ACTRESS Tan Kheng Hua has taken up pole dancing to raise money for charity. She started her practice sessions about a month ago and trains once or twice a week for an hour each time.

She is going to battle actor Hossan Leong and actress Irene Ang in a friendly pole competition to raise funds for their chosen charity.

Called the Celebrity Pole-Off, it is organised by pole dancing school Bobbi's Pole Studio.

The Grand Finale will be held on March 24 at Avalon Singapore.

Reaction has been positive so far, with her friends being supportive and encouraging, she said.

Her 75-year-old mother, with whom the actress is living while her place is being renovated, initially thought pole dancing was vulgar.

"But she changed her mind when I told her about my practice sessions, what I found difficult and when she saw the videos of my training.

"She gained an insight into the craft," she added.

Meanwhile, her husband, actor Lim Yu- Beng, is supportive yet nonchalant.

She said: "I show Yu-Beng videos of my pole-dance practice. He's one of those people who are very well-versed with the physical mechanics of the body.

"So I'd ask him questions like why I can't get my body higher and he'd know how to suggest ways in which to do so because he knows how."

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