Video: Hull pole dancer Emma Nicholson medals at British Championships
IT'S a strenuous workout that sometimes leaves her battered and bruised.
But Hull pole dance instructor Emma Nicholson pushed herself to the limits to place second at the British Pole Superstar Championships.
The national competition had 27 limber competitors, all flexing for a medal.
Emma, 36, said: "A lot of pole dancing is like contortion.
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"I don't have a background in dance and couldn't even do the splits, but I can get my leg around my head now."
The pole dance instructor entered the instructors category and won her medal against seven finalists.
The levels to compete at were beginner, intermediate, advanced, instructor, professional and men's.
Even though she did not come away the winner, Emma was thrilled to get as far as she did.
She said: "It was my first competition, so it was a quite a big deal for me.
"I did it for the challenge – I felt like I needed to experience what it's like.
"I encourage girls at my studio to enter and come up with routines, so I needed to see what it was like."
She started pole dancing seven years ago and said she was terrible but fell in love with it.
Now, she owns Studio Boutique Pole Dance Studio in west Hull.
Throughout the country, there is a growing amount of pole dancing competitions.
At the British Pole Superstar Championships, the dancers are marked on strength and endurance, theme and cohesion between the music and moves.
Emma danced to Bonfire by dance act Knife Party and made her mark in a scarlet bikini and matching braid in her hair, so her routine needed to fit the fiery theme.
She said: "It had to be big with big impact and a lot of punchy movements.
"Over the past few months, it's taken up a heck of a lot of time and caused a fair few bruises while I was practising.
"There's one move that always bruised my ribs while I practised, so it would hurt whenever I turned over in bed."
She has been working intensely for the past few months to put together the routine and get fit enough to perform it.
The instructor said: "You have to make sure you don't look shattered because you're marked on endurance.
"On top of teaching classes every night, I'd stay for another hour to practise my routine."
The huge interest from women wanting to take pole dancing classes has given the former primary school teacher the opportunity to instruct full-time.
19 Comments
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by BeggarsWall
Thursday, March 21 2013, 11:02PM
“Of course there's a difference.”
by crunchiefrog
Thursday, March 21 2013, 10:08PM
“"........less about trying to pull in punters by being trendy, and more about trying to raise money and avoid having to have that magnificent building closed and boarded up........"
A distinction without a difference.”
by BeggarsWall
Thursday, March 21 2013, 9:22AM
“To be fair to Holy Trinity Church, the fashion show, beer festival and music concerts they've hosted have been less about trying to pull in punters by being trendy, and more about trying to raise money and avoid having to have that magnificent building closed and boarded up.”
by BeggarsWall
Thursday, March 21 2013, 9:21AM
“To be fair to Holy Trinity Church, the fashion show, beer festival and music concerts they've hosted have been less about trying to pull in punters by being trendy, and more about trying to raise money and avoid having to have that magnificent building closed and boarded up.”
by crunchiefrog
Thursday, March 21 2013, 8:46AM
“I'm real surprised Holy Trinity Church Hull haven't (yet) added a Pole Dancing competition to their program of activities.
It would fit in real well with their desperate desire to be trendy and pull in the punters by any means necessary ROFL.”
by BeggarsWall
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 7:42PM
“Becca.
"Love of the female body and sexual power" isn't necessarily undignified, though it sometimes is.
On the other hand, I'm afraid that spinning round a pole upside down, with yer legs wide open and yer pants halfway up your ar5e like some desperate sex worker most certainly is undignified.
Anyway, congratulations on having a successful career and being a mother too; if it's what they want, I hope my girls achieve that too. However, if they took up pole dancing I'd have to be honest with them and say it was undignified and demeaning.
Hope this helps :)”
by Mally_Hull
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 4:34PM
“Beggerswall it may be undignified and degrading but Phwoarrr!!!!!!!!!!!! eh Phwooaaaarrrr!! Fit or what?”
by Becca34
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 4:16PM
“"BeggarsWall I'd rather my girls did something a bit less dignified than spinning a pole like some desperate sex worker," How is exercise, hard work, determination, strength and love of the female body and sexual power undignified? I pole dance, I'm also a mother and a successful part of a multinational company would you be disappointed if your daughters did what I do? Do you call me undignified for enjoying the feeling of empowerment you get from this style of dance?”
by BeggarsWall
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 2:38PM
“*That should read "more dignified", obviously.”
by BeggarsWall
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 2:37PM
“Whatever. If you think it's all well and good, then so be it.
I'd rather my girls did something a bit less dignified than spinning a pole like some desperate sex worker, regardless of whether or not she's being watched by dirty old men.
It's just naff.
Table tennis? Squash?”