Singapore - Whoever said one pole can accommodate only one twisty, twirling dancer?

Singaporean duo Yva Au and Irene Ng have proven that two can play the game at the same time.

The pair were chosen from 268 applicants around the world to be part of 30 finalists and they will represent Singapore at the International Pole Championship (IPC) 2013 next month in the women doubles category against six other teams.

IPC is into its fifth year and will be held in Singapore for the first time.

Both women, who are part-time poledancing and exotic dance instructors, perform on the same pole but also split up, depending on their choreography.

In an interview with The New Paper on Thursday, Ms Au, 31, said of their 3½-minute routine for the IPC, which they have been preparing for since February: "It's about a mistress and a wife creating an alliance against the hopeless husband and boyfriend."

Miss Ng, a 23-year-old with a degree in accounting and finance, added: "So you will see the timid side of us and then the fierce side with the murderous eyes."

They will be appraised by a panel of 17 judges from more than 10 countries.

The pair started their on-stage partnership early last year, but have been going for the same classes at Groove dance studio for a couple of years and had participated individually in the Asia-Pacific Pole Dance Championship in Australia previously.

"The reason our coach paired us is because my flexibility is quite bad whereas Irene is super-flexible," said Ms Au, a computer engineering graduate.

"We complement each other's strengths and bring out the best in each other," said Miss Ng, who added that her partner's strength is an asset.

But it wasn't love at first sight for the duo.

"When our coach first suggested that we pair up as a team and do routines together, I was sceptical because Irene's so young," said Ms Au. "But she's a fantastic dancer... and her energy level was clearly beyond mine."

But over time, especially during their four-times-a-week training sessions, the synchronisation between the two has developed.

"Sometimes, I would have to pull her back if she gets too hyper and her jittery adrenaline will calm down," she added.

Miss Ng, who said she treats Ms Au like an older sister, laughed and added: "She always nags me about eating.

I eat too much and we have to stay in shape."

Miss Ng stands at 1.60m and weighs 53kg, while Ms Au is 1.61m and weighs 43kg.

However, they feel they have been wasting precious training time now that Ms Au is nursing an injury and wasn't present at Thursday's press conference at Pure Fitness Gym at Asia Square.

"I injured my wrist on my master hand (right hand) due to over-exertion and the doctors have told me to rest it for the next two weeks.

"But that's not going to happen. I plan to rest it for a week and get back on the poles soon because the competition is coming up.

"I'm just stubborn, I guess," Ms Au said with a laugh.

She admitted that she has "surprised" her husband of four years with her raunchy pole-dancing routines. They have no children.

Spicing it up

Installing her very own pole in their bedroom at her in-laws' place, which Ms Au claims they don't know about, has helped the couple's love life.

She said: "I think every woman should spice it up by doing something different, you know?

"It's basically to show your partner your sensual and intimate side."

However, Miss Ng, who's single and not dating anyone at the moment, doesn't seem to welcome the attention from the opposite sex.

She admitted that there have been male acquaintances who try and get cheeky with her because of the wrong perception they have of pole-dancing.

She said: "I will just brush it off and tell them to back off because I'm just not that kind of girl."

What: International Pole Championship

Where: University Cultural Centre Hall, National University of Singapore

When: Nov 30, 6pm

Tickets: $68, $98 and $128 from Sistic (6348-5555 or www.sistic. com.sg) or polechampionship. com/tickets

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