Disclaimer – This blog may come across quite blunt, but rest assured I am not publicly shaming or calling out any specific studios in this post. I am simply sharing important points raised by a variety of pole dancers on a generalised basis.
Trying to find a decent pole studio in 2025 can feel like a bit of a minefield. Whilst there are plenty of supportive, welcoming and inclusive studios out there, there are sadly quite a few shithouses knocking about too. A top tier studio can do wonders for lifting your mood and improving your overall wellbeing, whereas a bad one can leave both staff and students feeling deflated, demotivated or worse injured.
Last month, I took to IG to ask my lovely followers what green flags they look for when choosing a pole studio to train at. The common green flags mentioned have been curated into the list below;
- Genuine inclusivity
Key emphasis on the word “genuine” here. There are many studios who claim to be diverse, however both their social media presence, staff and student clientele reflect otherwise. This is probably going to ruffle some feathers, but if a space claims to be “diverse and inclusive” yet is populated by the majority of white, slim, cishet people, then it ain’t as diverse as it claims to be.
A truly inclusive studio will reflect this in both their staff and students. Studios which have a community focus who warmly welcome students from all ethnic backgrounds, body shapes and members of the LGBT+ community are where it’s at. If you haven’t attended a studio in person but are looking to see how genuinely inclusive they may be, check out their social media presence to see if they use inclusive language and showcase staff and students of all races and body types. Another good sign a studio truly cares about inclusivity is if their online booking site asks for your pronouns when you book onto a class. Bonus points also to studios who avoid using gendered terms for moves too.
Disclosure: The link above is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn commission if you click through and make a purchase.
- Makes an active effort to create a Sex Worker positive space
In an industry where the shitcunt hashtag “#notastripper” (ugh, I feel sick even quoting that), is still running rife on Instagram, a studio that shows active and continuous support for the origins of our hobby and respects those in the industry is an absolute win. Ideally, this would look like hiring instructors who are sex workers and/or strippers, or at least hosting regular workshops ran by strippers. Another method for creating a Sex Worker positive space could look like instructors/studio owners encouraging students to attend events and workshops ran by strippers and sex workers. This not only shows sincere appreciation for those who invented our hobby, but also that an instructor or studio isn’t appropriating stripper aesthetic and culture for their own financial gain.
Basically, none of that “Pole originated thousands of years ago from Mallakhamb” rhetoric on any of their branding whatsoever!
- Welcoming students who feel supported and seen
Starting pole classes can feel fucking daunting at the best of times, especially when starting on your own. Attending a friendly studio where you feel welcomed and supported no matter what level you’re at makes all the difference. A lot of us ( me included) attend pole classes as a bit of me time and to boost our mental health as best we can via hanging upside down from a mental stick, and being in a class where your fellow students chat to and support you elevates your mood big time. Spoiler alert – instructors who are uplifting and supportive to their students create an environment where students uplift and supportive on another!
If you’re thinking of attending a studio and are unsure of how supportive they are towards their students, check out their website or business reviews to see what their students have to say, or better still see if you can speak to any current students there directly.
Lastly, it’s advantageous for both students and instructors if the studio operates a fair cancellation policy. We have all been in the position where you plan out your pole schedule for the week and then bam! Life happens and it all goes to shit. Having the option to shimmy across into a different class or sit a week out has saved my arse financially on multiple occasions.
- Safe and supportive instructors
This is a pretty big one, as the quality of your instructor can literally make or break your pole dance journey. A fucking bobby dazzler of a teacher will make you feel safe, supported and encourage you in the way that best suits your own body and movement style. A bad one on the other hand can negatively affect your physical and mental wellbeing.
Some solid green flags for instructors are ones that have taken the time to get a decent qualification (especially in an unregulated industry like pole dance) and continue to work to further their learning and improve their teaching abilities. This should undoubtedly include being able to safely teach people who have conditions such as hypermobility and other conditions which make pole more of a challenge for certain bodies. Furthermore, it goes without saying that a good instructor will be able to both teach and spot people of all shapes and sizes.
With regard to the various ability levels of pole dance, a huge green flag for me is when a studio’s levelled classes accurately match their description. I.e. beginner and intermediate classes aren’t sneaking in moves that are higher up the difficulty ladder. Yes that feeling when you finally conquer a move is fucking unmatched, but students should be encouraged to move in a way that is safe for their own body, not fast tracked along or pressured to tick specific tricks off the list before they’re good and ready.
This list is a starter for ten by no means finished, so if there are any big old green flags you can think of that were not included above, let me know in the comments!
Disclosure: The link above is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Chrome Chronicles 