There are many suggestions as to where ‘exotic dancing’ first originated, some believe it started as far back as Sumerian times when Ianna the Goddess of love descended upon the underworld to find her lover. She removed an article of clothing or jewellery at each of the seven gates. It is believed by some that this myth evolved into the Dance of the Seven Veils, performed by Salome for King Herod as told in the New Testament. Others suggest that it started in 1st Century BC when women were said to have performed ’erotic’ dances in Indian Temples or that it was born out of middle eastern belly dancing, that was recorded in tomb paintings of partially clad women from as far back as 14th Century BC.

The true history of Pole Dancing, rather than just exotic dancing, can be traced back to the glamorous burlesque and strip tease shows of the 1900’s with renowned performers such as Gypsy Rose Lee tantalising her audiences at travelling tent shows. These tents were supported by a central pole that the dancers would use as a prop in their routine, leading the tents to become known as dance pole tents, and thus pole dancing was born!

The earliest recorded pole dance was in 1968 with a performance by Belle Jangles at Mugwump strip joint in Oregon. However, pole dancing in it’s modern form didn’t become popular until Canadian strip clubs introduced it in the 1980‘s. Fawnia Mondey, originally from Canada, was one of the worlds first pole dancing champions and in the 1990's Fawnia produced the very first instructional pole dance DVD which was the first step towards pole dancing becoming the International fitness craze that it is today.

There are many celebrities who have endorsed pole dancing as one of their fitness regimes. These include;

• Terri Hatcher – Star of Desperate Housewives – Famously attends classes in LA.
• Dannii Minogue – Singer – Pole danced in her music video ‘Put the Needle on it.’
• Kate Moss – Supermodel – Performed on the pole in a ‘White Stripes’ music video
• Demi Moore – Hollywood Actress - Starred as a pole dancer in the movie ‘Striptease’
• Christina Aguilera – Singer – Performed with the Pussycat Dolls Burlesque show in LA
• Daryl Hannah – Hollywood Actress and star of pole dancing movie ‘Dancing at the Blue Iguana’
• Kelly Brook – Model/Actress - Starred as a pole dancer in the London stage production ‘Eye Contact’
• Sadie Frost – Actress/Fashion Designer – Busy working Mum who loves pole dancing for fitness