I love pole dancing. I was a personal trainer and dancer for the past 15 years and I have found a…read morehome in pole at Steel Heart Dance. It's the perfect combination of extreme strength, rhythm and being sexy. I have now been dancing with Deb for over two years. Her style and attention to technique are the perfect combination to become a pole athlete. If you are looking to try something new or are ready to take your skills to the next level, Deb's coaching and systematic progression will be a perfect fit. This is where you really learn to pole dance.

I had an amazing experience at steel heart dance studio overall from start to finish. I took the…read morevirgin pole class and it's a great introductory experience to the pole dancing world. I have never felt so comfortable with my body in front of anyone like that but with teacher Torin and the other ladies I felt free!10/10 would recommend

I decided to get out of my comfort zone and enroll myself in the Prelude to Pole class. I felt like…read morefor one day, 1.5 hours long, I could handle it. I'm so glad I made that decision, because Addie is awesome!!! She's super nice and really good at teaching! The class I was in had 5 other participants. We first showed proof of vaccination and our ID before filling out the waiver. The lights were dim and the studio itself doesn't have many mirrors. I felt that this promoted confidence because I didn't have to feel self-conscious in the mirror, or worry about how I looked in front of others. Because I'm more cautious, I kept my mask on. I appreciate that there was no pressure to have to take my mask off. Anyway, so we start off with a warmup that focused on flexibility and core strength. Spoiler alert: I lack both, but I did my best! We also learned how to crawl and do some sexy leg work. Then we got to pick a pole and we learned some moves: a spin, how to walk around the pole, and how to uh dance around it? At the end of the class, we learned a routine and had the option of recording ourselves. We even got to try on heels! Uh a little heads up on the heels: your best bet is to size up. I normally wear a 5. The 6 fit me fine, but I might've felt more comfortable wearing a 6.5 or something. I'm really considering taking the 5-6 week series.

I've been coming here for about five years (!) and I love it. There are tons of good things I could…read moresay about it, but I'll try to keep it short and useful. These are my favorite things about this studio: - The classes are very balanced. Besides the actual training for spins or tricks, they include a quite hardcore warmup and stretching that will help you gain the strength you will need later on, and time for dancing in the end. - They get you to freestyle from very early on. Instead of just teaching you cool tricks that you can only do for a photo, they actually put a lot of emphasis in dancing. After just a few weeks of class, you'll feel comfortable dancing and freestyling. The studio is super supportive and encouraging, no matter how you look or how experienced you are, and you won't feel shy or insecure even if you're just starting and can only do a few spins. - The instruction is organized through series, so you'll get to know your class buddies and you will learn step by step, building strength and form for whatever comes next. You will also get a lot of personalized attention, because the instructor will actually know you and spend time with you. I find this particularly useful if you're not the kind of person who is naturally skilled or gets tricks super fast, because you won't arrive or leave a class feeling completely lost, useless, or frustrated. - It's very safe! They don't use crashmats, and that doesn't make it unsafe, but the opposite. The instructors won't let you do stuff unless you're actually ready to do it, they'll spot you until you're confident about it, and eventually you will feel comfortable enough to do it by yourself and incorporate it in your dance. And again, they'll spend time with you to make sure you're doing it right. - The owner, Nikki, is very good at identifying why you're not being able to land a trick, and will give you specific tips to actually do it. Not only that, but she trains her instructors to be aware of the details people find challenging, and address those. If you've ever had the feeling that an instructor was just too good of a dancer and they just couldn't understand why a move is difficult to you, you won't have it here. This probably won't be the right studio for you if you can only drop in every now and then, if you learn very fast and are able to get many tricks right away, or if you just want to learn tricks and don't care about the dancing itself.

Shelly is my favorite pole instructor and a friend!!!…read more When I first moved to SF almost two years ago, I had a really hard time finding both exciting and challenging dance classes. I am a dancer, so I needed more than simply good. Then... I met Shelly! She is amazing. She is both amazing at instructing and performing. I have been taking her lessons quite some time now and have been there to see how strong she got and how graceful she got with more advance moves. Her personality is great too. She makes us laugh all the time and our regular class is always full of energy and a lot of smiles. If you have never been to a pole class, I totally recommend her. She has background in dancing and pilates, so her pole dancing is very elegant and graceful. If you also have some experience in pole, I totally recommend her too. She can teach you amazing pole tricks, and also smooth flow of a movement to a next level. I can't wait to take her lesson every week ^^

Although I've never taken classes with Shelly at her SF studio, I took several months of classes…read morewith her at Twirly Girls Pole Fitness, located in Pleasanton. I really like the focus she places on proper form and technique--it's really nice knowing that you're not laying foundation to future injuries when you're learning more advanced moves from her, because you're learning and doing them right. Shelly is super fun and is also an amazingly talented performer. (If you've never seen her do a spatchcock, holy crud.) We'd start the classes with a thorough warmup, including stretches and various climbs, and the we'd move on to different tricks and spins. Shelly works with each of her students and is also very patient and good with breaking down movies so we understand how to progress. When I failed at life with the helicopter spin (sigh :'( ), she had me work on the cradle spin and also on the steps so I could at least get an idea of what it should feel like/what I could practice to eventually get there. (Honestly, I think I was just scared and/or weaksauce, but mark my words: one day!) Her background in dance is also really awesome--we usually get to learn some choreography towards the end of the class (unless we go overboard with wanting to learn tricks on some days ;). She always finds time with us afterward to stretch and some days, we work on oversplits (ow ow ow ;_; but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger!). When Shelly found out that I was moving across the country, she told me about a bunch of teachers at different studios where I could continue to learn (provided that I can trek my way up to NY). :] I miss her classes and hope to be back soon!

I have been taking classes at SFPD for a few months and I have so much fun every time! The…read moreinstructors are so great/ encouraging and I always feel that I am progressing. I had a private party at the studio for my birthday this weekend because I wanted all my friends to try it out and they absolutely loved it as well and hope to all continue their pole journey:) Kyra made the event soo fun and getting to see her performance at the end was amazing!!

So glad I found this studio while I lived in San Francisco. AMAZING instructors, beautiful studio,…read moreand a great variety of classes. I wish I found this studio earlier. Thank you SF Pole and Dance!!

I love VRV3! They have an amazing variety of classes ranging from aerial hoop, pole, flexibility,…read moreand conditioning classes. It's been nice to watch the studio grow as well. I like the new app, because it makes checking-in a breeze. I've been going to classes here for over 3 years now and the stand out thing is the community. Everyone who trains here is amazing and I'm happy to met so many amazing instructors/classmates over the years. My favorite classes are pole, especially Fluid and Flow and L3+ Tricks. The community is super supportive, welcoming, and fun! I especially love Patricia's and Vix's classes! My only gripe is that the classes do not tell you in advance how filled the class is (I.E it could say XX spots out of 10 filled on the app) before you sign up. When classes have 8+ students, I would have preferred to taken a different class. Otherwise, this review would have been a perfect 5/5.

I have loved every class I've taken here. I started out with 4 classes to experiment with Ariel/…read moresome of the other types of classes they had - and I ended up sticking around because I loved the pole classes. I keep coming back because it's great cross training to my normal gym routine, and it's been so much fun learning something new. A plus has been how welcoming the instructors have been - and really you can tell everyone is just happy to be there and doing their thing. I couldn't suggest this studio more if you're learning, want a place to continue your conditioning, or anything else really.

No question about it-- just go to Brisbane Pilates and you'll be glad you did. Diana is an…read moreincredible teacher! She is so gifted-- she has significant experience with Pilates and she is so in tune with her students. For a new to Pilates person like myself, she is super encouraging, patient, and motivating. I can imagine how amazing she would be with a student more experienced with the method as well. Pilates is an amazing workout, and my body feels better all week after having a session with Diana. I feel stronger, and more steady and balanced on my feet. Pilates really strengthens your core-- I have noticed my posture is better too. I feel Pilates is an investment in myself and my long term health and wellness. Diana has good rates, is super easy to book and schedule with, and has a cute studio in downtown Brisbane. Thanks Diana!

Diana is amazing! I started doing private Pilates sessions with her before my wedding just to look…read morebetter in my dress and she has totally helped change my outlook on fitness. Oh, and I did look pretty great in the dress too :) I've never been one of those people who loves to work out, but she really made me understand my body more and how a few hours a week can totally transform your life. After a year and a half seeing Diana, I've seen my body and life change. My posture has improved, I no longer suffer from insomnia, and well my jeans look better than they did before! Diana is the perfect balance of being a friend and a professional. She makes you work HARD and still manages to squeeze in some fun conversations too. She is extremely knowledgeable about Pilates, body alignment and rehabbing injuries so I'm super excited that she's opened her own studio. The more Diana in this city the better!!!!!

I've been coming to Inspiration Studios for many years now, and it's one of my favorite places to…read moretrain and unwind. They offer both Pole and Aerial classes, each with their own vibe and energy. Pole classes are held in Suite N and tend to have a bolder, more expressive atmosphere. Aerial classes are in Suite O and are usually calmer and more focused on flow and form. Make sure you head to the correct suite depending on your class. When you arrive, just check in with the instructor, or follow the lead of others in the room. Some instructors like to check everyone in personally, while others are more casual about it. It's a no-shoes kind of space. For Aerial, you're usually barefoot or in socks. For Pole, you're either barefoot or in heels depending on the class. I've taken a variety of classes over the years, but these days I'm more focused on Aerial. I especially want to shout out KC, who is my favorite instructor. She's clear, encouraging, and just a great teacher overall. Her classes are the perfect mix of supportive and challenging, and I always leave feeling stronger and more confident. I've been a student since the studio was called Poletential, back when it was under different ownership. It's been great to see the space evolve while still staying a welcoming and empowering place to train.

My friend and I came here for a static trapeze class this past weekend on a Friday evening…read more The location is a little tucked away in the center of a business plaza but we both got here early and there's plenty of parking around so wasn't an issue. We were both complete beginners to trapeze so it was going to be an experience to start. I think overall it was very interesting and the other people who were in the class were definitely expert level including our instructor who was absolutely phenomenal in perfecting his craft. I think there were a few drawbacks that would prevent us from coming back here which include: 1) The instructor got quite frustrated/visibly upset at us when I fell after trying to balance myself. It was a bit odd because as beginners, we're there to learn, make mistakes and build confidence especially in an environment completely new for the both of us. We felt like it was unprofessional side and both def felt discouraged even though we laughed it off in person. We are both grew up in the dance community, so we know how toxic it can be to have teachers like this who react out of frustration vs support but we're not children anymore who are actively trying to hurt ourselves. I think it's entirely possible for this place to enforce safety without snapping at or shaming students. 2) This place COVID vaxx checks still. My friend and I have no issue with showing this as we're we've both got this done plus boosters since the start of the pandemic. It's a business' respective choice to ask for this 100% but it did feel a little outdated given it's the Summer of 2025 and we both haven't had to show proof of this in over 3 years. I'm still glad we tried this together and though we will likely never come back, I hope future classes foster a more positive and welcoming tone, especially for first-timers!

This is honestly one of the best pole studios I've ever been to. I've been to quite a few…read morethroughout LA and the Bay Area, and some things I love about the studio itself is: the high ceilings, all the poles can switch between static and spin, yoga mats are provided, several crash pads, you can rent heels, and it's so clean! I appreciate how professional this business is + how kind everyone here is! And how pole + dance offers discounts to extend itself to the community in an effort to be more accessible to folks :) It is a bit pricier than other studios but the quality is amazing. My only "complaint" is that at one of the classes I signed up for, there were more students than there were poles so some of us had to share. I'm not sure if this is typical for auditioning instructor community centric classes, but I found it a little odd as I've never experienced that at any studio class before, and I've specifically taken several of the $10 classes. I'm not sure if it's an over-booking issue, or the intent really is to have people share but I prefer to have my own pole. Perhaps a helpful feature that could be implemented in the app is showing the class capacity that you're signing up for, I.e. "8/10 spots"-- a studio I used to go to had this feature and it greatly helped me decide on classes to sign up for. Overall a beautiful space and I look forward to more classes here!

Pole has been on my list for awhile and I finally bit the bullet. The intro classes were a safe and…read morewelcoming environment as a brand new student and helped curb any anxiety. I first learned of P+D from Netflix's documentary, "Strip Down, Rise Up". I have since been to all 3 studios in the bay (Oakland, Berkeley and SF). All the instructors bring their own style and personality to pole. The instructors that I returned to were Celia F and Marguerite. Amy has done a great job with her studios. I really admire that they offer scholarships for students and people from disadvantaged backgrounds/going through tough times. Gotta give credit where credit is due!

My friend and I took the hammock tricks class and it was so fun !!! Vivian was super sweet plus…read moresuper patient, I personally get really nervous about going backwards and I forget things really easily but she was great about going through the tricks slowly and adjusting movements to make them easier for us !! We've never done hammock tricks before so it was an amazing first try!

The location of Twirly Studios seems very discreet. Not too much signage except for what's on the…read moredoor. I decided to sign up for a beginners pole class to use up some time I had while waiting for my car getting a service. I love how personal the class was. There was only about 5 of us. I had always wanted to try pole dancing and it's so much harder than it looks!!! It was a great way to gauge my strength. I was sore for days after. Our instructor was super knowledgeable and encouraging. Made this newcomer feel super welcome. Would I do it again?? Absolutely. But I do feel I need a bit more strength training in other areas in order to succeed. I still had a lot of fun.

I had the best time at this aerial studio! As soon as I walked in, the instructor greeted me with a…read morecompliment and made me feel so welcomed. He is genuinely so fun, sweet, and encouraging. The whole class had this beautiful blend of meditation, yoga, mindfulness, and strength training. It honestly felt like a yoga class but on silks he guided us through every movement, from where to place our hips to which arm to use to pull the fabric, so I always felt supported and safe. I also loved that the class started and ended with breathwork and some meditative grounding. It was such a great workout too I left feeling challenged in the best way and really proud of myself. I was able to do way more than I expected, and the instructor's guidance made such a huge difference. On top of that, he even gave me a discount for my next class, which was so kind! The environment was super welcoming overall. I took the class with two other instructors/regulars who offered tips and encouragement, and I really appreciated how friendly everyone was. The class size was small enough that I got lots of individual attention, which made the experience even better. They offer aerial silks/hammock, pole, flexibility classes, and even burlesque and I definitely plan on coming back to try more. Such a personable, community-centered studio. I'm so glad I found this place!

I've taken a couple of different classes here and I love it. Sometimes it's the hardest workout…read moreI've had in years and sometimes it's the perfect smooth, calm, quiet elongation of every fiber of my being-- Rodney just senses what I need. I love the silks and look forward to getting better on them, and I'm amused by how encouraging Rodney is about learning pole dancing. It's a great place-- come try it out!