Pole dancing popular at “The Dime”

February 22, 2007
By Greta Sproul 

            Back in the day, the phrase “pole dancing” held a less than savory connotation. In fact, for most pre-Gen Xers, the image of pole dancing pretty much went hand in hand with that of seedy strip joints and bachelors’ parties gone wild. But that was then, this is now, and these days, pole dancing is not only an acceptable form of entertainment in bars and nightclubs, it’s considered great exercise for women, men and even children. Pole dancing enthusiasts claim that it’s nothing more than an alternative type of aerobic work-out that increases upper body strength while toning the body as a whole.

Pole dancing competitions are a common event around the country, drawing contestants from all over the world. There’s even a Miss Pole Dance World, the first of which, Reiko Suemune of Japan, was “crowned” in November 2005. The pole dancing craze has spread as far as China, where affluent Chinese women have embraced the activity with a vengeance, taking pole dancing classes just for the sake of feeling sexy and enhancing their appeal to the men in their life.

            At the Number Ten bar in Old Town, pole dancing has become as popular as it is everywhere else in the world. It’s now a staple on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, ever since owner Bob Modrey installed his own pole at the request of some female patrons.

            “The college girls wanted it, so I put it in,” he said. “They go up there and zing around and have a lot of fun.”

            Asked what he thinks makes pole dancing so popular with his college-age female clientele, Modrey theorized that “maybe they’re exhibitionists.”

            But if they are, it’s a kind of exhibitionism that includes the wearing of clothes, which is something else that Modrey is quick to point out.
            “They keep their clothes on. There’s nothing dirty about it,” he said. “They just go up there and dance around the pole and have a good time.”

            To optimize the pole dancing experience, Modrey has installed a special stage on which the girls dance around the pole as well as special lighting. There’s also a “pole-time” deejay who keeps the tunes coming as the girls enjoy themselves.

            One young woman, who didn’t want her name used, said that she started pole-dancing as a form of exercise, but soon found herself developing an interest in the aesthetics of the activity.

            “I think that happens to a lot of women,” she said. “It’s fun and it’s healthy, but you can’t help feeling sexy while you do it. It’s my favorite thing to do now when I’m stressed out. It changed my mood, like, immediately.”