Altitude's Beginnings..

As we hit a huge milestone - Altitude's 15th birthday!! It feels like the perfect time to take a step back and share how it all began. While we’ve grown and evolved so much, at the heart of it, it all started with a single passion for pole dancing and a dream to share it with others.

To start with, Altitude wasn’t even going to be called Altitude! When I first started thinking about opening a studio, I’d picked the name Trinity Pole. I had the logo designed, website set up and then I changed my mind last minute! 🙈

I realised that it might have some unintended religious connotations, and that just wasn’t the vibe I was going for. So I ended up choosing Altitude and honestly, I couldn’t tell you why 😂 but we went with it and clearly, it stuck!

At the time, most of the classes I’d found in New Zealand were mixed level, but I come from a gymnastics background, so I was used to structure and wanted to bring that into the pole world. I created the levels (which we still use today) and the curriculums (which are forever being adapted to keep up with the pole world!).

I rented a space in Christchurch by the hour, shared with a Capoeira studio and set up 5-6 poles. At the start it was just me teaching, and for the first few classes I forced some of my friends to come along to fill the classes (thanks friends!) 😂 As things started to grow, I brought on a couple of amazing instructors, Tracey and Michelle Muscles (now the owner of Altitude Redwood!), and together we started building the community that has become Altitude 🩷

Then the Christchurch earthquake hit..! I was forced to make the decision to either give up, or go bigger. So I decided to continue on, signing a lease for a larger space which is where Altitude Saint Asaph Street was born!

(Fun fact for those outside of Christchurch - the studio moved to a location three times its size back in 2017 but it’s still on the same street!)

Altitude has grown so much in the last 15 years, and it all started purely from my love of pole dance and what it could bring to people’s lives.

At the time, I didn’t know much about the roots of pole, I was drawn in by the strength, the movement, the way it made me feel.

But the truth is, pole wouldn’t exist as it does today without those origins, and I want to acknowledge and thank those who came before me - those in the strip club and sex work industries - for bringing this art form into the world.

I could never have imagined what it would turn into but could not be happier for the outcome!

-Karry x

Founder of Altitude Pole & Fitness