Pole dancers in central Poland have been honing their skills out in the streets, throwing their legs around signposts to the surprise and delight of many a passer-by. The aim was to dispel the myth about pole dancing, a discipline often associated with strippers and nightclubs.

“The reactions of the people in the streets were very good, so we thought that this is a way to popularise the sport”, explained 27-year-old instructor Natalia Stanislawska. “Coming out in the street and practicing pole dancing poles on road signs, we want to break these stereotypes. The Pole dance is a real sport and even an art that combines acrobatics, gymnastics, and fitness. It takes a lot of strength and flexibility”.

Photos: Members of the “Avocadoo” club perform a pole dance on a street sign pole in Lodz, central Poland on June 27, 2013. Talk about a traffic stopper: three pole dancers in central Poland have been honing their skills out in the streets, throwing their legs around signposts to the surprise and delight of many a passerby. (Photos by Janek Skarzynski/AFP Photo)