-
Becoming a pole instructor
Apologies if there is another thread for this somewhere, I did a search and couldn’t find one.
Obviously I am a beginner now, so couldn’t be an instructor but it’s something I would be very interested in in the future when/if I get good enough.I was wondering are there any qualifications/courses you need to take? And how would one get started? Could you do it on your own, or would you work for a studio?
I do have some dance experience as well, I did up to grade 6 ballet when I was younger and have done a lot of adult classes throughout my teens/uni years. Don’t know if that helps.Any advice would be great! As I say obviously I am very far away from that point now, but it’s something to think about for the future and if there were courses or qualifications needed it would be good to know sooner rather than later as it would be something to aim for.
-
54 Replies
-
i would also love to know. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_geek.gif i know alot-of people here have studios, teach, do parties ect.
how did you get started? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif is there a special insurance? when i called my insurance they gave me an outragous rate to have in my home pole lessons. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cry.gif i wake up and go to sleep thinking about it and people get annoyed bc i talk about pole so much https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif ( https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_king.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_queen.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_sunny.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_sunny.gif got to stick to talkin to fellow pole addicts) but it is my dream and would help me help my family more. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_bigsmurf.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_smurfin.gif
just any direction would be greatly appreciated. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumleft.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/bom.gif -
Do you think its worth buying one of those "how to get started in the pole business" ebook thingies? I mean they might be a scam but they don’t look tooo expensive.
I’d just like to know…what sort of qualifications/insurance you need to have (surely there must be some sort of qualification process…or else how would people know you are good enough) and tips from people who have done it.
Find it very interesting. I suppose obviously people who have done it have done it off their own bat and dont particularly want to go about spreading all their success secrets https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_razz.gif and of course I completely respect that. I’m not really looking to start a massive successful studio or anything. Just thinking it would be nice to teach some evening classes when I’m older and wiser. -
Hey there! I’m new to poling and have taken Level 1 at Aradia Fitness ( I’m in Ontario Canada). They state that after taking a certain amount of their classes..say completing minimum 4 levels or something…that you qualify to take an instructor course through their studio. I would imagine that if you have completed a Personal Trainer or Fitness Trainer program to work in a gym, that any poling studio would then take you on for instructor training with the proper skills. Again, this is just speculation. Give it a shot!
Morgan -
cool thanks…its so interesting. As I say I’ve only been to one or two lessons but found the teacher really inspiring, I’d love to do it someday.
-
ya i love to teach. have been teaching my friends, my now ex and his friends ect. just love the feeling of passing on what i know and being able to share something i am so passioniate about. even my mother goes around proudly telling people her daughter is a "pole dancer". https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cool.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
she has seen how dedicated i am to it and how its made me stronger and more confident. for me its not if but when i will teach. nothings stopping me. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_bounce.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_salut.gif
i just wish i could get someone to point me in the right direction. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_idea.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_arrow.gif
my mom says to go to the gyms and see if they would be intrested, but don’t want to go in there w no answers. like how would we set up poles w celiengs that are sky high or otherwise not suitable, how much to charge? by client? by hour? how much? liability? do i need a buisness plan? and how do you go about that? would reallllly love to do home pole parties. but again dont know where to start as far as insurance/liability (personal in case of injury, and also propery so dont get sued for any possible damage to celieng ect) https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_confused.gifi am not kidding when i say i wake up and fall asleep thinking about it. its what gets me through when things get tough. just knowing someday i will be living my dream. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_queen.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif
-
Im really glad this thread has been started as i also would love to teach.When i first started poling i did it for fitness and nothing more,now as time has gone on and im learning more and more,its only now i think about teaching.I think there are many things to think about,like being able to get explain things clearly,there must be teaching courses,i would never go into anything like this without realy knowing about poling myself and being able to do many tricks etc,im still learning so mayb in the future i can look forward to becoming more of a teacher!
I have basically taught myself moves,with the knoledge of others and watching videos,im thinking mayb i should also do classes,so i can see how other teachers work.
Thank for this post! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif Maddie x
-
In the UK, I think at the moment you just need to have insurance in order to teach, but to get insurance you need to have an Exercise to Music qualification which gives you the necessary points. I guess once poling becomes more mainstream there will be more recognised bodies who will do courses. As an offshore person, I really need an e-learning package because I just can’t afford to be popping over the the mainland every so often to attend classes, so my plan is to get the ETM by correspondence/e-learning, then do a one-day masterclass aimed at learning to teach at some point when I’m over on holiday. Meantime, I have plenty of work to do before I feel good enough to teach more than a basic spin!!
-
yea i feel that way too =) i feel that i should be WAY better .. and for some reason when i get nervous i stutter or like… vobally dyslexic? lol instead of left ill say right instead of arm ill say leg.. that kinda stuff; LOL
i have some issues id need to get over before i started teaching LOL for now.. ill stick to web design =D https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif
-
yea i feel that way too =) i feel that i should be WAY better .. and for some reason when i get nervous i stutter or like… vobally dyslexic? lol instead of left ill say right instead of arm ill say leg.. that kinda stuff; LOL
Not to worry https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif if verbal dyslexia of that type stopped you being an instructor i would be in trouble! I’m an instructor and i have a terrible habit of saying "and now, let go of your legs" when i really mean, let go of your hands… lucky my students are smart enough not to listen to me…
-
hehehe!!! yea =) <3
its like my mom talks sims speak.. so like.. after how many years i understand what shes saying LOL -
Here is how we hire instructors:
1) MUST BE ACE CERTIFIED AND FIRST AID CERTIFIED (or getting ACE certification but MUST have first aid cards)
2) Must be able to dance well, not tricks only and of an advanced INTERMEDIATE level
3) 1 year minimum pole experience (home pole, exotic dancer, etc)
4) MUST have taken lessons with a physical person (doesn’t have to be us, but you must have class experience, if you do not, prospective instructors are REQUIRED to attend classes – they have the option of paying and taking the class as a student or not paying and watching the class – they may not take part if auditing.)Before teaching a class instructors must be able to show us they can do a 60 minute class with 12 min warm up – cool down stretches and adapt pole moves and warm up/cool down exercises for all body types.
Must have a good personality – this is an absolute MUST. You need to keep students interested, encouraged and excited. It’s not just teaching move after move – you need to be able to link things together and break that down for students.
Qualities we like but NOT required
1) home pole and continues in furthering own pole education and work
2) work ethic
3) people interested in other forms of exercise, dance or gymnastics
4) people with personal training, yoga, pilates, dance gymnastics backgrounds (not I took jazz in elementary)
5) people who want to bring out the best in OTHERS
6) pole addicts! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gifThe above isn’t required but what I personally would like to see. Any of things on that list is great. Not everyone eats and breathes pole and there are a lot of amazing polers out there with no kind of background what so ever – so to make them required is silly. We also highly encourage exotic dancers to apply with us. There is an authenticity to the way an exotic dancer moves that many people really want to learn. I also like someone who is continuing to work on themselves. That doesn’t mean always doing the next latest crazy move or combo but someone who really wants to learn new things – spins, spin combos, transitions, floor work. I think it’s important that trainers commit to training.
For us – we take pole very seriously as a fitness regiment and believe to provide our students with the best experience our instructors need to be very knowledgeable. They need to be adaptable (i.e some can’t do a split grip thumbs down – teach them split grip thumbs up.) They need to be able to provide the highest quality of customer service.
-
Thank you so much Charley and Gsylass thats all really helpful!
And I guess an exercise to music qualification would mean you would be able to teach other things like aerobics etc?
I think what struck me about the couple of pole classes I’ve attended (and all the dance classes actually) is how inspiring and helpful the teachers always are. Maybe I’ve just been lucky but so far all the dance teachers I have encountered have been really vibrant amazing people. I’d love to be that to others someday.
Well I’d better get practicing…have a looong way to go. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_razz.gif -
Charlie, that was awesome! I wish the owner of my studio followed your guidelines!
-
I was afraid everyone would think we are really b1tchy. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif
We really take pole seriously and really want to provide the best experience. We also want our clients to feel like they can grow with us too. They don’t have to switch studios when they reach a certain level – they can go all the way.
I really think our best candidates for instructors are students – if they are interested and willing to do group fitness certs.
-
charley, thank you SO MUCH for posting your criteria. my friend and i are looking to open a pole studio soon, and you pretty much wrote down everything i have been thinking about in terms of hiring instructors ! (god i hope we can find some)
we don’t plan to instruct, tho i do plan to get a gfi cert, and also will probably go for a beginner pole cert if i can find one, in the event i have to fill in, or something.
it’s really hard in our area, though — new england takes a while to catch on to things ! but thanks again!
-
For us – we take pole very seriously as a fitness regiment
Charley, I love this quote. As the owner at my studio gives a tour and passes through the pole room while I’m instructing this is what she says to newcomers "we don’t take this that seriously here, we just laugh a lot and have fun with it"
That’s probably why we’ve had serious injuries and students saying that other instructors can’t break down moves or say ‘I don’t know how I did that’.
The bottom line is that pole studios are businesses. There must be quality control and safety has to come first. I just think that this field is so new that few people know what they are doing. Owners just hope they can open a place and the talent will show up. Because pole fitness and pole dance studios are in their infancy, talent needs to be trained and developed. That usually comes under a fantastic instructor with guidelines and standards. When pole places are run by non-polers who don’t have that passion for pole or talent on the pole or talent for instructing, pole studios end up sucking.
-
Which is precisely why we want to open a studio — to offer a place where students can learn SAFELY and have a path to progressing if they choose. The instructor at the studio where we began was fine for a session or two at the beginner level, but as we learned more she could not even remember how to execute things, let alone teach them. Not what we want for our place !
-
wow everyone! thanks so much for all the great insight, advice, and tips!!!
-
have you looked into getting certified by the USPF (http://www.uspoledance.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)? They have a climb and spin certification thing for instructors (http://www.climbandspin.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) in NYC. expensive, but it would be a good and solid way to get started…Wendy is a fantastic teacher too. I take class at NY Pole Dancing and the ladies there are incredibly talented!
-
In the US there is no requirement to be certified in anything or to even be insured.
However, there is a moral and ethical responsibility to yourself and your students to do both. It’s plain foolish to risk everything by entering into a business of any type, but especially one with inherent risks of injury, without being trained in every aspect of not only the physical part of the job but the business end of it.
Being able to dance well doesn’t mean someone is a good teacher. A good teacher can break down the moves from head to toe and describe them in a multitude of ways which is important as you have a variety of students who learn differently.
Responsibility to safety is another key factor. And having insurance isn’t just to protect yourself, but is a benefit for your students. Imagine someone being seriously injured and not having coverage to take care of their medical bills. Not only do you risk your home, but once they tap you dry, what if that still isn’t enough to take care of the injured party’s needs?
Teaching from home is a major problem even though it’s commonly done. If you teach from your home, then your home is at risk if you’re sued. Your business and your personal assets should be separated.
So…there are several great certification courses out there. Do your homework and research them to find one that is thorough as well as good. Some teach based on their own schools program where you simply learn how to do their curriculum, others teach you how to teach and adapt your own program, some include the business aspects of operating a studio, some have stricter entry requirements.
A good program will require performance testing but that isn’t regulated in the states either so technically someone can develop their own certificaiton program, offer it online, and even pass themselves as a certified instructor so you really need to check into certifications not only if you’re going to be an instructor but when you are searching for classes.
Our studio offers certification, USPDF is a great program. In the UK Vertical Dance offers a well-respected program and it’s also offered online. There are others that are equally as good but a few to stay away from.
-
Hi! I am from Dayton Ohio and have just started my search for info on becoming liscensed so I can work in a studio or gym for pole fitness. I can’t find anything and trabeling to California is just not an option for me right now. I had an upcoming studio tell me that when I am ready to instruct, let them know!!!! I would LOVE to do that. I just can’t find any info!!! What I did find was in Cali… and 3,000.00!!!!! Is that normal? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif ANyway. I am frusterated and woul;d love any help or advice! Thanks!!!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif
-
There are other certifications out there for much less! I sent you a PM.
-
That depends on what you are getting for $3000.
How many hours of instruction will make a significant difference. So will the range of content…is it just a beginner level certification – does it include intermediate…advanced?
Is it TRAINING to pole dance in addition to how to teach – two different things.
Is the certfication endorsed by any organizations or groups? That requires a lot of work on the part of the certifying school to become qualified…and money as well as ongoing expenses.
What is the reputation of the program/school you are taking it from.
Keep in mind…some schools/instructors have spent years learning and developing programs and techniques. This isn’t just about how to spin around a pole but how to do it safely and how to teach it. You have to pay for the years of hard work they have put into it and are now willing to share with you.
-
That depends on what you are getting for $3000.
How many hours of instruction will make a significant difference. So will the range of content…is it just a beginner level certification – does it include intermediate…advanced?
Is it TRAINING to pole dance in addition to how to teach – two different things.
Is the certfication endorsed by any organizations or groups? That requires a lot of work on the part of the certifying school to become qualified…and money as well as ongoing expenses.
What is the reputation of the program/school you are taking it from.
Keep in mind…some schools/instructors have spent years learning and developing programs and techniques. This isn’t just about how to spin around a pole but how to do it safely and how to teach it. You have to pay for the years of hard work they have put into it and are now willing to share with you.
This is what people don’t understand. The studio I am with right now is trying to implement an instructor cert. course and were baffled when I told them how much I wanted to get paid and how much they should charge students. I had to break down all the years I have spent studying pole dance, studying the AFAA group fitness instructor cert., and all the money I spent getting the certification, attending classes and workshops. They wanted to charge just a couple hundred dollars, and to me that didn’t seem to be enough. I know these are tough times, but I am afraid that if they make the price too low, then anyone will want to do it, and not weed out those who are the most serious and dedicated. It can take years for someone to fully understand the CORRECT techniques, stretching, and execution of the moves and even longer for them to learn how to teach someone else properly. I know everyone is different, but it always made me nervous when I would see pole dance instructor cert. programs that were only held for a weekend or a couple days. IMO there’s no way someone with less than a year of pole dance experience can take such a short course and come out as a stellar instructor. Maybe I’m being a little harsh, but I have seen a few instructors who *think* they are doing moves correctly and end up having injured students because they weren’t educated on the safety aspects or how to go in and out of the moves the right way (and also emergency exit options). I just hate hearing about students getting hurt bc their instructor did not show them the right muscles to use and safe ways to get in and out of tricks….. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif
-
GatorGirl…I agree. I’ve spent hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars on my growth and development as a pole dance instructor and business person. I’m not willing to share all that with someone who is only willing to pay a couple of hundred dollars. If they dont like it, they can do it the way I did…and spend a lot more.
However, I also want to clarify that a two-day certification program is different from a two-day training program. Of course, it’s more about how one words things that can be confusing.
My program certifies instructors in 2 days for basic…but that doesnt mean I teach them how to pole dance in two days. We teach how to INSTRUCT pole dancing, the basics of business management, on top of requiring an approved fitness certification program under their belt and then they must prove their abilities through written and practical exam.
It comes down to content and expectations of the program. Would Wendy, Jenyne, or Althea need to take my course in order to "pass" the exam? Nope. Would someone who’s been pole dancing or even teaching pole dancing for 5 years be able to pass my course even after they attended the two day program? Not necessarily.
No matter how you break it down, it still amazes me the people who expect to not only get a short cut to certification but to pay a fraction of what I did to get there and cant understand why I won’t do it cheaply! I dont expect each person to pay what I did to share my experience and knowledge with them but I won’t insult myself by offering it for a couple of hundred dollars.
Log in to reply.
