Pole Dancing - FAQ and Myth Busting
As pole dancers, we are all used to hearing people say ‘I’d love to try pole dancing, but I’m not strong enough’, or ‘Would I have to wear heels?’, or ‘I don’t know if I could take all my clothes off’.
Well, we are here to tell you that you are strong enough, you don’t have to wear heels, and we do in fact wear clothes (we are NOT a nudist colony!). But let’s knock these myths and questions out one by one!
“I’m not strong enough”
If you were to start out running, you wouldn’t start with a marathon, right? You’d start with some short manageable distances, and pole is no different! Our curriculum is designed to cover all levels, from absolute beginner to seasoned veteran. Our instructors will get to know you and the level you’re at and can tailor exercises and moves accordingly. We also include conditioning in all of our classes so that you are always gaining strength for that next move.
“Is there a weight limit?" "Am I too old?”
Absolutely not! At Altitude you can be any age, shape, size or weight - we’ll be happy to have you! The same goes for ethnicity, gender, sexuality - come along and we’ll make sure you feel welcome 🥰
“What do I wear?”
If you’re worried that to be a pole dancer you need to walk around in next to nothing, then never fear! For our introductory pole classes all you need is your shins out so that you can grip against the pole. For some aerial classes leggings will be preferable. For all other classes - it’s up to you! Some more challenging moves might be easier with a bit more exposed skin, but ultimately it is just whatever is comfortable for you.
“Would I have to wear heels?”
A related question that we hear a bit. Don’t get us wrong - we LOVE a good pair of heels as much as the next person, but they are not a requirement at all. Some of our studios offer classes that are tailored a bit more towards wearing heels if that’s your jam, but otherwise socks or bare feet is great!
“How often can I come?”
Our memberships are for a minimum of 2 classes per week, and we don’t offer casual classes. The main reason for this is that it allows our Altitude instructors to work closely with you to achieve your goals - if we only see you once a week (or less!) it’s difficult to help you get the results you’re after. We also offer memberships of 4 classes per week and unlimited, as well as a number of other add-ons for training or performing.
“Do I have to compete?”
Not if you don’t want to! There’s a lot of reasons to take up pole and aerials, and performing is just one of them. Our studios each run their own student showcases over the year, and those can be a great and supportive environment to give performance a go. But if that’s not your thing then don’t worry - many of our polers have not performed/competed at all and just like coming along to get that next move, or to keep getting stronger, or just to have a dance in a safe space at the end of a long day.
“Will I be the only beginner?”
Nope! We are always welcoming new students, and we offer a number of different classes that specifically cater to beginners. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never danced before - there will be others in the same boat - and our instructors will always check in with you to see how you’re getting on.
“What does a typical class look like?”
All classes will start with a warm-up, stretch and some conditioning, and finish with a final stretch/warm down. As an example, a typical level 1 pole class would go: warm-up and stretch, conditioning, 3-4 spins or moves, a guided flow/dance featuring those spins/moves, and a final stretch.
“How many people are in each class?”
This a bit studio dependent, but generally speaking you could expect anywhere from 8 to 12 people in your class. To get a more accurate picture you’d be best to check with the Altitude studio local to you, as it will depend on the number of poles available in their rooms.
And that about wraps up the most common myths/questions that we hear! Got a question we didn’t cover? Get in touch with your local Altitude studio here to find out the answer!
