Get Your Tickets To The 2011 U.S. Pole Dancing Championship [70 PICS]

Everyone, with the possible exception of dads with daughters, loves a good pole dance. But if you can take your eyes off the nudity for just a sec you’ll see there’s a lot more athleticism, and art, to rocking that pole than most people think. Until recently, most pole dancing “competitions” were judged by applause or some other equally arbitrary method. There wasn’t an impartial way to give the art of pole dancing the recognition it deserved. Which is why the US Pole Dancing Federation was created in 2008.

Founded by Anna Grundstrom and Wendy Traskos, the USPDF is the first pole dancing competition to judge the dancers in an impartial, points-based system, similar to the scoring of Olympic gymnastics.

The annual USPDF competition consists of two 60-90 second rounds, where points are scored based on a 10.0 scale. Round one is a mandatory round requiring various, specific maneuvers including 20 seconds of floor work, two spins, one upright static pose, one inversion and more. Round two is optional and has no specific requirements, and is geared more towards creativity. Whoever has the highest points after the end of the two rounds is crowned the winner.

There are two divisions: Professional and Amateur. Professional contestants are winners of regional USPDF competitions; twelve women total are selected for the final competition. Amateur contestants are selected by the USPDF judges via video submissions.

And now it’s time to get ready for some pole dancing, as this year’s competition is right around the corner! The 2011 US Pole Championship will be held on April 29^th, in the Symphony Space in New York City.

The amateur division is at 1:00PM and the Pro division is at 7:30PM. Tickets range in price from $25 – $95 which is, let’s face it, probably less than what you spend on a typical night out at a strip club. Take note, however: the dancers perform in shorts and sports bras – so the competition isn’t exactly like a strip club. But, still, here’s your chance to see the best in the world performing an activity we all love.

To buy tickets, visit uspoledance.com.

And just in case you’re on the fence about attending this year, a video of 2010′s USPDF Professional champion, Alethea Austin, along with 70 pics of her and other pole dancers including Miss Pole Dance World Felix Cane, Miss Pole Dance Canada Crystal Lai, and Miss Pole Dance USA Jenyne Butterfly .

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LEAD PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by Larysa Dodz, Vetta