Fitness Instructor Slammed For Offering Pole Dancing Classes To Children
A fitness school offering pole dancing classes for 8-year-olds has divided opinion [Photo: Facebook/Pole Intentions Dance & Fitness]
Ballet, gymnastics, karate. Think of after-school classes for children and chances are pole dancing wouldn’t immediately spring to mind. But one British company offering pole-dancing lessons to children as young as eight has hit back at criticism that it is ‘inappropriate.’
Zoe Hardy, 33 from Derbyshire who runs Pole Intentions with her twin sister Kelly, and offers a weekly group in Nottinghamshire for children of eight and above, has denied suggestions the classes contain ‘sexual connotations’ instead she claims it is a fun and innocent way for children to work out.
The mother-of-two explained: “Many people still associate pole dancing with seedy strip clubs which is why we call it pole fitness.
"I just want people to be open minded rather than being negative about it - pole fitness is not sexual.
‘We have had one or two bad comments saying 'children pole dancing - that’s disgusting’ but if you actually watch the performances, it is a really beautiful piece.
The school also offers adult classes [Photo: Pole Intentions]
But child psychologist, Emma Kenny, has slammed the classes claiming that even the idea of them is ‘horrendous’.
She said: 'Kids shouldn’t be dancing around a pole - go to a class where they can learn acrobatics and do something where the definition of it has no sexual connotation.’
'I think it is primarily female focused which immediately defines that it is about a women’s body and how she looks and less about exercise.
'For me it also provides a certain amount of discomfort because I think the only people who are really going to enjoy watching little girls pole dance, apart from their incredibly proud parents, is a particular type of man.’
Innocent or Inappropriate? [Photo: Pole Intentions]
But Zoe believes the sport can in fact help children gain confidence. She has been teaching the class for nearly a year and works with five girls and one boy, who’s parents are completely behind the sport.
'The parents know what kind of stigma goes with it but they 100 per cent support their children because they aren’t narrow minded and know it’s just a different type of fitness.
'It would just be nice if those people who are a little narrow minded about it just come to a class and try it out.’
Would you send your child to a pole fitness class? Let us know @YahooStyleUK.
Parents Are Loving This Mum’s Tongue-In-Cheek Post About ‘Organic’ Chicken Nuggets
Vaginal Seeding: The Birth Trend Practice We Probably Won’t Be Trying
