An officer and a dancer

All eyes at the Luolan Pole Dancing Club are locked on Gong Yifei. The 25-year-old former armed police officer gave up his career in uniform to take up the aerobically demanding performing art in September last year. A male pioneer spinning and twirling in female territory, Gong's aspirations are more conventional than his dance moves. He wants pole dancing to be respected as an art form and one day become an Olympic sport. Away from the pole, he dreams of becoming a government official. If Gong passes his civil administration exam, he no doubt stands to become the only man to have pole danced on his way to Chinese officialdom.

The pole dancing studio, understated but crowded with students, is nestled on the top floor of a shopping mall in Dawanglu, Chaoyang district. The song No One by American R&B diva Alicia Keys and remixed with a driving dance beat, blasts from a stereo.

Gong is the only dancer among his peers who doesn't sport a bare midriff or thigh-high, pointy-heeled, black polyester boots. Instead, he wears a taut t-shirt and snugly-fit boxer shorts. He's currently the only male taking pole dancing classes at the headquarters of China's first and biggest chain of pole dancing training centers, the Luolan Pole Dancing Club.

His soft, shy voice belies his thin but sculpted muscles as he explains how he became interested in the art form. "When I started pole dancing it was far more embarrassing because I couldn't be as sexy as the girls. They laughed at me," confessed Gong, a native of Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province. "Eventually, they became used to having a man in the room dancing with them. I'm much more confident now in the dance studio and in life."

His thighs wrapped around the pole, Gong hovers upside down, his legs swinging in mid-air. He finishes his maneuver by dipping into a handstand position nearly three meters off the floor, as No One still blares endlessly on repeat.

Boot camp to the dance floor

Viewing photographs of him in uniform, Gong's concentrated gaze projects the image of a man of steel. However, his cool calmness takes refuge in a blanket of shyness. "I dreamt of being a soldier ever since I was a child. I always admired Chinese soldiers' strength and resolution," noted Gong, who joined the People's Liberation Army at 18 after he completed high school. Shortly after recruitment he was assigned to the People's Armed Police, which involved five years of intense physical training entailing running, push-ups and military exercises.

"It was intense. The worst was when they made us hold our guns while standing at attention for hours on end until we felt numb and sore," he recalled. "We didn't eat much to avoid stomachaches during the exercises." Gong's fondest memories of serving in uniform revolve around the friends he made who he affectionately refers to as his "brothers," along with his posting at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

Skilled in hostage rescue operations, Gong was quickly promoted to squad leader. His plans detoured though when he failed an examination that, had he passed, would have paved the way for further promotion. Gong quit the police force shortly after and soon discovered his new passion - pole dancing.

"I've enjoyed dancing ever since I was a child, but I never had the opportunity to take classes," he recalled. "I didn't know [pole dancing] existed until I watched a video clip posted online by Luolan's studio. After watching it, I became captivated," Gong added, saying he contacted the club and relocated to Beijing to pursue his newfound hobby.

Not about being 'sexy'

Pole dancing lessons at the studio typically begin with a warm-up and stretching, followed by exercises to build strength and flexibility. The leggy, slender instructor then demonstrates specific maneuvers on the pole to build a choreographed routine.

Those who want to become pole dancing instructors repeat the ritual for five hours a day, five days a week. Sweaty and breathless with his palms struggling to grip the pole, Gong perseveres, spinning with poise and elegance.

For someone who lacks any formal training in dancing, Gong has impressed others in his class. Like his military days, his daily training regime is rigorous, comprising of about eight hours of dancing. "I start with hip-hop dance classes in the morning at another studio, then come here in the afternoon. Monday is my only day off," said Gong, who applies martial arts-like discipline to his passion. "I've never performed in public, nor do I aspire to become a professional dancer. I focus only on movement. Nothing else matters."

Gong praises pole dancing as "healthy exercise," noting his few months of training have seen him bulk up physically as well as become mentally tougher.

"As a man, it's not about being sexy. I appreciate pole dancing as a creative exercise. I enjoy mixing it up with other dance styles including ballet and jazz," he said. "Even though I'm the only male dancer here at this studio, I believe more men will take up pole dancing."

Winning respect

Gong hasn't ruled out one day representing China again away from the military. "Luolan is pushing for pole dancing to be considered an Olympic sport," he gushed enthusiastically. "Many people in China still relate pole dancing to an erotic dance in clubs."

Although Gong was never bullied or humiliated for his dancing hobby, he acknowledges the art form isn't popular among men.

"I've never been mistaken for being gay. My family and friends know about my dancing skills. Some of my friends were stunned, but my family has always been supportive. They just want me to find a stable, well-paid job," said the affirmed heterosexual, who'd like to one day balance a steady day job with part-time work as a pole dancing instructor.

Single and the only child to tile trader parents, Gong is still eyeing a career in the public sector.

"I studied administration and law on my own while I was in the armed police force. I know that having higher education is essential to gain a job in the public sector," he said, adding that he is preparing to take the civil service examination. "I want to be a police officer or government official. My dream is to be respected and admired by others."

Toyomi Kuramoto contributed to this story