Mums take up pole position

By Sarah Schwager
CRANBOURNE North mother Sally Blackwell had always thought pole dancing was reserved for entertainment in men’s clubs.
“It’s something I’d always wanted to do but I didn’t think it was appropriate for a mother to go around and swing on a pole,” Ms Blackwell said.
“I saw an episode of Oprah one day with actress Sheila Kelly who played a stripper in the film Dancing at the Blue Iguana then became really passionate with the movement. It made me realise anyone could do it.
“I bought my own dance pole and I was amazed at how I felt.”
Ms Blackwell has now set up a pole dancing studio at her Cranbourne home running classes designed to help women feel self-confident, sexy, and fit.
She said the course, part of Pol-arise, a pole dancing company based in New South Wales, was designed for women of all ages, shapes and sizes.
“We’re here for every woman. There are a lot of women who are size 14 or higher who are very self-conscious about how they look,” she said.
“But this is a relaxed environment with a bunch of girls just having fun.
“There are no guys there to judge them.”
In America and the United Kingdom, the pole dancing movement has quickly taken off.
It has morphed from a form of men’s entertainment to empowerment for women.
“Pole dancing helps people physically and emotionally with their self-esteem and is an amazing form of fitness,” she said.
“You can burn up to 250 calories in one session.
“And it’s certainly a lot more interesting than trying to follow someone going left to right.”
Ms Blackwell lives with her partner and two children, aged 8 and 10, with another on the way, due to be born in May.
She said she had decided to set up the course as she would need to work from home when the baby is born.
“I thought why not start something that I love doing?” she said.
Ms Blackwell said the classes were all G-rated and there was no nudity at all.
“The classes are purely designed for women to expand themselves and know what they are capable of.”
She said there were only two pole dancing schools in Melbourne, both in the city, and her class would allow women in the outer south-east to take up the activity as well.
A four-week introductory course will start on 14 March.
For more information see www.pol-arise.com.au or contact Sally Blackwell on 5996 9989.