What Makes a Great Pole Studio

As more and more people are bitten by the addictive pole dancing bug, the options available to students and teachers are rapidly increasing. This is a wonderful thing! But with many so many choices it can be difficult to decide, or identify, what you want from your pole dancing and certainly what you want from your teacher and your studio.

Of course, people are such magnificently diverse creatures, and one person’s favourite pole studio might be another person’s nightmare studio! So in this article I will not be imposing on you my ideals or preferences. Instead I will aim to raise your awareness of the different things pole studios can offer, and thus empower you to make an informed choice yourself, and hopefully the best choice at that!

I hope that studio owners and teachers will also find this guide useful when it comes to setting up their studios or planning their classes.

In writing this article, I have researched the opinions of various students, teachers and owners, both in the real world and on Internet forums. If you disagree with any of the points raised here, I’d love for you to add your own opinion too!

As you read through, you might think I have listed SO many things that it would be practically impossible to find a studio with all of them rolled into one! You’d be absolutely right. For owners, it’s hard enough finding a suitable location, with appropriate space, ceilings and flooring for pole, let alone all the other luxuries! So again, I would like to emphasise the value of prioritising what YOU as a pole student or studio owner are seeking, and finding a studio matches this as closely as possible.

Here we go…

The Atmosphere and Culture

What is the vibe or atmosphere of the studio?

Absolutely everyone involved in the studio contributes to the ‘feel’ and culture of the place – that includes you! The energy that the owner or manager puts into the studio generally transfers through all the staff and instructors, and in turn gets picked up by the students. Additionally, the students themselves bring a certain attitude to class with them, and this can influence the way the rest of class feels.

To work out whether the atmosphere suits you, a few questions you could ask yourself include:

• Is the focus on having fun in class, or is it a serious training program?
• Can you imagine yourself as a satisfied student here?
• Is there a genuine atmosphere of caring and empathy that occurs not just between student and teacher but between other students, throughout all learning and teaching?
• Is it dimly lit, and decorated to make you feel sexy and relaxed, or is it well lit and designed to feel more like a fun group fitness class? Which do you prefer?
• Does it feel cliquey or elitist… or is everyone welcoming and friendly?
• And perhaps the most important one:  Do you feel comfortable there?

The Teaching Philosophy, and The Instructors

The ways the instructors teach is going to play a big part in how much you achieve in your pole classes, and how much you enjoy them. Consider the following questions:

• Do the instructors truly believe that everyone can learn or do they give more attention to more capable students?
• Do the instructors make you feel safe and secure? Are you certain they know to spot you, how to give you boosts and how to adapt a move for your level, if required?
• Do you think the instructors will motivate you to achieve more than you imagined, without pushing you too far outside your comfort zone? It’s a delicate balance!
• Are the instructors capable of adapting their teaching methods to suit students, to explain things multiple ways, and to provide alternatives should you need them?
• Do the teachers have control over their classes and can they hold everyone’s attention (whilst still letting you enjoy yourself)?
• Some studios like to keep a file on regular or enrolled students, so that if an instructor leaves or a substitute fills in they’ll know where the student is at, as well as their strengths and weaknesses etc. Is this something that’s important to you?
• Where possible, many studios like to invite guest instructors or performers to run classes or additional workshops. Has yours thought about this?

The Class Structure

This is when you really need to identify what you want to get from pole. Are you looking primarily for fitness and strength building through impressive tricks, or simply a fun way to unwind at the end of the day? Do you intend to perform as a pole dancer and want to learn all the fluidity and sensuality of the art… or maybe you want a mix of all this?

Get answers to the following questions:

• What material is covered in the classes, and how does a class generally run?
  For example, does this studio teach floor work and transitions? What about routine building?
• How much time is spent on tricks (in proportion to other class activities)?
• Do they offer stretch classes, or strength training etc.?
• Are the classes open for casual attendance, or are they structured in blocks? Do you have to graduate to go onto the next level, and what does this entail?
• How many students are in a class?
• Are you given ample time to practice and review moves that you learnt previously?

The Physical Assets and Equipment

Obviously, you also need to think about the building itself, the equipment the studio has, and the location – including travel and parking options.

• Where is the studio and how do you get there?
• What types of poles do they have? As a beginner, you may not know which you prefer, but they come in many varieties, including: chrome, steel or brass, spinny or static, and portable or permanent (just to name a few).
• Think about other things that are important to you – it may be crash masts, wall-to-wall mirrors, pole height or plenty of swinging space around each pole.

Other Opportunities

You might also like to think about some of the following:

• Is the studio involved or active in your local community, or the international pole industry? For example, some studios will invite students to pole competitions and exciting industry events, if you’re interested in this kind of thing, find out whether yours does too.
• If you’re looking to take pole further, can the studio help you find opportunities for you to perform, or be trained to become an instructor perhaps?
• Does the studio host student showcase nights, or throw members parties and pole jams? These can be a lot of fun, and can really help to build your confidence in freestyling and performing to an audience!
• Some studios are entirely dedicated to pole, while others share their space with other classes, such as yoga, dance or group fitness. If you like variety, you might enjoy a venue that can offer the latter, whereas if you’re looking for somewhere with lots of pole classes running throughout the week or more open practice times dedicated purely to pole, the former might be your best bet.
• Does the studio offer memberships, and what benefits are offered?

Over to you…

Now I’d like to invite you to share what YOU think. What is the most important thing a pole studio absolutely must have (or do), in your opinion? What’s a deal breaker when it comes to instructors?

I’d love to know!

Photo Credits: Studios pictured are Shanghai Soul Dancing Studio and Singapore’s Groove Studio.

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