Question for studio owners/teachers

Alora started this discussion · 6/15/2016

Hello lovely ladies :) I have a question for you regarding managing skill levels in your classes. I have a studio that caters largely to beginners, and although we offer more advanced level classes as well, we always have girls come to the beginner classes that are far more advanced and they insist on trying out more difficult moves in front of the beginners. Mostly inverted moves. This causes a lot of distraction for the other girls and frustration for my instructors. Does anyone else have this issue and how do you manage it? Any tips/advice anyone might have would be much appreciated. :) Thank you!

10 replies

mariebee · 6/16/2016
At the studio I worked at as an Admin, we had Intro to pole, Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced classes along with Open Pole/Pole Jam non instructed practice sessions. During Intro and Beginner classes, the two stage poles we had were available to reserve by the Open Polers, classes used the floor poles. We also had Pole Jam where ALL of the studio poles were available for reserving non instructed practice time.
AllysonKendal · 6/16/2016
Ha. I'm probably one of those annoying girls! I go to a beginner class on Wednesday.... It's titled a beginner class but does end up mixed level! I know it's not the nicest thing... But they only have 2 morning classes a week... And I pay for an unlimited membership. I try and do 2 things to be curtious.... 1 is be encouraging and humble. Cheer other girls on and remind them I was there once too, and often tell them how much faster they are getting it than I did. And 2 try not to take up a lot of the instructors time. Really I go for the warm up and beautiful tall poles and lots of leg room 😬😬😬 Then Friday is a true mixed level class... So that one I get more instruction. Part of me does feel bad at times but personally the only time I was upset by a more advanced poler being in my class is when the teachers seem to favor them and spend more time with them... If it is like my case, it may be a schedule thing. Maybe the advanced girls need more options at different times?!?
I polekat I · 6/16/2016
ah such a tricky thing!! Yeah I think I am one of those girls too..... I work full time hours and have a really long commute so I just end up going to whichever class is most convenient if i miss my tricks class. Sometimes I will go to a lower level class (beginner/intermediate) because I fancy a slightly easier class that day rather than a hardcore workout, but the last time I did that we still did loads of hard stuff and I was knackered anyway haahaha .... i did wonder if the teacher ramped it up a bit cos the class was quiet and she knew we could handle it ;) . Also I think it's good to go back to basics and polish your technique etc. But yes in any class i'm in if I have nailed the move the teacher is teaching at that time then I will try a combo with it, or different ways in or out or something whilst everyone is having a go, or have a quick go of something else i'm working on, or have a minute of flow. Shit it never even occurred to me that might piss the teacher/other students off...... Often other students in my classes spend a lot of time standing around and I am a demon in class time I hardly do any standing around I want to make the most of the hour - if I have just tried the same trick 5 times each side my body (and skin!) needs to do something a bit different then, rather than hammering that one move over n over n over until the lesson moves on.... And it's really difficult to say what level you are too; . In some situations I feel advanced, other times just a strong intermediate (pole is so empowering but so humbling at the same time haaaahaha!!!!) , so who am I to say I'm too good for the beginner/intermediate class....? All practice is good practice and I'm always learning... So I attend all different classes with different teachers ranging intermediate-advanced (But at the same time I wouldn't go to a complete beginners class ) But I totally see where you are coming from in regards to the other students, especially if you see someone more advanced doing a hard move - chances are they make it look easier than it is, which could encourage people to have a go before they are ready .... But to be honest when I was a beginner seeing the more advanced students doing stuff just inspired me even more and encouraged me to keep practicing. One of the studios I go to often runs 2 classes at the same time at opposite sides of the studio, so you will have beginners one side and then maybe tricks or choreo at the other side, so there are always distractions and other people to watch =) Maybe that could be a solution, ask at the beginning of class who is a bit more advanced and put them altogether on one side of the studio so it's obvious to the beginners they have a bit more experience and that's why they are doing stuff the beginners can't yet. And maybe see if you could run some open pole jams or mixed level classes But at the end of the day I think you have to take responsibility for yourself! If I tried a move I saw someone doing and hurt myself or fluffed it I would think 'ok that was my fault, lesson learned, I need more prep work before I can do that; sweet, got a new thing to work on now!' not 'OMG what a bitch I can't believe she did that move in front of me where I could see it and now I hurt myself trying it when I wasn't ready' How I choose to pole and what happens when it goes wrong is nobody's fault but my own, I need to know my strengths & limits. No-one knows your body and your capabilities like you do and it is up to you to make those decisions for yourself, other people shouldn't have to constantly baby you about your training; I think that's dangerous =)
AllysonKendal · 6/16/2016
Yeah, I also drive almost an hour each way to the studio so I kind of feel like I need to maximize my schedule. The other day the girls were learning front and back hook spins. And that's fine, I also like to review the basics... But I can't do that all class. Because I'm not slowly walking into it, or fumbling through it like I did the first time I tried it, I can easily do 2-3x as many spins as some of the beginner girls! And I'm sorry, doing static spins for an hour is rough on the hands and shoulders! So yeah I'll give it a few goes, then kinda do my own thing. I do try and be respectful though 😬
anngiern · 6/17/2016
We have classes just for beginners.. My instructors will not give advanced students a harder trick if you are in a class specifically for beginners.. We informed all of our students of this policy.. But we also have intermediate classes for advanced students and advise beginner students that it is for experienced polers.. So if you struggle to keep up its on you
Alora · 6/17/2016
Thank you ladies so much for your insights... we do have open pole jams and intermediate classes too but I think they're also just maximizing their time on the poles... and that makes sense. :) I really like the idea of having students that want to work on more advanced stuff over on one side and the true beginners on the other side... at least that way there's a defined split. I was also thinking about letting the advanced girls wear Jr. Instructor tanks or something too just so the beginner girls can see they are in a different level. Thank you so much!
zoilife6233 · 6/18/2016
That's how I learned how to invert in my old days. Due to lack of time I attended mixed levels classes and always looked up to advanced students. Now it all behind me and faded but i remember how much they cheered for me!
catmoves2718 · 6/19/2016
As an instructor, I am very clear that if you come to a level 1 (i.e. beginners) class you are working on beginner material. The same holds for level 2, 3... I do not want students distracted or intimidated by what their classmates are working on, nor do I want "adventurous" beginners trying things they have no business trying because they saw someone else do it. I do tolerate students doing the same move that is being worked on, but a slightly more difficult variation--if we're working on fireman spins, and you can safely do a one handed version, fine, if you do a obviously different, showy spin (e.g. reverse grab) or start inverting, you'll be politely asked not to do that right now. I am clear and consistent about this policy, and for the most part, students respect it. I don't regularly take classes, but I do visit other studios whenever I travel (which is fairly often). I typically sign up for classes that based on description are below my ability level (a) because I'm often tired on work trips, and (b) to make sure I'm not signing up for a class that is above my ability level. If I show up and we're working on the fireman, that's what I work on. Occasionally I'm asked if I've done this before and I'll admit I've been pole dancing a while, but unless the instructor encourages students to work on more advanced material, I just enjoy the class. I often find I learn a new transition, or slightly different way of doing something, things I might miss if I tuned out the instructor because I have already mastered the move being taught. A couple of other things: I have split classes into beginners and not beginners before out of necessity. I found those classes are very taxing to teach, and I'm not sure my students got as much out of them. If you're going to offer what is essentially an open/mixed level class, why not just call it that, at least students will know what they're getting. Personally, I also avoid letting students act as "junior instructors." There are some fairly serious liability issues. Also, just because a student can do a move, does not mean they are going to explain how to do it well or provide useful/safe advice to other students. An occasional tip is fine, but if I see much beyond that, I'll pull the student aside and politely ask them to stop.
tacha666 · 6/20/2016
Our beginner class is very dance-focused. Some more advanced students attend, but because they want to learn new dancey stuff and floorwork and polish their moves. It's chopreography, so there isn't much time to do tricks in between, plus, they usually wera long clothes (because of floorwork). At the end of class, when we Dance the whole thing through, after the taught combo there usually is still some of the song left, so, they get to freestyle. Some don tricks then, but I think this wayy it's ok. In our advanced class (starting from aerial invert) we have one theme each month, and within that theme there will be different options for different skill levels to keep everyone busy :-)
Katherine McKinney · 6/20/2016
I agree that it is very distracting to have students working on moves that I am not teaching in my classes. It is also frustrating for students, and I have been told this many times by many different students. Because of this, I do not allow students to work on moves that I am not teaching. However, in order to challenge students that are not beginner, I come prepared to throw more work at them! If there is a more advanced version of a move, I allow experienced students to work on it. I provide them with alternative ways into the move and ask them to practice. I ask them to transition into and out of the move using other beginner moves. There are many ways to continue challenging students who are not beginners. However, I do feel that it is very important for students to work on what the instructor asks them to. As another poster noted, moves can always be perfected. The basics are lost if not practiced over and over again, and you will increase strength and improve flow even as an expert practicing beginner moves. I remind students of this all the time!