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Two per pole
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That is a lot of poles! Most places around here have 5 or less.
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you must have been lucky, the most I've ever seen in 9 pole in a workshop and that was 3 to a pole. Max no. of poles in a class I've seen is 6 but most of the time it's been 4
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My studio caps at three to a pole. Each class is two hours and usually runs over if no class follows. I don't mind the wait. It lets me catch my breath. There are always three songs at the end for freestyle so that everyone gets a pole to themselves to just do what pops into their head.
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I don't mind 2 or more per pole.
and I wouldn't be happy in a class that was nothing but tricks, its one thing when your doing a workshop to do just tricks but in a weekly class I would shrivel up and die if there was no dance time…..
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when i have drop in classes & there are 2 girls per pole i just break them into groups & work on a few things & switch groups. usually have then switch quite often so they don't get bored. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
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the studio where i teach has 1 per pole and 1 hour classes.
I believe NYPD has 2 per pole and 1 hour classes.
B&P has 2 per pole and 1.5 hour classes.
Sfactor has up to 3 per pole and 2 hour classes.
So…. sort of correlated. I think it's mostly based on the curriculum and philosophy of the studio. My students love the 1-per-pole ratio, and hate having to share because that's what they're used to. I think that it can be intimidating for people who are used to sharing though, and some people who share have no desire to go hard on teh pole for an entire class. some people learn better by watching others, and some learn better by doing. bottom line, i think what you prefer is based on how you learn and what you're used to!
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The studio where I teach just started having 2 per pole this month for the first time because so many girls signed up for the beginners class. I think it is alright since most beginners don't have energy for an entire hour on the pole without rest in between. I tought my first 2 per pole class last night and it went good. But since that meant there were twice as many students I could'nt spent as much time with each one and couldn't get through as much as I am used to. But I think it will be just fine. But we will only have 2 per pole in the beginners classes though.
Personally I would not like to share a pole. I like to stay on the pole most of the time and have since I first started but that is what I am used to. Maybe I wouldn't mind if I had started out with sharing a pole. 🙂
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I had to do the same thing with my classes at the beginning of the year. I used to only teach 1 per pole and now I allow up to 2 per pole. I restructered how I taught my classes and it has worked out really well for me. It took a little while for my older students to adjust but now they are used to it and everyone likes it. I also find that the students enjoy the atmosphere more when there are more people.
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My main studio has classes that are 2 hours long and up to 3 per pole (although quite often it ends up being 2 per pole, when some girls don't turn up to class)
I also attend a studio where classes are 1 hour long, and it's 1 per pole.
Agree that the class length correlates with the number of people per pole.
I think on average, I prefer a longer class length with more girls per pole, especially at more advanced levels, for the following reasons:
1) I get a break between the moves when I need to rest and catch my breath anyway
2) If the instructor is busy with someone else and I want to try a move that I'm not super confident on, I can ask my pole partner(s) to spot me and/or keep an eye out for meEven the 3-per pole dynamics doesn't work out too badly, because there are girls of different sizes in the class, and it can sometime be safer for 2 girls (instead of 1) to spot a girl who is doing tricks, since we students are not really trained to spot anyway.
My 1-per pole class is a bit more intense.
But often when we're learning a new trick and I'm not confident in trying it out without spotting, then I find I'm just standing around waiting for her to free up, or asking someone on another pole to spot me. But then the class is much shorter, so I feel that I'm missing out on real 'learning' time. Having said that, 1-per pole is good if you've already learnt a trick and you're just practicing them or doing conditioning or praticing the routine.
So maybe you could have different class size / numbers per pole / class lengths for different types of classes: tricks, vs. conditioning, vs. routine.
But I agree with HannahElizabeth, it's probably best to ask your girls directly through a survey.
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I think it depends on teaching style. I have taught classes with up to 3 people per pole and currently teach with 1 person per pole. Beginners NEVER stay on the pole the whole time even though they have their own because it's a long time and a lot to take in. My classes are multi level (typically) so when I have 2 newbies in a class full of intermediates and advanced I like to pair them up and they seem to really enjoy sharing the pole with each other and taking turns. This way they can watch the advanced girls and each other, cheer for each other and better take in the experience. My beginners also always learn a very basic routine their first class so it's fun for them to dance for each other while everyone else is freestyling because they haven't built the stamina or have enough moves to do a full song.
I teach a 1/1 beginner class too and I still find that the girls are not on the pole the entire hour – they stop to watch each other and chat. I also teach a couple of fitness classes with a 1/1 pole ratio and usually I only do about 15-20 minutes of actual pole work because at 45 mins a class thats a lot of pole.
I think it depends on the way the class is presented and how much time you have. People say they don't want to share poles but unless they can actually stay on the pole the entire time – I don't see any reason not to work on a pole buddy system.
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OK, I prefer one, but I think 2/pole is OK. The main difference in the structure of classes is how aggressive they are. I've taken classes at B&P in NYC — 2 on a pole — where I had my ass completely kicked in that 1.5 hours and even ended up with extra pole time because my pole buddy was too exhausted to continue. If I felt upset at all it was because I felt they were TRYING to tire us out with the warmup ;).
On the other hand, I've taken classes at BeSpun which were 2 PLUS girls per pole, yet had a very light warmup, and still felt OK. In this case the structure of the class was so SLOW (we only learned 3 tricks in each class — one spin, one lift and one hold) that I still felt I had plenty of time on the poles. I find that most girls don't like to repeat the same trick more than a few times … they get bruised, and would rather sit on the floor watching.
If I were you, I would either raise your rates or add more classes. Otherwise … STEP UP the pace! 🙂
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Hmmm…It's interesting how so many people have experienced only 2/pole classes! I've never had to share a pole and to be honest I would not have a good reaction to it if I had to all of a sudden :/ I don't know why, I get really posessive of the pole and I spend every second of the class on it, I don't want to take breaks (even if sometime's I may need one). I'm also really shy so the thought of walking into a class and having to share with another girl would be mortifying to me 🙁 This is just me sharing my experience and thoughts (just to give it from a different perspective, not to bring you down or anything). As for your dilemma, I completely agree with the others though. Some of these suggestions are really good! Especially being concious of going to see every student individually to ensure they can't blame slow progress on the 2/pole.
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Oh, a few more thoughts. Sorry … this is something I feel strongly about!
I would NOT enjoy a class that encouraged my partner to spot me, critique me, or do doubles spins with me (unless that was specifically advertised.) I go to classes to learn from the instructor — not my peers — and to learn to pole dance individually. I might end up partnered with someone who is too weak to safely spot me, or far below my level. And vice versa.
BTW, most of the classes I've taken are 1-to-a-pole, and it's what I prefer! I was just responding about my different but positive experiences with multiple girls per pole since I thought it might be helpful. 🙂
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Personally I do not like sharing a pole during class. If it was a workshop where national talent came in I could understand why an organizer may try to get maximum attendance. However… for regular class it doesn't work for me.
I have had experiences where the other person is wearing lotions and the pole is impossible to grip after they are on it. You can't stop and clean it off because the class moves too quickly doing the switcheroo between the groups. That was a safey issue that I hated and was my biggest issue.
I don't like breaks. I can stand around at home and not pay someone money to do it. I am spending a lot of money for each class and I want the full value. Which means pole time and as much instruction as possible.
Sharing the pole translates to me as a break in my flow. I can start to cool down during that time and I didn't like that.
From a hygeine standard it kind of grosses me out… but then again I am the one that wipes gym equipment before I use it too. I don't touch the pole with my eye… but I feel the most comfortable on clean equipment.
If there was an instructor that blew my mind I would be willing to share. There are more disadvantages than advantages to sharing. The only reason I would do it is for a great instructor that could balance the class well and also allow appropriate cleanliness and safety.
Different strokes for different folks right? I'm a one per pole kinda gal.
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Just a note to add to lilblondie's comments…quite often insurance will not cover an incident in class where a student was responsible for spotting another student.
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