Bobbi pole studio singapore miss pole dance

#Bobbi pole studio singapore miss pole dance series#

Looking at everybody, all so sexy, the way they move, so nice!РІР‚Сњ She was fortunate that the friend who brought her to the class was extremely encouraging, and would tell her that she looked 30 even though she knew she was 50. At the start, I stood at the back, trying to hide behind the pole. РІР‚СљAt the time, the sport was not respected,РІР‚Сњ she says, РІР‚СљIРІР‚в„ўm also not dancey or flexible and I was old so I felt very awkward. Watching how fluid and natural her movements are, itРІР‚в„ўs hard to believe that she only started doing this at 50.

#Bobbi pole studio singapore miss pole dance series#

As Li Leng leads the warm up, taking everyone through a series of shoulder rolls, body rolls, and stretches, IРІР‚в„ўm mesmerised by the lines she seems to draw, like dancers do, with a twist here and a turn there. They smile, say hi, and proceed to strip down to a mix of sports bras, shorts, and tights. While IРІР‚в„ўm acutely aware of my own presence as the only man in the room (and an all-girls studio), none of the women seem to notice.

It was then that they decided to give pole dancing a shot. This was what the studio was originally used for-static exercises and strength conditioning, until they eventually realised that the poles were getting in the way. Li Leng tells me that upper body strength is extremely important for cancer survivors because it helps with their recuperation.

The Brass Barre sponsors a studio every Sunday morning at 9:30 AM so a group of cancer survivors can come together to practise pole dancing for free. I was 50 when I first started.РІР‚Сњ When I drop by The Brass Barre, I find myself standing awkwardly in a corner while women in their 50s file in to get ready for class. РІР‚СљPole dancing was very challenging at the beginning because I was old. She no longer attends as many courses as she used to, but she still reads a lot, motivated by the belief that being well read is better than not being well read. Then theyРІР‚в„ўll say, РІР‚СљMarried already no need la, got husband look after.РІР‚Сњ So my thinking is a bit different.РІР‚Сњ If Li Leng has it her way, sheРІР‚в„ўll continue learning for as long as she can. When got course they will say, РІР‚СљWhat for you go course, nothing what, learn already also like that.РІР‚Сњ But I will say, this will make me better at my job. It made me smarter than my colleagues who are very lazy, everytime go paktor. РІР‚СљMy love of learning made me what I am today. Today, it has about 2000 employees, and sheРІР‚в„ўs also cycled through 15 departments, having done everything from underwriting to investments. When she started, the company employed only 26 people. Today, Li Leng is an AVP at an insurance company where she has been working for the past 43 years. Ironically, as someone who faints at the sight of blood and needles, she then landed work as a clinic receptionist. After being promoted to become a senior cashier, she had to leave because her mother believed that shift work would put her in the company of unsavoury characters. Sharing that she and her two other siblings were raised by a single mother, she says, РІР‚СљActually I wanted to study some more, but when I asked my mother, she said (in Cantonese): РІР‚СљSo easy to find money ah?РІР‚Сњ So in the end, no university.РІР‚Сњ Her first job saw her working in a hotel. Only people who could afford it went to university, and she never really understood why she never had that same opportunity. Li Leng was born at a time when most people joined the labour force once they graduated from Secondary 4. РІР‚СљI think that people age according to their mentality,РІР‚Сњ she says, РІР‚СљSome people live a lot in 30 years and learn many hard lessons in that time some live for 60 years but are not mature at all.РІР‚Сњ She also tells me that life isnРІР‚в„ўt about the number of years youРІР‚в„ўve lived. Apart from this, she also pursues Karate, Aikido, and windsurfing. On Sundays, she holds a morning pole dancing class for cancer survivors and women over 55. At 60, she teaches jumping fitness three times a week. Yet looking at Li Leng, IРІР‚в„ўm hesitant to be dismissive. It doesnРІР‚в„ўt help when they pepper their wisdom with qualifiers like РІР‚Сљpeople your age РІР‚В¦РІР‚Сњ or РІР‚Сљpeople like you РІР‚В¦РІР‚Сњ-surefire ways to set one on the defensive. But even as they parrot cliches about letting things go and how material goods will never make you happy, you continue to think: Nah, I can probably live my life differently. ThereРІР‚в„ўs a wealth of years and knowledge between you, and you know that one day you too will be in this other personРІР‚в„ўs position.

Receiving perspective from someone significantly older is always strange when youРІР‚в„ўre a young person. Parts 1 and 2 can be found here and here. This story concludes our РІР‚ВWonder WomenРІР‚в„ў series. Photographs taken by Matthew Ng at The Brasse Barre.