Exotic Dance Central Dance Studio Inc.
CLASS LEVEL: INTRO
It felt oddly familiar as I walked into the Exotic Dance Central Dance Studio. No, I am not a stripper, nor have I ever frequented a strip club. However, I did grow up in Las Vegas and am a classically trained dancer, which makes for an interesting conversation when started by, “I’m a dancer from Vegas.” I was excited to get a firsthand experience at this occupation, which boosts my home town’s economy, and just see what all the fuss is about.
The receptionist couldn’t have been nicer and I watched as she warmly welcomed a nervous bachelorette party for the “Giggle it Wiggle it” class. The class I was attending, “Intro to Pole” took place in the back studio which had four poles for the four students, (i.e., all women in their twenties). The instructor in tiny black bootie shorts explained the structure of the class saying, “We’ll begin with a warm up, stretches, confidence boosters, left and right spins on the pole, and then I’ll finish by showing you a three minute combination.” The warm up included hamstring stretches, pushups, and a killer ab series (i.e., 180 crunches) which would come in handy for holding oneself up on the pole. We then continued into the “confidence boosters” which included ten second holds on the pole with both legs lifted behind and leaned walks around the pole. Before we learned pole spins she offered us hand gel for those who have sweaty palms and suggested we wipe down the pole with a small towel.
The actual spin looks far easier then it is. To get into it, you place one hand high up on the pole and bring the other across your chest. You take your outside leg and swing it around and in (i.e., similar to the preparation for a foutte turn in ballet) and then link one knee around the front and the other leg around the back with both feet pointed down. This requires a strong core, arms, and leg muscles in order to make this look graceful and not collapse on the pole. After the first try I had a whole new admiration for this style of dance. It takes hard work and a rockin’ hard body! At the end the instructor treated us to a glimpse of what we could learn if we continued taking classes. She strapped on her stiletto stripper heels and went to town. I had a blast, felt exhilarated, and woke up sore from head to toe!
Would You Recommend This Class? Yes, I would recommend this class for those with an intermediate fitness level who want a fresh and exciting outlet for total body toning. Get a little frisky, feel dangerous, but have a good excuse for where you got all those bruises (common side effect from the pole) if you want to keep your sexy workout routine a secret.
Benefits: Great ab, arm, and leg toning. Exciting and new experience!
Address: 12 East 32nd St, 2nd Floor, NYC, NY 10016 (212) 679-2540
Class Description: “Safe, non-judgmental, fun environment with everyday women.”
