Hi from Seattle! :)

Serendipityma started this discussion · 1/9/2011

Hi all! :) I'm Lisa, and I'm a recent transplant from Huntington Beach, CA to Kent, WA (near Seattle)... I was taking lessons at S Factor in Costa Mesa before I moved in October, but the studios up here are few and far between (there are a few in Tacoma, and a few in Seattle, but I'm not too inclined to make the drive or fight the traffic to either location... :P)... I was an intermediate student at my CM studio (I made it through level 4... :)), so I've done climbing and basic inverts and such... but getting accustomed to my new environment and work schedule, I've fallen out of practice and lost a lot of my strength. So I finally broke down and paid for the SV lessons here and am looking forward to getting back on the pole (I got a 2-bedroom apartment up here JUST so I could have a pole-room... :D)... And btw, I am a plus size pole dancer (currently 5'5" and 212lbs, size 16), so for anyone who doubts that they can do it because of their size... it's ABSOLUTELY possible!!! :) Looking forward to learning with you all!! :) Cheers! ~Lisa~

29 replies

Veena · 1/9/2011
Welcome to the site!!! 🌸
horsecrazy12987 · 1/9/2011
Welcome from another Washington poler! I actually got into poling through S Factor as well, although I've never had the opportunity to take any classes. And you're right, classes here in Washington are definitely limited; the closest ones to me are in Seattle I believe, and that's a three hour trip each way for me which is obviously just not doable, so I bought Veena's lessons as well. They are absolutely excellent; you will learn a lot from them.
FreeTheSun · 1/10/2011
Welcome! My cousins used to live in Kent. It is a bit of a drive from both Seattle or Tacoma. If you want to do workshops, occasionally Divine Movement in Seattle often has some really good ones. You've got to be on thier mailing list though cause they aren't advertized too much.
lalalauren · 1/11/2011
Hi! I live in Portland and I am often randomly visiting Seattle. :) I'm hoping to do the SV lessons too.....even though I go to a local pole studio as well. Nice to meet you :D
quancutie23 · 5/2/2013
hey i am quanesha there are a lot of pole studios here my favorite are northwest fitness in federal way and divine movement in seattle and kirkland wa and there is sole for the pole and ive been to three and i live in everett
Casey Kill · 5/2/2013
I live on ft lewis!! Untill next week that is. Moving to ct. Pole fitness northwest is decent. Avoid the toy box. Beware!!! Most studios up here a VERY clique-y. And tend to steal routines and moves from the students.
CapFeb · 5/2/2013
I read Casey's post and thought of Bring It On. Pole edition.
Casey Kill · 5/2/2013
Omg its eveb worse cause their so catty!!! However seattle has a pretty friendly studio, can't remember the name, they are more of a modern dance/interpretation style. They have put out a few great dancers. And jenyne butterfly is a native of seattle!!
Casey Kill · 5/3/2013
Omg its eveb worse cause their so catty!!! However seattle has a pretty friendly studio, can't remember the name, they are more of a modern dance/interpretation style. They have put out a few great dancers. And jenyne butterfly is a native of seattle!!
calipolepixie · 5/3/2013
Welcome back! I wondered where you disappeared to! How are things? Did you get a new nursing position in WA? Is that why you moved? Look forward to seeing your progress vids again :)
Serendipityma · 5/5/2013
thanks all for the tips! :) I was thinking about trying Toy Box... but maybe I'll look further into the one in downtown Tacoma now (Poledello, I think??)
CrazyKosters · 5/5/2013
Welcome! I live in lake stevens wa. (up north by everett) I was going to Divine movement in kirkland and i like it but i like studio veena better lol. Making the time and driving to the studio is hard sometimes. I would like to get to know people in my area so we could have pole jams! lol
HollyInSeattle · 5/6/2013
I really liked the studio in Kirkland called Divine Movement, but what I don't care for is that they require you to take pole 101 which is once a week for 6 weeks with absolute beginners I am talking about girls that are still at the stage of being embarrassed about even being there, then you can move on to more advanced classes. I have been a dancer for 3 years in a gentlemans club and although my stages are mainly floor, I definitely have enough experience to be placed in a more difficult class. I also found that it is extremely difficult to find a class that fits my schedule, and they are all FULL. I purchased a block of pole drop in classes however those don't count towards the prerequisite for advancing to intermediate and advanced levels. I have an X stage lite in my home, and have learned many cool things from Veena however it would be nice to have a spotter and some feedback from a pro. Oh, and one more thing, don't bother sending divinemovement an email, they do NOT respond. Why bother offering that option?? Just saying... Enjoy the Seattle Sun my lovelies.....
paintilady · 5/21/2013
Sometimes it is better to schedule a private lesson with the owner or teacher that has the power to advance you. Here in Tucson when ladies come to the studio wanting to skip beginning or Intro To Pole Class I have them send a vid of pretty much all basic moves they know up to intermediate. Or schedule a private lesson and if they have the strength to do what is required for intermediate class and can do the moves I will advance them. I can't tell you HOW many emails go back and forth wasting my time. I tell them to send a vid and they send advanced tricks. I ask for beginning moves they send me 2! I ask for a vid of all they know for basic moves and they really don't have much..... What we find is a lot of self taught polers that have skipped almost all static poses and proper hand placement on moves, don't really have the strength to invert unless they hurl themselves at the pole, know almost no spins and just want to go straight to tricks. If you talk to the studio owner about advancement and take a private lesson proving you can accomplish all needed to advance, it should work. Thats how we do it, there is always plenty the student does not know and needs to learn in order to function in our classes. j
paintilady · 5/21/2013
This was for Holly .... above :0
Mary Nightingale · 5/22/2013
Moving to Seatle soon, I contacted Divine Movement via email regarding being advanced and wanting to be permitted taking more advanced classes and they replied me rather fast and were utterly considerate. They gave me two choices - take a private class or get assessed at a drop in class and cleared me for registration fast when I chose the latter. So I had a good experience with them so far and I hope the classes would be just as good.
HollyInSeattle · 5/22/2013
Thanks so much ladies for the response, and yes I went ahead and bought 6 privates, I took my first one on Monday. WELL worth the money. My favorite part of the whole hour was the last 2 minutes I showed the instructor my shoulder mount and she actually said it was good. I knew I could do it! I just needed the security of having someone stand next to me, and once I was inverted she carefully instructed me into an inverted crucifix and she told me to release my legs slightly and I gracefully slid down to floor... I was ecstatic..... thank you Annie!
x falcon 3 0 x · 5/22/2013
Hey SerendipityMa! I'm from behind the Orange Curtain, too ; ), Aliso Viejo, to be exact. I used to take classes at OC Pole Fitness. We probably know some of the same people. I moved up to Seattle a little over a year ago and have settled in Shoreline. For anyone wondering more about Divine Movement (Seattle location), I took a private session when I came up here for a job interview. I explained my experience beforehand. When I got my job offer and moved here, I went straight into the advanced inversions classes. My private instructor explained to the owner that I had demonstrated the required skills to be at that level. I love my instructor (who is also my Pilates teacher), however, I do agree that they're timeliness (or lack thereof) in replying to emails needs much improvement.
SharkyHill · 5/23/2013
I hear ya! I moved to the Bremerton area from San Diego, and was spoiled by the fact that I had pole studios all around me! I don't want to have to commute so far (like have to take a freakin' ferry) to go to class! So I like other's ideas of booking private lessons here and there, but re-signing up for the online lessons!
aliceBheartless · 5/23/2013
O boy! We are getting a larger Seattle area contingent on here! :) I moved to Silverdale from Hawaii last year, and so excited to see more and more polers in the area!
SharkyHill · 5/23/2013
Yep! We gotta represent, haha! I heard that there was a studio where I live in Poulsbo, but they moved to Port Orchard! WTF?
aliceBheartless · 5/23/2013
I want to check that studio out again, the last time I went there, they were in a different space, and their new space looks really nice. From Silverdale, I think its only a 20 min drive. :) Even though there are only a couple of options on the peninsula, still a few more than where I moved from!
SharkyHill · 5/23/2013
@corbyOconner, ya, I think I'm just being a baby about it, haha! I guess it would be about a 30 minute drive from Poulsbo.
Pinkkupcakez · 5/24/2013
Just wondering, anyone been to Writhe Pole Dance in Marysville?
smokinangel · 5/24/2013
Currently in Seattle, but might be moving to silverdale. Corby, we should totally pole jam sometime!

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