Insurance For Your Pole Dance Studio

So you have decided to open your own pole studio.  You've chosen the location and picked your poles.  You have the most amazing flooring and mirrors on the wall.  The sound and lighting are perfect.  You're about to open your doors and you are just waiting for the stream of brand new pole dancers to come through.  

Oh wait, first you need insurance. 

Many people don't know this but this Twirly Girl's day job is working as a litigation secretary/paralegal.  I have spent the past nine years working for an attorney who specifically does insurance coverage.  That is, we represent insurance companies and he gives advice -- usually about which loopholes the insurance companies can use to deny coverage. 

Many pole studio owners and/or instructors have mistakenly picked up the wrong insurance.  If you have insurance for general fitness, yoga, pilates, etc., you are most likely NOT going to be covered by your policy if a student in six inch stilettos inverts and falls on her head.  

Pole Skivvies wrote a post about Mary Ellyn Weissman's quest to find the RIGHT policy for pole dance studios.  You can read that post HERE.  The company that she is backing has a website called Insurance For Pole Dancers. 

Through an internet search, I have also found another company that offers pole studio insurance specifically.  You can visit their website HERE. 

Regardless of which company you decide to use, please make sure they understand that you have pole dancers in your studio.  Maybe you need to use words like "circus training" and "gymnastics" (aerial silks are considered a circus act and are VERY expensive to insure).  If you have instructors other than yourself, you will need to insure them separately.  Some policies will not cover students wearing heels.  Some won't cover students who invert.  Most won't cover anyone that allows alcohol anywhere near their studio.  So please find an insurance broker you can trust, let them know all about your studio and make sure you protect yourself and your students with the right insurance!

Pole Dance Certifications

As pole dancing grows in popularity, associations and federations are popping up all over the world.  As these entities fight to make the sport "valid" in the eyes on the public, certification training programs are also being created to allow instructors to become certified to teach pole dance.  Although we could then ask what makes some programs "certified" to "certify" people, we ourselves are not certified in anything, so we have to believe that they know what they are doing (and we applaud those who want to keep students safe).  :-)  I have collaborated with Valentina and Pole Dance Italy on this post.  We have yet to back any particular program, but thought it would be nice to have a list of some of these programs in one place.  Here is a list of some of the popular pole certification training programs from around the world. 

KT Coates' Vertical Dance Pole Fitness Instructor Qualification (UK/Online)
http://www.verticaldance.com/poledancequalification.htm

The in-person course lasts two weekends.  The certification is recognized by American Council on Exercise (ACE), Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA), Canadian Fitness Professionals (petition for credits) (CANFITPRO), Register of Exercise Professionals (REPS), Pole Fitness Association (PFA), International Pole Dance Fitness Association (IPDFA) and Pole Dance Community (PDC).  The beginner course costs $399 (UK).  Intermediate and advanced courses are $199 (UK) each. 

Online courses are also available and allow you to study at your own pace.  Beginner and intermediate levels are available and each will take approximately 30 hours to complete.  You must complete it within one year of starting. 

International Pole Dance Fitness Association (IPDFA) (UK/China/Malaysia)
http://internationalpoledancefitnessassociation.com/training/study/courses/

IPDFA offers two courses: beginner and intermediate.  The beginner course is 24 hours long and the intermediate course is 12 hours long.  Training is offered at Aerial Arts Academy in Hong Kong and Viva Vertical in UK and Malaysia.  The cost of the program is not listed on the website.

http://internationalpoledancefitnessassociation.com/affiliation/course-accreditation/

The IPDFA also allows pole studios to submit their class syllabus for accreditation, which certifies a studio for two years.

Pole Dance Community (PDC) (UK/Online)
http://www.poledancecommunity.co.uk/pole-dancers/how-to-grade

This program is less about certification and more about grading.  PDC allows online submissions of videos for grading by their staff.  Level 3 instructors include Elena Gibson from London, KT Coates, also from the UK, and Mary-Ellyn Weissman from the US.  

Here is a comment received from PDS.  We wanted to share it with everyone:

Great review but just wanted to clarify a few bits about the Pole Dance Community. The AAP program is not a certification program or teaching qualification. It is a grading system that is implemented by our PDC approved instructors. Students can choose to grade online if they have no PDC approved instructor nearby. The AAP also allows students/instructors to record their pole dancing progression such as instructor approval, competition success, master-classes attended etc.

With regards to certification we currently have 3 approved teacher training courses, they are the Vertical Dance qualification, the ETDance qualification and the Discoveries Dance qualification: 

http://www.poledancecommunity.co.uk/join-us/instructor-training 

You may also be interested in our instructor approval scheme. 

http://www.poledancecommunity.co.uk/join-us/levels-and-logos

Mariana Baum - Pole Dance Paris (France)

http://www.poledance-paris.com/06_formation-pro/index.html

Mariana Baum is the first pole dancing teacher in Paris, and the organizer of the French Pole Dance Championship. Mariana Baum is also French Ambassador of PFA (Pole Fitness Association).  The training course for instructors is organized in modules (basic to advance) for a total of 163 hours. It covers about 200 tricks and movements as well as theory, dance and acrobatics, speaking in public, pole dancing on the static and spinning pole, choreography. With the course there is a written manual for each module and DVD made directly by Mariana Baum. The cost is 450€ per module, for a total of 9 modules of which three optional modules (speaking in front of an audience, technique improvement, performance). 

Doris Arnold - Spin With Me (France)

http://www.spinwithme.fr/?page=formations_professionnelles&PHPSESSID=tnnnoe064cisgsvuc3405h8dm2 

From just the last year Spin With Me offers training courses for instructors in both pole dancing and stripteasing. For pole dancing is 8 modules, 20 hours each, split into 4 consecutive days. No other information has been published. 

PoleXGym (Italy)

http://www.tamantini-polexgym.com/Pdf/Polexgym_corso_formazione.pdf 

Instructor training is a introductory course, consisting of one day, with the explanation of about 30 tricks and to understand the teaching style of the person. Basic course, obtainable after a period of pole dancing courses, is a 2 day, 16 hours course that includes pole dancing tricks, stretching, strengthening, choreography and all the pole dancing basics.

X-Pert Certification (US)
http://bodyandpole.com/x-pert-certification/

This is a "2-day, 16-hour training is accredited by AFAA and ACE – the top fitness certifying organizations – and endorsed by the PFA (Pole Fitness Association)."  The cost is around $750 (US).  X-pert certification will be offered in conjunction with the Pole Convention in Los Angeles, California this year with a convention price of only $649. 

Climb & Spin (US)
http://www.climbandspin.com/Certification_Programs.html

There are a few different certification options, but the basic Climb & Spin comprehensive certification package is $1,700 (US) and includes recognition by the United States Pole Dance Federation (USPDF).  That cost does not include instructor training.  The eight day teacher training is an additional $1,300 to $1,700 (US). 

Pole Dance Instructor Certification with Fawnia (PDIC) (US)
http://www.polefitnessstudio.com/certifications.html

Fawnia is the lady who started it all in North America -- opening the first pole studio in Canada in the 1990's.  Her program features seven levels of pole, dance, floor work, and routines.  The Pole Dance Instructor Certifications are held in Las Vegas, Nevada.  It has been approved by the PFA.  Each level is taught in approximately one day.  The cost for Level 1 is $1,000 (although you can purchase multiple levels at a discount.  For example, Levels 1-4 would be $2,495).   

Pole Fitness Instructor Certification with Felix Cane (US)
http://www.ocpolefitness.com/certified.php

This program offers certification in many areas, including pole, lap dance and "sexy yoga."  Each certification varies in cost and time commitment.  They do strongly recommend Levels 1-4 for beginning instructors, at a cost of $2,400 (US).

Empowerment Through Exotic Dance Instructor Certification Program (ETED) (US)
http://empowermentthroughexoticdance.com/ETEDInstructorTraining.htm

Mary-Ellyn Weissman owns ETED, and is a Level 3 certified instructor through PDC.  She offers beginner/intermediate and advanced certifications.  The cost is $799 (US) and $599, respectively.  Each level is 16 hours of training and the program is sanctioned by the PFA and PDC.  There is an additional cost if the lessons are given on a private or semi-private basis. 

Discoveries Dance Instructor Certification (US)
http://www.discoveriesdance.com/

This is a 14 hour program, which requires the ability to already perform intermediate pole moves, and has been approved by ACE, AFAA, the PFA and the PDC.  The cost is around $400 and there are workshops set up all over the United States, including during Pole Convention in Los Angeles this June.  

The Italian Pole Dance Federation contacted Pole Dance Italy after the initial posting of this blog and stated that X-Pert Certification is available, although it is still only valid in the United States.  They also offer the following options: FIPD (Federazione Italiana Pole Dance) and CSEN (Centro Sportivo Educativo Nazionale) Sport Technician and Pole Fitness Teacher level 1 and level 2.

With so many options, it can be confusing as to which program might be right for you.  We would suggest first deciding why you want to become certified.  Do you want to teach?  Are you just trying to be a better/safer pole dancer?  Then talk to some of your favorite polefessionals.  Perhaps they have a program that they can endorse.  Finally, do a little bit of research and figure out which programs are offered in your area. 

If you are aware of a program that we missed, tell us about it!  Also, if you have been certified, we'd love to hear about that as well!

Power of Pole: Meet Jeannette!

I have been chatting with Jeannette in our Facebook group, Pole Dancers Unite.  She is so encouraging and I am happy to have her as a pole sister (and it's cool that she also shares a name with my mom)!  Please also check out the post I did about the studio where she dances, ETED!

How long have you been pole dancing?
I have been poling since 2005...when Mary Ellyn Weissman walked into my office (I also work for their accounting/finance company) and said that she needed one more warm body for class...Been hooked ever since!

What first drew you to try it?
Mary Ellyn had talked to me about it and her interest in opening a school. Me having a long love affair with just dancing period,...told her that if and when she did I would certainly be interested in trying it.

Where do you take classes?
I take and, as of 2008, teach at Empowerment Through Exotic Dance in Chicago, IL.

Do you have a pole at home?
ABSO-LUCKIN-FUTELY!!!!

How often do you pole?
I teach two classes per week and make a point of practicing at home at least one other night a week. I also take and/or teach any of our extra weekend classes when possible.

What else do you do to keep your body in shape to pole?
Do you have a moment... Monday nights I do aerobics, Tues. nights I teach, Wednesday nights I do Kickboxing...Mon-Fri I do Zumba in the mornings and on Saturday mornings (if not teaching pole) I do Step Aerobics. Sunday is LITERALLY A Day of Rest!!!

Do you like to dance in shoes or barefoot?
Barefoot, although I do like dancing in shoes...helps me slow down my dance!

How do you deal with dry skin on pole days and on off-pole days?
Johnsons & Johnsons Bedtime baby lotion- Lilac!!! Excellent for poling...and PLEASE LADIES...make sure to take your time completely rubbing in your lotion...it won't take as much to put on and won't leave as much of a residue!

What is your favorite product to help you stick to the pole?
GRRRRIIIPPP...(did I spell it right? LOL) I put it on before and during and also apply it to my pole if I'm the only one using it.

Where do you buy your pole clothes?
Mary Ellyn is actually a wholesale rep for some pole clothing manufacturers...so I go through her...Being a woman with real curves...I would like to see more pole clothing lines that cater to us.

What is your favorite song to dance to right now?
I change my mood every single day. I dance to everything...Heck I just did a performance for a local studio's grand opening and dance to a country song (George Straight!) I have a Latin flair to my dancing...so I add it to every genre.

How do you feel like pole has improved or changed your life?
Its therapeutic. It has opened my mind from being a girl that says "Oh I won't ever be able to do that!"...to a woman that believes she can do ANYTHING she puts her mind to...I even run now!

And if that positive way of thinking, aides me in just being a positive influence to just one other woman...now that would be the greatest gift of all!!!

Studio Spotlight: Empowerment Through Exotic Dance!

I first started hearing whispers about Mary Ellyn and Empowerment Through Exotic Dance as the Grande Dames (pole dancers over 40) were getting excited about The Midwest Pole Dance Competition earlier this year.  I wanted to include her in our circle of pole sisters, so here she is!

What is your fitness background?

I have a group exercise certification through AFAA.

What is your fitness routine (on and off the pole)?

Off the pole I work out 5-7 days per week...about 30 minutes of cardio, 20 minutes of strength training and 45 minutes of stretching each session. On the pole I teach 12 hours a week plus choreograph and practice outside of classes.

What kind of diet do you follow?

Mostly low carb dieting.

Do you have a dance background?

Never took any serious dance lessons. Started at Fred Astaire once and dropped out after a couple of weeks.

Do you compete (pole fitness or any other kind of fitness competitions)?

I don't compete but this year we launched the Midwest Pole Dance Competition in August.

What interested you about pole dancing?

The fun mixed with the fabulous support among the women (and now men) in classes.

Do you have a preference? "pole fitness" or "pole dancing"

Not really though I tend to personally lean toward using the term pole dancing. Even the fitness aspect has a dance element to it and all dance is a form of fitness.

What do you think about the stripper vs. pole fitness debate?

I think it's ridiculous. There is no denying that at least a portion of our pole moves are rooted in the stripper industry and there is no shame in a woman's sensuality. I don't endorse the side of the industry which exploits women but I also support a woman's choice to work in any field she wishes. While I understand that pole dancing in it's earliest form was Mallakhamb and Chinese pole, I don't believe that the modern pole dance school started up because of Mallakhamb! I was around when pole dancing burst into mainstream and we had never even heard of Mallakhamb at that time!

What is your favorite product to help you stick to the pole?

Grrrip...and yes that is spelled correctly. I prefer the spray but they have a lotion for sweaty hands too. The spray helps with mild sweating and adds just a touch of grip but you can still spin without sticking too much.

How do you deal with the dry skin on pole days (and on off-pole days)?

I love Pole Physics!  Plus I exfoliate daily!

 



Where do you like to buy your pole clothes?

I love Mika Yoga Wear and AMB shorts.

Do you like to dance in heels or barefoot?

Mostly in bare feet as I teach in bare feet so that is what I'm use to. However if I'm dressed up and out dancing I prefer 6-inch heels.

What did you do before opening your pole studio?
I was a registered nurse in ER/Trauma

How did you come up with the name for your studio?

Brainstorming with my husband...though I never really cared for how long it is!

What is your favorite thing about dancing on the pole?

Beautiful spins can take my breath away.

What is your favorite song to dance to (at this moment)?

Simple Man by Deftones.

Do you have any other upcoming events you'd like people to know about?

The Great Midwest Pole Dance Competition and Convention 2012 due to be held in August. More information will be available soon at www.MidwestPoleDancing.com.

What else would you like people to know about you or your studio?

We offer online teacher training and live instructor certification courses sanctioned by the Pole Fitness Association and The Pole Dance Community as well as approved for CEUs by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. Check www.PoleDancerCertification.com for more information.

*****

Please catch up with Mary Ellyn and ETED on their Website!