Pole dancing athletes show off their strength and flexibility - PHOTO+VIDEO

Flexible bodies hailing from the Southern hemisphere turned out in droves to compete in this year’s Miss Pole Dance South America competition, where participants literally bent over backwards in the hopes of winning the event’s top prize.Pole dancing athletes from across South America traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina to show off their agility, strength, flexibility, and endurance.The competition’s performances rivaled those of Cirque du Soleil, with many performers striking exaggerated yoga poses while suspended from the narrow pole.While poll dancing is often associated with strip dancing, the Miss Pole Dancing South America competition approaches the sport from an athletic perspective.The event was held in Buenos Aires on November 23 and 25.The event’s 2013 winner, Alessandra Rancan of Brazil, not only won the entire competition but also the category distinction of ‘Best Artistic’ (performance? – this is apparently the name of the category instead of most artistic).She took home the top prize for her agile performance, during which she wore a red sequined two-piece outfit with a matching flower in her hair.The competition also includes men as well. Some even perform in pairs with female or male partners. It is unclear why the men participate in a 'Miss Pole Dance' competition.Ms Racan will go on to compete at the World Pole Dance Championships, which takes place on January 31 and February 2 in scattered locations across the UK.Prior to pole dancing, Ms Rancan was a rhythmic gymnastics athlete for ten years, which earned her multiple national titles. She started pole dancing in 2011.She will face competition by champions hailing from various Asian and European nations, as well as Australia and the U.S, and the international pole dancing championship. The World Pole Dance Championships first took place in 2005 in Amsterdam.The organization claims that it was the first international pole dancing competition in the sport’s history. (dailymail.co.uk)ANN.Az