Pune Shimmies to Pole

No longer though. ‘‘Pole dancing is the new form of amusement for the partying people and it’s certainly what draws in the crowd,’’ says Bomi Mancherji, assistant food and beverage manager at Hotel Taj Blue Diamond which hosted a private party, complete with pole dancing, at their ritzy nightclub Polaris last month. “We had a packed crowd,” adds Mancherji. Two of the performers were from Russia and one from India.

The popularity of this dance is skyrocketing in conservative Pune, despite its traditional association with strip bars. Some nightclubs host special pole dancing nights, and the fad is rapidly gathering speed.

In Pune, however, dancers certainly don’t go all the way. In fact, the only garment dancers toss off is the cloak that covers them from head to toe, before they begin their act. Occasionally, a jacket hits the floor.

But here it’s mainly about swishing up and down the gleaming six-foot pole, wrapping themselves around it and making the best use of their never-ending legs — a basic prerequisite for any pole dancer. They usually sway to regulation Britney Spears’ I’m a slave or the raunchy Tom Jones’ You can leave your hat on.

Asserts Tatiana, a sexy Russian pole dancer who was recently in Pune: ‘‘It has less to do with stripping and more to do with grace.’’

Grace certainly plays no part in the audience reaction. Sometimes it’s more interesting to watch the crowd (men and women) rather than the act. Their eyes are wide, even bulging, as spectators stare unblinking at those long legs, slithering movements and tantalising attire. Quick glances are exchanged, elbows nudged, nervous snickers rarely concealed and necks craned for a better view. As the drinks go down, some get bolder and catcalls fly fast and furious. Soon every jhatka is drawing whistles.

With such an enthusiastic response, it’s little wonder that more and more event managers and hosts are busy sourcing pole dancers — from Mumbai, Goa or even Russia and South America for their dos. Prices begin at Rs 15,000 a performance, and can skyrocket depending on the audience size and the length of the performance.

‘‘I’m doing a pole dance night for a liquor launch next month,’’ says event manager Carson Dalton. Adds DJ Frankie who has already done a couple of pole dance dos in the city: ‘‘Most of the women are professional dancers — they are in movies or video tracks. If it’s done to good music, choreography and graceful movements, there is nothing vulgar about it at all. But yes, it’s not for the masses.”