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Can a complete beginner learn on an X-Stage?
I’ve been looking into all the good quality poles out there but I don’t think I have a good place for a normal floor-to-ceiling pole. In all the rooms of our house the roof is either too low, too heavily textured, or a drop-ceiling that won’t support anything. My only option in the long run will probably be the garage as it has a 10′ roof. We just built it, though, and it isn’t drywalled or insulated yet so the roof is still just exposed trusses and beams. It will be quite some time before we are able to finish the inside and I’m able to install a pole. (I’ve returned to college so our budget has gotten tighter and renovations have been put on hold)
If I want to start pole dancing anytime soon, I think my only option will be a freestanding pole like the X-Stage. But can a complete beginner learn on such a pole? I’m an absolute newbie and have never even touched a dance pole. I’ve watched as many videos of the X-Stage as possible and everyone says how stable it is, but I do see the pole wobbling and I’m sure that will be in the back of my mind when I’m dancing and make me more cautious…dare I say a little fearful even?
Has anyone else started out on a pole like this? Can it be done? Or am I asking for trouble? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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6 Replies
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You could learn on a Stage Pole but it would be safest to stay on the ground, I wouldn’t recommend it. Put an X pole in your garage!!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif …if you buy and extension for the X pole they can go up to 12ft!!! Exposed beams work just fine for the x pole too….because… that is were you place the pole anyway, over the stud/beams. If they are narrow and you want to span 2 beams you can just place a board across the 2 for the pole. Also textured ceilings are not a problem (is it like popcorn or something else) I use my X poles on textured ceiling with no troubles. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif
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First of all there is no reason you can’t start on a free standing pole. Many have learned on this type of pole.
So with that being said, you will have to get used to the movement of the pole which can be uncomfortable to beginners but with time and some practice you will learn to dance and deal with it. The X-stage is VERY sturdy and the pole movement is not as bad as others.
Secondly, you can get a regular X-pole and put it up in your garage – you’ll need extensions and a board to that goes between 2 of the joists and is nice and thick and sturdy. So it’s up to up to you which option you want to go with but you can do either.
Hope that helps!
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I’ll try and keep this brief, I’m the type that usually goes on for paragraphs about this kinda subject. lol
The only pole I own is an X-Stage. I started out on it, I have continued to learn on it, and I whole-heartily recommend it if you are looking for a free-standing pole. As a beginner, though, and as a primary pole it is not the greatest of options.
1. For one thing, my pole had to be modified in order to fit in my little pole room. The height of the platform took up the exact amount of usable pole I could’ve had, but…*sigh* oh, well…there’s always extensions if I ever need ’em. From what I hear they are coming out with an X-Stage Lite in October which will have a lower base.
2. X-Stage is not floor-work friendly. Although the platform of the X-Stage is bigger than that of any other free-standing pole I have seen, when it comes to floorwork, you can never have enough space. The metal plates are also very hard on the knees btw, lol.
3. It is a quality free-standing pole but, dang, it is EXPENSIIIIIIVE!!!
There are a lot of pros and cons to starting out on a free-standing pole as opposed to a standard removable pole, but I would be here all night typing this if I gave it too much thought. LOL I will answer any questions you may have if I am able to, though. I also have videos documenting my X-Stage pole journey from beginning to present on this site and on YouTube if you are interested to see what the stage is capable of.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SerziQ
Oh, and one really big benefit of owning an X-Stage is that you can take it just about anywhere. Recently we used it for the MDPD showcase and I had both Veena and Karol Helms dance on my pole! lol It’s great for outdoor pole-jams and is a very durable, compact set-up to transport.
Still, I really wish I could have a standard removable pole for at home so that I could get the full benefit of my ceiling height and use the floor instead of that tiny platform. My hubby says "NO WAY." because it may ruin our stupid vaulted ceiling and then we’d be paying for a new roof, so he’s working on making me a custom free-standing pole that will not require a raised platform. Don’t know how long it’s gonna take, but I’m to a point where I’m ready to buy a removable pole and donate it to a studio so long as I can use it whenever I have time to come down there. LOL
Hope this info helps you reach a decision with your purchase.
? ~*Serzi -
Serzi…XPole is coming out with a low profile stage…supposedly this September. Though traditionally predictions take longer than we are usually told but it’s only about 3 inches high. We saw it at the pole convention and it’s great!
Unfortunately we’ve heard mixed stories on whether you can purchase the base with or without the pole. I swore Clive told me you had to buy WITH the pole. Karol was told you could buy it without the pole. However I’d have to guess that the stage is the most expensive part of the package so it’s not likely to save you very much.
That said, there are pros and cons to using a stage pole to learn on but it’s possible. It will definitely limit your learning curve due to all the above mentioned reasons.
I think your best bet too is to use the garage if it’s not going to be too uncomfortable weather wise (awful hot vs awful cold?) mostly because of the height it will give you. However I would suggest that if you put a piece of wood up across the beams, stretch it across THREE beams and place your pole under the center beam. Most wood will flex and it will be more stable if your pole is putting pressure under the beam above the board of wood.
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I think a standard X-pole in your garage would be ideal…I agree with the board across three beams. But stage poles definitely have their uses (they can go literally anywhere, indoors, outdoors, under drop ceilings etc.) and if you are looking at them, check out platinum stages as well as the X-pole. I have never used one, but it has a very low profile base, very stable at the top (as far as I can see from watching others), and is supposed to be much lighter and easier to move than the X-pole. It has spinning as well as static mode (converts with just the pull of a pin), you can get extensions to make it taller than the standard 8′, and I may be wrong but I believe the base is made of a hard plastic instead of metal so it should (in theory) be a little easier on the knees. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif
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Thank you so much for all the replies and advice, everyone! That is a fabulous idea you guys came up with for using a board across the rafters to act as my "roof". I told hubby about it and he agreed. I may eventually get a stage pole for the fun of it, but I’ll start with a standard pole for sure now that I know it’s possible. Thanks again! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif
Now I just need to decide on a pole, a finish, and a width…too many options, they all have their pros/cons and I’m bad at decision making. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_confused.gif
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