What's the Difference Between Pole Sport and Pole Art?

Pole Dance is a spectacular dance that combines choreography, sports gymnastics, and aerial acrobatics.

By 2010, several substyles had emerged in Pole Dance, with the most popular being Pole Sport, Pole Exotic, and Pole Art.

International championships and competitions are held in these styles.

And while Pole Exotic, the most feminine and sensual style, is clear, the characteristics of Pole Art and Pole Sport have some overlap.

Today we'll try to figure it out.

Pole Sport
Pole Sport is a discipline that will soon be included in the Olympic Games.

Pole Sport classes involve working out all the muscles of the body.

Each performance must include a mandatory set of gymnastic elements, combinations, and transitions.

Requirements in championships for this style:

— In this style, the image is not a priority in the performance.

Appearance plays a secondary role, with more attention given to footwear.

Dancers do not perform in heels; they prefer sports shoes or perform barefoot.

— Preference is given to strength elements.

Mandatory elements and their points are specified.

— The routine may include a dance component, but it mainly only complements the performance.

— There are requirements for musical compositions — they must not contain words.

— Additional restrictions are introduced to increase the difficulty of the category.

— The ratio of tricks to performance is 70 to 30.

— Use of a colored pole with an enamel coating.

Pole Art
Pole Art is a very interesting dance style where the image and the dancer's concept play the most important role.

Pole Art is not just a dance or a set of tricks; it's a performance.

Initially, Pole Art reflected the theatrical component of Pole Dance, but today a comprehensive approach is most popular.

All levels of the pole are used, with the goal of performing the dance as high as possible.

Requirements in championships for this style:

— Image: The dancer must reveal the choreography's story through dance, tricks, costume, makeup, accessories, and hairstyle.

— Theatricality and danceability: The dancer can choose the style of choreography based on preferences and desires.

— "Show" element: The routine must be spectacular and evoke emotions in the audience.

Additionally, the dancer must interact with the audience, using props, decorations, and accessories.

— No restrictions on tricks: Dancers can use choreographic, strength, and dynamic elements.

— The ratio of tricks to performance is 50 to 50.

Based on the above, it can be concluded that these two styles are different in nature.

However, they also share similarities.

Common features of Pole Art and Pole Sport

In these styles, special attention is paid to the performer's technique, physical fitness — classical base, flexibility, plasticity, stretching.

Both styles lack elements of Exotic Dance, i.e., movements with pronounced sexuality.

If a dancer neglects this requirement, they will be disqualified.

Most dancers perform in both styles.

A dancer with choreographic training will find it easier to start learning Pole Dance from the Pole Art style.

If a dancer has a sports background, it will be easier to start their dance journey with Pole Sport.

Interesting fact.
In Pole Dance competitions, there is a point of "category mismatch," which means that a dancer can be disqualified or lose points if their performance does not match the declared style.