So You want to Pole Dance in Helsinki?

This photo from Pole4Fit's gallery illustrates how literally supportive Pole4Fit's teachers are.

As you know, I started pole dancing in March 2010 at Pole4Fit. Pasila was a convenient location for me; the studio is five minutes from the busiest railway station in Finland (three, if you're in a hurry to catch a train). Starting up, I had no idea I would become a member later on, but even back then I preferred Pole4Fit's fitness-oriented website. The oldest pole dancing school in Helsinki, Rock the Pole, seemed to convey a more sensual image. I soon learned that both schools have excellent teachers and that teachers and students from both schools have competed in Finnish Pole Dancing Championships - even though this year there were no less than six contestants from Pole4Fit and zero from Rock the Pole.

Oona Kivelä's GYMi had opened it's doors in January 2010, but I didn't learn that they have pole dancing for adults until I had already made myself home at Pole4Fit. I've been meaning to visit both Rock the Pole and GYMi so many times, and I hereby solemnly swear that I'll visit both this year, but until then I can only tell what the lessons are like at Pole4Fit.

Pole4Fit's pole dancing lessons are divided into levels 1-4. Anyone can go to a Poletech1 lesson with no previous experience, or take a 120-minute Fresh Start! course. If you already have pole dancing experience you can contact the school and let them know what you can do and they'll recommend suitable lessons for you. All the teachers, and pretty much all students, know English and are willing to help you out. You really don't have to know the funny local language to pole dance in Helsinki.

Pole4Fit has featured workshops with Tracey Simmonds (four times in total), Jenyne Butterfly, Pantera, Edouard Doyé, Michelle Stanek, Simona Martini (who visits somewhat regularly to teach ballet and pole choreo), Oona Kivelä and Anastasia Shukhtorova. Not bad considering the school opened in August 2009, only 2,5 years ago. Regular teachers include Anna-Katariina Koponen, Anne Laakkonen, Anna Lehtonen and Gaëlle, who by the way gives all her lessons in English, even though she knows Finnish as well and sometimes uses the Finnish names for tricks: "And then you go from kaksonen into vesimies"...

All the teachers are good. I'm not just saying this, they are. I tried naming my favourites but just ended up listing them all. They have high standards for teachers and apparently zero-tolerance for bitchiness. Safety comes first for all of them, which means comprehensive warm-ups and step-by-step guidance. Even though there are four different levels and even sub-levels such as 1-2 or Poletech 2 beginners, it doesn't mean that everyone does the same tricks. If you can't do the shoulder mount, for example, the teachers will show you how to start practicing for it so that you'll gain the required muscles for it and will eventually be able to do it safely.

Pole4Fit also offers pole choreo, pole spin, pole pilates, pole workout, ballet, show dance, aerial hoop and stretching classes and sometimes workshops in acrobatics, burlesque and chinese pole. I usually go to 3-5 lessons per week, sometimes as many as eight, but other than my membership and the friends that I've made there I have no connection to the place. This is not a paid advertisement, just an honest opinion from a very satisfied customer. And like said, I've heard great things about GYMi and Rock the Pole as well. We are just spoiled rotten here in Helsinki.

Helsingissä voi harrastaa tankotanssia Pole4Fitillä, Rock the Polella tai Oona Kivelän GYMillä. Itse olen käynyt kaksi vuotta Pole4Fitillä, jossa opettajat ovat todella päteviä ja mukavia, ja voin suositella sitä lämpimästi! Lupaan tämän vuoden aikana käydä myös Rock the Polella ja GYMillä!

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