Please take note of the guidelines below.
Bring a (small) towel for warm-up.
When taking your first class at our studio, you will receive a 'personal pole cleaning cloth'. This is meant to clean and desinfect your dance pole during class. After class, you take it home with you and bring it back for your next pole session.
The studio provides in 4 aerosols with desinfectant that can be used during class. Make sure to desinfect your dance pole before and after use.
We will keep windows and doors open for ventilation, as far as outside temperatures allow us.
Please stay at home when feeling ill and/or having a fever. You will be allowed to catch the missed class up -when cancelled at least 4h prior to your class- during the series that are running.
Classes at Poledance Antwerp are being taught in Dutch or English, depending on its participants.
If you miss a class, you will be allowed to catch it up during running series. This means you can join a class with a different group on another day. Make sure to send us a notification EVERY TIME you can't make it, and if you prefer to join a different class than you're used to. Notify us by phone, f2f, through email or whatsapp at least 4h prior to the due class.
All classes need to be taken in the course of a running series. This means you can't postpone or extend your paid lessons endlessly. Exceptions to this are always possible, after consultation and written permission from the studio owner (aka Marleen) and provided a medical certificate is submitted before the class starts and for a maximum period of 12 months.
Our studio is in the Kavka building, Oudaan 14 at 2000 Antwerpen. When walking in, turn right at the reception desk and follow the arrows to ‘Poledance Antwerp’ on the second floor.
If you plan to come by car: there is a public (pay) car park across the street (Parking Oudaen - open every day from 7am to 1am, exit is possible 24/7).
In front of Kavka is a bicycle station for A-bikes (station 67).
All public transport facilities are nearby: tram stop ‘Antwerp Oudaen’ at 3 min walk, Central Station at 15 min walk.
Bear in mind that this part of Antwerp can be very busy and parking -especially on Saturdays- might be a struggle if you consider coming by car.
The large pay car park under the National Bank (on the Leien) or Horta car park (located in Hopland) are within walking distance of Kavka and a possible alternative as they are often easier to reach and also cheaper.
NOTE: Since August 2023, visitors are prohibited from parking in the streets in this area of the city
Pole dance is a combination of fitness and dance, based on choreographic routines with a (vertical) pole, that has become increasingly popular in recent years. With pole dancing, you improve your posture, coördination, and flexibility. You also enhance your stamina and boost your self-confidence. Pole dancing is often considered a racy sport, but it’s equally elegant, creative and challenging.
Pole dancing continues to grow popular every day and is being practised by enthusiasts in sports clubs and dance studios. National and International competitions are held on a regular basis.
On October 17, 2017, thanks to the efforts of IPSF (International Pole Sports Federation – www.polesports.org), pole dance is now officially a recognised sport and is on its way to becoming an Olympic discipline.
Pole dance is a perfect alternative to a regular gym session.
The most important thing to take into account is that pole dance training is very dynamic and challenging, and will never feel like an ‘ordinary’ fitness session. You won’t get bored!
Taking classes is recommended to learn the basics, main contact/pressure points and proper muscle engagement. This is important for your safety, injury-prevention, effortless execution and effectiveness of learning. With the right guidance, helpful exercises and time you might become really good at pole dancing.
By joining the Poledance Antwerp ninja crew, you will:
- improve your posture, coordination, and flexibility
- fortify your core strength and stamina
- increase your confidence
- have fun and meet new people
No. All classes at Poledance Antwerp are open for everybody, nevertheless gender, age and (sporty) background.
We take pride in knowing that our students acknowledge our studio as their safe space.
Anybody who is over 18 years old, regardless of their general condition, looks or sportiness, can join us. Of course, we have to take former injuries or operations which affect your general condition into account.
Our studio has 4 dancing poles. We allow up to 8 participants per class, which means that there are 2 dancers for every pole. We firmly believe that this is beneficial for all parties: your 'pole wife/husband' will be there to help you when you learn new tricks, plus you will be able to take a short moment of rest in between your exercises.
A minimum of 5 registered students/class is maintained for new series. When less than 5 enrolments, we reserve the right to cancel a class and refund the tuition fee, or have students join another group.
Private and semi private-classes are also possible.
Contact us with time and dates that are possible for you.
When organizing a workshop, we take the nature of the workshop into account before deciding how many people can participate.
For the first series of beginner classes, shorts and a sleeveless shirt are perfect. For hygienic reasons, you could bring your own yoga mat.
Your shorts should be well above the knee because you need your bare skin to ‘stick’ to the pole. If you wear too many clothes (covered up), you ‘slide’ off the pole because you won’t have any grip. In higher levels (from beginner 2/intermediate level on), a cropped sports top or neutral sports bra is advised.
Shoes are not necessary- athletic pole dance is practiced on bare feet. For our pole in heels workshops, we strongly recommend the use of kneepads and Pleasers (aka pole dance heels) or socks.
During warm-up and/or cooling down, yoga pants/sweatpants/legwarmers can be useful.
Any kind of jewellry (bracelets, watches, rings etc.) is forbidden during class because this will damage the poles.
We strongly advise you to NOT use body lotion, hand cream or any kind of moisturizer on the day of your class. By using these, you make yourself and the pole unnecessarily slick and you could slip off, risking injury.
Yes.
Four pole dance levels can be clearly defined: beginner, intermediate, advanced and pro.
Everybody needs to start with the basics (aka beginner group classes). In these classes, you will get familiar with the hardcore basics of pole dance. Once these are a piece of cake, you can advance to the next group/level where we start teaching pole dance moves, pole tricks and pole combo's.
Starting moments for absolute beginners are September, January and April. If you have a former experience as a pole dancer, you will be allowed to any class that suits your level at any time. Contact us and we'll find a moment that matches your current level and agenda.
The levels in our studio are (going from absolute beginner to poleninja pro): beginner, beginner-1, beginner-2, beginner-3, intermediate, intermediate-1, intermediate-2, intermediate-3 and advanced/open level.
Those who participate in the intermediate and advanced classes are considered to be familiar with basic pole moves and are able to invert in a controlled way.
No. At Poledance Antwerp we love to have you as our student and welcome everybody.
Everything you need to know is taught at our studio. Everybody starts at the very beginning. As the course builds up, you will gain body control and muscle strength by getting familiar with the core basics of pole dancing.
At this tempo, you will gain flexibility, strength and general condition almost without realizing it, meanwhile preventing you from getting injured. This is why you can only register for a complete series of classes and are not allowed to take single lessons.
Series start September, January and April. Starting moments for absolute beginners are September, January and April. If you have a former experience as a pole dancer, you will be allowed to any class that suits your level at any time. Contact us and we'll find a moment that matches your current level and agenda.
