Real men pole dance

When you think of pole dancing, you think of hot women in high heels and tight clothes, leg and arms akimbo performing eyebrow-raising moves.

But at Bobbi’s Pole Studio you also get fit guys in shorts executing gravity-defying acrobatics that require an admirable amount of upper body and core strength, and a whole load of guts.

Walking into Bobbi’s Pole Studio -- studios dimly lit with soft, pink lighting and pulsating to the beats of dance music -- most of the students are women, but there’s also a healthy handful are men here to get their leg round a pole under the instruction of Jonathan Fong who co-owns and runs the studio with his wife, Linna Tan.

The first thing you learn about pole dancing for men is that the term is a bit of a misnomer for the men’s classes, it’s more like pole “work.”

Their version doesn’t involve sexy body twirling, leg-stretching moves like the “Veronica” or the “Kate Moss” that characterize much of Bobbi’s women’s classes. Instead the male version comprises stunts and acrobatics -- like the “toothpick” where the torso is wrapped around the copper pole with the body vertical to the ground, and the “scorpion” which involves twirling upside down, with one leg hooked around, you guessed it, the pole.

Make no mistake; these moves are as tricky as they sound and should not be attempted at home, the pub or the nearest lamppost.

Rehearsing a routine they have practiced for months, the more advanced students effortlessly use the self-rotating pole as an anchor for their moves, lifting and twirling and suspending themselves mid-air, expanding a high level of effort, strength, fitness and grace; brut force only serves as a hindrance.

For the novices, it’s a work in progress, a few sexy moves --- taking off one’s shirt and flinging it into a corner stripper style -- does help to take the edge off and bond the men through laughter-filled camaraderie.

“Pole dancing for men is not normal pole dancing,” says Key, a 30-year-old student who has been practicing pole for 10 months.

“It demonstrates a lot of strength and alignment. It develops your core muscles and tones your body.”

“I get a good sense of achievement from this, and it’s different from what most guys do, which is go to the gym.”

“With gym work, you don’t notice the difference in the left and right sides of your body. Whereas with pole, these difference become apparent and you need to work to get symmetry between left and right.”

“It’s a lot more fun than gym,” says fellow student, Rabul Kalra, 29, who has been practicing for two months.

“A lot of the guys are so much stronger now than when they first started,” says Fong. “This class dispels any doubts that men have about pole dancing.”

Fong should know, as a long-time sportsman and former pro triathlete, he got involved in pole about a year ago and has noticed how pole work has improved his core strength tremendously. And it goes without saying that his arms and abs are also more toned.

“It was much more tiring than I expected,” says first timer Julius Toh, 40, who gamely lasted the hour-long class that runs once a week.

“It’s good physical exercise with a dose of fun. Everyone was so enthusiastic. I couldn’t resist trying out a few (basic) moves myself and can safely say that this is damn hard work, and a blast.”

So give it a go guys (and gals). We think you’ll like it.