Society emphasizes leading a healthy life style and physical fitness. It all started with the mass explosion of gym memberships and home workout videos in the 1990s.

Then the workout scene developed a focus on fitness and spiritual balance by introducing Yoga and Tae Bo classes, but as times change, so do trends. Taking hold of a workout that has spread across the nation, Dance and Romance of Wilmington, located in University Landing on South College Road, now offers pole-dancing classes.

An activity that has usually carried a negative connotation has now become a popular workout for aspiring dancers and housewives. Starting in major cities such as Los Angeles and New York City, pole dancing is now being practiced across the nation.

This new workout doesn’t require machines or repetitive aerobic motions; instead it involves learning ways to spin around a pole gracefully or crawl across the floor seductively.

Since arriving in Wilmington, pole dancing has become “very popular” said Karen Chatelle, manager of Dance and Romance.

Pole dancing has attracted the attention of young women who are interested in becoming professional dancers and businesswomen who are looking for ways to change up their mundane daily routine and revive their sexy side.

Chatelle said, “The pole dancing classes are neat. Women sign up for these classes to gain dancing pointers or to just have fun.”

Lisa Hill Turner of Dance and Romance, has been a primary influence behind introducing this exotic workout to the area. Turner has been involved in fitness since the 1970s and 1980s when she was a part of the Elaine Powers Fitness program.

In addition to fulfilling hidden fantasies, pole-dancing classes are “a good form of exercise and a way to feel good about the self,” Turner said.

These classes are beneficial to women in a number of ways by toning the body and by increasing one’s self esteem.

Kimani, a local dancer, is the pole-dancing instructor for Dance and Romance. Kimani, educates students in the art of exotic physical fitness Monday through Thursday during evening hours, but Dance and Romance is planning a fulltime schedule offering classes Monday through Saturday.

Classes are currently at five or six students. Students can place appointments through Dance and Romance, $25 for two sessions. Each session is usually one hour but can sometimes run longer.