After a debate was held by the universities student council, in which there was an idea put forward that teaching pole dancing at university should be stopped as it sexualises women, I went to the class to see what was considered so bad about this course.

As I entered the sports studio at Bournemouth University there were three poles situated around the room, with a collective group of ten girls, taking turns practising on them.

They were all giggling as they tried to climb to the top and elegantly slide down, and then in came their instructor, Zea Lann, who flew to the top straight away.

I watched as the class did a routine to Katy Perry’s Firework, it was really interesting to watch how difficult it is to execute the positions, especially as Zea made it look so easy, and so I asked her a few questions about it...

How long have you been doing this for?

I have been pole dancing since 1995 but actually teaching for 7 years.

Why did you start?

My friends wanted me to go along with them to a pole dancing class, and I didn’t really want to go at first but then I really enjoyed it, but I realised quite quickly that it was really expensive so I put a pole in at house and self taught.

How is it good for exercise?

Well it works all over your body, especially core and upper body, it’s a cardio workout basically. You don’t have to be good at dancing to do it either.

What do you think about the idea that teaching pole dancing at university should be stopped as it sexualises women?

I think its ridiculous. I don’t advocate that kind of dancing at all, I teach it because its different, and a really good way of doing exercise, and it’s fun. I think of it as skill, I don’t think it sexualises women at all and I don’t think the girls that come do either; otherwise there wouldn’t be such a long waiting list.

It actually upsets me that this was brought up, because it makes it sound like women aren’t capable of making a decision for themselves.

At one point the name was gong to be changed from pole dancing to pole fitness, but I argued against this because it is pole dancing, I am a professionally trained in dancing in lots of different styles and they there is nothing wrong with this style, it is no different to others.

Is the class strictly girls then or are boys welcome?

Yes everyone is welcome, I teach at Ferndown in a bigger studio and have quite a few boys there, and obviously the more boys that turn up the more confident they feel.

So, is your course in Ferndown as busy as the university course?

Oh yeah it’s much busier because it’s a bigger studio and I teach circus skills there, which I personally think is a lot more fun. You get to play around on Aerial, I recommend that anyone who enjoys this should come try Aerial as well, as they are very similar.

I have heard you using names for the different positions such as Angel and Butterfly, where do these names come from?

Well there are universal terms from the pole-dancing dictionary that I use, but then each school has different specialised names as well.

What music do you use?

Any music with a good beat, I suppose I use current chart music because everyone recognises it and we can sing along.

 

Georgia, a law student said: "I used to dance but then since coming to Uni I haven’t done much so as I’m in my final year I thought that I would try something different. The next day you can really feel that it has worked because you’re aching all over. I don’t think it sexualises women. We want to come to these classes and learn , nobody is forcing us to."

Lauren Barbar, a hospitality student said: "my friends wanted to come so I thought I might as well, because I though it would be quite fun, and it has really helped me with my upper body strength. It’s interesting to see how much stronger you can get in just nine weeks. I do agree that in those sorts of late night dance clubs it sexualises women but not here, and Zea is really supportive and helpful, I just come because I like how much fitter I have got."

So now I can see that the course has lots of benefits and praise from its students, and the fact that it is taught in University should make no difference, as they are all adults who can make their own decisions on how they get fit.

In fact, pole dancing is a 9-week course run by a professionally trained dancer, with a long waiting list.