NATIONAL: 'Weird' dad and daughter pole dancing duo open studio together

A dad and daughter pole dancing duo branded "the weirdest thing I have ever seen" by a Britain's Got Talent judge have opened a studio together.

Dave Roberts, 52, and his eldest daughter Hazel, 27, paired up after attending a Hallowe’en party together, and teach a cohort of eager students.

Hazel said that the key to their partnership was “trust”.

Their relationship surprises some pupils but Hazel and Dave focus their classes on the gymnastic skills required rather than sexy dance moves.

Hazel said: “It’s a matter of trust.

“If you can’t trust your own dad not to drop you, who can you trust?

“I’ve had other people suggest that I work with them, but I think to myself ‘not a chance’.

“I wouldn’t feel so comfortable or safe because they would not know my balance points like my dad does.”

She began pole dancing six years ago, at the same time that Dave was encouraged to attend a class by his ex-girlfriend.

“Completely coincidentally I did a six week course in the last year of University in Ireland and sent him a picture of me doing a Crucifix saying ‘look what I can do’,” Hazel said.

“He sent one back in the same pose saying ‘so can I’.”

The dad-of-five initially kept his hobby under wraps for fear of being ridiculed by friends and family but when Hazel returned from university they began going to classes together.

They were eventually persuaded to appear on TV talent show Britain’s Got Talent - which resulted in their act being branded too “weird” by judges, in 2015.

David Walliams described it as "the weirdest thing I have ever seen."

Dave went on to be placed fourth in the world in the Mr Pole Dance semi pro category in 2016 and every week has to give his daughter an infusion of white blood cells, to treat medical condition common variable immuno deficiency (CVID).

They are now preparing to open a studio with 14ft poles, in Tewkesbury, Glos.

Hazel said the most rewarding part of teaching is encouraging people to build up the confidence to discard their jogging bottoms and grip the pole with their bare legs.

Hazel said: “They come in saying they can’t wear shorts because they have thunder thighs, but I just tell them that means they will be able to grip the pole better.

“We start off with moves that secretly build up their core muscles so by the time they come to lift their feet off the floor, they are already stronger than when they came.”

Kate Brown, 30,said: “I was a bit confused when I first heard her call Dave ‘dad’, but they clearly know what they are doing and make me feel very safe.

"Dave is very strong so he can help with the power stuff and between them they have a lot of different strengths. They work really well together.”

Tracey Fisher, 35, who started classes two weeks ago, said: “They are brilliant teachers, really, really fit and good at what they do.

“They make it look so effortless and elegant, but it’s far from easy.

“I was a bit surprised when I found out they were father and daughter but they work really well together so what does it matter?”