The INTERNATIONAL POLE ART FESTIVAL (IPAF) is the first ever international event located in Portugal dedicated to promote pole dance as a performing art and a sport! IPAF is an independent and professional event in Sports and Arts context that takes place every year. In 2016, the event will take place from June 4 to June 7. The event includes:
• An INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION with athletes from
all over the World on June 5
• A SHOWCASE with national and international invited performances on June 4
• WORKSHOPS with some of the internationally well-known and more talented pole athletes in the World on June 6 & 7
POLE ART COMPETITION
This COMPETITION is a technical and professional event. In particular, this competition combines Sport & Art, offering the opportunity to be creative, original and to display acrobatic, strong and flexible tricks in an emotional and engaging creation, inspiring the audience and the judges. We are not only looking for the perfect technique and finest tricks, but mainly for a kind of passion and art that thrills the audience in its most deep way. The main objective is to support the development and promotion of pole dance and bring it to the mainstream in sports. INTERNATIONAL ARTISTIC SHOWCASE
The SHOWCASE will host national and international performances and will have as main objective to promote pole dance as an art, educate the general public about it and to encourage cooperation and teamwork from different pole artists and pole dancing schools. All styles, from dance to theatrical performances, from sensual to sporty, are encouraged. The main idea being to promote creativity, innovation, imagination, and artistic based-pole performances. We encourage new ways of thinking, perceiving, feeling, questioning and expressing this art. INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOPS
The international WORKSHOPS will be hosted at Dance Factory Studios on the days after the competition and the showcase. These workshops will be taught by some of the best pole athletes in the World that will share their knowledge with those interested in developing and learning more. The main objective of these workshops will be to promote learning and sharing between some of the most talented pole athletes at the moment and all people that are interested in increasing their pole art and sport knowledge and training.