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Pole competition pushes conventions

NO longer associated with seedy gentlemen’s clubs, pole dancing has fast become a sport in its own right.

International competitor Rafaela Montanaro. Photo courtesy of ACPC.
With now five studios in Canberra, it has become a popular form of fitness and a way to improve core strength and agility.

This month, locals will get to see the best pole dancers from around the country compete in the Australian Capital Pole Championships.

The national competition, now in its second year, will feature 30 pole dancers from around the country and three international professionals.

Competitors will be judged in three separate divisions, including professional, battle and group.

The winner of the professional division gains automatic entry into the semi-finals of the World Pole Sport Championships, the grand finals of Pole World Cup and the grand finals of the Australian Pole Fitness Championships next year.

The competition was created by Elizabeth Domazet, who owns Aerial Pole Academy in Kingston.

“I decided to start this because there wasn’t a lot of pole championships in Australia,”  she says.

“There wasn’t a lot of diversity out there, and I wanted to bring something different to the table.”

Elizabeth says each competitor will bring their individuality to the stage, with “all aspects” of pole explored.

“It’s creative, and it’s about dance and movement, because there’s so many different things they need to achieve,” she says.

“We can show what they do best, they’re not stuck in a specific pigeon-holed in. They have to have flexibility, and their technical ability will be judged.”

And it’s not just women on the pole – Elizabeth says a local male and female duo will compete.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun, people put a lot of energy and time into it and that really shows,” she says.

The Australian Capital Pole Championships will be held on November 18 at Erindale Theatre. For more information and tickets visit www.australiancapitalpolechampionships.com.au.

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One Response to Pole competition pushes conventions

Ava says: 9 November 2012 at 9:52 am

It is so exciting to have an event of this caliber in Canberra, thanks Elizabeth and Australian Pole Championships for bringing it here.

Great article CityNews.

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