Mishtha, a 23-year-old professional in Delhi, was taken aback when she told her mother about taking pole dance classes on Sundays. Her mother’s response was blunt: “Next, are you going to dance in bars?”
For years, pole dancing has been stereotyped as an activity linked only to strip clubs and bars. However, in India, a growing number of young people are embracing it as a unique form of fitness. This physically demanding activity is helping individuals build strength, improve flexibility, manage weight, and boost core stability. Like other full-body workouts, pole dancing offers numerous health benefits. What sets it apart, according to experts, is its engaging nature, which helps participants overcome body image issues and builds confidence.
A Growing Trend
Pole dancing is no longer just confined to the usual fitness hubs of Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. The trend has expanded to cities like Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Dehradun. Bollywood celebrities like Jacqueline Fernandez, Yami Gautam, and Malaika Arora have also contributed to shedding the stigma associated with pole dancing, helping it evolve into a liberating fitness form.
The cost of taking pole dance classes varies, with private sessions ranging from Rs 1,500 to Rs 5,000, depending on the instructor and location. Celebrity trainers charge more, while group classes are generally more affordable. Tania Sudan Wahal, a Delhi-based pole dance trainer who has taught over 7,000 students in six years, recommends one to three classes per week, depending on whether the goal is simply a hobby or focused on fitness.
“If someone is taking pole dancing up as a hobby, one class a week is enough. But for fitness, two to three classes a week are ideal,” says Sudan, who is opening Delhi’s first dedicated pole dance studio in Chirag Enclave.
A Fun and Addictive Workout
For many, pole dancing is not just a workout, but a fun, addictive challenge. “Of all the hobbies and exercises I have tried, pole is the only one I’ve stuck with consistently,” shares a Reddit user, adding that the process of learning new tricks feels like a game, especially at the beginning.
There are different styles of pole dancing, including static, spinning, and exotic. While exotic pole dancing involves sensual choreography performed in heels, most trainers in India focus on pole tricks and sports-oriented techniques.
Pole Dancing as a Source of Empowerment
Kirpit Kaur Arora, a content creator in Delhi, started pole dancing four years ago as a form of escape during a difficult time. “I took it up for fun, and it helped me find peace in my hectic life,” Arora says. She now practices it as a sport, despite facing harsh criticism online.
“After posting my first pole dance video, I received a lot of hate comments. People accused me of being a stripper and criticized my appearance,” Arora recalls. Many others, too, face judgment, with some choosing not to tell their families about their classes or hiding videos on social media. However, once family members witness the effort involved in pole dancing, their opinions often change. Arora’s sister, for instance, initially suggested she try belly dancing instead. But after seeing her perform in a studio, she understood how physically demanding pole dancing is.
A Growing Community
Despite the stigma, the community of pole dancers is steadily growing in India. Some enthusiasts have even installed poles at home to practice in private. “Many of our sales come from people who want to practice pole dancing at home,” says Kash Suntharamoorthy, global marketing director at X-POLE, a company that manufactures pole dancing equipment. “Our community members often say the activity helps them reconnect with their bodies in a way that other forms of exercise cannot.”
Pole dance studios are flourishing in cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi, and Goa. In Ahmedabad, instructor Priyanka Gulabani was surprised by the overwhelming response when she began offering classes. “I started with just two students, but now I have 50,” she says. Even women in their 60s are taking classes. Gulabani and Sudan both teach women in their 40s and 50s, with Sudan’s oldest student being 63 years old.
Breaking Stereotypes: Body Positivity and Empowerment
Many people assume that pole dancing is only for slim individuals, but Arora disagrees. “It’s a body-positive activity. I’ve seen women who weigh much more than I do excel at it, far better than me,” she says. Sudan adds that pole dancing is empowering, particularly for women, as it helps combat body dysmorphia. “The act of stripping down for better grip challenges self-consciousness. Many women are thrilled and confident when they watch themselves perform movements they once thought were impossible.”
However, bruises are a common part of the learning process. “We call them ‘pole kisses,'” Arora says. “The goal is to engage both sides of the body, so if I get a bruise on one side, I aim to get one on the other side as well.”
Inclusivity: Men and Women of All Ages Join the Movement
Men are also becoming a part of the growing pole dance community. Arora notes that in her current class, three out of eight students are men. While pole dancing is still in its early stages in India, it is gradually gaining momentum as more fitness centers add poles to their offerings, and dedicated pole dance studios are opening across the country.
Pole Dancing: A Future Olympic Sport?
Many pole dancers are pushing for the activity to be included in the Olympics. After the addition of breaking (a form of street dance) to the Paris 2024 Games, pole dancers believe their sport could follow suit. In 2017, the Global Association of International Sports Federations recognized pole dancing as a sport, and many believe it has a strong case for inclusion in future Olympic games.
“When I see breaking in the 2024 Olympics, I feel pole dancing really has a strong case,” says Clara Pauchet, a pole dance instructor in Brittany. “Pole dancing requires similar physical effort as gymnastics, and it deserves its place in the Olympic spotlight.”
As pole dancing continues to gain recognition and popularity in India, it is transforming from a once-taboo activity to a powerful and inclusive form of fitness and empowerment.
