End of posing, beginning of dancing? Lee Priest takes a sharp swipe at current trends

Legendary and renowned for his candor, Australian bodybuilder Lee Priest recently spoke out without mincing words about the current state of posing routines in bodybuilding. His criticism was mainly aimed at the growing trend of the art of posing disappearing from the stage and being replaced by exaggerated, often comical dancing.

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"You're making a fool of our sport"

While Priest acknowledged that some of the dance interludes may seem funny at first glance, he added where he sees the main problem.

"It's fun to watch," he admitted, "but to me it just makes our sport look stupid."

He emphatically explained that the sight of a muscular, oiled-up athlete in a posing swimsuit trying to dance was embarrassing and disconnected from the essence of bodybuilding.

"If he was doing the same thing dressed in a nightclub, it wouldn't look half as bad," he added, pointing out how inappropriate such performances look in the context of a bodybuilding competition.

Contrast with the golden era

Lee Priest's modern routines stand in stark contrast to the routines of his own competing days. He recalled legends such as Melvin Anthony, King Kamali and Vince Taylor, who could masterfully combine entertainment with classic, precise posing.

"When Melvin, King Kamali or Vince Taylor did a show, they would do real poses, properly executed poses, as part of their routines," Priest pointed out.

He cited Vince Taylor's iconic "Terminator" lineup as a perfect example. This included theatrical elements, such as charging an imaginary gun, but immediately transitioned into a series of strength and aesthetic muscle poses.

"It wasn't just dancing, it was actual posing," Priest said uncompromisingly.

His comments thus serve as a clarion call to the current generation of competitors. He reminds them that they should respect the art of posing and preserve the essence of bodybuilding on stage - which is muscle, discipline and the ability to express it through poses, not just dance choreography.