Beginners' Guide: FAQ

Not even a little bit! We all have to start somewhere, and most people who take up pole dancing haven't much experience in the gym or other fitness activities, so you'll be right at home with us, no matter your level of fitness, age, gender or size. All are welcome in our studio. The strength and flexibility you see from our fabulous students have all been built up over time, as Ella Marie loves to say - Rome wasn't built in a day!

Once you're between the age of 18 and 118 you can join House of Pole Ireland! There is no upper age limit, pole dancing is for everyone. Unfortunately, we cannot accept any students below the age of 18 - even with a parent's note! But don't worry, pole will be waiting for you until then.

A beginner pole class typically goes like this:

We start with a 10-15 minute warm up to get your blood pumping and prepare your body for the class.

This is followed by some conditioning using the pole to gain the strength you'll need later on in your pole journey.

Then we move onto our tricks, spins and poses. You may learn individual moves or a couple of moves put together into what is known as a "combo". Moves are taught in a progressive format, meaning you are given building blocks to make getting the moves easier.

We finish class with a cool down.

Our classes have maximum 12 people and are open to all ages 18+ and genders.

If you would prefer to start off learning in a more private environment, you can email us and discuss privates. Our prices for private lessons can be found here

The beginner curriculum isn't engineered specifically around sexiness but the level of sexiness is up to you. Our instructors will never ask you to do something you're not comfortable with. Of course, pole has its roots in strip clubs and stripper culture which we must respect.

Pole is about getting outside of your comfort zone, but you decide where to draw the line when it comes to sexy things. We want you to feel free, and above all, safe and comfortable to grow.

Our students come to us to learn in a safe, supportive environment. We do not allow people to watch them learn pole. If you are interested in taking up pole, you can sign up to our "Introduction to Pole" class as a drop-in (single use class pass).

Our Intro to Pole classes are aimed at absolute beginners who have no background in pole dance. It is open to all and you can book your space here.

Layers, layers layers! Wearing different layers will enable you be as prepared as possible for your class. An idea of layers could be: shorts, sports bra, t-shirt, sweatshirt, leggings.

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During the warm-up and flexibility class you may prefer to do your stretching and conditioning in leggings and a jumper, but for your tricks classes, you'll need different grip-points such as sides, armpits, knees and thighs to name a few, so you'll need clothing that can work for you to nail those combos! That's why wearing layers is a good idea. If in doubt, always have a pair of shorts packed in your pole bag!

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For our heels classes you will need pole-specific heels such as Pleasers or Hella Heels and kneepads. If you haven't bought your shoes yet, you can try the classes in socks, but we're sure you'll fall in love with heels the way we have and be quick to get yourself a pair!

Kneepads are recommended for heels classes but not required.

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As for clothing in heels class, wear what makes YOU feel good. For some people they feel sexy in a hoodie, for others they prefer a harness and fishnets. There is no dress-code, just dress for yourself and enjoy the dance. Layers again will be useful here as some tricks classes will require different grip points.

You will be asked to bring a cloth to clean the pole (we supply the cleaning fluid and paper if you forget your cloth).

Our Blacklion studio has mats for the warm-up and flexbility classes which are available for our students to use. If you would like to bring a mat for the warm up in the Dublin studio, you are welcome to do so.

To prepare for pole, make sure you don't apply body lotion, fake tan or moisturiser to your arms and legs - especially the night before your pole class. The oil in the lotion can make your skin extra slippery and hamper your grip. Pack your bag before the class so you don't forget your shorts, heels, kneepads, cloth or grip-aid if you need it.

Grip-aid is a generic term for a type of liquid chalk specifically made for use while pole dancing. They are available to buy from many online retailers as well as in the studio itself. There are many different brands with their own pros and cons. Grip-aid is not a necessity but many people train with it, especially if they find the pole too slippery.

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The cleaning cloth can also help with pole slipperiness. During the course of the lesson, the pole may become slippy or slick with sweat or even become coated with grip-aid! Having a cleaning cloth with enable you to wipe down the pole during the class and you can then use our in-studio bottles of pole cleaner for that extra bit of elbow grease! Your cloth would ideally be made of microfibre but most fabrics are fine.

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At the end of each lesson, students are required to wipe down their poles to clean them of sweat and grip-aid. Please keep your cloth in your pole bag to avoid forgetting it.

Of course you can! All our heels classes can be done in socks to enable you to slide and glide over the floor.

Of course not! The level of sexiness is up to you. Our instructors will never ask you to do something you're not comfortable with. Of course pole has its roots in strip clubs and stripper culture; it's about getting outside of your comfort zone, but you decide where to draw the line when it comes to sexy things. We want you to feel free, and above all, safe and comfortable to grow.