Pole dancing headed for the Olympics?

New York, Feb 24 (ANI): After being the exclusive property of strip clubs and cheap bars, pole dancing is on its way to transform itself into a respectable - and highly athletic - event, by hooting to enter the Olympics!

A group of pole-dance advocates are apparently looking forward for a "test" event in 2012 and later a formal acceptance of the "sport" in the Olympics, reports The New York Daily News.

Leading the Olympic push, KT Coates, a prominent pole dancer in England and director of Vertical Dance, said: "After a great deal of feedback from the pole-dance community, many of us have decided that it's about time pole fitness is recognized as a competitive sport, and what better way for recognition than to be part of the 2012 Olympics held in London."

She added, in a petition she's preparing for organizers of the London Olympics, the prospective sport "has the wow factor."

While her petition now has about 4,000 signatures, she is hoping to add 1,000 more.

According to Wikipedia, "pole dancing is a form of performing art, a combination of dancing and gymnastics. It involves dancing sensually with a vertical pole and is often used in strip clubs and gentlemen's clubs. A similar pole (Chinese poles) is used in cabaret/circus and stage performance in a non-erotic environment, in which context the style and moves are very different.

"Advanced pole dancing requires significant strength, flexibility and endurance. In a strip club setting, pole dancing is often performed less gymnastically and combined with striptease, Go-Go, and/or lap dancing between performers. The dancer(s) may simply hold the pole, or use it to perform more athletic moves such as climbs, spins, and body inversions. Upper body and core strength are important to proficiency, which takes time to develop." (ANI)