Gravity is her biggest enemy — for the first 20 minutes, that is.
Then Hannah Tan gives it her all as she gets into the slinky rhythm of
pole dancing, observes RACHAEL PHILIP.
dancing competition and, in true Hannah Tan style, she said “Yes”!
But the TV host, model and singer had never touched a pole dancing pole in her life.
“I was a bit surprised they asked me,” she says, but not one to resist a challenge, she immediately agreed.
We are in a studio for Tan’s very first lesson — one of only two. The
svelte 27-year-old was clad in a tank top and black shorts. It helps to
wear clothes that bare your arms and legs so that gripping the pole,
swinging and sliding are not only easier but safe too.
“I have two left feet,” she says chuckling as she warms up. “Yes, I do dance for some shows but I’m not trained as a dancer.”
Tan’s act teams her up with the rather chubby Pietro Felix, Mix FM’s
deejay. The event is to promote Clorets’ latest mint, intriguingly
named Dark Secret. It’s said to be so fresh you’d want to use it only
at the right time as it could arouse desires in others to do naughty
things for you.
Hence the idea for a pole dancing competition. Just over 10 years ago,
the vertical pole shifted out of strip joints in Canada and the US into
gyms and studios around the world.
It has managed to shirk off its disreputable side and emerged as a
physically demanding form of exercise with poses such as levitation and
swing.
“This is pole dancing in a positive way. It’s naughty — and sex sells —
but in a cheeky rather than a provocative way. Look at it from the
aspect of fitness. At the end of the day it’s about fitness and having
fun,” she says.
Voted FHM Malaysia’s Sexiest Woman of the year in 2006, Tan did not
have a chance to prepare for the class. Back from a working trip in the
UK, she is still recovering from jet lag.
She has dabbled in go-karting and rock-climbing while badminton was a
favourite game back home in Penang. Nevertheless her daily exercise
routine, she says, consists of 400 sit-ups.
“Have to la, I love to eat!” Tan says. Beneath that gentle demeanour
you get the idea that she is made of tougher stuff. She recently
announced that by year’s end, she would relocate herself to Japan where
an agent is on hand to sign her up for various entertainment stints.
She is giving herself two years in this project.
Her other business would also take off soon. Tan has been compiling
designs for a range of clothing as well as chunky accessories.
Tan stopped going to school briefly when she was 16, to help the family
out. She taught kindergarten and gave piano classes to bring in the
money.
At an early age, her father noticed her talent for music and encouraged
her to pursue it. By the time she turned 14, Tan received her first of
two music diplomas.
During this time she probably learned the biggest lesson of her life — that she had to work hard to gain success.
As soon as she could, she continued her education at KDU college in
Penang. She received excellent grades and was awarded a scholarship
from the college. Tan graduated with a degree in computer science from
the University of Lincolnshire, England, as class valedictorian.
“Music is about branding yourself,” she says of her career. Tan
maintains a blog (www.hannahtan.com) and is working on making free
downloads available on her site.
Still single, Tan says she hardly has anytime to go clubbing or to parties.
Her last album, Crossing Bridges, was released at the end 2006 and her
fans can expect a second album by the end of the year. Called
Redefined, it has 10 songs, two in Malay, as well as a bonus track.
Back in the studio, she is all eyes as Lola, her trainer, coaches her on the finer points of the pole dancing.
“Five-six-seven-eight. Feet hip-wide, stand before the pole. Bend
forward. Keep your back straight. As you arch your body upright, let
only one part of your body touch the pole at one time. First the chest,
then the tummy, then the groin. Then pull your bum back. Good job!”
Tan picks up quickly. Even with the challenging swing. Hands gripping
the pole as high as she can reach, she increases her walking speed,
gaining momentum with every step. Then she takes off, hips always in a
forward position, legs bent at the knees and away from the pole.
She ends nicely on the floor. Back straight, legs folded outwards. The smile never leaves her face.
At the end of the two-hour session, Tan looks flushed. She sustains
bruise marks on her inner arm while her hands and thighs are red
because of friction from the pole.
“It’s a good feeling. I did not think I could achieve that much,” she says.
The Clorets Amateur Pole Dancing Grand Finals is on Sept 5 at Zouk KL. Visit www.cloretspower.com for more details.
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