Sally Blackwell has set up a pole dancing studio at her home to help women get into shape and feel great about themselves.By Sarah Schwager
PAKENHAM women can now learn how to become pole dancers in the comfort of their own lounge room.
A new pole dancing studio in the southeast is designed not to pander to men’s fantasies, but to allow women to feel selfconfident, sexy and fit.
Cranbourne North mother Sally Blackwell decided to set up the course after first taking lessons herself more than a year ago.
“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 about 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 will run the classes from a studio at her home as an agent of Polarise, a pole dancing company based in New South Wales.
Ms Blackwell said the class 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 selfconscious 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 the Unites States 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,” Ms Blackwell 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 eight 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 Grated 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 this would allow women in the outer southeast to take up the activity as well.
A four week introductory course will start on 14 March.
For more information see www.polarise.com.au or contact Sally Blackwell on 5996 9989.
