In a new video shared on Tik Tok, pole dancer Cat Baron shows just how pole dancers are spending their time in self-isolation.
As most studios and performance spaces are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, pole dancers are making the most of their own home setups, but their work-from-home practice sessions are leaving them bored.
In Baron's clip, which uses the audio from Curtis Roach's all too relatable "Bored in the House," she shows off some masterful acrobatics while simply trying to stay entertained. She naps, snacks, practices yoga, reads a magazine, plays the ukulele, checks texts, files her nails, folds laundry and plays with her cat—all while seemingly defying gravity.
Baron posted that clip to her TikTok, Reddit and Instagram accounts. On Reddit, the post was upvoted over 64,000 times. On the 'Gram, she noted that this was her first chance to do "anything active" following a coronavirus scare— but her tests came up negative, and she was actually diagnosed with walking pneumonia. She added that she may have been a little too eager to get active again, and that she might have done too much for her video clip.
"First day I am able to do anything active after a Covid scare (test came back negative) and being diagnosed with slight (or walking) pneumonia. I definitely overdid it. Very sore and grateful for my inhaler," she wrote in the Instagram caption.
"I saw all these videos of people in their house bored during quarantine," Baron told Newsweek in an email. "I got the idea from watching other super creative people and putting my own spin on it. Pun intended."
On Reddit, Baron answered questions from awestruck users and replied to some of the funnier comments that declared, "The floor is lava!" She wrote that yes, the pole does spin, and that she does sculpt and barre classes to build up her strength to be able to perform the gravity-defying moves like hanging upside down while holding a magazine with her toes. Baron told Newsweek that getting to share more information about pole dancing was an exciting part about the video going viral.
"I didn't expect the video to go viral on Reddit at all. I am happy it did because it gave me an opportunity to answer questions people have about pole and represent our amazing community of dancers," she wrote. "It's a skill that takes a lot of training, strength, and determination. It is the most rewarding thing I have ever done and it builds confidence and self love in so many women."
Other pole dancers have posted silly and fun photos from their home setups to pass the time while stuck in lockdown. Polish pole dancer Natalia Stebel posted a whimsical photo of herself posing at the top of her pole with a caption that reads, "Quarantine workouts still bring joy, so it's not bad," in Polish.
Viktor Kocherin also wrote that he's using the time in self-isolation to work on his skills, and showed off his incredible strength by miming walking up a wall before tossing himself around the pole in his home.
In related pole-dancing news, the acrobatic activity was officially recognized as an international sport by the Global Association of International Sports Federations in February, which may lead to it eventually being an Olympic event, according to Fan Buzz. So once lockdown ends and we all eventually get out of our houses, you might be able to see some pole dancers compete for Olympic gold someday.
