Exotic pole
Exotic pole is a dance style on the pole performed in high platform shoes. It focuses on flow, character and sensual, expressive movement: slow spins, waves, slides, floor work and the sound of the heels on the floor. It is danced in studios, in shows and at competitions; most students are women, but the style is open to anybody.
What it is for
Section titled “What it is for”- Self-expression and confidence in your own body.
- Strength and flexibility, especially in the legs, trunk and back, from floor work and spins.
- Balance and control in high shoes.
- Musicality: routines follow the music closely and are often slow and dramatic.
Equipment
Section titled “Equipment”- High platform shoes made for pole dancing. Beginners can start with lower models; some studios lend shoes for the first classes, so ask before you buy.
- Knee pads — essential for floor work. Some dancers add leg warmers or long socks for slides.
- Shorts and a top that leave skin bare for grip, as in Pole dance. No body cream on the day of the class.
- The studio provides the poles and mats. Bring water and a towel.
How a class goes
Section titled “How a class goes”- 60–90 minutes, in a room with mirrors; some studios dim the light.
- A warm-up and stretching, then walking and moving in the shoes.
- Floor work — waves, rolls, slides and leg lines — then spins and transitions on the pole.
- The instructor links everything into a choreography, and the group dances it to music at the end.
- Styles vary: some classes focus on slow, flowing movement, others on tricks and acrobatics in the shoes. The studio names the style in the class.
- Beginners start with floor work, simple spins and lower shoes.
Who it suits best
Section titled “Who it suits best”- People who want to feel confident and at home in their body.
- Dancers who enjoy slow, expressive choreography.
- Those who like the pole but prefer dance and flow to acrobatics.
- Anybody who enjoys High heels or Frame up (strip plastic) choreography.
- It suits less anybody with ankle, knee or back problems: platform shoes load the ankles, and floor work loads the knees. In pregnancy or after an injury, ask your doctor and tell the instructor.