I went to the Port Orchard location by the same name, maybe they've moved?
First off, I do want to say that the owner/instructor had great technique & seemed really knowledgable about pole dancing. That said, my first impression wasn't enough for me to come back.
Dolphin dance's website needs an update, or at least it did when I went. I arrived late because the address led me to a different part of Port Orchard and I had to call the studio last minute to find the location.
Then class started 10 minutes late, and being brand new to the area at that time, I was told that this is how time/scheduling works out here... Actually, I've lived here for a year now and have yet to come across that anywhere else.
Upon entering the studio, the instructor/owner asked where I was from, laughed, and made a statement with a heavy accent that was supposed to be from my home state. I was taken aback. It's ok to tease someone you know better, but to make a crack at someone who's brand new in the area, got lost on the way there, and is homesick like crazy.. not ok.
I spent the class being repeatedly warned that, since I had a history with pole dancing at other studios, that I'm to keep my feet on the ground at all times until I progress further along in this studio's classes/levels. How boring. If I wanted to keep my feet on the ground while dancing to slow music that's not energizing for fun, I would have joined ballet instead.
Then we spent 15 minutes being instructed how to twirk, one butt cheek, the other butt cheek, both butt cheeks. Seriously now?
We also spent a good 10 minutes learning handstands. Alright, except for those who can do handstands in their sleep, there really should be an alternate option/version to work on during that time. That was really boring, and I wasn't getting any tips or corrections, so it felt like wasted class time, much like the twerking.
Time was saved at the end for a pow-wow style discussion about life lessons and personal growth. This was sweet, but I'd rather be pole dancing.
The poles themselves are a bit older: static rather than spinning, and they felt thicker than the poles I've typically used, but that's a personal preference. read more