ATLANTA (TND) — An Atlanta pole dancing studio announced a “mommy and me” class last week, sparking outrage on social media.
Pink Poles Studio will allow kids to learn “tricks” and “spins” through “pole fitness” beginning in February.
“The age-old adage insists that ‘kids should be kids.’ At Pink Dance and Aerial Studio, the kids are doing just that – being KIDS!” the studio wrote on its website.
Children can “spin,” “kick,” “tumble” and “be free” in the Pink Poles classes. The workshop argues pole dancing is an art form and prepares kids for Olympic careers.
“Pole is a SPORT, and if any of these kids aspire to compete in the Olympics one day, they can and will! Who are we to say they won’t become the next Gabby Douglas or Simone Biles? The sky is the limit! Even if it’s not for pole, they will have the confidence to pursue anything they want,” the studio says. “After all, everyone has a unique story to tell, so why not dance it out!”
Pink Poles also believes its child attendees are doing the “exact same thing” as past kids who relished “hanging upside down from the monkey bars” and “climbing.” The studio’s owner, Tiajuanna Harris, believes the class cannot negatively affect kids.
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“I believe that our participants will be okay with whatever comes of it because they will have a clear understanding of why they’re there,” Harris told The National Desk (TND). “We don’t go out and scout kids.”
Boyfriends, husbands, parents and grandparents are listed as spectators of the class on the studio’s website.
Users on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, contended the sessions are “crazy” and “weird.”
“I think it’s very irresponsible of that mommy and me pole dancing studio to record and upload videos featuring kids in their workshops,” one account, @stillnotziora, wrote. “Even more irresponsible for…
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