2.5 stars.I struggled a bit to write a review for this place, since I want to be fair, but also honest. Taking a step back, when you are a regular at a studio you tend to cut people slack when things are a bit off, because on average, things are fine. I say this, because when I was writing down what bothered me about my visit, I was also thinking in my head that those things wouldn't be that big of a deal if I was a regular, versus a visitor. And I know there is always that initial stress of visiting a new studio and working out the kinks...
The class: I took Mixed Aerial Apparatus. We did hammock and silks (student to apparatus ratio was 2:1). The ceilings weren't insanely high, but there were alright (maybe a little lower than Cirque School LA, higher than Jagged and Evolve Dance Studio). I think the tissu was low/no-stretch. The class and instructor itself was fine: warm-up, some conditioning, switch between hammock and silks, cool down. I liked the instructor; the instructor spotted and explained things well (she had a very lyrical voice when she spoke). We rotated between the two apparatuses doing the same combos, (get as far through the combo as you feel comfortable with). The other students and instructors were generally friendly and welcoming. If I was reviewing just class content, I'd probably give it 4 stars.
I found it challenging to get there. In Sadie's defense, I found out later there are very specific directions on how to find the studio on their website. That's nice, but it's presumptive to assume that people will automatically go to your website and read your hints when they sign-up for a class. To get there, if you are heading north on Inglewood Ave, note that there is no center divider to make a left turn into the parking lot entrance, and traffic can be pretty heavy. If you want to be that person holding up traffic while you wait to turn... well that is up to you. If you miss your left turn, there are a couple of no-U turn signs afterwards, so it's best to turn around at Petco/Vons. Afterwards don't get into the furthest right lane, since it is a right-only lane and turns before your entrance. The parking lot entrance occurs immediately after the railroad on your right. The entrance is a bit inconspicuously hidden and is a sharp v-turn. There will be no sign. If you are in the parking lot of Havana Mania and the 99 cent store, you've missed it. If you at the road behind the warehouse, that's the loading deck of the 99cent store, and that's not where the studio is either. Depending on when you come, the parking lot can be deserted. It may appear that the warehouses end at the metal fence, but Sadie's is at #11 and #12 all the way at the end, BEHIND the fence. Go ahead and roll the fence ajar and head into either of the two studios. The outside of the studio has a camper and grass.
I understand there are dogs about, so you have to keep the fence closed. However, put yourself in my shoes. People walk to the end of the lot and see a closed metal fence, and the last door is #10 with some chemical warning sign. When I arrived at the studio that night, the doors were closed, so light wasn't exactly coming out of them to indicate anyone was there. People don't automatically go exploring and drag open random metal fences in a warehouse @night, especially for buildings that have no signs. I went back to my car until I happened to see someone else come and open/close the fence. But honestly, the first time I came here, from the time my GPS said "You've arrived" to when I was actually peering through the fence, took 15minutes to find; finding this place is completely unobvious.
And for the dogs... you lucked out, I like dogs. But I had no idea that this place was partially set-up as a doggy day care, and that there would be puppies roaming about in the studio during class. It's an interesting concept and I applaud that, but what if I had been allergic? What if I don't want to warm-up next to a German Shepherd? Yes, the dogs were mostly well behaved; there was minimal puppies walking on yoga mats and minimal barking. But the dog per square footage hanging out while we were warming up, made for kind of a crazy environment.
Besides being hard to find. Couple that, with the fact that they cancelled on me the first time I signed up for a class (no email, no phone call) so I was completely lost and with no one answering the phone. And when I finally did get to take a class on another day, I entered the room to a bunch of dogs... The whole thing was honestly a bit overwhelming. Like I mentioned, these issues are probably not that big of a deal in the long-run: once you figure out how to find this place, you're good. And lots of aerial/pole studios have dogs (though probably not a pack of roaming dogs). I didn't hate the class, but I am keen to point out that the barriers of entry, to figuring this place out the first time, are quite high. read more