POLES APART The respectable side of the art form with China's national pole dancing team

As the lights go down in the crowded hall of Tianjin Haiho Theater,over 200 audience members-an as­sorted mix of children,the middle-aged and giggling young couples fall into an expectant hush Moments later,a lithesome woman clad in sky-high leather platforms,spandex shorts and a low-cut glittering bra appears on stage.Walking slowly hut deter­minedly.she approaches a vertical pole.If this were a strip club,she’d be pout­ing and batting her lashes.