Backstage
Fancy entering a competition but are too overwhelmed by the choice? Come backstage with us as we show you all the UK and International competitions and showcases, and help you find your perfect style or level.
Authentic Pole Dance
A friendly, supportive pole competition that showcases authentic sexy pole in all varieties.
It has four heats: North, Midlands, South, and Scotland. The winners compete in a grand final.
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Categories: Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced, Semi Pro, Professional, Doubles.
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British Pole Instructor Championships
The only pole competition that allows instructors to compete at their true level, rather than in the instructor or semi pro categories. You can't have placed in the top three at any competition in the last three years, unless you're in the Expert category. Perfect for instructors who want to compete but don't feel ready for semi pro.
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Categories: Low flow/Basework, Performance, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert, Masters.
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https://www.kpole.co.uk/british-pole-instructor-championships
Bristol Pole Championships
Bristol Pole Championships is back with a brand new look. It has several categories to choose from so you should be able to find one to fit your style.
Powerhouse: this category is all about the wow factor. Put on a show with high energy, fast-paced, explosive movements and badass tricks.
Freestyle: do you prefer letting the music choose your moves, rather than following a set choreo? This is your category. You will choose your song out of a hat on the day and have a chance to listen to it before you hit the stage.
SS Inspired: for anyone who loves stripper style, whether that's seductive slink, striptease, twerking, or floorwork. Connect with your sensuality and the audience.
Theatre: for those who love to tell a story with their routines. This is all about the entertainment factor, so bring your best props and tell the audience a story they'll remember for a long time.
Expressive: do you prefer dance and movement without fitting a set category? This one's for you. Show the audience what dance and movement mean to you. You can incorporate different dance styles, or make up your own.
Showcase: do you love performing but hate being judged? Enter the showcase category. There's no video round, but names will be chosen at random from the entries. You can decide if you want feedback, but the only award is the love of performing.
Eden Pole Championships
A competition which celebrates, the artistry, dance and movement behind sexy pole. There's also a showcase category for those who wish to perform but don't want to be scored.
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Categories:
Basework: any style of dance, but you can't go higher than the height of a spin. Keep it low.
Showstopper: Classique, Australian, or burlesque-inspired. Entertain with a show.
Old School: super sexy stripper style, inspired by the clubs. Unleash your sensuality and tease the audience.
Hypnotic Flow: technical elements combined with smooth flow. The focus is on musicality and footwork.
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Elite Pole Championships
A new pole competition which gives elite performers a chance to challenge themselves at a higher level. The standard is very high. The Pole Idols categories are invite only.
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Categories: Semi Pro: for paid performers, instructors, or workshop instructors. You can't have won a semi pro competition, or competed in a pro category.
Pro: for paid performers, instructors, or workshop instructors. You can have competed in a pro category, but not won at pro level in a developmental comp such as Pole Theatre, Pole Art, Or Miss Pole Dance.
Elite: for anyone who has won a pro title.
Heelography: for anyone who wants to compete in heels. Heels are allowed in other categories, but this one has a separate scoring criteria for heels.
Pole Idols Heelography: invite only with a separate scoring criteria for heels.
Pole Idols Artistic: invite only.
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English Riviera
A friendly, relaxed competition which takes place in a pole studio. Perfect for first time competitors, or for anyone who wants to compete without the pressure of a stage. There's no video round, so spaces fill fast.
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Categories: Amateur, Intermediate, Advanced, Professional, Doubles.
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Ex Generation
Stripper style pole competition. The competition is split into three shows: Fresh New Face: for amateurs. You can have entered beginner, intermediate or advanced, but not won, or be an instructor who hasn't competed before.
New Face: for anyone who doesn't fit the criteria of Fresh New Face. Can't have entered a professional competition.
Professional: You can have entered a semi pro or pro competition.
Categories:
Flow: focuses on the flowy elements of dance, rather than tricks. Tricks are only to enhance the performance.
Hard: Australian-style. Strap on your heels and make your tricks part of your show. It's equally split between tricks and choreography.
Theatre: Put on a show! Think props, no rules. The show is more important than the tricks.
Old School: celebrate stripper-style with strip tease, sensuality, sexuality and passion.
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Glow
A brand new competition which aims to be as inclusive as possible, and give everyone a stage to perform on, and express their own style. Each competitor will have their own detailed, personalised judging criteria, ensuring nobody is marked down for any physical or mental limitations.
Categories: Showcase: open to any level of pole dancer who wants to perform but not compete. Optional feedback is offered, without scores, and you can choose to have feedback on all or one of the criteria: technical, composition, presentation. No video round, it's first come, first served.
First Timer: for those who have never been on stage either in a competition or an open event. Studio showcases don't count. Not for instructors.
Performer: For those who want to compete but aren't interested in the technical side of competing. Open to anyone who freestyles as part of their employment - at clubs, festivals, exhibitions, etc, or those who don't perform pre-planned choreography regularly. There's no technical element to this category. You can't have won an award at a previous competition.
Stage Lover: info coming soon
Instructor: info coming soon
Expert: info coming soon
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Great British Pole Championships
Open to any style of pole. If doing sexy pole, you're allowed to strip to pasties and a thong, but no nudity. Heels are allowed.
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Categories: Beginner, Intermediate Amateur, Intermediate Experienced, Advanced, Advanced Experienced, Professional Amateur, Professional Experienced, Professional Expert, Doubles.
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https://makingfitnessfun.co.uk/
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In The Spotlight
An online competition, which is perfect for those who want to compete, but either don't want to perform in front of an audience, or can't travel to a live final. All styles are permitted, but there are separate categories for classique. Even though it's online, the winners still receive sashes and medals.
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Categories: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Advanced Experienced, Instructor, Professional, Doubles, Classique Amateur, Classique Experienced.
IPAAT
A more serious pole and aerial competition that focuses on a well-rounded performance, including tricks, transitions on and off the equipment, fluidity, strength, flexibility and stage presence. This comp is only for intermediate level and above. No shoes or boots allowed, unless you're in the champions division. Absolutely no nudity, or sexy style. Costume malfunctions will result in point deduction, and indecent exposure will result in instant disqualification. It uses the gymnastic-style of scoring where the highest and lowest scores are discounted. Instructors are only allowed to compete in Advanced or Doubles, except pole, which they're only allowed to compete in Doubles or Expert.
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Categories: Youth Pole: 8-12 years, 13-16 years.
Youth Intermediate Hoop: 8-12 years, 13-16 years.
Youth Advanced Hoop: 8-12 years, 13-16 years.
Youth Doubles Hoop: 8-16 years.
Youth Intermediate Silks: 8-12 years, 13-16 years.
Youth Advanced Silks: 8-12 years, 13-16 years.
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Adult: Hoop: Intermediate, Advanced, Doubles.
Silks: Intermediate, Advanced, Doubles.
Pole: Intermediate, Advanced, Doubles, Expert. Champion - invite only.
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IPSF - International Pole Sports Federation
A very serious competition which focuses on pole as a sport, and has a very strict judging criteria. It hosts national and world championships, and has a wide range of disciplines and categories. Like the floor section in gymnastics, there are no lyrics allowed in songs.
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Pole Sports: focused on athleticism and technical elements with some artistry elements. It has its own Code of Points scoring system in line with Olympic standards, much like gymnastics and ice skating.
Categories: Junior, Novice, Men, Women, Double, Masters, Para.
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Ultra Pole: focuses on innovation, creativity, freedom of expression, and ultimate athleticism. It has a trick battle feel to it.
Categories: Women, Men.
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Artistic Pole: focuses heavily on art, musicality, and creativity. There's more emphasis on artistic interpretation and freedom of expression.
Categories: Junior, Men 18-39, Women 18-39, Doubles, 18+, Masters 40+ Women, Masters 40+ Men.
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Para Pole: for athletes with a physical impairment at any age. There is no doubles category in this discipline. Categories are divided by impairment rather than age or gender.
Categories: Impaired Muscle Power.
Group 1 - able to walk.
Group 2 - use of a wheelchair.
Limb Deficiency:
Group 1 - absence of 1 arm, or amputation or congenital deficiency above the elbow.
Group 2 - absence of 1 leg, or amputation or congenital deficiency above the knee.
Group 3 - absence of 1 arm, or amputation or congenital deficiency below the elbow.
Group 4 - absence of 1 arm, or amputation or congenital deficiency below the knee.
Vision Impairment: legally blind.
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Aerial Hoop: focused on athleticism and technical elements with some artistry elements. It has its own Code of Points scoring system in line with Olympic standards, much like gymnastics and ice skating.
Categories: Junior, Novice, Men, Women, Double, Masters.
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Artistic Hoop: focuses heavily on art, musicality, and creativity. There's more emphasis on artistic interpretation and freedom of expression.
Categories: Junior, Men 18-39, Women 18-39, Doubles, 18+, Masters 40+ Women, Masters 40+ Men.
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Aerial Pole: focused on athleticism and technical elements with some artistry elements. It has its own Code of Points scoring system in line with Olympic standards, much like gymnastics and ice skating.
Categories: Junior, Novice, Men, Women, Double, Masters.
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Miss and Mister Pole Dance UK
A developmental pole competition for those who want to take competing seriously. It's split into two shows: Amateur & Semi Pro, and Pro. Extra points are awarded for props, costume, and performance.
The Pro show relates to the competitor's skill level, not whether they are paid to perform or teach.
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Amateur & Semi Pro Categories:
A: Female Amateur. Beginner category. No inverts or upside down moves, unless one hand is on the floor, as in a handstand. No instructors.
B: Children: Ages 8-11, boys and girls. All moves allowed.
C: Youth. Ages 12-15, boys and girls. All moves allowed.
D: Semi Pro Student: open to women who have competed fewer than five times.
E: Semi Pro Doubles: same or mixed gender, competed fewer than 5 times. Automatic entry to final.
F: Semi Pro Instructor: women who have competed fewer than 5 times.
G: Mr Pole Fitness UK: Men who have competed fewer than 5 times.
H: Pole Beat Freestyle: 45 second freestyle dance battle. Competitors will compete two at a time, with the winner going through to the next round. There are 5 scoring criteria: Style, Use of Stage, Routine variety, Use of Pole Height, Difficulty.
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Pro Categories: Male, Female, Doubles.
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Midlands Pole Championships
A family-friendly competition which encourages all styles of pole. Sensual acts are allowed, but anything overtly sexual may result in disqualification. Removing clothing and wearing heels is allowed, but only if the costume underneath is family-friendly, so no pasties or thongs. Keep your shoes on - you may be marked down if you have dirty feet.
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Categories: Performer Amateur, Performer Experienced, Intermediate, Advanced, Semi Pro, Masters, Doubles.
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http://midlandspolechampionships.co.uk/
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PDSM - Pole Dance Stripper Movement
A pole competition run by strippers for strippers, and allies. It's unique in centering SWs, and having strippers and ex-strippers on the judging panel. It's fully inclusive, and is one of the few comps which allow nudity. Held in a strip club, it also brings attention to SW rights', and aims to educate the audience. You can also stay after the event to support the club's dancers. There is a downloadable handbook on their website with the full criteria. The judging criteria is very detailed and regularly updated, and takes into account any physical or mental limitations.
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Categories: Sensual: unleash your seductive side.
Show: put on a show and wow the audience with your stripper style tricks.
Strip Tease: the focus is on the tease. Make the audience beg for the reveal.
SS Twerk: jiggle, gyrate and shake what you've got.
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Pole Art
A developmental pole competition where the focus is on story telling and artistry. The aim is to convey a story, theme or character via artistic expression, showcasing strength and flexibility. No vulgar expressions or gestures. Heels are allowed, but thigh high boots, costumes made from leather, vinyl, or latex, breast jewels or nipple pasties are forbidden. There is no separate doubles or group category, but they are allowed to enter any category at the level of the most advanced competitor in their pair/group.
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Categories: Amateur: open to any level of pole dancer, but they must not have taught in the last three years.
Semi Pro/Instructor: open to any one who teaches, but you can't have won a semi pro category in the last three years. Can't be a paid performer.
Pro: for instructors or paid performers. You must enter this category if you have won a semi pro category in the last three years.
Elite: for instructors or paid performers who have won a pro category or competed in elite categories in the last three years.
Open/Freestyle: open to any level of pole dancer. Sign up is on the day on a first come, first served basis. You're given a list of songs to choose from 30 minutes before you perform.
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The Pole Circus
An online competition and showcase open to everyone internationally. They also host a live event. All apparatus are allowed, including pole, hoop, silks, sling, chains, flying pole. There are two divisions per category: edited and unedited. If you want to edit your video to add different camera angles or effects, enter the edited division. The unedited division is for videos that are recorded as if they are live. It's focused on theme and character, with a love of performance, props, costumes and face paint. It is a circus after all.
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Categories: Amateur: for those who have never competed before, either as a beginner or intermediate.
Intermediate: those who aren't beginners, but aren't yet pros. No advanced tricks allowed.
Pro: for those who want to do advanced tricks, such as Bird of Paradise or Iron X, those who teach, perform, or own a studio.
Showcase: for those who want to perform, but not be judged. Open to all levels.
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Pole Theatre
A unique pole comp in which storytelling, performance and theatre is the main focus. It's all about the show and how you convey your story to the audience. There are shows for juniors, amateurs, semi pro and pro. There four categories, and you're allowed to enter more than one. Each category is open to single competitors, doubles and groups.
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Art: incorporate another form of dance into your pole performance, e.g. Latin, Salsa, contemporary, burlesque, etc. Competitors are judged on musicality, artistry, and flow. It's all about your artistic interpretation of movement and music.
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Drama: tell the audience a story. It must have a clear beginning, middle, and end.
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Comedy: incorporate comedic and humorous elements into your performance. You will be judged on how well you entertain and engage the audience.
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Classique: celebrate the art and beauty of sexy pole and striptease. Competitors must remove at lease one item of clothing, and wear heels for at least one minute.
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UKAAP - UK Amateur Aerial Performance
A pole and aerial competition only for amateurs. If you've won a pole or hoop competition then you're not allowed to enter that category. E.g. if you've won a pole comp then you can enter hoop, but not pole.
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Categories for Hoop and Pole:
Beginners, Lower Intermediate, Higher Intermediate, Advanced, Instructor, Doubles.
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UK Aerial Performance Championships
An aerial competition focusing on performance. Tricks and skill are taken into account, but it's more about the entertainment, flow, and presentation. Performance counts for 50% of the marks. Marks are given for how you mount the equipment or change levels. There are regional heats held throughout England, with one in Scotland, and the grand final is held in Russells International Circus. The open category is for any piece of aerial equipment which can be hung from a single rigging point.
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Categories: Junior: 6-10 years. Lyra (Hoop), Silks, Open.
Youth: 11-16 years. Lyra, Silks, Open.
Amateur: Lyra, Silks, Open.
Instructor: Lyra, Silks, Open.
Professional: Lyra, Silks, Open.
New Performer: Lyra, Silks, Open.
Youth/Junior Doubles
Instructor/Professional Doubles
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You Filthy Amateur
A sexy pole comp that's strictly for first timers. You can have competed in other styles of pole comps, just not stripper style. Competing in heats such as Authentics, is allowed, but not if you've competed in a final. Strippers with fewer than three months experience can enter, but those who have been working for longer than three months must enter the Filthy Fucker comp. It's not a tricks-based competition, it's more about how you move. There's no separate doubles category, but doubles are allowed in the category suited to their level. It's held in Kush nightclub and has a very supportive crowd.
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Categories: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Instructor, Pro.
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You Filthy Floor Fucker
A new, unique sexy pole comp that's all about the floorwork. If floorwork is your favourite part of a pole routine, this is the comp for you. It's on a raised stage with a 360 degree view. There's no separate doubles category, but doubles are allowed to enter the category of their level.
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Categories: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Instructor, Pro.
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You Filthy Fucker
A sexy pole comp that's open to everyone. It's not a tricks-based competition, it's more about how you move. There's no separate doubles category, but doubles are allowed in the category suited to their level. It's held in Kush nightclub and has a very supportive crowd
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Categories: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Instructor, Pro.
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Yorkshire Pole Championships
A friendly, inclusive comp which is ideal for first timers, or experienced competitors. It's very accommodating with neurodivergent competitors, and there are even water bottles in the large competitor's room. There are special awards, an overall winner award and the much coveted Red Devil trophy, awarded by Lauren Red for whatever badass reason. There's also goody bags, sashes and tiaras for the first and second place winners. The Performer category is open to all levels, and is focused on performance, story telling, props, routine composition, use of stage, lines, and stage presence. Tricks aren't marked.
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Categories: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Professional, Doubles, Performer.
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