The scene at Pam Thorson's last party: a group of bachelorettes - some draped in feather boas, some thinking up stage names - gathering around a pole to learn some moves. It's not what you think.

She grabs the pole with her right hand, encircling it at a stalking pace. Then she accelerates, reaches toward the pole and clutches it with both hands. In one move, she hooks her leg around the pole, ...