Pole position

Who needs fancy costumes? Huang Xianfu practices pole dancing in his neighborhood. Huang Zhiling / China Daily

Though over the past several years pole dancing has grown as a form of exercise in China - catching on even in lower-tiered cities - many still associate it with sleazy nightclubs. And when you add into the equation a stereotype-defying sexagenarian who dyes her hair copper, dons body-hugging clothes and knee-high leather high-heeled boots, you will prompt strong reactions from the public.

"Everybody has freedom," says a netizen from Hunan province. "As long as you don't hurt others or break the law, go ahead and do what you wish!"

Others were not as complimentary of Sun. "Stepping into the entertainment industry at such an age, what a scene!" says a Beijing netizen.

"My eyes currently bleeding. Send help," was one comment on foreign social media, next to a link to a video of Sun pole dancing.

The retiree has learned to deal with negative comments. Her 62-year-old husband Cui Lianhua stands by her new hobby, but one of her two sons and an old friend have criticized her for taking on an "indecent" pastime. Sun says such people "don't really understand" pole dancing.

Andrew Delo, an American instructor at Peking University's Institute of World Theater and Film, says pole dancing has become popular among ordinary folks because it combines a vigorous workout with the joy of a dance that is relatively easy to learn.

"You'll start with a warm-up, where you'll do a little bit of aerobics then you get on the pole. Before you've left, you've flung around a couple of times," says Delo, who also teaches at a Beijing pole dancing school. "You don't have to wait 10 years to get your pair of toe shoes and your tutu."

It also taps into a person's sensuality, an added attraction for older women.

Related:

Advice for seniors about to take up pole dancing