Mangaluru: Pole fitness, aerial arts, and belly dance are entering Mangaluru’s dance vocabulary as residents look beyond the familiar terrain of classical, Bollywood, and folk forms to move, express themselves, and stay fit.For Susan Misquith, a certified aerial artist and probably the first to introduce pole fitness in Mangaluru, curiosity led to a new discipline. After training in aerial arts, she began watching pole performances online.“Pole is a combination of dance and callisthenics. I initially thought aerial and pole would be similar, as both require flexibility and strength. But pole involves many different techniques and offers a completely different experience,” she said.
Artistes all set for Kudla Hafla-Golden Caravan, the annual showcase to be held on Sept 27
Several students have joined the course, and there have been enquiries. But introducing the form has also meant negotiating perceptions around the term ‘pole dance’.Susan said some people associate it with revealing clothing rather than fitness and athletic training. Breaking barriers through dance is not new to her.She had earlier trained four transgender women in Bollywood dance after they struggled for more than two years to find an instructor.She also became one of Mangaluru’s first certified aerial silk artists after travelling to Bengaluru for training.A shimmy past stereotypesBelly dance has had its own stereotypes to contend with.For Sharlaine Sequeira, founder of ShimmyLaine, the growing interest in the form shows that Mangaluru is ready to look beyond them.
Pole fitness: Susan Misquith, a certified aerial artist, during a pole fitness session
Now in her eighth year of practising the art and her third year of running an academy, Sharlaine trains women from Mangaluru, Manipal and Deralakatte. Her students range in age from seven to 73.“People have many myths about belly dance and associate it with seduction or something provocative. But it is an art form, with technique, discipline and cultural depth, much like other dance forms,” Sharlaine said.She said belly dance also offers fitness and wellness benefits, with several movements traditionally associated with strengthening the core and pelvic region. Her academy, launched in 2025 with four students, now has more than 50 learners across different locations.The varied profile of those taking to the form will also be on display at the second edition of her annual showcase, Kudla Hafla-Golden Caravan. Students include doctors, IT professionals, human resources executives, healthcare workers, entrepreneurs, influencers and PhD scholars.The event will be held at Prerana Auditorium on Sept 27.For Susan, dance has always been about breaking barriers. For Sharlaine, it is also about giving people a space they may never have had before.