How much did you pay for...

PoleDanceABCs started this discussion · 7/7/2009

...your pole dancing classes? (Meant for those that actually went/go to studio classes... not DVDs or on-line.) I hope you guys don't mind me asking.... Long story long. (haha) I have been dying to get some class time. I can't speak German so it comes in the way of finding a school and then I also have the problem of possibly having a non-English speaking teacher. I finally found a great school about two hours from here... OK the driving isn't great but at least it is something. The teacher actually speaks some English and she is opening up a brand new school this weekend. We have been corresponding through YouTube and she seems really nice. I asked her about schools closer to me and I don't know if it is because she wants to promote her own school but she said there aren't many (good) ones in Germany. She has 6 or so levels and they consist of only two 2-hour classes. She is charging 150€ (about $200) for the beginner level and then 175€ for the higher levels. Comparing her prices with BeSpun or Pole Waxers it is a lot more but then again I have to accept that everything is a lot more to me since I get paid in dollars. I am willing to overlook the higher price tag because the teacher will be Miss Pole Dance Germany (Jeannine Wilkerling). I know that I wouldn't be able to go to her classes long-term because the driving is too much and I could not afford to take all the levels. But just to attend one or two levels to get some good instruction... what do you guys think? http://www.poledanceacademy.de/ http://www.youtube.com/user/schaaninee

29 replies

Charley · 7/7/2009
That doesn't sound too bad actually. I charge $25/hour for group classes. Most of my classes are an hour and 15 minutes for beginners - 2 hours seems like an awfully long time on top of the fact that a lot of my students are mom's and it's difficult for mom's to get 2 hours to themselves. Since she is MPD Germany - I think that it's an even better value. Good luck and let us know what you decided to do! 😀
PoleDanceABCs · 7/7/2009
Thanks Charley! 🙂 Right after I posted I started thinking hard about it. So..... I really want to attend the first level and see how I like it. If everything goes well I'll take a month or so "off" to practice and save up, and then take the next level. I just figure that once I get to the harder stuff I would really like to have a spotter and someone who can properly inform me. OK, now I just have to figure out if I have the money to take a class soon.
kasanya · 7/7/2009
It's probably worth going to check out for at least one level of instruction, but dang that's expensive. If I understood you right--each level consists of two 2-hour lessons--that works out to $50 per hour. Most places I've come across tend to do 6 weeks of 1-hour group sessions per level and the pricing breaks down to roughly $15-$25 per hour. A couple of things to consider: Are they group lessons or one-on-one? How many poles are there? How many students are there per pole? (I've seen classes with up to 18 students... and only 4 poles). What type( s ) of poles does she have? (2.5 inch steel posts painted with car paint? 😲 ) It's also worth pointing out that just because somebody has amazing performance credentials doesn't necessarily mean they can teach safely and effectively. These are some of the factors that will have a huge impact on how much value you're getting for your dollar in these classes. I'm sure there's others I'm forgetting off hand. In any event, you can determine some of these ahead of time by asking questions, others you won't be able to tell until you've tried the classes out. That being said... now that I've sounded like a complete downer... I would strongly recommend taking classes in person if you can find good quality instruction. Yes, it's more expensive than buying another set of DVDs, but DVDs can't watch what you're doing and correct where you're going wrong. If you can't afford lessons on a regular basis, even a private session once in a blue moon can help keep you on the right track. Hope that helps. ☀️
Veena · 7/7/2009
I would ask her how many students there are per pole before you make the long drive out there. If that's the cost of a private lesson then that a great deal. If that's a group class then I would really want to make sure I would have plenty of pole use. Its really frustrating to spend money on a class and end up only getting half the time on a pole because you have to share. Sharing poles is fine but the price of the class should reflect that. ☀️
Hotkiss06 · 7/7/2009
That doesn't sound too bad actually. I charge $25/hour for group classes. Most of my classes are an hour and 15 minutes for beginners - 2 hours seems like an awfully long time on top of the fact that a lot of my students are mom's and it's difficult for mom's to get 2 hours to themselves. Since she is MPD Germany - I think that it's an even better value. Good luck and let us know what you decided to do! 😀 Charley, Not bad. How many sessions make one class at your location? Do you still teach in the Trenton area?
SissyBuns · 7/8/2009
Wow. The studio I go to charges $9 per class, less if you buy classes in bulk. Each class is 50 minutes long and they are group classes (there's 19 poles in one room so it can hold up to 19 people). They do offer private lessons for around $100 I think.
PoleDanceABCs · 7/8/2009
I will ask her more questions about the poles and student-to-pole ratio. I still think I would like to go for the first level though. It is like I said, if I like the class and the way it is set up then I'll just do the month on, month off deal in order to have time to practice and save up money. IF it don't like it or something just doesn't feel right, I don't have to go back and I'll have the memory of getting a lesson from MPD Germany. Either way I feel like I win. *shrugs shoulders*
Maria Joao · 7/8/2009
Hi I'm from Portugal, and here we have classes of 1,5 or 2 h, and we pay, in one of the schools, 175€ for 8h of lessons. The other school charges 160€ for 10h of lessons. This is first level. The other levels (2 and 3) are 150€/8h, and 160€/32h (2nd and 3rd level are 4 periods of 8h)
Maria Joao · 7/8/2009
I forgot to tell you, in one of the schools we have 2/3 students per pole, the other one, it's one student per pole (the school that has longer 2nd and 3rd levels)
Charley · 7/8/2009
That doesn't sound too bad actually. I charge $25/hour for group classes. Most of my classes are an hour and 15 minutes for beginners - 2 hours seems like an awfully long time on top of the fact that a lot of my students are mom's and it's difficult for mom's to get 2 hours to themselves. Since she is MPD Germany - I think that it's an even better value. Good luck and let us know what you decided to do! 😀 Charley, Not bad. How many sessions make one class at your location? Do you still teach in the Trenton area? I've been asked to renew classes - I just wrapped up, but I am just not sure if I'll be going out there again...it's a long day for me so I am trying to decide if I want to go down to less days at my day job to teach more. I'll be in Commerce July 24th, August 21st and then after that I will doing lessons in Commerce - 5 mins from Novi. I am also teaching in Madison Heights. I'm relaunching http://www.michiganpoledance.com soon hopefully by the end of the week, we will have a complete list of dates and times.
Charley · 7/8/2009
I will ask her more questions about the poles and student-to-pole ratio. I still think I would like to go for the first level though. It is like I said, if I like the class and the way it is set up then I'll just do the month on, month off deal in order to have time to practice and save up money. IF it don't like it or something just doesn't feel right, I don't have to go back and I'll have the memory of getting a lesson from MPD Germany. Either way I feel like I win. *shrugs shoulders* You can always ask about a private package. If she's a singular instructor she might be able to work out something with you. I make deals all the time if I know the student is coming back to take more than 1 private lesson.
amcut · 7/8/2009
My studio classes were... uhhh... 140, or 100 when she had a special for six one hour classes. in the classes I took, we had extra poles galore! Like. my first go-round we had two ladies including me, the second go-round it was just me... so I've no clue if she intended to fill up further than her 6 poles, but I seriously doubt it. I think if it ever did go that way it would be because she overbooked due to go-rounds like mine. I would MUCH PREFER a two hour class so that nothing felt hurried.
yogabeachbabe · 7/8/2009
In Vegas, you can drop into a 1 hour class for $30. That's pretty much across the board, from studios that have pole classes to actual pole dance studios. At the pole studio, there's a rate for locals that's $99 for one month of unlimited classes. They've got maybe 12 permanent poles (including 1 skinny). I teach at 1 studio that has 5 removable stainless poles and another that has 3 removable brass poles--none of them spin. Unfortunately, no one is offering a 6 week course where you see the same students in class and get to learn a progression (I've pleaded with the owners but to no avail...). As far as I know, most group classes here consist of minimum warm-up, strength and conditioning exercises and then you learn tricks. I have recently decided to teach my classes slightly differently. I'm actually teaching a class that I would want to take: I choreograph maybe 5 counts of 8 that we work on on Monday, and then polish it up and "perform" it on Wednesday. After warm-up and conditioning, I teach the elements that appear in the routine (spins or transitions), and then teach the choreography. I think it's much more fun for a beginner to piece together stuff into something tangible/workable. It seems to be working out fine and it helps me stay on course and teach clearly.
PoleDanceABCs · 7/8/2009
Well this coming Saturday she is launching her new school (or her first school I think) and she invited me to come. She said that there will be a tour, some explanation of her classes, and a show. Yeah, I'm SOOOO there. Perfect way to check it out before taking a class. 🤸
Charley · 7/8/2009
Unfortunately, no one is offering a 6 week course where you see the same students in class and get to learn a progression (I've pleaded with the owners but to no avail...). . It's the commitment thing. I used to do 6 week classes and had a lot of people interested but worried about the cost and if they'd even like it. When I dropped to 4 weeks I was suddenly over booked. Much easier for people to set aside 4 weeks rather than 6. Although I do 5 weeks at one location and don't have a problem booking. I've done 6 week intermediate courses and those have sold well but I like to keep things easy for students, they pay once a month for their classes and they can stick with the same day/time no matter what level they are at. Choreo is a good idea - I don't teach it much because it takes a lot of time to put together but students do like it. When I say like I mean LOVE it. I like to make them freestyle after their first four classes and they get super nervous - choreo gets rid of the nerves. Good Luck ABC!!! The opening is a great idea to check it out and if anything it should be free and you get to see MPD Germany dance (hopefully she will dance for you guys.)
kasanya · 7/9/2009
Here's another option that might be worth looking into: http://www.polebatics.com/ They don't seem to teach regular classes in your region, but they do offer one day workshops every once in a while. 🥂
PoleDanceABCs · 7/9/2009
They don't seem to teach regular classes in your region, but they do offer one day workshops every once in a while.Yeah it stinks that all their studios are sooo far away. 😢 They are going to have a class this Saturday right here in Mannheim but their workshops are 4 hours long! 😲 I still don't have the stamina to dance more than 2 hours andI already RSVP'd to go to the Grand Opening for Pole Dance Academy. All Polebatics workshops take place in "the rooms of exclusive striptease-clubs" and not that I mind but I want a classroom/studio setting so I can get a lot of pole time. I think once I get a bit stronger I might go to one of their workshops because they are $65 Euro cheaper. 👍 My main goal will be to find something really close to Mannheim so I could just "pop in". Maybe I can just start my own pole studio/business and NOT because I want to take shortcuts and make money but to share the love of pole. 🌈 PS - Polebatics has all their X-Poles installed upside down in their studio. I know one their classes has ceiling beams but hmm.....
New_Dancer · 7/22/2009
Hi, I'm in Canada - our classes in this area range a bit in price. One of the studios I looked into has 8 forty-five minute classes for 105$ or 8 hour classes for 140 (there are about 10 students for 6 poles - although I don't know that her classes will fill). Another studio is 135 for 6 classes (10 students/10 poles). Privates are 85$ for an hour or 450$ for 6 lessons. New Dancer
cbella13 · 7/22/2009
The studio I go to charges $100 per hour for private lessons. Group lessons (1 person per pole) are $20 for drop in or I pay $90 for six weeks (once a week for an hour) Twice a week is $180. 🌸
Castleoutsider · 7/22/2009
Yea here at JPA the prices used to be like $140 for 6 one hour classes, but we moved it to $100 because us being military wives ourselves felt they just couldnt afford it. Broken down its like $17 an hour for 6 classes. And our Teaser/Tasters are $25 walk in. We either offer once a week for six weeks, or twice a week for 3 weeks. We also used to have an extra room for pole play but no one ever used it so we took the poles out and its now for lapdance and floor work =) or once a week for 4 weeks Pole Flirt session for $65. The pole room has 6 poles. 7 including the instructor pole. I think there was only ever one time where there were more than 6 girls (excluding parties and such) and that was because she forgot a class had a make up day but they were understanding so it worked out well =) We usually dont like to have girls share poles. The studio I went to in omaha the most girls that were in one class were 21 girls.. for 4 poles T_T so yea~ I love the fact that each girl can have their own pole for a full hour =D As far as private lessons.. so far we haven't really had any requests for them. Though still as a baby studio any feedback is welcome ^^! the summers been a killer tho T_T
New_Dancer · 7/23/2009
Hi, I think all pole studios should have private rates on their website. I generally don't spend money on myself but after attending a pole party I knew the only way this wasn't going to be another thing that I went "oh, yeah I should try it" and never get around to trying it was if I started right away and the only way to do that (and fit it into my schedule) was private lessons. The day after the party, I looked at the company whose pole party I went to and on the web (company 1). The other company (company 2) in the closest city had private rates and emailed back within hours so they got my business. I'm glad because the instructor is awesome and I think she is better than the instructor from the first company (she was good, but not great). It really was a matter of who had the information available. I have a second job doing home parties (cooking related not poling) and I am actually considering contacting some pole companies that do pole parties to offer them my services because at a typical party that I do I generate at least 3-4 leads for future parties and usually book a few on the spot. I noticed at the pole party that company 1 (which clearly needs more business) is not doing the best job at picking up on the business prospects at the parties. I KNOW I could increase their business. So long story short, post those private rates even if you don't have any private classes scheduled. New Dancer
Castleoutsider · 7/23/2009
hmm yea i think we didnt offer private lessons because at the time i wasnt teaching, and the owner has kids and stuff too so it was more of a time issue than anything.. tho here i am on my butt.. so i thought about doing some private lessons O-o
Notradaya · 7/24/2009
Bobbi's classes are $230AUD for 8 one hour classes, everyone gets their own pole. every additional class is 50% off, unless it's a non-pole class (stretch, SLAP, burlesque, etc, which are only discounted to ~$150 or so).
PoleDanceABCs · 7/26/2009
Bobbi's classes are $230AUD for 8 one hour classes, everyone gets their own pole.Now are we talking about taking a class with Bobbi herself or they are classes at her studio? Because if that is pole classes with just her that is pretty good.
New_Dancer · 7/27/2009
Hi, Well compared to Canada that is pretty good. Your first class is a bit more expensive but if you get 50% off all additional classes, you save in the long run. New Dancer

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