Blackburn hosts British Pole Superstar Championships

The performers were competing in the British Pole Superstar Championships at the Thwaites Empire Theatre and were judged on their presentation, originality and physical endurance.

Among the competitors in the doubles category were Amy Green, 29, and Chloe Poole, 23, who have been training together at DFA Studios, Great Harwood, for two years.

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Their routine to Bring Me To Life, by American rock band Evanescence, focused on strength and trust between the two dancers.

The pair, who are from Blackburn, have been practising every Sunday for three hours, with class training two or three times a week, in preparation for the finals.

Amy has lost 2st since she began pole dancing, and said it is a great way to keep fit.

She said: “No matter what move we are doing, we feel so much better afterwards. DFA is like a little family.

“When I started, I could not even climb up the pole — but now I can dangle Chloe off various limbs.”

Chloe said: “We always like to tell a story in our routines. The piece for the competition is hard and it involved a lot of trust as we had to hold each other on the poles.”

Dancers from as far away as France also competed, with finalists taking to the stage in categories including intermediate, advanced, professional, doubles and men’s.

The judges were Bendy Kate, Jess Leanne Norris, Sarah Scott and Kirsty Griffiths.

The evening was compered by Mr Pole Fitness 2013 Dan Rosen.

This was the third year the competition was held at the Thwaites Empire.

Organiser Nadine Blacow, who runs DFA Studios, said: “It was amazing and there was a really high standard. The crowd was brilliant too.

“We have held it at the Empire every year.

“Everybody likes the Empire because it is a cosy place to perform.

“To be a good pole dancer takes lots of different things. You need strength, flexibility, open mindedness and lots of training.”