South American pole dancers swing through Buenos Aires
Pole dancing has not only gained momentum as a fitness craze at local gyms, but also among some very talented gymnasts and athletes around the world. And to prove that the pole has successfully extended outside of the strip clubs form which it originated, this past weekend, Buenos Aires was inundated with swinging (and properly covered) women, and for the first time, men, competing in the South American Pole Dancing championship.
The competition was fierce between this year’s 76 South American athletes, but one country managed to take hold of the top spots. Rafaela Montanaro from Brazil was crowned as the Miss Pole Dance South America 2012 Champion, while fellow Brazilian Carlos Franca took the prize for the men. Both winners will represent their continent at the Pole Dancing World Championship in Europe next year.
- Participants in the Pole Dance Argentina 2012 and Pole Dance South America 2012 competitions perform in downtown Buenos Aires on November 23, 2012 ahead of the contest to be held on November 24 and 26 in Buenos Aires. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Participants in the Pole Dance Argentina 2012 and Pole Dance South America 2012 competitions perform in downtown Buenos Aires on November 23, 2012 ahead of the contest to be held on November 24 and 26 in Buenos Aires. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Participants in the Pole Dance Argentina 2012 and Pole Dance South America 2012 competitions perform in downtown Buenos Aires on November 23, 2012 ahead of the contest to be held on November 24 and 26 in Buenos Aires. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Participants in the Pole Dance Argentina 2012 and Pole Dance South America 2012 competitions perform in downtown Buenos Aires on November 23, 2012 ahead of the contest to be held on November 24 and 26 in Buenos Aires. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- A Paraguayan participant in the Pole Dance South America 2012 competition performs at Republica square in downtown Buenos Aires on November 23, 2012 ahead of the contest to be held on November 24 and 26 in Buenos Aires. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Performers do a pole dancing routine to promote the Miss Pole Dance South America 2012 competition in Buenos Aires November 23, 2012. (Enrique Marcarian/Reuters)
- Mariela Duffoo, from Peru, performs a pole dancing routine to promote the Miss Pole Dance South America 2012 competition in Buenos Aires November 23, 2012. (Enrique Marcarian/Reuters)
- Daniela Schmoll, of Argentina (L), performs a pole dancing routine to promote the Miss Pole Dance South America 2012 competition in Buenos Aires November 23, 2012. (Enrique Marcarian/Reuters)
- Performers do a pole dancing routine to promote the Miss Pole Dance South America 2012 competition in Buenos Aires November 23, 2012. (Enrique Marcarian/Reuters)
- Participants stretch backstage before the Miss Pole Dance South America 2012 competition in Buenos Aires, November 26, 2012. (Marcos Brindicci/Reuters)
- A participant applies make-up before the Miss Pole Dance South America 2012 competition in Buenos Aires, November 26, 2012. (Marcos Brindicci/Reuters)
- A pole dancer puts on make-up on backstage during the Miss Pole Dance Argentina and South America 2012 competition in Buenos Aires on November 26, 2012. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Argentine pole dancers get ready backstage during the Miss Pole Dance Argentina and South America 2012 competition in Buenos Aires on November 26, 2012. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Pole dancers test the pole backstage during the Miss Pole Dance Argentina and South America 2012 competition in Buenos Aires on November 26, 2012. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Rafaela Montanaro of Brazil performs during the Miss Pole Dance South America 2012 competition in Buenos Aires, November 26, 2012. (Marcos Brindicci/Reuters)
- Peruvian pole dancer Elizabeth Munos competes in the Miss Pole Dance South America 2012 in Buenos Aires on November 26, 2012. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Chilean pole dancer Francisca Murillo competes in the Miss Pole Dance South America 2012 in Buenos Aires on November 26, 2012. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Argentine pole dancer Daniela Schmoll competes in the Miss Pole Dance Argentina 2012 competition in Buenos Aires on November 26, 2012. Schmoll finished in second place. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Brazilian pole dancer Alessandra Ranca competes in the Miss Pole Dance South America 2012 in Buenos Aires on November 26, 2012. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Pole dancer and former champion Maria Luz Escalante of Argentina makes an appearance at the Miss Pole Dance South America 2012 competition in Buenos Aires, November 26, 2012. (Marcos Brindicci/Reuters)
- Micaela Garcia of Argentina performs during the Miss Pole Dance South America 2012 competition in Buenos Aires November 26, 2012. (Marcos Brindicci/Reuters)
- Karen Horbus (bottom) and Soeli Coradassi of Brazil perform in the doubles category at the Miss Pole Dance South America 2012 competition in Buenos Aires, November 26, 2012. (Marcos Brindicci/Reuters)
- Brazilian pole dancer Carlos Franca competes to win the Mr Pole Dance South America 2012 competition in Buenos Aires on November 26, 2012. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Peruvian pole dancer Ximena Ribero competes to finish in third place in the Miss Pole Dance South America 2012 competition as well as win the Best Artistic Performance trophy. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Pole dancer Lolo Hislum of France, who participated as judge at the Miss Pole Dance South America 2012 competition, wears short pants that read ‘Pole Diva’ in Buenos Aires, November 26, 2012. )Marcos Brindicci/Reuters)
- Chilean pole dancer Laura Vasquez competes in the Miss Pole Dance South America 2012 competition in Buenos Aires on November 26, 2012. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Pole dancer Renzo Zerga of Peru competes in the Pole Dance South America 2012 competition in Buenos Aires on November 26, 2012. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Soeli Coradassi (L) and Karen Horbus of Brazil perform in the doubles category at the Miss Pole Dance South America 2012 competition in Buenos Aires, November 26, 2012. (Marcos Brindicci/Reuters)
- Pole dancer Gregoris Garcia of Venezuela competes in the Pole Dance South America 2012 competition in Buenos Aires on November 26, 2012. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Pole dancer Zoraya Judd of the US, a member of the jury of the Miss Pole Dance Argentina and South America 2012 competition, performs before the awards ceremony in Buenos Aires on November 26, 2012. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Argentine pole dancer Valentino Dezzotti competes in the Pole Dance South America 2012 competition in Buenos Aires on November 26, 2012. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Brazilian pole dancers Karen Horbus and Soeli Coradassi compete to finish in second place in the Pole Dance South America 2012 competition in Buenos Aires on November 26, 2012. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Argentine pole dancers Belen Serra and Joaquin Dazzotti compete to win first place in the Pole Dance South America 2012 competition in Buenos Aires on November 26, 2012. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Peruvian pole dancer Ximena Ribero competes to finish in third place in the Miss Pole Dance South America 2012 competition as well as win the Best Artistic Performance trophy in Buenos Aires on November 26, 2012. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Argentine pole dancer Maria Rame competes to win the Miss Pole Dance Argentina 2012 and finishing in second place in the Miss Pole Dance South America competition in Buenos Aires on November 26, 2012. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Brazilian pole dancer Carlos Franca competes win first place in the Pole Dance South America 2012 competition in Buenos Aires on November 26, 2012. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Brazilian pole dancer Carlos Franca (C) celebrates after winning the Mr Pole Dance South America 2012 competition in Buenos Aires on November 26, 2012. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Argentine pole dancer Daniela Schmoll competes in the Miss Pole Dance Argentina 2012 competition in Buenos Aires on November 26, 2012. Schmoll finished in second place. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Argentine pole dancer Daniela Schmoll celebrates after finishing in second place in the Miss Pole Dance Argentina 2012 competition in Buenos Aires on November 26, 2012. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)
- Brazilian pole dancer Rafaela Montanaro competes in the Miss Pole Dance South America 2012 competition in Buenos Aires on November 26, 2012. Montanaro won the event as well as the Best Pole Trick trophy. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)