Peri Peri and pole dancing

There is a fast food chain here in Australia called Nando's. It's a place that sells Portuguese-style flame grilled chicken, called peri peri. It's kind of like El Pollo Loco in the states, except not a Tex-mex flavor, but a Portuguese flavor, if that makes sense.

Anyway, that's just background so you know what this ad is for. This ad runs during prime time on regular network TV, at the movie theatre before the film starts, at any time of the day or night. The first time I saw it I had to do a double take. Because I doubt it would ever make it to air in America.




I had been wondering how people tip strippers in a country that does not have one or two dollar notes. I suppose people just aren't cheapskates in strip clubs here.

I think that's probably a good thing. Regardless of whether you like the fact that strip club exist or not, they do, and women who work in them do not always make tons and tons of money like people believe. They often have to pay the club owner for their time on stage, they get no health benefits/insurance, and it's a physically demanding job.

I didn't realize how physically demanding it could be until I started taking a pole dancing class.

Yep, that's right. I said it. A pole dancing class.

And no, I am not going to put on a show when I get back.

I didn't do it for the bullshit reasons that the studio and the current Pussycat doll "empowerment" movement would suggest. The idea that acting like a porn star or stripper is empowering to women is completely ridiculous!! Being a stripper is not about feeling sexy or exerting power over men or owning one's sexuality. It's about being able to pay the rent. It's fake.

I took the pole dancing class because I think it looks damn hard to swing around on a pole, but also a bit fun, like the trapeze!

The first class I took was a mix of the classes offered at the studio (Poledivas, in case you are wondering), which was pole work and lap dancing. Many of the moves were similar to what I have been doing for years in my belly dancing classes, only much more exaggerated and a bit cruder. There is a certain subtlety that is involved with the hip movements in belly dance, almost more of a sophistication in the seductiveness.

The instructor was friendly, and rarely have I been in a group excercise class where I hear the following instructions:
-touch your bosoms
-get your cookie against the pole, but don't smash it against the pole
-don't step on the penis!!

It was fun, but holy crap that pole *kicked* my ass! I always knew I was weak, but this class really proved it to me. It was hard as hell to get up on the pole and I kept hitting my foot, so by the end of class I had this nice bruised lump:



I suppose it could have been worse. I could have bruised my cookie.

The class didn't make me feel sexier or more womanly. If anything, it made me feel clumsy and fat. I am not good at it, and so it made me want to get better. I decided to take the pole-fit class, which is more of a strength building class than a shake your money-maker class.

And, again, NO, I am not going to put on a show when I get back.