Servicewoman funded to pole dance (UK)

[undeterred]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4526607.stm

The Ministry of Defence has paid for a former RAF senior aircraftwoman to become a pole dancer. Stephanie Hulme, 23, was funded to take up the profession after completing five years' service. Her training was carried out through an RAF resettlement and training programme which reportedly cost over £2,000 over four weekends. The move has allowed her to pursue a career as a pole dancer at a club in London.

Training bill

Miss Hulme, who spent time as a senior aircraftwoman at RAF Aldergrave near Belfast, filled in an application form towards the end of her service stating that she wished to take up a course in pole dancing.

She told the Mail on Sunday: "I got the idea after a bit of banter with one of my mates and when I decided to leave I started looking into what it involved.

"Then one of my friends said I should ask the MoD to pay for the training. "I was very surprised when it was approved - I didn't think it would be."

According to the paper, the bill for her training came to £2,100 and it was met under the RAF's resettlement programme.

Under MoD regulations, servicemen and servicewomen are entitled to retraining through a grant programme after they have completed five years' service.

A spokesman added: "The point of making this grant available is to improve their employment opportunities once they complete their service.

"What they choose to do is a matter for them as long as it is legal."

Miss Hulme now pole dances under the professional name Kitty at a club in Mayfair called For Your Eyes Only.

[htuttle]

1. It's pretty good money -- why not?

:shrug:

I am somewhat surprised there was professional training available for the career, however. Is there an Academy of Pole Dancing somewhere?

[Taxloss]

2. Presumably it was to cover her living expenses

while her "place of work" "trained" her.

[htuttle]

5. Ah, I see.

So there's no Academy of Pole Dancing?

crap.

[Taxloss]

8. Aspiring to a doctorate?

[htuttle]

11. I was thinking of launching a second career as a janitor

I also have extensive experience working in an AV department. I could set up their filmstrips for them.

:evilgrin:

[Fridays Child]

9. Google "pole dancing school." Seems to be big in Great Britain.

Dunno why. :shrug:

[htuttle]

10. You're right

Apparently there's one in Bristol.

[Taxloss]

12. It's now considered to be exercise for bored Bridget Jones types.

Get exercise, feel sexy. Few if any of these schools are serious.

[undeterred]

13. supposed to be good for weight loss/getting into shape

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/11/26/48hours/main530884.shtml

I guess it would be a useful skill to fall back on. :evilgrin:

[CanuckAmok]

14. Why put place of work in quotes?

It's work. It's labour. It puts meals on the table and creates real income which is put back into the economy.

Sorry to be so kneejerk, but Sex Workers are frequently derided on DU for one reason or another, and it's pretty acceptable to suggest what they do isn't difficult, rewarding, or necessary.

You never see other "useless" jobs being slagged on this furum, but Sex Workers are an easy target, and are apparently fair game (no pun intended).

Some DUers are in the sex trade, you know.

[Taxloss]

15. Haha! I can out-jerk your knee!

Pole dancers are not necessarily sex workers - they are dancers, or at the very least performers.

But you're quite right, what they do is probably harder than what I do.

[undeterred]

6. probably something you can learn at a dance school

Actually I think its part of the training for US military women in case they end up being used to interrogate prisoners...

[Fridays Child]

3. Good luck to her in her new career.

Hope she makes tons of money.

[Bluebear]

4. You forgot Pole dancers! n/t

[undeterred]

7. ooohhhh thats baaadddd!!!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: