If you were at the DC Pole Convention, then you know that the Spins and Tricks battle (sponsored by BadKitty, thank you very much) was won by none other than the amazing Mr. Josiah “Bad Azz” Grant).  His spin was a little something he called “Dangerous”.  Please don’t ask me what he did, because it happened so fast that I just remember my jaw dropping and that’s about it.  It was amazing.  And dangerous.

            Later that evening Bad Azz performed in the Showcase of the Stars.  He was the only male, and he absolutely blew the audience away.  I think what struck me the most about his performance was not just the incredible strength and athleticism of his movements, but his raw sexuality.  First of all he danced to a song that was hot and dirty.  I won’t tell you what it was about, but it was good.  Once on stage, the first thing he did to the pole was to give it a big old tap with his hip.  The ladies in the audience went wild.  In fact, every time Bad Azz did something kind of sexy, the ladies in the audience went a little crazy.  He didn’t just throw tricks, he danced.  And he danced with a lot of heart and lot of sensuality. 

It’s a beautiful thing to see a man on a pole.  I think part of what made Josiah’s performance so electrifying was that he was pushing a boundary just by being up on stage.  In a way, Josiah’s presence legitimizes pole dancing as something more than just entertainment for men, because he is a man.  His willingness to be sensual and sexual on the pole is pleasurable for women to watch, but it also has a freeing quality to it.  Women (and men) can see that being sexual and sensual on a pole has nothing to do with gender.  It has to do with being a sexually alive human being.

            There is a lot of discussion about the prejudices women sometimes face for choosing to pole dance.  But you rarely hear about what kinds of cultural biases men who pole dance are confronted with.  That may be, in part, to their relatively small numbers.  But I have a sneaking suspicion that they have as hard of a time as the women do.  When I mention men pole dancing, the response I usually get from people is “There are certain things that should just be left to women.”  Oh.  Right.  Along with the laundry and the housecleaning, I suppose?  Comments like these reflect not just a lack of understanding for the athleticism required in order to pole, but a lack of imagination when it comes to gender and sexuality.

 I love that the pole community is a place where women can go to be with women, and I hope a part of it always stays that way.  But when I see someone embody everything that I love about this movement, and he happens to be a man, I get really excited.  And very, very inspired.  Welcome to the pack, Bad Azz. Meow.