Mum defends toddler daughter’s ‘impressive’ pole-dancing in online videos

FORGET swinging on the monkey bars — toddler Rylie pole-dances in online videos. Her mum says it’s no different to using the horizontal gymnastics bar.

Regional Pole Artistry Championships judge and International Pole Artistry competitor Kristy Sellars with her daughter Rylie 2. who has started to join in while watching mum at work teaching at Physipole Studios in Ballarat. Rylie 2, joins mum Kristy up the pole balancing on her mum's legs. Picture: David Caird.

FORGET swinging on the monkey bars, this tiny tot prefers giving the pole a whirl.

Two-year-old Rylie has become a social media sensation after making guest appearances in her mum’s pole dancing videos.

Kristy Sellars, 28, an internationally-renowned pole artistry choreographer, has defended her daughter’s involvement.

She said that for kids there was no difference between a vertical pole or horizontal gymnastics bar.

Some studios even offer classes for kids.

“A lot of women start it to increase their own self confidence and in doing that their kids, boys or girls, see their parents having fun and want to be part of it,” Mrs Sellars said.

Bacchus Marsh mum Karen Calleja, 45, took up pole dancing to bond with her “gym junkie” daughters, aged 17 and 21.

She and eldest daughter Jess will tonight make their competitive debut performing a comical routine at a major regional competition in Shepparton.

Rylie started to join in while watching mum at work teaching in Ballarat. Picture: David Caird.

Mrs Sellars, from Ballarat, said that she understood some people associated the dance style with adult entertainment.

But competitive dancers are hoping to strip the sport of its provocative image, focusing instead on displaying strength and creative flair.

Pole artistry is being bandied about as a future Olympic sport, and last year The International Pole Sports Federation announced new regulations to ban overly-erotic moves in competition.

Rylie had been “bopping” to music since birth and it wasn’t long after learning to walk that she discovered she could twirl around the pole at her mum’s teaching studio.

“Now she bolts up to me, grabs on, and knows exactly what she’s doing — it’s pretty impressive,” Mrs Sellars said.

“They (children) have a lot of strength and don’t have any fear.”

Mrs Sellars will judge tonight’s Regional Pole Artistry Championships, where 20 competitors from around the state will take to the stage.

“You’re using muscles you never knew you had (to) hang on with literally just your armpit or an elbow — it’s an amazing human feat,” she said.