How much are classes?
All of our pricing is detailed on WellnessLiving, but our drop-in rate is $30 for most 75-minute classes.
If this is your first time poling with us, you can take advantage of our $20 intro offer!
Why should I choose Port City Pole to guide me on my aerial journey?
First and foremost: we care about aerial safety and student evolution!
Cumulatively, we’ve been pole dancing for 20+ years, so we pride ourselves on making pole fun and accessible for all! It starts with the apparatus itself. ALL of our poles (installed by a professional engineer) are ONE-piece Lupit brand, 45 mm, and can be set to spin or static. Most reputable studios use and trust this type of pole to keep their aerialists safe, especially when training at industry-standard heights of over 12ft. We are also the only Wilmington studio featuring teachers certified by nationally-recognized ACE-AFAA pole fitness programs. We are equipped to help you fly!
PCP respects the origins of pole, which is inherently sensual at its core.
You won’t find us sanitizing or whitewashing this sport. While many modern acrobatic techniques come from Chinese circus pole and India’s Mallakhamba, strippers are the reason “pole fitness” studios exist. We could sterilize pole as “sensual movement” to make dancing sexy more palatable for the masses, but we won’t. We could focus on “cosplaying” adult entertainment, but pole isn’t solely about exotic dancing either. We dance for ourselves in a safe space, and that is hardly comparable to dancing sexy for others in a club. PCP believes in teaching fundamental movements and heel techniques to anyone who wants to learn the art of pole dance, exotic dancing, pole sports, and everything in between.
We love EVERY aspect of dance and hope you will too! That includes floorwork! We have done our homework with spacing and removable poles to make sure our students have ample space to explore grounded movements.
PCP also recognizes that the teacher’s journey is never done. We make it a priority to continue training under the best movers in the world, to better take you through all levels in your aerial journey. We know we’re only as good as our students, and we want YOU to be the best gymnast, dancer, and/or heeled-mynx you can be. Whatever your dance or fitness goals, we can take you there!
What do I wear to class?
All classes require LEG skin unless otherwise noted. Friction between your skin and the pole is what will help you stick to the pole. Please wear/bring a pair of shorts, and don’t apply lotion beforehand.
Please remove any metal jewelry from hands and wrists, as they could result in injury and possible destruction of equipment. This includes rings, bracelets, and watches.
We dance barefoot unless otherwise specified in the class description.
Schedule Changes/Cancellations
Port City Pole reserves the right to cancel a scheduled class prior to start time, in the event of inclement weather or instructor emergencies. We aim for 3 hours notice! You will be notified by email of the cancellation if you are enrolled in the class, and have entered your correct email address into our sign-up system! Class credit goes back into your account for use at a future date.
Last minute class cancellations will also be reflected on our schedule and social media.
Substitute teachers may be applied to class at any point prior to class start time.
On the occasion class attendance is low (2 or less students), the teacher reserves the right to implement an Open Studio in place of the regularly-scheduled class, OR credit the class back onto the participants’ account.
Occasionally, we will offer “pop-up” specialty classes or workshops that are not covered by class packages. Drop-in rates may differ for these sessions and are based on length of the class and max capacity determined by the instructor.
Our class offerings differ from season to season. Please check our schedule for the most up-to-date lineup.
“I don’t think I’m strong enough. Please talk me into this.”
We don’t need your full history and why you think you can’t do this. We won’t hold your hand through signing up for ONE pole fitness class. We aren’t life coaches or therapists, nor will we pretend to be…
Just know that you ARE strong enough. No matter where you are in your fitness journey, you are simply ENOUGH to come to an intro pole class and put in work like the badass that you are.
Are you gonna be amazing at it? Probably not right away; and you shouldn’t expect that. But what you should expect are significant strides in physical strength within the first 3 classes. Hard things don’t get easier- you just get better. And by better, we mean STRONGER. And you’ll hardly notice how much work you’re putting in because pole is just so. much. FUN.
ALL ages, sizes, and fitness levels are loved and welcome.
Since this isn’t a ‘real’ fitness class, can I be late?
Nope. No. Definitely not. Students CANNOT be late.
Again, safety is of utmost importance to us! Just because our apparatus is vertical, doesn’t mean it’s any less intense than yoga, cycling, gymnastics, or martial arts. Our classes are LEGITIMATE fitness classes, and we begin every session with a full-body warm-up. Because of this, arriving late is a liability to the studio as you are not adequately warm. It is also disruptive and unfair to the rest of the class.
If you are late by 8 minutes or more, you will not be admitted and your reservation will be cancelled.
We take our late policy VERY seriously, so do plan ahead if you’re traveling from another city and/or this is your first time visiting us.
Do class packages expire?
Yes, nothing is forever. Just like every other yoga and movement studio, our class packages expire. Most expire after 3 months, but do note the expiration at time of checkout. Generally speaking, the larger the package, the more time allotted before expiration.
Buying a “new student special” or holiday deal? Those packages are severely-discounted, with the stipulation that you have a small window to use them. Note the expiration dates!
We do not extend or suspend packages without a doctor’s note or valid reason, especially as a small business in the age of COVID. Being “really busy” or going on vacation are not valid reasons. Note the expiration and plan accordingly, or if you’re unsure, use the “drop-in” option for the single class rate.
Can I cancel last minute?
Not really. You must cancel 8 hours prior to class start time to maintain class credit. Once that window closes, it’s considered a late cancellation. You can cancel in the exact same way in which you signed up.
When in doubt about your ability to make it, don’t sign up until you know for sure!
Can I sign my friends into class so we can come in as a group?
So sorry for any inconvenience, but every participant needs to make their own account and register for class themselves. The software ensures that all students can access and sign the liability waiver prior to arrival, in addition to securely storing credit card information so no-shows can be charged for the class. Do you want to be responsible for the one friend in your group who flakes on everything last-minute? We don’t think you need to carry that burden!
I love pole and PCP! How can I join your team?
We welcome any and all certified and/or experienced dancers, polers, yogis, and any movement enthusiasts, to reach out to portcitypole@gmail.com
While we don’t believe in charging potential instructors an exorbitant amount to “certify” through PCP, we do believe in safety, experience, and cohesion. Expect to make the time to attend PCP classes, shadow instructors, and pass the vibe test.
What is your age policy?
Anyone under the age of 18 must have the release form signed by a parent or guardian with us at the studio.
I’ve been taking classes at a different studio. Can I take your advanced classes?
Every studio has different levels and different teaching methods. Because of this, we ask that no matter your background and experience, you begin with Intro to Pole or Pole 1/2 classes so we can assess you. We build our static spin and invert foundation in these classes, so if you have not had experience in these classes, you will probably not be ready for our intermediate and advanced curriculum. When in doubt, please refer to the class pre-requisites or email portcitypole@gmail.com
Do you offer memberships?
In short, not yet. As a newer studio, PCP is currently focused on quality over quantity. Our classes are small, our team is still growing, and we don’t think it’s pertinent to strong-arm our new community into memberships, and the rules and hidden fees that accompany those memberships.
Our small team is committed to student growth; they are trained to scaffold to each individual in a class, in addition to creating unique, fun, and challenging routines and combos for each 75-minute class.
When a studio is comprised mostly of students on “unlimited memberships,” often times you will find yourself in jam-packed classes, feeling like a number, while trying to avoid kicking your mates in the face. While seemingly fiscally-beneficial to students and good for a sense of community, unlimited memberships often don’t incentivize studios or teachers to spend additional time developing class curriculum.
We want to offer the best pole dance experience possible. No contracts, no hidden fees, just structured classes to help you progress!
Can I register my entire birthday/bachelorette party for a regularly-scheduled class?
We don’t recommend jumping in on regular classes in a large group.
Private parties are modified for the group coming in, and focus on the fun aspect more than the fitness aspect. Please email us for private party and group lesson rates: portcitypole@gmail.com
Are men allowed in class?
Men are welcome to participate in any of our classes! We love our pole dancing dudes!
Note: regardless of gender, we reserve the right to remove/refuse any person or group that distracts from class productivity or behaves inappropriately at any point during, before, or after class.
“Can plus-size dancers pole too?”
We accept all body types! That being said, for your own safety, we recommend ALL potential participants consult with their physician before starting new exercise regimens. You can certainly be fit at ANY size, but 75 minutes of pole dancing is challenging for all fitness levels. On average 1 class will burn around 500 calories! We partake in about 15 minutes of conditioning to warm up before moving on to the pole, and we continue moving through the entire class, so just check in with your doc to make sure your body is ready to WERK!
Information about our Privacy Policy
We are strongly committed to protecting your privacy and providing a safe experience for all of our clients while offering the highest quality experience to them. Information about our clients gathered from paying booked services from us as strictly confidential and not visible to us.
Other personal information about the client is also confidential and will only be used to make sure the client gets a customised serviced fitted their needs and will not be shared with any third party.
All personal data retained by Port City Pole in our customer database is kept confidential. They will not be sold to third parties. The staff in Port City Pole keep the client information confidential even after employment is terminated.
Port City Pole uses Transfirst Payments online payment that meets stringent PCI security requirements as payment. To make your trading as simple, safe and transparent as possible, we place great emphasis on the development of our online services.