Pole dancers flock to Bethnal Green for world championships

Japanese perform Masayo Okamoto and Kazuya Naka perform at the Mixed Double's finals of the International Pole Championship 2013, in York Hall, Bethnal Green. Archant

Acrobatic pole dancers smashed stereotypes as they showed off their breathtaking skills at world championships this weekend.

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British Natasha Payne dances at the Master 40+ finals of the International Pole Championship 2013, in York Hall, Bethnal Green. British Natasha Payne dances at the Master 40+ finals of the International Pole Championship 2013, in York Hall, Bethnal Green.

York Hall in Bethnal Green hosted more than 150 of the world’s finest dancers as crowds flocked to see them show off their skills.

The World Pole Sport Championships attracted more than 1,000 spectators as competitors from 28 countries around the world came to ply their trade in the East End.

Vice president of the International Pole Sports Federation Kate Whitley described the event as “amazing”, and said spectators left stunned after seeing the competitors’ skills.

“They are absolutely gobsmacked,” she said. “There are less and less misconceptions. People are recognising it is a sport, and we take it to a different level.”

The Federation, set up in 2008 reported that there were 159 entrants to the competition, with 15 per cent more male competitors than at last year’s championship.

They will return to York Hall, in Old Ford Road, for the championships next year.

See the link on the right hand side of the page for our picture gallery.

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