Seriously? Is this even a QUESTION?
NO, I wouldn't think this is appropriate. NO.

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Maybe it's more along the lines of cirque du soleil, which requires amazing strength?

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This grosses me out a lot more than the chocolate santa!

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Um.. I threw a fit when my daughter was in Kindergarten and they taught her the Macerena (sp?) to the "montherenas" song. (I didnt think my five year old needed to be smacking and shaking her... rear).

I would deem pole dancing a bit innapropriate.

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There are many more ways to get fit than Pole dancing.
Good Grief.

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I guess if your going to be a firefighter when you grow up its good practice sliding down the pole. I can't think of another use for it. Oh, well, put it outside your second story window and use it as a fire escape.

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I'm going to talk from experience here, and say that as someone who has taken pole dancing classes....honestly, there's nothing at all sexy about it. It's a fabulous and fun work out and the sexy factor only enters if you make it.

Haven't your kids ever played on the firemans pole in the playground? I can't see it being any different than that.

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Cirque du Soleil's "Mystère"

they do some pretty amazing things with people on poles that is totally nonsexual and very athletic.
Incredibly acrobatic jumping from pole to pole 20 feet up. sliding down the pole head first.

there is a video preview here
http://tinyurl.com/ycthuv
at about 18 seconds in. shows a brief brief sample of the show.

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Pole dancing? For a preteen? No. In response to Jenn, as a grown woman capable of understanding the difference between pole dancing for fitness or as a way to objectify yourself to men, I think, yes. *You* can separate the sex from it. But, pre-teen girls aren't exactly capable of that. Aren't they over-sexualized to early as it is?

I belly dance and get a lot of jokes/sideways glances/comments regarding the supposed sexual nature of bellydance. But, historically, the dance was created by and performed for only women to celebrate the stages of a woman's life. Unfortunately, Hollywood (many thanks to the 1903 world's fair in Chicago, as well) has made it appear to be this sexed-up hoochy-coochy dance. Will I teach my daughter belly dance? Yes. Within it's historical and very-much-current context of celebrating femininty, it's wonderful for girls' fitness and self-esteem. And, while there are still those who view it as purely for men's entertainment, it has a very large faction of teachers and dancers who hold to the more traditional art form. Where is that for pole dancing? I may be wrong, but I'm not sure there is any other context than the stripper shakin' her money maker for the sole benefit of slobbering men.

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I see that this is a controversial thread. If your interested in learning more about the essence of pole dancing as a method for staying healthy and building inner strength check out this great community I found for everyday women.

http://www.poledancingforum.net

Tina

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The everyday 11 year old woman????

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I don't think it is the right time to teach pole dancing to children. There may not ever be a right time.

On a side note; In response to Kate: I think you need to do a little more research on the subject of pole dancing outside of strip clubs before you pass judgement.

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I think any way to get children to exerice these days is a good idea. A pole is no more or less a phallic symbol than a spire on a church! If kids attend gymnastics classes everyone thinks its wonderful, but dare the horizontal bar become vertical then everyone has something to say about it. And believe me, without Viagra the horizontal bar could also be considered quite phallic..... Poledance (or if you want to be politically correct: Vertical Bar Gymnastics) is a form of gymnastics. I've been doing it for almost year, and let me tell you, when you're hanging upside clinging onto the pole and trying to avoid falling off and breaking your neck, the last thing you think about is anything phallic. If parents are so concerned about their young ones being exposed to sex, rather send them to pole classes than leaving them at home to surf porn sites on the internet and play Doctor-Doctor.

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I am 41 and started Pole Dancing for fitness and fun after I saw video. I was just amazed at the tricks the girls could do and not to mention what awesome shape they were in. I now have my own pole and am an instructor. Anyways, my 9 year old daughter plays on my pole all the time. She is actually really good at it. She just loves it and wants to do what Mom does. Even my son will try some of the difficult moves, trying to out-do Mom. Even my kids friends & cousins play on it. They have so much fun they don't even know they are working out on the pole. But most importantly they don't even know what they are doing could be seen as sexual by others. It's only sexual if you make it that way! So I would have to say no I don't have a problem with it because it's not a problem at my house or with my kids. Sure beats having over weight and unhealthy kids!!!

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