Pole dancing has long been an art form associated with seedy, smoke-filled strip clubs.
But in the past several years, the activity has been embraced as an alternate to aerobics by housewives and professionals alike.
Pole dancing studios generally pop up in hip areas like Ferndale, where Elona Gano used to be an instructor at Pole Addiction.
Now, Gano’s brought the trend to Lake Orion. She recently opened Wonder Women Pole Studio at 790 S. Lapeer Road.
Despite the stagnant economy and the difficulty in keeping storefronts occupied, not everyone is happy with the new business.
A promotional poster picturing Gano straddling a pole drew the ire of a Review reader last week, who said a pole dancing studio would bring down morality in the Orion area.
Township Supervisor Matt Gibb said while there’s no ordinance against the dance studio, he and staff will be watching how the studio does business.
‘I’ll be keeping my eye on it,? he said.
Gano took the sign down after the permanent signage was finished, the Wonder Women logo painted white on the storefront glass. It does not feature any pictures.
‘The sign in question was temporary,? she said. ‘It was no more provocative than a woman jogging down the street. Or a Kohl’s ad.?
Gano is adamant that pole dancing be taken seriously as an exercise.
‘What we do is fitness,? she said. ‘The people I teach are everyday women. It happens to have a stigma attached to it that it doesn’t necessarily deserve.?
Before she started pole dancing, Gano was a ballerina. She has more than 12 years of experience with Oakland University, the Rochester School of Dance and Sun King Dance.
But she desired to expand her fitness horizons and started classes at Pole Addiction, where she eventually became an instructor.
The Lake Orion resident also works full-time in the health care industry.
She began looking for a place to open up a pole dancing studio, she looked no farther than her own community.
‘There is no place that teaches it north of 12-Mile Road. It was due. The interest is there,? she said.
The studio features six poles; four of which are brass and two that are chrome. In the 4-week intro classes, students learn basic moves involving how to hold your weight on the pole and how to spin around on it.
It makes for a great cardio workout, according to Lori Martin, one of Gano’s most enthusiastic students and a Lake Orion native.
‘Women bond. It’s very empowering. When I started, I was scared to walk in the door. I can attribute my last 40 pounds lost to Elona and dancing,? Martin said.
Gano has a dozen students already signed up. The classes aren’t exclusive for women, either. One of those signed up is a man.
‘This is an activity that can benefit anyone,? Gano said.
But males must participate, and can’t sign up to observe, Gano added. The blinds of the storefront are always closed during classes.
Attire is similar to any other exercise class, Gano and Martin said, and generally include yoga pants and t-shirts.
‘We hope everyone in the community is as open-minded as we are,? Gano said.
For more information about classes and prices, visit www.wonderwomenpolestudio.com, or call 248-693-4300.