Off the Floor

Co-directors Katie and Mathew Celia begin by distinguishing between stripping and contemporary pole dancing (women don't disrobe in the latter), which also incorporates moves from modern dance and aerobic fitness. Jessica Anderson-Gwin, the primary subject, spends a lot of her time here clearing up misconceptions about pole dancing for the uninitiated. Although one speaker, Annemarie Davies (United Pole Artists), hails from the strip club world, the rest don't (or if they do, they don't mention it). Anderson-Gwin credits actress Sheila Kelley (L.A. Law, Dancing at the Blue Iguana) with popularizing the practice through her “S Factor” fitness clubs, which have attracted members of the Hollywood crowd. After graduating from UCLA in dance, Anderson-Gwin decides to put together the first pole dancing company, which she dubs Jagged, finding a practice space, recruiting dancers, rehearsing routines, and booking shows. To earn money for living and other expenses, she also works as a waitress. She experiences a few setbacks along the way, but the first show goes so well that her troupe winds up on MTV's America's Best Dance Crew, although the judges make more comments about their looks than their work. Undeterred, Jagged puts on more performances, but for a combination of personal and professional reasons, Anderson-Gwin moves to Nashville to form a new group, putting the fate of the original in jeopardy. An engaging documentary, Off the Floor makes a convincing case for pole dancing as a respectable discipline. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)