Abstract:
Pole dance/fitness is an international form of dance fitness that has become increasingly popular
since the early 2000s. This thesis is an ethnographic case study focusing on a specific community
of people who participate in pole dance/fitness as a recreational activity in Tampa, Florida. This
ethnography highlights the motivations of participants who take pole dance/fitness classes and
applies theories of feminist anthropology and embodiment theory. Throughout my research I
found that, with the support of their pole family, women continuously (re)created their sense of
self as they worked towards their ideal self by embodying the pole community’s values. These
values included diminishing an emphasis on physical appearance as a marker of a women’s
worth and promoting self-love. Despite the stigma attached to pole dance/fitness, those who
participate in it continue to do so because of the mental and physical benefits it offers them. The
pole community provides a safe space and encourages participants to explore freedom of sexual
and gender expression. In this thesis I analyze the demographics, practices, and beliefs of polers.
I provide a holistic understanding of one small pole dance/fitness community in Tampa, but my
findings are applicable to understanding the wider pole dance/fitness community.
