Your First Class (Minute by Minute)

This is how your first class usually goes:

• Before class: arrive 10 minutes early, settle in, ask questions, and meet your instructor.
• First 10 minutes of class: warm-up and simple mobility.
• Next 5-7 minutes: light muscle conditioning to prepare your body for pulling work.
• Main part of class: grips, beginner spins, introduction to climbing basics for future classes, and simple combinations.
• Last 5 minutes: cool down and stretch.
• After class: sign up for your next class or make a quick plan for your next class.

You are not expected to climb right away in your first class. Every student gets their own pole in class.

If You Are Worried, Read This First

Most beginners tell me they worry about one of these:

• “I will feel awkward.”
• “I am not flexible.”
• “I have no upper-body strength.”
• “I do not know what to wear.”

You are not alone in any of this. Most students start with the same worries, and many come alone. Class vibe is supportive and beginner-focused: music is on, the coach guides you step by step, and nobody expects a performance. If you are shy, tell your instructor at the beginning. We will meet you where you are.

Week 1: Build Your Routine, Not Pressure

Your only goal this week is to show up once and leave feeling safe.

• Nervous track: 1 beginner class.
• Ready track: 2 beginner classes.
• Extra work: optional 8-10 minutes of light mobility at home.

In class, you learn safe grip basics, simple footwork, beginner spins with support, and a few beginner strength moves to start building the strength you will need for future tricks. At home, keep mobility gentle for shoulders, wrists, hips, and back. You are not behind if this feels new. You are learning.

Week 2: Keep It Simple and Add Support

• Nervous track: 1 class + 1 short home session.
• Ready track: 2 classes + 1 short home session.
• Home session idea (8-20 minutes): squats to chair, wall push-ups, glute bridges, and light core work.

Even short sessions count. Small steps done regularly beat big efforts that burn you out.

Week 3: Keep Building Without Overdoing It

• Nervous track: 1-2 classes.
• Ready track: 2 classes (or 3 only if recovery is good).
• Extra work: 1 light strength or mobility session.

If grip feels tired or shoulders feel heavy, reduce volume for that week. Good progress is progress you can repeat.

Week 4: Consolidate and Plan Your Next Month

• Keep the same track that felt sustainable.
• Add only one variable: one extra class, or one longer home session, or one slightly harder movement.
• Reflect on wins: confidence, grip, stamina, and comfort in class.

When you start feeling more comfortable with the pole (often around week 3 or 4), you can add one dance-focused or flexibility-focused class. For example, try Exotic, Pole Art, or Stretching once a week. This way, your training supports not only strength, mobility, and pole skills, but also dance quality, expression, and flexibility.

Why We Prioritize Consistency First

Beginners usually improve faster with steady practice than with intense bursts. I usually say: the best student is the student who is consistent. In the first month, some tenderness and light bruising can happen and usually settles as your body adapts. That is one more reason to build gradually and stay consistent.

If numbers help you stay on track, a common benchmark is 150 minutes of moderate activity per week plus 2 strength days. Also, research suggests total weekly work matters more than how many days you split it into.

Start With One Easy Step

Book one intro-level class, or call/text us and we will help you choose your first class. You do not need a long commitment to begin. You can start with a single drop-in class and decide what feels right after your first visit. We also offer Intro classes (for new customers only) that are perfect for beginners (a 4-class format). If you are not sure about committing to four classes yet, start with one drop-in first.

If calling feels hard, use this opener: “Hi, I am brand new and a bit nervous. Which class should I start with?” Three useful questions to ask:

• Which beginner class is best for my first visit?
• What should I wear for my first class?
• How early should I arrive and what should I bring?

You do not need a perfect plan. You only need your first safe class.

You are welcome here.

It’s hard to overcome internal barriers, but then the reward is high: you feel accomplished, you feel like you are making progress. Our December studio party was sizzling with this feeling: Eleven students completed the North Star Technical Challenge. Each of them demonstrated five moves on Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced level and got points assigned for technical correctness, sportsmanship, and showmanship. All ladies showed strong sports spirit and did a great job, congratulations to all participants! Special compliments to winners of the three categories: Julie, Ksenya, and Mia! Many thanks to our supportive audience, who cheered for every participant!

On top of the new North Star challenge, the party featured performances of students and teachers. If you didn’t have a chance to join us this time, you can watch the videos here:

It is great to see the beautiful dancers growing their skill and self-awareness, developing their own styles and enjoying what they are doing!

We got a supreme mix in our celebration: lots of adrenaline, tons of determination to win and a tiny bit of fear to fail, awesome dances and complicated tricks, beautiful performers and cheering audience. It was a perfect cocktail!

I am wishing everyone Happy Holidays and looking forward to many rewarding hours of practicing and performing in the New 2018 year together!

Yours,
Taya

You are invited to join North Pole Dance Studio Technical Challenge, that will take place during the studio party on Wednesday, December 13! Dare to compare your skill set to the technical standards of pole dance!

Here is how it works:

1. Check your level. The Challenge is available in three levels: Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced. If not sure, check with your instructor.
2. Apply for the North Pole Dance Technical Challenge on your level: send an email to [email protected], use live chat on northpole.dance, call 647-547-1578, or talk to your instructor. This challenge is open exclusively to the students of North Pole Dance studio. A $20 participation fee per person applies.
3. Practice your level program described below. Check Challenge videos of the moves on northpole.dance. Work with your instructor to prepare: practice and get more explanation in group classes, practice on your own in Open Pole sessions, ask for a private class if you’d like to polish it further.
4. Join the Challenge on Wednesday, December 13. Get in front of your fellow students and our very own adjudicators and give it your best! Good luck!
5. What matters:
   1. Technically correct moves: posture, grip, use of body weight, etc. max 30 points
   2. Showmanship: smile, energy, etc. max 5 points
   3. Sportsmanship: handling stress, etc. max 5 points

Beginner Level

1. Around the World
2. Fireman
3. Attitude Spin
4. Chair
5. Pole Sit Straight Legs

Intermediate Level

1. Diamond – Chair – Fly Around
2. Pole Sit
3. Outside Leg Hang
4. Spinning Pole – Pull Up
5. Spinning Pole – Inside Leg Spin

Advanced Level

1. Aerial Outside Leg Hang
2. Jade Split
3. Spinning Pole – Straddle Legs
4. Spinning Pole – Shoulder Mount
5. Spinning Pole – Inversion

Good luck!

I did get some questions directly and through your stories about ladies who never tried pole dance before and are interested to know what it is. As a token of appreciation for your support I would like to extend this offer to your friends and followers:

Thanksgiving Special! One week only!
Register for one Pole Dance Beginner class during October 23-29 FOR FREE!
First come, first serve. New customers only. No cash value.

Here is the full list of classes for your convenience:

• 23 Oct, Mo, 10 AM
• 24 Oct, Tue, 7 PM
• 25 Oct, Wed, 11 AM
• 27 Oct, Fri, 8 PM
• 28 Oct, Sat, 10 AM

In order to sign up for a free class, contact North Pole Dance via live chat on the website or contact us via email, phone, or a web form. Please make sure you book your pole at least 24 hours in advance to reserve your pole – we do not practice pole sharing, so the spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

I hope this opportunity will inspire some new passions among your friends!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Taya

When I look back at this first year, a lot has happened. Many students came to the studio without any experience. The very typical start of our relationship with a new student is a web chat or a phone call when they say: “I am not sure what pole dance is, but I would like to come and try it”. With all of you, we worked through challenges and wins, ups and downs, hard work and joy of achievement.

It is a true pleasure to see how some of you already come up with your own choreographies, bring your personalities and emotions into your very own unique dance characters: strong unconquerable Lilia, sunny joyous Minnie, energetic daring Katya, romantic weightless Valentina, I am thrilled to see your grow!

The group of beginners did a great job showcasing their skills. Many found it challenging, to step out and to perform in public, and I am very proud of you as you all looked and danced confidently!

Our belly dance students and their teacher Gabriela were a special highlight of the night – everyone was touched by irresistible rhythms of their dances!

I have very special heartfelt thanks reserved for our guests: thank you so much for cheering on and supporting our dancers! You were the best audience!

This was a birthday party every one-year-old studio can dream about! I know, many of you got inspired and are looking forward to trying more new moves, getting to a new level, creating your own dance – I will be here to help you on your journey!

Yours,
Taya

Many thanks to everyone who performed, to everyone who supported and applauded, to our amazing belly dance teacher Gabriela, and separate thanks to @ritepic for pictures and videos. To all our dear students, who tirelessly practiced for this showcase, who put so much physical and mental effort into creating beautiful dances – thank you! You did so well, you are my inspiration!

Stay tuned for the date of our next showcase around the middle of May, let’s practice together for the new party!

For those who missed the February showcase, here are some videos, enjoy!

It is great, that your friends and family members came to this party. I hope they feel very proud of you, seeing you, strong and beautiful, telling a story with your dance. Support and encouragement from our loved ones are priceless, this is what keeps us all going, isn’t it? I thank all the guests who joined us on this fun evening.

The first show is exciting and scary, whatever your performance is. Some of you have talked to me about your apprehension, which I know only too well about from my own experience. It feels great to see how you overcame your fears and danced off, smiling. It feels even better to hear your excitement after, when you told me you enjoyed it and you were happy you did it. Awesome dances, ladies!

This is the time to celebrate. We celebrate the first Holiday season of the studio. We celebrate joy, peace, love and happiness. Here, at North Pole Dance, we also celebrate you: beautiful you, strong you, feminine you.

Happy Holidays! May your hearts be always warm with joy and laughter. May your days be filled with what you enjoy doing and with people you love. I am looking forward to dancing and growing together with you in the coming year!

Feeling blessed,
Taya

PS. For those who missed the event, we have published videos on our Youtube channel.

I wrote this post to make this first step easier for you. The first class in a new activity, such as Pole Dance or Yoga, can be exciting and at the same time a bit scary. Being somewhat apprehensive is normal. You can help yourself to enjoy the beginning of your journey more by investing several minutes into preparation.

Preparation

First, make sure you found studio location on the map, you know how to get here and how much time you need for the road. On our website, you can check pricing and schedule. North Pole Dance studio asks all participants to give at least 24-hour notice for class attendance to secure a spot; you can call us or send us a message on our website. Drop-ins are available when there are open spots, but you would be way better off knowing for sure you will get in, especially if you are coming to the class for the first time.

Come 10 minutes early – you’ll need some time to change, maybe to use a bathroom, pay for your class and – important! – to fill out forms. It is best to print and fill them out at home in advance, and then bring them with you, so that you don’t rush through the information and don’t get even more nervous. Please note: our studio asks you to bring your ID for the first class to make sure you are 18. If you are under 18, we’ll need to talk to your parents and get their agreement for you to participate.

What to wear?

For Pole Dance, the guiding thought is that you will need the contact between your skin and the pole for the whole length of your arms and legs; hence very short stretchy shorts and a T-shirt is a good outfit for a beginner. As you progress with spins and tricks, you will need to shorten your top to allow for the contact between skin and pole in the area of your belly and your back. You don’t need to worry about it in your first class, though. Of note: there are special clothes that will stick to the pole, so if you object to your skin touching the pole, we can help you get that particular outfit – talk to us.

For Yoga or Stretching classes wear comfortable stretchy clothes. If you are sensitive to temperatures, it is best to wear two layers: for when you work hard and for when you rest. Belly Dance class is better attended in lighter comfortable stretchy clothes as you will be moving quite a bit. A special coin belt would be helpful for you to understand movements of your hips; if you don’t own one yet, we offer them for purchase in the studio.

Whatever class you are about to take, the footwear for the first one is… any guesses? Right, none at all! We clean our studio regularly and being barefoot suits the majority of our participants. If you strongly prefer to have something on your feet, a pair of anti-slip yoga socks is a good idea – talk to us if you need help finding them. A spoiler for Pole Dancers: you will be in heels for sure, just allow yourself to learn the basics first. I met more than one beginner in Pole Dance, who were super passionate about dancing in their high heel shoes right away. I persuaded them to practice barefoot until they lay some foundation for their skills. The reasons are very simple: using heels requires a particular strength of ankle and calf muscles to prevent injury as well as certain awareness about your center of gravity to create an appealing move. I’ll help you get there safely in time!

If you think of yoga props, we have them all in our studio: mats, straps, blocks. Of course, you are welcome to bring your own, if you wish to.

HYDRATION is important, have a bottle of water with you.

Creams, lotions, ointments

The best kept secret of pole dance is NOT to wear any creams, lotions or ointments on your arms or legs when you come to the class. Can you guess why? Yes, you can! Our chrome poles will be slipping out of your grip if your skin has above the natural level of fats or moisturizers. This is why we and our participants clean the poles with an alcohol containing solution before and after every class. If you applied your lotion or cream on the day of the class, just shower with soap before coming here and make sure your skin is free of moisturizing products.

Allergies

Very small number of people are allergic to chrome. If you’ve been wearing leather clothes or using green/yellow shades of cosmetics products without any issues, you are very likely not one of them. However, if you happen to have this rare type of allergy, we have good news for you: one of our poles is hypoallergenic, specifically designed in stainless steel for people with chrome allergy. Make sure you mention that you need hypoallergenic pole while booking your spot in a Pole Dance class.

What to expect in the class?

Let’s take a typical Pole Dance class as an example. Every class starts with a warm-up. You want your muscles and ligaments to be ready to work with less risk of injury. The second part is conditioning of main core, leg and arm muscles. Then you will learn and practice elements like spins, steps, grips, and holds, that later will be combined into appealing sequences of moves. This is where every student gets a task according to their level and capacity. At the end of the class, we stretch and cool down.

Now you know how to prepare for your first class. I mentioned planning your trip, 24-hour notice and forms, clothes and footwear, no lotions and a bottle of water, what to expect in the class. There is one thing left to mention, and this is the one that often makes it or breaks it: BRING YOUR OPTIMISM WITH YOU!

Even the greatest was once a beginner. Don’t be afraid to take that first step.

Many thanks to those who called me or sent an email with warm wishes. Thank you for the beautiful bunch of flowers and for other presents!

I am very grateful to everyone who took time to come join the events in person. I hope you enjoyed free classes. Some of you figured out you are capable of doing a tricky arm stand in yoga. Some of you how have a special meaning for words like Fireman and Around the World.

Your nice words, your friendly smiles and your encouragement are greatly appreciated.

And of course I hope you enjoyed the professional show we put together for you. Please check out our Facebook page to see it again: incredible Lyana Khatatba with exuberant belly dance  show, special guest Jane Lee with precise challenging tricks, and yours truly with a show that featured Exotic Pole Dance and Sensual Me programs, both parts of the studio’s weekly schedule.

Please share your impressions about North Pole Dance studio with your friends and don’t forget to mention, that a special deal is in effect until October 1st, 2016: $50 off any membership for new members only.

I am looking forward to see you in the classes of your choice!

PS. For those who missed the event we have published videos on our Youtube channel.

So why pole dance? For me there is no doubt about why, and I’d like to share my biggest reasons with you.

Freedom

Pole dance is a very versatile activity. After you mastered the first few moves, you can start playing with your style. You can be a ballerina and draw classical shapes around the pole. You can turn into an exotic dancer and perform a sequence on high heels shoes. Or you can strive to master precisely timed and perfectly aligned moves, like an Olympian gymnast. There are no rules and no limits, you are the creator of your very own style.

Body

I know I need to take good care of my body: exercise is necessary for both physical and mental health. However gym routines or running do not work for me: I get bored too fast and cannot motivate myself to continue. With pole dance though I have so much fun, that I barely notice how time flies by in the class. Training and conditioning for pole makes all group muscles stronger and more agile. When I would like to achieve a desired line or perform a striking move, I feel super motivated to train and stretch for it. As a result, every day I feel strong, healthy and beautiful. Well, most days.

Friends

The community of pole dancers is a very friendly and supportive group. Although the majority of us perform single, every success gets celebrated as if we were a team. All of us started from simple moves like “Walk around the Pole” or “Fireman”. All of us faced our own challenges progressing to more complicated and beautiful routines. All of us can sincerely appreciate the effort of others on the same journey. Now as I opened my own studio, I see my pole friends being as happy for me as if I were their family. Thank to all of you for your kind words and ongoing support!

Self-esteem

Pole dance taught me one of the most important lessons of my life: many things seem impossible at first, but if you try and work towards it, you can achieve anything. In the beginning of my pole dancing journey I looked at the best pole athletes with admiration and thought: they are so strong, so agile, I don’t think I can do what they are doing. I have a personal belief: in the direction that your fear is growing, you are on the right path. This is exactly what I’ve done – I moved in the direction that challenged me, I practice despite fear, and with time I mastered pretty complicated things. When I face tough situations in my everyday life, I source my inspiration and courage from pole dance. I know: if I consistently invest in working on anything, the results will come.

Now you know why I chose pole dance and why it became such a big part of my life. Here is an idea for you: don’t ask yourself why try pole dancing. Ask yourself: WHY NOT?