In recent months, I have noticed a significant increase in the amount of pole dance showcases taking place here in the UK, and I am a hundred and ten percent fucking here for it.
Now, I’m going to sound like a right old fossil (and feel free to correct me if I’m wrong) but a few years ago the only way to perform if you weren’t competing was in your studio showcase if you were lucky. However nowadays there are showcases popping up like morning glory, and just like a cheeky morning glory, I’m bloody loving all these new showcases coming onto the scene. There are even national competitions like Eden and Glow which have designated showcase categories for performers who wish for feedback but not formal scores or to be judged formally, which is a bloody great idea if you ask me.
First off, one cracking aspect I’ve noticed about each showcase (both those coming onto the scene and those who have been here for a while) is how unique they are from one another. Whether they’re the sibling to a competition like PDSM (Pole Dance Stripper Movement) and Peppermint Fox, a chance for local dancers to shine like Heelfire and Flowstate, creating much needed spaces in the idustry and seats at the table like Filthy Friday and Blackstage or creating a unique cabaret style show like Glorified and Pussy Parlour, there is a showcase for every performer and spectator out there – and about damn time too. Every dancer moves in their own way and the more spaces there are for everyone to find their groove and shine the better. The more the merrier I say!
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I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, showcases are a fantastic opportunity for dancers to grow their confidence by a shitload and perform without the pressure of a competitive environment. Personally, as much as my pants fill to the brim with poo on show day, I love performing, and having a performance to put together really elevates my pole game and overall confidence to the next level, by showing me that I can achieve things I never thought I was capable of. Moreover, a showcase is a chance for those of us who are not for whatever reason competition ready (yet) to flex the our performance muscles. Competitions should categorically not be a dancers only opportunity to perform, so creating a platform whereby any dancer of any ability can take to the stage is an important step in making the pole industry more accessible.
Additionally, another reason why I fucking love showcases is how much creative freedom they offer their performers. When competing, there are often a relatively strict set of rules and regs that competitors must adhere to, which can include the amount of time spent on the pole, song length and costume restrictions. With showcases, such regimentation often fucks right off, with dancers being granted far more creative freedom to really come into their own with their performances. As a result of this, I believe you see a more authentic side to the dancer at a showcase performance, as they’re dancing for themselves and not for judges feedback or to meet criteria.
Furthermore, a showcase is the perfect occasion to provide non-polers with a glimpse into the weird and wonderful pole realm. It may be nerve wracking at first knowing your nearest and dearest are in the audience and will be watching you strut your stuff, but it’s a great chance to show off what you have been working on in the studio, and for a fair few of us why we’ve been mugging everyone else in our life off in favour of swinging around a metal tube. Plus, the showcase may be such an awesome event that it could persuade some eager beavers in the audience to bite the bullet and sign up to classes.
Lastly, for those of us who want to up our stage presence game, there’s nowhere better to do that than in front of a live audience. Learning the basics of eye contact, and both connecting and engaging with the audience are invaluable skills for dancers who want to take their pole journey down the performance route. The older I get, the more I’m realising that learning through experience, although often being the most difficult path, is one of the best ways to learn in life. And even if the performer route isn’t for you, receiving the applause that you’ve undoubtedly deserved for all your hard work on stage is an incredible feeling.
To summarise, the rise of the pole dance showcases is a movement that can damn well continue. It’s invaluable both for newcomers and seasoned performers alike and has the potential to create a more inclusive an accessible pole industry if done properly. It’s also helping to put pole on the map, as I am seeing more and more musicians having pole dancers perform at live shows recently as a result of pole dance’s increasing popularity. Keep the showcases coming pole world!
Photo credit @denyerpro
Disclosure: The link above is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn commission if you click through and make a purchase.
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