What features do men look for when they pick a pole studio? It’s a question I imagine some studio owners ask themselves. So, I decided to do a little research. What I found is that guys consider the following elements when contemplating a pole studio (in no particular order): atmosphere, the ceiling height, the space between the poles, the condition of the floor, and the classes the studios offer.
The studio atmosphere is important to guys because we are stepping outside of our comfort zone. In many cases, we are looking past many years of conditioning in traditional male gender roles. When we pole it is important for us to experience learning to pole dance with peers that are supportive and non-judgmental. It is especially important for us when we are beginners. The instructors, and owners set the tone. Studios that are warm and inclusive are real winners for the guys.
The ceiling height is almost as important as the studio vibe. Guys tend to be taller and it is hard to keep your legs straight in inverts when you are concerned about hitting the ceiling with your toes (Or heels). For those of us who compete, we typically find ourselves on rigged poles that are at least ten feet tall. Getting the timing right on a competition pole pass can be challenging when the poles you learn and practice on are only eight or nine feet tall.
Photo Credit Peter Yeung
Similar issues come up when guys get long in spins like corkscrew and candy cane. The closer the poles are, the harder it is for guys to keep their legs from invading the space of the poler next to them. The situation gets even tougher when the more advanced male dancers start experimenting with platform heels. I know from experience that no one wants to be seeing eight-inch heels attached to a six-foot-tall guy heading their direction.
You would think that floors don’t matter all that much to guys because a lot of us tend to work more upright and don’t do the sexy floor work. This just isn’t true anymore. All of the studios I dance at have coed floor and heels classes. Not all the men wear heels. But all of us wear knee pads, tights, or legwarmers. A clean floor is a pleasure. It’s hard to feel sexy when you are picking off hair, glitter, and bits of stray thread off your body between breaks in class.
Photo credit Brian Jackson
Finally, we look at class offerings. Lots of coed classes are a plus. It was interesting to find that the guys also liked the non-pole class offerings that some studios have. Those classes include things like break dancing, hip hop, barre, silks, flexibility, and lyra classes. The guys enjoy the diversity and chances to explore other ways of moving and getting fit that do not include the pole.
Please feel free to add the things you look for in a pole class in the comments below. In my local area we have gone from no pole studios open to men, to almost all Denver area studio open to men in less than eight years. The number of coed pole classes are increasing all the time. Let’s hear it for the boys!
