Annual Pole Expo hits the Hard Rock Hotel — PHOTOS

By Jeff Scheid Las Vegas Review-Journal

10 years ago

Hanna Khatib,left, and Claire Nachowicz both from Chicago perform on a pole during Pole Expo 2015 inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 4455 Paradise Road, on Friday, Sept. 11,2015. Nearly 2,000 people are attending the four day event pole dance event which closes on Sunday JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow him @jlscheid

Burlesque performer Kassy Luvjoy,left, and Fawnia Dietrich watches burlesque dancer Mone‘t perform during the Pole Expo 2015 inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 4455 Paradise Road, on Friday, Sept. 11,2015. Nearly 2,000 people are attending the four day event pole dance event which closes on Sunday JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow him @jlscheid

Michelle Glancey looks at pole dancing clothes during the Pole Expo 2015 inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 4455 Paradise Road, on Friday, Sept. 11,2015. Nearly 2,000 people are attending the four day event pole dance event which closes on Sunday JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow him @jlscheid

Hanna Khatib of Chicago performs on a pole during Pole Expo 2015 inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 4455 Paradise Road, on Friday, Sept. 11,2015. Nearly 2,000 people are attending the four day event pole dance event which closes on Sunday JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow him @jlscheid

Burlesque performer Kassy Luvjoy poises for a photo before performing during Pole Expo 2015 inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 4455 Paradise Road, on Friday, Sept. 11,2015. Nearly 2,000 people are attending the four day event pole dance event which closes on Sunday JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow him @jlscheid

Pins are marked on a map from where attendees from during the Pole Expo 2015 inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 4455 Paradise Road, on Friday, Sept. 11,2015. Nearly 2,000 people are attending the four day event which closes on Sunday JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow him @jlscheid

Burlesque dancer Mone‘t performs during the Pole Expo 2015 inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 4455 Paradise Road, on Friday, Sept. 11,2015. Nearly 2,000 people are attending the four day event pole dance event which closes on Sunday JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow him @jlscheid

The Aussie Hunks dance troupe perform during the Pole Expo 2015 inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 4455 Paradise Road, on Friday, Sept. 11,2015. Nearly 2,000 people are attending the four day pole dancing event which closes on Sunday JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow him @jlscheid

Instructor Zorany Judd demonstrates a move during static pole dancing workshop at Pole Expo 2015 inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 4455 Paradise Road, on Friday, Sept. 11,2015. Nearly 2,000 people are attending the four day event pole dance event which closes on Sunday JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow him @jlscheid

Michell Garza of San Antonio performs on a pole during Pole Expo 2015 inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 4455 Paradise Road, on Friday, Sept. 11,2015. Nearly 2,000 people are attending the four day event pole dance event which closes on Sunday JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow him @jlscheid

Sharmaine Figuerao of Puerto Rico tries a move during a spinning tricks and combo workshop during Pole Expo 2015 inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 4455 Paradise Road, on Friday, Sept. 11,2015. Nearly 2,000 people are attending the four day event pole dance event which closes on Sunday JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow him @jlscheid

Tonya Guadiz of Dallas tries a move during static pole dancing workshop at Pole Expo 2015 inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 4455 Paradise Road, on Friday, Sept. 11,2015. Nearly 2,000 people are attending the four day event pole dance event which closes on Sunday JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow him @jlscheid

A sign promoting pole dance is seen at Pole Expo 2015 inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 4455 Paradise Road, on Friday, Sept. 11,2015. Nearly 2,000 people are attending the four day event pole dance event which closes on Sunday JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow him @jlscheid

Leesi L‘Ru owner of Fab Pole demonstrates aerial silks and pole dancing during the Pole Expo 2015 inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 4455 Paradise Road, on Friday, Sept. 11,2015. Nearly 2,000 people are attending the four day event pole dance event which closes on Sunday JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow him @jlscheid

Women cheer on the Aussie Hunks dance troupe during the Pole Expo 2015 inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 4455 Paradise Road, on Friday, Sept. 11,2015. Nearly 2,000 people are attending the four day pole dancing event which closes on Sunday JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow him @jlscheid

Dominique Guillen performs during Pole Expo 2015 inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 4455 Paradise Road, on Friday, Sept. 11,2015. Nearly 2,000 people are attending the four day event pole dance event which closes on Sunday JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow him @jlscheid

What started in strip clubs has now gone mainstream. Nearly 2,000 people from 50 countries are attending the fourth annual Pole Expo at the Hard Rock Hotel this weekend. The four-day event, which ends Sunday, includes workshops, seminars and performances.

Pole dancing is “empowering for every woman no matter the size, age or fitness,” said Leesi L’Ru, a former adult entertainer and owner of FabPole in Denver.