Chingay Features Male Pole Act for the First Time

Above: 26-year-old Louis Sue (center), owner of PXD Pole Studio, and his crew during their performance at the Chingay 2020 media preview at the F1 Pit Building. PHOTO: SHEENA RAGNHILD WOON YANG PENG

For the first time in 47 years, an all-male pole-dancing troupe will be performing in Chingay this year. What is typically seen as a feminine sport, these men are aiming to break stereotypes.

Chingay 2020 marks People’s Association (PA) 60th year of community building through a showcase of Singapore’s community spirit and inclusivity. Each performance explores the idea of a harmonious society through arts.

The unconventional addition to this year’s festival is in line with its theme, ‘Colours in Harmony’, where different communities in Singapore come together to celebrate each other’s differences in harmony.

The feature of an all-male pole dancing performance surprised many, especially due to Singapore’s conservative views. However, a survey by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) showed that Singaporeans are now more liberal in their views, even as society remains largely conservative.

Mr Louis Sue, 26, the leader of the troupe said: “Hopefully, the performance would show how the society may be opening up and be more accepting of non-traditional forms of sport, by seeing a non-traditional sport being performed at a large national event.”

Chingay is shown to be progressing with the times by incorporating such acts. Being the largest street performance in Asia, unconventional performances like pole dancing, will definitely strike up a conversation with not only the youths but the older generations as well.

Pole-dancing may not be a conventional sport that people think of, but it is inching its way into the mainstream fitness industry. It has even been a recognized sport thanks to the Global Association of International Sports Federation and is on its way to be an Olympic sport.

The all-male pole dancing troupe is a modern addition to the parade. They were successful in showcasing their synchronisation ability, levitating themselves from a pole.

“One does not need to be incredibly fit to pole dance and in fact, not all people with muscles or abs find Pole Dance easy,” said Mr Sue.

According to a Straits Times article (2017) ‘Fitness: More get to grips with trials of pole dancing’, pole dancers observed multiple benefits that came along pole-dancing. Such changes include “stamina and flexibility” and “upper body and core strength”.

“On a whole, there are certainly more people becoming increasingly open-minded about pole dancing, be it as an art form, a dance, or as a fitness sport,” said Mr Sue.

(389 WORDS)