| This has been around a lot longer than many of us | | | | featured famous strippers including Gypsy Lee Rose. |
| would think, but how did pole dancing originate and | | | | Traveling tent shows had strip tease acts. The |
| where did come from? The form of pole dance we | | | | smaller tent dancers started to use the pole in the |
| know today and its origins can be traced back to | | | | tent's centre to dance around. These tents became |
| exotic performance dance arts. | | | | known as the dance pole tents. |
| The first recorded striptease dates back to a myth | | | | Another idea of where pole dance actually started is |
| from ancient Sumerian times involving Inanna, the | | | | linked to the Maypole. This Pagan ritual was seen by |
| Goddess of Love, and her descent into the | | | | some as a phallic symbol which may explain why |
| underworld to find her lover Damouz. At each of the | | | | some link it to the pole dancing we know now. |
| seven gates, she removed an article of clothing or a | | | | The earliest recorded pole dance was in 1968 with a |
| piece of jewellery. As long as Inanna remained in hell, | | | | performance by Belle Jangles at Mugwump strip joint |
| the earth was barren. When she returned, the earth | | | | in Oregon. |
| again became abundant and fruitful. Some believe this | | | | Today's pole dancing craze is believed to have |
| myth evolved in the 'Dance of the Seven Veils' of | | | | started in Canada in the 1980's in exotic table dancing |
| Salome from the bible. | | | | and lap dance clubs. Fawnia Mondey, originally from |
| The bible records Salome's dance but the first | | | | Canada, is one of the worlds first pole dancing |
| mention of removing veils rises from Oscar Wilde's | | | | champions. During the 1990's Fawnia started teaching |
| play of 'Salome' in 1883. Some have claimed this to | | | | pole dancing to every day women. She produced the |
| be the origin of modern striptease, but other | | | | very first instructional pole dancing DVD. |
| influences may have come from Parisian times and | | | | Pole dancing quickly spread to the US followed by |
| the Moulin Rouge striptease through to Middle | | | | the rest of the world, helped by multi corporations |
| Eastern belly dancing and American burlesque. | | | | such as Spearmint Rhino. Pole dancing is recognized |
| Today many women learn the arts of Belly Dancing | | | | throughout the world including Europe, Australia and |
| and dancing with Veils. Belly Dancing has been carried | | | | even parts of China. |
| over from these legendary events. The skill have | | | | Lap dancing clubs in the UK grew in 1990's featuring |
| traveled from ancient Sumeria and into the Asia | | | | pole dancing on stage. Since 2000 onwards pole |
| counties. It is understood to have been picked up by | | | | dancing has become more acceptable by the general |
| the gypsies who brought Belly Dancing through | | | | public. |
| Europe. | | | | Pole dancing as we know it today involves dancing |
| The ancient Middle Eastern belly dance was thought | | | | around a vertical pole. The old ancient strip tease |
| to induce fertility in women and to strengthen their | | | | became a forerunner to the modern updated |
| bodies in preparation for childbirth. | | | | variation. Pole dancing provides a display of acrobatics |
| Throughout history there have been many forms of | | | | and strength, combined with a combination of |
| dance emerging. Many formed from sensual roots | | | | sensual, flowing, feminine dance movements to form |
| and bringing with them much controversy. | | | | the art of pole dancing we now know and recognize. |
| Another sensual form of dance, Rumba, is a dance of | | | | The modern form of pole dancing has only been |
| enticement and teasing. The tango originated in | | | | documented since the 1980's, yet the origins appear |
| brothels of ancient Argentina. 'Gouchos' would arrive | | | | to go back many years prior to this. Only in recent |
| after working in the fields and the girls would entice | | | | years has pole dancing become more acceptable. The |
| them into going upstairs through dancing with their | | | | stigma attached to this art may be one of the |
| heads turned slightly to avoid the smell. | | | | reasons why the dance appears to have little history |
| In the early 1900s the strip tease dance was added | | | | documented and appears to have been 'underground' |
| to burlesques shows to entice men to return. These | | | | for many years. |