University of Plymouth Pole Dancing Club - More than just pole dancing.

(article originally featured in University of Plymouth magazine - The Knowledge)

So far this year we have been really busy as a club starting with Freshers Week last year, where we signed up over 150 new members, and more as the year has gone on.  Since then the club has gone from strength to strength with successful socials and charity events.

Pole dancing is now recognised as a fitness based form of dance.  It is suitable for everyone; shape, size or gender, and it is a great all over workout. Aspects of pole dancing are used in Chinese pole acts such as Cirque Du Soleil, contrary to many people’s views.

     
As a club we want to be recognised for what we do, but also for putting our skills and time to good use, so with Rag week coming up, we scheduled Tree planting with the National Trust on 24th February. You may have seen one of our showcases before, the penultimate being on 27th November, where we raised almost £300 for muscular dystrophy and made it into the Plymouth Herald. These performances help us to move away from stereotypical views of pole dancing being lap dancing, our motto is fitness, strength and flexibility, and some degree of defying gravity!!

We were also invited by Jelly Frog to have a performance slot for the Anti- Valentines ball on 13th February; this was a charity event in aid of Alzheimer’s society. After seeing our November showcase, Exeter university pole dancing club invited us to perform at their charity showcase on 12th March in aid of Help the heroes, which was a great way to build relationships with their club and encourage the ideas of friendly inter-university competitions. Click here to see the Marines pole dancing at the Exeter event.

We had another pole dancing charity showcase on 24th March in aid of St Luke’s Hospice, which was followed by an Easter Bunny social,and last week we had another showcase on Wednesday 26th May at the Plymouth Student Union.

If after reading this you feel inspired and want to give pole dancing a go please contact us through ‘The official UPPDC facebook group!!’ or our UPSU page contact email . All lessons are taken by PDC approved pole dance school The Art of Dance, on Mutley Plain.

We hope to see you at one of our upcoming events,

Rachel Phillips (Promotions) and the rest of the UPPDC Committee.