LAYTON, UT — When Mormon leader Christopher Layton helped colonize what is now part of the Ogden-Clearfield area of Utah, the only poles that women tended to dance around likely had clothing hanging from them. Today, however, shimmying up and down a metal pole, as well as swinging around it, has become not only a sexy way to make money but an excellent way to keep physically fit. Alas for those who enjoy the dance-inspired form of exercise, some can’t stop thinking about naked women when they hear the words “pole dance.”
The issue has become public thanks to the Davis County Commissioners reaction to an adult fitness event scheduled to be held in a county facility – and including a pole dancing competition.
If all goes well, Miss Pole Dance Utah will earn her crown, however virtual, in May at the David Conference Center. But first, rattled commissioners say they must further review the event, which they did not realize included the aforementioned competitive sport.
“I don’t recall this was discussed at all,” Commissioner Bret Millburn assured the Associated Press, explaining that the competition’s website, which promotes the event as “Fetish, Battle of the Pole Dancers,” did nothing to comfort his concerns.
“I have an issue with how it is portrayed on its Web site,” he explained. “It doesn’t show me any sort of athletic component to it. It doesn’t speak fitness. This speaks something else.”
Meagan Burroughs, the event’s co-sponsor, insists that the competition absolutely is fitness oriented, pointing out that the contest does not allow g-strings or other minimal garments. Nudity is not on the menu, nor will “wardrobe malfunctions” be tolerated.
Burroughs, who owns Adult Dance & Fitness in Ogden, UT went on to say that sexually provocative moves will not be permitted, nor will children under the age of 12 be in the audience, which is expected to include as many as 500.
“This is just tricks,” she explained. “No hips involved, no bootie popping, no provocative movements or sexual gestures, including touching yourself.”
Nonetheless, neither Burroughs’ assurances nor those of Scott Lunt, center general manager, have eased Millburn’s troubled mind on the matter. Instead, Millburn is insisting that more information be provided to the Commissioners before a final okay is given to the competition.
