Jason Hodges – Surprising Media Support for Pole Dance as a Sport
Is pole dancing appropriate for children and toddlers?
That was the topic of discussion on Channel 7’s ‘Monday Jury’ segment of the Morning Sunrise show, today.
All but one member of the panel were against the idea, touting the usual arguments that pole dancing is “a sexual activity” and that there are so many other sports (“like gymnastics and dance”) that would be more suitable.
Disappointingly, the station chose to use footage of Bobbi’s performers at Miss Pole Dance Australia (MPDA) when introducing the topic. Although a spectacular competition, renowned worldwide as a one of the best displays of strength and skill, Miss Pole Dance Australia is also known as a competition that encourages ‘the inner showgirl’, with extravagant costumes, stage lighting and smoke machines, coming together to present the more ‘Broadway’ or ‘Showgirl’ style of pole dancing.
It is disappointing that Channel 7 chose to use this footage, instead of clips from their own show – Australia’s Got Talent. Why? Because the style of pole dancing demonstrated in the brief clip of MPDA is not the type of pole dancing that is being taught to the children in question. Why they would choose that footage, over clips of the Pure Pole Angels or Pure Pole Elements who recently appeared on Channel 7’s Australia’s Got Talent is beyond me.
If not their own footage, I would have expected them to at least show clips relevant to the what was being said at the time – with the host mentioning “a UK studio” teaching children, it would have made sense to show clips from inside a studio, in a teaching environment.
Fortunately, there was Jason Hodges on the panel.
Jason showed a refreshingly informed and logical opinion of pole dance, likening it to aerial gymnastics and other performance based sports such as tissu/silks.
When asked what he thought of it, Jason’s first words were “Of COURSE it’s to keep the kids fit! There is nothing wrong with it except for our adult heads! I’ve got a niece who does rope work, and they also call it tissu – it’s a piece of material. She’s 12 years old, she’s quite a shy, beautiful girl, but she’s stronger than her 16 year old brother because she can climb up, hang on one leg – and there’s no difference between doing it on a rope and doing it on a pole!”
Watch the Video
See the full clip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSBD_KTxL2I
Thank you Jason! I love how assertive and persistent he is – there is not a moment of doubt each time he argues his case. It is fantastic to hear someone speak out and support our sport with this much conviction on National TV – and a man too!
If you would like to write to Jason or any of the other panel members, you can do so on the Sunrise Contact Us page.
Jason Hodges is Channel 7’s resident Gardener/Landscaper. Most Australian viewers would know Jason from Auction Squad, a successful Channel 7 show upon which he was the resident landscaper for four years. Today, Jason can be seen on the channel’s Better Homes and Gardens show, which airs weekly on Friday nights, or can be heard giving his top gardening tips on regular radio segments on 2GO (Central Coast, NSW) radio each week.
Update @ 1 pm Monday 13th June:
This just in! Australian Pole Dance are reportedly organising complimentary tickets for Jason Hodges and his niece to attend the Asia-Pacific Pole Dance Championships next weekend. What a brilliant way for the industry to show their appreciation of his support.
Update @ 6pm Monday 13th June:
The Morning Show has just posted on facebook that they be doing a follow up segment this Thursday on the health benefits of pole dancing PLUS they will be covering the Asia-Pacific Pole Dance Championships on the 25th of June! Great news!
Related posts:
