The pole fitness demonstration has been nixed, but a London agency for abused women says it’s still boycotting the Take Back the Night rally.

The event’s organizing committee sparked controversy after saying it was considering including a pole dancing fitness demonstration ahead of the march Thursday to protest sexual violence against women.

In response, the London Abused Women’s Centre withdrew from the annual march, saying pole dancing goes against feminist values and promotes the objectification of women.

Take Back the Night organizers tried to mend the rift Tuesday by announcing the pole fitness demonstration won’t go ahead.

But it was too little, too late for the London Abused Women’s Centre.

“As an agency, we will not be attending Take Back the Night,” program manager Heather Wharram said Tuesday. “I think it sends the message that we are very firm in our values and beliefs and that we will stand by those decisions.”

At the centre of the debate was whether The Pole House should be allowed to stage a demonstration at the Take Back the Night rally at Victoria Park.



The Pole House co-owner Emily Kelman, 27, dances on a pole in their Adelaide Street studio in London, Ont. on Tuesday September 13, 2016. The fitness studio owners have decided to voluntarily withdraw their presence at Take Back The Night following criticism from the London Abused Women's Centre. (CRAIG GLOVER, The London Free Press)

Studio owners Emily Kelman and Melissa Clackett, both 27, said the organizing committee approached them about taking part after another business referred them.

The pair said they opted out Monday, fearing their presence would draw attention away from the event’s purpose.

Whether to include the pole fitness show was a divisive issue for many planning to attend Take Back the Night.

Critics said pole fitness is closely connected to stripping because women use a metal pole to perform sexually suggestive movements.

Showcasing the practice at Take Back the Night promotes violence against women and could trigger traumatic memories for attendees who were forced into exotic dancing or the sex trade, they said.

On the other side, some said pole fitness is an empowering way for women to express themselves in a healthy way. Demonizing its practitioners, they said, runs contrary to the night’s theme of solidarity among women.

“I think the dialogue that this surfaced is important,” said Annalise Trudell, manager of education with the Sexual Assault Centre.

But she worries some women may not feel welcome Thursday.

“Judgment has been levelled around individual choices to engage in certain activities,” she said. “I think it’s become really personalized in some ways.”

Kris Mac, an instructor at The Pole House, said the practice goes back long before strip clubs existed, citing its popularity in Indian culture dating back hundreds of years.

The Adelaide Street studio is holding an open house Oct. 1 to show the public what pole fitness is all about, with proceeds going to Take Back the Night.

Nobody from the organizing committee could be reached for comment Tuesday.

dcarruthers@postmedia.com

twitter.com/DaleatLFPress

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IF YOU GO

What: Take Back the Night

When: Sept. 15

Where:Victoria Park

Time:Gathering starts at 5:30 p.m., rally at 6:45 p.m. and march begins at 7:30 p.m.