = Bad

A few posts ago I've talked about how pole dance changed my life, and mentioned this misconception that I had, and unfortunately, many people do as well. So on this post I thought I would share the opinions that I've built on my pole dancing journey about dance and sexuality. 

Pole Dance = Sexual

When I first told my friends I was pole dancing, most of them said I shouldn't tell anyone, because it wasn't "appropriate". Not long ago, I posted this picture on tumblr, and it was reblogged by a porn blog. When I laughed about it to my closest friends, one of them said "You should have expected that, you were kinda asking for it."

And it's so annoying, to be honest, because sure - Pole dance can be sexual. But it's so much more than that, just like any other dance. It can be beautiful, weird, acrobatic, sexy without being sexual... and yes, it can be sexual. As can ballet, hip hop or salsa. Sex is a common theme among all kinds of art, not just in dance. And yet, it isn't associated with any of them as deeply as it is associated with pole dance.
The history of pole dance is undeniably linked with sexuality and strip clubs, although it is also linked to athleticism (Mallakhamba is the first known sport to use a pole, practiced in India by men to build strength and endurance) and circus arts. Pole dance is such a beautiful art with amazing fitness benefits, and I'm glad that more and more people are realizing that it's more than just a sexual thing.

But there's another thing that bothers me as well: the need to separate pole dance from sex for it to be deemed "appropriate".

Sexual = Bad
Sex is present in any human's life. We are sexual beings, and every single one of us is a product of sex. So it's weird to me that we evolved to find it "dirty" and shameful, that we teach our children, especially our girls, that it's a topic that we shouldn't talk about, that it's embarrassing and improper.
I grew up with an open minded mother, and had a pretty cool sexual education, but even I thought I was gross for thinking about sex as a teen. I thankfully grew from that, and I feel like it's incredibly important that we all, as a society, grow up, realize that sex is an important part of our lives and that, as long as it is done with consent and respect, sex doesn't make a person any less decent or innocent.
If sexuality wasn't seen as bad or something to be hidden, we would have much healthier and safer relationships with our bodies and with our partners, not to mention more enjoyable. And I think that it's important as well that teens know that they can count on the adults around them to ask questions without being judged, and to not be embarrassed to ask for help with these matters, especially when things go wrong.
I feel like Pole Dance is helping us with this. It's empowering women and their connection to their bodies and it's helping them claim their sexuality back as something not to be ashamed about. That's why, although I feel like there's much more to Pole Dance than sex, I feel like that connection shouldn't be ignored or lost. If sex wasn't shamed, it wouldn't matter whether Pole Dance is sexual or not - it would just be accepted, and not like some edgy and daring sport, but rather, as a form of art.

Have you ever tried Pole Dance, or thought about trying? What are your thoughts on sexuality? Did you have a good sexual education?

Don't forget to check this post to know how pole dance changed my life! And, if you're interested, I encourage to find some pole dancing classes near you!

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