A safety dance pole with a light display includes an opaque tube member with an programmable light display member configured for placement inside of the opaque tube member. A plurality of circumferentially arranged apertures extending through an outer surface of the tube member to a cavity within include light pipes configured to transmit light from the light display member past the outer surface of the opaque tube member. The dance pole includes a programmable controller which may be operated by wired or wireless means. The dance pole may be rotatable or suspendable. The light controller and light display may be powered by household current or one or more batteries.