By poleriot / October 28, 2019 June 26, 2021
It’s a known fact that pole dance is mainly practised by women, and female empowerment and femininity are topics that are often brought up in the pole community. But do not be fooled, men on the pole are not rare animals. Actually, I would have loved to put the focus on at least 50 of them, because there are so many talented male pole dancers out there that deserve a little spotlight!
Since I had to make a choice, you will have 15 of them, in alphabetical order because there is no way I could rank them! This is just a sample of the amazing male polers out there, some known, some less known, but that doesn’t mean that the ones that didn’t make the cut are not amazing!
Take a tour of the ballsy side of pole with these 15 male pole dancers from all over the world!
1. Philip Deal
It’s common knowledge that I (and many of you, I’m sure!) have a thing for people who are unapologetic, and just do their thing with little care for norms and social acceptance. Philip is one of those people: classical and contemporary dancer, yoga teacher, p*rn star… oh, and of course, amazing pole dancer, with a few medals to his name!
2. Edouard Doye
After winningFrench and international competitions, Edouard has put his extensive training in circus art (notably with the renowned Beijing International Art School) to good use at Cirque du Soleil, staring in the show Amaluna.
3. Evgeny Greshilov
Evgeny is probably one of the most famous male polers out there, whether it is for his impressive list of winning titles, or as a judge in many competitions. He is also a very talented choreographer, helpingAnastasia Skukhtorova to win the 2 World Pole Cup in Rio de Janeiro in 2013.
4. Kenneth Kao
Kenneth has overcome the difficulty of coming from a conservative background to practise pole dance and become a certified instructor and performer, and a nicely decorated one at that!No, I’m not talking about his ass…ets, but his medals 😀
5. Vladimir Karachunov
I discovered him with this videoand wondered why he isn’t more famous: he’s crazy strong, his tricks are flawless (and I’m a sucker for spins on static pole, I admit it), he’s got charisma and a sense of humour. He’s also a teacher, travels the world giving workshops… In short, he deserves a lot more exposure for sure!
6. Keem S-Martinez
Being the very first French pole dance champion, Keem has a background in classical and modern dance, and his performances are always breathtaking. He has also appeared on stage with famous French stand-up comedian, Florence Foresti, and is now teaching pole dance in Paris.
7. Kazuya Naka
Aside from an astonishing list of prizes, Kazuya is a performer whose style is unique. When he’s not toning it down for competitions with stricter rules, he is known for his dramatic make up and costumes bordering on cosplay.
8. Dimitry Politov
Recently crowned champion at Pole Art Italy 2015, which topped an arms-lengthlist of titles, Dimitry is famous for his death defying tricks and jumps.You can never watch his performances without a little fear because he’s REALLY that crazy!
9. Steven Retchless
Winner of Pole Theatre USA 2015, this sole performance is enough to earn him a place here, because it was absolutely fabulous! But he’s got a lot more in his sleeve, so make sure you check out his videos and career, including his historic performanceon America’s Got Talent.
10. Daniel Rosen
Daniel is the perfect example that you can become a pole champion without a dance or gymnastics background. When he’s not winning competitions, he teaches in his studio in the UK, and tours the country to give workshops.
11. Saulo Sarmiento
Another one who made it to Cirque du Soleil after winning prestigious competitions, Saulo is one of those male pole dancers that needs very little introduction. He’s also a model …RAAAWWWR!
12. Travis Scott aka That Pole Guy
You either already know him for his amazing skills with or without heels, or discovered him in myprevious article, but it was impossible not to put him on this list. He travelled all the way from Australia in 2014 to teach his art in Paris, and he’s probably the record owner of the most numerous picture reports on Facebook. Sadly, not everyone can understand the art of #sundaybumday (which is actually #everydaybumday for Travis 😀 )
13. Suwasit
Another poler with a long list of medals, Suwasit is an aerial teacher, performer, choreographer from Las Vegas, and has also worked with Cirque du Soleil, among other prestigious acts.One of his notable awards was given to him by the readers of QVegas Magazine as ‘Vegas’ Sexiest Butt 2012’!
14. Alex Shchukin
Alex saw his career kickstart when he participated to the Ukrainian version of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’, and has been unstoppable since then. He’s also known for his opinionated blog which raises topics that others would shy away from in the pole community.
15. Chris Talbot aka Blue Phoenix
Ex-doctor in marine biology, he’s one more performer to prove(if it was ever needed)that brain and muscles are not mutually exclusive.He is also a current member of the Aussie Pole Boys, Sydney’s #1 male burlesque troupe,and their sexy show “Voyeur”.
I’m really sad to stop here, really, because so many would have deserved a heads up too, but who knows, I could be back with a volume 2 to this article! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this list, and that, maybe, it made you discover polers you didn’t know about.
One thing is for sure, though: in the future, expect to see more and more boys in your dance classes, and certainly more male teachers in your studios! Whether they choose the brute strength side of pole, or the gender-bending aspect, men have their place in the pole community, and they don’t have to leave their balls at the door!
Kei is a freelance writer, a self taught pole dancer, sprinkled with a huge dose of geekiness and the political incorrectness of a naughty rock chick. Learn more about Kei and her writing HERE.
