Alice Vol. 7 No. 5

The Complex
Reality of
Pole
Dancing
By
Jeffrey Kelly
Design Kayla Roberson
Whether it’s defying gravity on a 50
mm titanium pole in a dance studio
or gracefully twirling on a club’s stage
under glimmering luminescent lights,
pole dancing has been an art form that has
consistently captivated attention.
And although its connotation hasn’t
always been positive in society, recently
pole dancing has seen an emergence in
positive representation through its use in
television shows like American playwright
Katori Hall’s “P-Valley” and music videos
like FKA Twigs’ “Cellophane,” SZA’s “Good
Days” and Lil Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me
By Your Name).”
Elle Camembert, the owner of Studio
Steel, a pole dancing studio in Birmingham,
Alabama, said she loves the exposure pole
dancing has been getting. She had been so
captivated by pole dancing after her first
class; she decided to make it her life.
Yet, as pole dancing garners a rise in
popularity, it’s important to note how
impactful the art form has always been.
Micayla Goodgame, a 22-year-old
woman, began pole dancing in 2019 for
money and fun at a gentleman’s club in
Savannah, Georgia. Yet, soon after, it
evolved into a chance to express herself
and embrace the “divine feminine.”
“I’m kind of introverted and shy. [Pole
dancing] brought out a more confident
outspoken me, and a lot of times you don’t
even have to speak through words; you can
just speak through your movements,” said
Goodgame.
Camembert agreed with Goodgame’s
sentiment.
“Pole is very empowering,” she said. “It
focuses on what we can do, rather than
how we look, which might surprise you to
hear.”
She noted technical reasoning behind
what dancers wear while on the pole.
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Though people might assume pole dancers
wear less clothing for attention or just for
the look, it’s mainly so they can stick to the
pole.
“Skin will stick to the pole tights will not,
so this is not a thing that can be done in
leggings,” she said.
Camembert said while teaching pole
classes, her best experiences have
been moments where people surprise
themselves and realize they can do things
they didn’t think they could do.
While pole dancing is empowering and
looks glamourous, it isn’t an easy activity
on the body or mind.
“It’s really the art of making it look like
it doesn’t hurt,” said Goodgame. “You just
have to push through; a lot of girls get
bruises… and it’s a pain that never goes
away.”
Goodgame said pole dancing also takes a
toll on a person’s mental health if they’re
pole dancing for monetary reasons.
“It’s just a draining job,” she said. “There’s