Pole dance competitions are a place for pole dancers to compete against each other and showcase their routines. Performers are ranked and judged by professional judges.
Pole dancing as a sport and a form of art has been popular in modern culture for decades now and it has a history spanning over 800 years!
Just like any sport, performers/athletes are always looking for new ways to push their physical boundaries, innovate and create new routines to cause shock and awe from spectators. For pole dancers, this is a thrilling part of performing for an audience.
Pole dance competitions are an excellent place for amateur and professional pole dancers to do just that – push the boundaries, use their creativity to innovate, and showcase their skills on the pole.
List of Pole Dance Competitions
Here is a list of pole dancing competitions that are upcoming or have taken place very recently. Unfortunately, due to Covid, many of these competitions were postponed or cancelled but throughout 2022/23 it’s great to see more events taking place.
There are also a n increasing number of virtual pole dance competitions that take place wholly or partially online. This allows a greater number of people to safely participate without having to travel.
1. Dance Filthy
If you want to unleash your inner exotic dancer – this is the competition to try. Dance Filthy celebrates the sensual and filthy sides of pole dancing as an artform!
- Location: Sydney, Australia
- Date: March 2023
- Level: Amateur, Semi Pro, Pro
2. Pole Sport Organization
Pole Sport Organization have a variety of upcoming events all over their world on their events calendar. There are also lots of online events, so you have the opportunity to attend and compete from the comfort of your own home!
- Location: Various, Worldwide
- Date: Various
- Level: All levels
3. International Pole & Aerial Tournaments
This competition is based in the UK and has been running for 11 years. Fortunately, it’ll be back in 2023 after a few years of cancellations due to you-know-what.
- Location: Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Date: TBC 2023
- Level: Unknown
4. Pole Championship Series
11 different divisions/categories for pole dancers of all ages, genders and levels.
- Location: Ohio, USA
- Date: March 2023
- Level: Amateur, Semi Pro, Pro
5. Pole Theatre World
For the dramatic performers – pole dance as an artform is really celebrated in Pole Theatre World.
- Location: Various, Worldwide
- Date: Has not been held since Covid
- Level: Amateur, Semi Pro, Pro
6. International Pole Sports Federation
Official International Pole Sports Federation competitions take place around the world.
- Location: Various, Worldwide
- Date: TBC / Various
- Level: All levels
7. American Pole League
There are categories for both aerialists and pole dancers of all ages/levels in these competitions.
- Location: Various, USA
- Date: June 2022
- Level: Amateur, Professional, Elite
8. Miss Pole Dance UK
This has not taken place since Covid, but there are online competitions instead.
- Location: United Kingdom / Virtual
- Date: Has not been held since Covid
- Level: Amateur, Semi Pro, Pro
9. Mr Pole Dance America
A pole dance competition that celebrates male pole dancers! There are categories for amateur and professional dancers.
- Location: USA
- Date: Has not been held since Covid
- Level: Amateur and Professional
10. World Pole Fitness Competition
Last held in Ireland in 2019, let’s hope Covid hasn’t claimed this event too.
- Location: Various, Worldwide
- Date: Has not been held since Covid
- Level: All levels
11. Miss Pole Dance Australia
A competition for semi-pro and professional pole dancers in Australia.
- Location: Australia
- Date: November 2022
- Level: Semi Pro and Professional
12. Pole Legends NZ
A competition for semi-pro and professional pole dancers in New Zealand.
- Location: New Zealand
- Date: November 2022
- Level: Semi Pro and Professional
13. POSA Pole Sport World Championships
- Location: Italy
- Date: December 2022
- Level: Semi Pro and Professional
14. POSA World Pole Art Championships
- Location: Italy
- Date: December 2022
- Level: Semi Pro and Professional
15. USPSF National Championships 2023
- Location: Georgia, USA
- Date: August 2023
- Level: Semi Pro and Professional
16. POSA Pole Sport World Championships 2023
- Location: Finland
- Date: November 2023
- Level: Semi Pro and Professional
What You Need to Know About Pole Dance Competitions
Pole dancing competitions are not for everyone. If you’re pole dancing for fitness or fun, adding a competitive element may actual spoil the fun of it.
At competitions, performers are judged based on their execution.
Not everyone wants to be judged or compete against others.
This is totally OK.
There’s absolutely no obligation to participate in pole dance competitions if you just want to learn pole dancing for fitness, fun or any other reason.
If you’re taking part in a competition, there’s also an audience (which could be up to 10,000 people!) which is incredibly nerve-wracking on top of the prospect of being judged.
However, if you are a natural performer or a confident competitor than a competition is a great place to push your own boundaries.
Attending a Competition as Spectator
The best way to dip or tow into the world of competitive pole dancing events is to attend one as a spectator.
By attending as a member of the audience, you can become familiar with the event and its process before participating yourself.
Even if you’re never planning to compete professionally, attending competitions can give you inspiration and motivation to improve your own pole dancing progress.
You’ll also find videos of the best performances from competitions on YouTube or Social Media.
Notable Pole Dance Competition Performances
Here are some incredible performances that will inspire you for your next competition entry!
Tips for Competing in Pole Dance Competitions
If you’re competing – first of all, congratulations! It takes a lot of courage and skill to perform competitively and allow yourself to be judged.
Here are some tips that will help you prepare for your performance:
- Keep it simple – Ok, we know, it’s a competition and you have to really cause the audience (and judges) to say WOW – but you can do this by performing a simple move with extreme precision, or with an added twist.
- Choose your music to reflect your style – The music will be an extremely memorable part of your routine, make sure your song choice has a slow-ish, rhythmic tempo that allows you to pace your routine well. Songs that build up to a climatic chorus are a good choice! Get music inspiration for your routine here.
- Practice making mistakes – it’s important that you work on any areas of your routine where mistakes are likely, and figure out how to style it out if you happen to make a mistake on stage. If you style it out – no one will notice!
- Maintain a schedule of practice – in the build up to a competition, it’s important to ramp up your practice sessions as the event draws closer.
See also: How often should you practice pole dancing?
Frequently Asked Questions about Pole Dance Competitions
Yes! Most competitions have categories for different levels, so you won’t be competing against dancers who are more advanced than you.
It’s common for the competition organizers to provider a list of suggested moves and tricks for each skill level.
Yes – there are tickets available for members of the public to buy as spectators. It’s a great place to go as a pole dancer if you want inspiration to improve your skills.
Check with the event organizers on their respective websites linked on this page. Each competition has different entrance criteria, but the process almost always includes a non-edited video of a routine or partial routine.
It’s common for applicants to film a short routine and send it into the judges in order to apply to compete.
Competitions for pole dancers are judged in a similar way to how gymnastics is judged. Performers are scored on their overall execution of tricks, combinations and the overall aesthetic of a choreographed routine.
The judges will then pick winners for various prizes within the competition which may range from “Best Pole Dancer 2023” or “Most Creative Routine” or even “Best Song Choice” – each competition has its own awards and prizes.
You should always check this with the organizer and they will usually inform you in advance. Dance poles at competitions usually have a 45mm width. They will usually be floor-to-ceiling height (min 14ft – usually much taller depending on the rigging at the venue) with a total floor area of approximately 12-14 feet for your performance.
There may be 2 poles on stage – one which is static and the other which is a spinning pole. Competitors can make use of both the static and spinning pole during their routines.
Pole Dancing Competitions – Conclusion
It’s not easy breaking into competitive pole dance. These competitions are extremely popular, so it’s tough to find room as a newbie. But if you want to give it a try, there are some events that are more open to competitors like you than others.
Still, keep in mind that a lot of the best competitions require extensive experience, so don’t give up if you don’t make it into the final list of competitors on your first go.
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