From Dubai to Minsk: The Inaugural Pole Dance Championship That Broke Stereotypes

In the heart of Minsk, at the capital’s “Moulin Rouge” club, the first International Exotic Pole Dance Championship “Zero Gravity” recently took place. Our correspondent witnessed how the graceful performances of these dancers “ignited hearts” and discovered why, for them, this is more than just a hobby.

The Championship

The international championship was organized by the Queens Dance Studio, one of the largest schools in Belarus, and pole dance trainer Anna Konyshko. The vibrant and unusual show featured 85 participants, including girls from Russia, Dubai, and Ukraine. The dance competitions were held in several categories: Art Amateurs, Exotic Beginners, Pole Art Pro, Exotic Semi Pro, Exotic Pro, Elite, Duets, and Groups.

The club was packed with around 500 spectators who came to watch the competitions. The participants proved that pole dancing is not about erotica but is a genuine art form.

Breaking Stereotypes

“The Queens Dance Studio is hosting a championship of this high level and broad format for the first time. The main idea is that this is not a sports competition: the event takes place in the atmosphere of a nightclub, using serious equipment and bright video footage with the story of each participant,” said the organizer of the “Zero Gravity” championship, Evgeny Ledyanin.

Unfortunately, there is still a perception that pole dancing is something frivolous, associated with striptease, and we decided to dispel this myth. Exotic pole dance is a serious and complex discipline that has been actively developing in Belarus over the past 10 years. In Minsk alone, pole dancing accounts for about 30% of all types of dance, meaning that currently, 5-10 thousand people have subscriptions.

This is why we created very fine gradations of categories for the participants by levels of training: from beginners to “elites” (those who have already won awards at international championships). We wanted to show that pole dancing has different schools and a large number of followers worldwide.

Meet the Participants

Exotic pole dance has nothing to do with striptease. It is hard work that includes serious choreographic training, discipline, and a healthy lifestyle. For example, for the participants of the International Exotic Pole Dance Championship “Zero Gravity” in the “Amateurs” category, such a performance on stage was a serious challenge. Among them were ordinary girls: accountants, lawyers, programmers, designers—who may have never performed anywhere before.

Dina: The Engineer Who Became a Dancer

Dina Deviatovskaya, an engineer-designer by profession, performed in the “Beginners” category. She has been practicing exotic pole dance for 5 years but only now decided to take the stage. The girl prepared thoroughly—she had magnificent cosmic makeup that drew attention. It is not surprising that Dina won the nomination “Best Image.”

The theme of my performance is that every person is a universe, unique and incomprehensible. And I invited the audience to explore mine. I collected the costume from what I had, but for the makeup, I specially invited an artist. I prepared for the performance for six months; it was not easy, but I am glad that I dared to go on stage. Participating in the championship gave me a lot. In addition to the fact that the preparation process itself charges me with positivity, and training every other day greatly improved my figure (I lost 4 kilograms in the last month). I also received a lot of inspiration, looking at others—it motivates me to achieve more.

Dina admits that exotic pole dance classes have opened her up to a new side. The girl came to the Queens Dance Studio to boost her self-esteem, develop femininity, and become more plastic.

“It was in the dances that I realized that I could be very attractive and know how to move beautifully and gracefully. Thanks to exotic pole dance, I have become much more confident,” admits the championship finalist. “Recently, I caught myself thinking that when I leave the hall, the beginner girls look at me with enchanted eyes. Once, I also looked at my teachers like that and thought that I also wanted to be able to dance like that. Now, I can’t believe that I can do it all.”

Irina: From Online Classes to the Championship Stage

Irina Prigodich, a resident of Dubai, flew in especially to participate in the “Zero Gravity” championship. She practices exotic pole dance online and performed in the “Amateurs” category. Her performance was dedicated to disappointment in love and a manifesto that a girl should first of all enjoy herself.

“I started my journey in pole dancing 2 years ago and chose the Queens Dance Studio for this. I take choreography lessons here. It seems difficult to study online, but if you have self-discipline and a strong desire, everything is easy. Moreover, I decided to participate in the championship as soon as I came to the studio. I think all the girls performed well; they did a lot of work. Of course, the judges were impressed. I really liked performing; I saw points of growth for myself and will continue to improve,” says Irina.

The Judges’ Perspective

Prepared images, body language, a look that clearly reads everyone in the hall… Artistry and self-confidence! Beauty and plasticity of the female body! Luxury and chic! I can imagine how difficult it was for the jury to make their choice.

“The main thing is that the girls are not afraid to show themselves, their beauty, and their sexuality. Some contestants go on stage and get nervous, but here everyone showed themselves as they are. It’s great,” shared the head of the jury, Olga Kravchenko.

“I am very glad that such a championship is held in Minsk. I saw a lot of new names, and I think that the girls will continue to develop and delight us with their performances. I am sure that the championship will become an annual event, and we will see new stars,” added Olga.

The “Zero Gravity” championship showed that pole dancing is a serious and complex art form that requires a lot of effort, discipline, and self-confidence. The participants proved that it is not about erotica but about beauty, plasticity, and the ability to convey emotions through dance. The event became a real theater where each participant told their story, and the audience enjoyed every minute of the performances.