My Reviews and Experiences with Online Pole Dance and Fitness Training Programs - Part 1
BUT FIRST! The January Class Schedule
Basic Class Schedule will stay mostly the same
INTRO TO POLE EVERY TUESDAY IN JANUARY - I will be doing January like a mini 4 week intro course. This is a great time to get started!
Ara is going to start teach TWO classes a week. An exotic class on Tuesday and her pretty intense Pole fitness class on Thursdays starting January 9th.
Daytime classes will start up again after school is back in session. I am going to try an 8.30 am class on Tuesdays and stick with the popular noon Thursday Class.
Thursday Choreo Class will start a new Choreo on Jan 2nd. Working on something dark, moody and bluesy after our 80s pop. Playlist of options: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2RIw19YX3Jl01LVl5D4ejE?si=3dfd96d9496d49d3 If you have a fav or similar song please tell me!
Salsa with Juan on Mondays will be back. learn more at https://www.facebook.com/p/Salsa-With-Juan-Texas-61559650992037/
🎁 Holiday Membership Special:
For a holiday special I decided to re-open my $80 unlimited Membership deal. This will be open all this month. PLUS I am offering Intro to Pole Every Tuesday this Month!
Confession: I Subscribe to Too Many Online Dance Training Programs
Like many people, I started seriously training during COVID when in-person options were limited. Before opening my pole dance studio, online tutorials were one of my only ways to improve. However, with so many options out there—and so few unbiased reviews—it can feel overwhelming to decide where to invest your time and money. That’s why I decided to write this bonus blog and share some lessons from my experience.
Tip 1: Subscribing Alone Won’t Make You a Better Dancer
No matter how amazing a program looks, simply subscribing to it won’t improve your skills. Dancing makes you a better dancer. Practice is free, and it just takes time. Time—not money—is the number one thing holding you back. Prioritize consistent practice over collecting subscriptions.
Shameless promotional TIP: Taking in person classes keeps you regular! 😉
Tip 2: Don’t Be Swayed by Slick Marketing
Some companies pour a lot of resources into polished marketing campaigns and convincing sales funnels. But being expensive or well-marketed doesn’t necessarily mean the program is good. These programs often resonate with your struggles and desires, making it easy to believe they have the ultimate solution.
To illustrate: I could convincingly describe world hunger and promise a solution, but that doesn’t mean I actually have one. The same logic applies here—look beyond the shiny packaging and evaluate whether the program genuinely meets your needs.
Getting ready for an online class!
Best Online Program for Total Beginners: Studio Veena
Studio Veena is my top recommendation for anyone new to pole dancing.
What I Love About Studio Veena
Beginner-Friendly: Veena assumes absolutely no prior knowledge, starting with the basics and explaining everything thoroughly.
Structured Programs: The platform offers well-organized programs with daily exercises broken into manageable mini-levels.
Affordable: Studio Veena is one of the most budget-friendly annual subscriptions available—$79 a year (and sometimes even as low as $50!).
Clear Tutorials: Tutorials are organized by difficulty level, and Veena breaks down moves slowly and clearly. They’re easy to follow and understand.
Bonus Content: In addition to pole tutorials, there are fun extras like hula hooping lessons!
What Could Be Better
Not Follow-Along: Each daily lesson is a collection of 4–10 separate videos, which means a lot of clicking between clips. It’s not a seamless follow-along experience.
Slow Progression: The programs include lots of conditioning, which is great for safety but can feel repetitive. I often skip sections to progress faster.
Outdated Design: The website has a slightly home-spun aesthetic and isn’t as polished as other platforms.
Athletic Focus: Veena leans more toward strength-building and tricks rather than dance or choreography. While great for foundational skills, it’s less suited for those looking to focus on dance flow.
Final Thoughts
While I occasionally feel I’ve “outgrown” my Veena subscription, I still find it invaluable as an instructor. Her tutorials are a fantastic reference when teaching moves, helping me improve my explanations and technique.
If you’re a beginner, Studio Veena is a safe, affordable, and effective way to build a solid foundation in pole dancing.
If I Could Only Subscribe to One Online Dance Training Website
Body and Pole Online
Body and Pole Online would be my top pick if I had to choose just one online dance training platform.
What I Love About Body and Pole Online
Full-Length Classes: They offer complete pole classes for various skill levels, organized by "seasons."
Weekly Updates: New full-length pole classes are added weekly, featuring a diverse range of instructors.
Variety of Disciplines: In addition to pole, there’s a great selection of stretching and floorwork classes, making it a comprehensive training platform.
What Could Be Better
Challenging for Beginners: Even the Level 1 classes might be too advanced for absolute beginners or those not yet in shape.
Lack of Progression Guidance: While the seasons are somewhat progressive, they don’t clearly explain what you’re learning, in what order, or why.
Library Navigation: The library of live class recordings can be hard to navigate, and it’s not always clear what level the classes are geared toward.
Price: It’s a bit more expensive than some competitors, though the $99 annual Black Friday sale makes it a more reasonable investment.
Why I Prefer Body and Pole Online
I love full-length, follow-along classes and find them much more engaging than short tutorials or “build-your-own-class” programs that require switching between multiple videos. Having to click on a new video repeatedly and sit through the same five-second intro sequence can be frustrating.
Body and Pole Online stands out as one of the few platforms offering a comprehensive library of full-length classes. While there are individual pole instructors selling a la carte classes, those can get expensive fast. With Body and Pole Online, you get variety, quality, and value in one package.
The Online Training Program I Use the Most
StretchIt App
StretchIt App is the program I consistently turn to, even when I don’t feel up to a full workout.
What I Love About StretchIt App
Extensive Library: A large, well-organized collection of follow-along stretching sessions.
Effective and Safe: The programs are grounded in scientific research, with a strong emphasis on safety and gradual progression.
Variety and Flexibility: Sessions come in various lengths and categories, making it easy to choose something that suits my mood or time constraints.
Low Psychological Barrier: There’s something soothing about the sessions that makes them easy to start. Even if I’m too tired for a pole class, I can usually talk myself into doing a StretchIt session.
What Could Be Better
Cost: It’s pricey to maintain a subscription just for stretching.
Redundancy: Many other online dance programs include decent stretching options, making this app somewhat redundant for dancers.
Final Thoughts
Every year, I consider canceling my subscription—but I always end up keeping it because I actually use it. StretchIt is my go-to for staying consistent with flexibility training, even on low-energy days.
The Most Beautiful (and Most Disappointing) Online Training Program
Dance Masterclass
Dance Masterclass is visually stunning but ultimately falls short as an educational tool.
What I Love About Dance Masterclass
Gorgeous Production: The videos are beautifully shot and professionally produced, making them a pleasure to watch.
Broad Exposure: It’s a great way to get introduced to the broader dance world and gain insight from renowned instructors.
Some Valuable Content: A few courses are genuinely useful and informative.
What I Don’t Love
Lack of Depth: The courses barely scratch the surface of each topic. They serve as introductions but won’t equip you to dive deep or master anything.
Celebrity Showcase: It often feels more like a showcase of dance celebrities than a serious educational platform. While entertaining, it’s not particularly practical for learning.
Overpromised, Underdelivered: The marketing suggests much more than the courses actually deliver, which I found disappointing and misleading.
Expensive: The price is significantly higher than many other online programs, without the value to justify it.
Final Thoughts
I won’t be renewing my subscription, but I did enjoy the content during my one-year membership. It felt more like a beautifully curated dance-themed cable TV channel than a serious educational tool. Great for edutainment, but not worth the investment if you’re looking for real progress.
Phew! That’s all for now. I have at least 4 more Subscriptions to review but I will save it for a Future blog!
If you want to test drive any of my active subscriptions you can see them on the computer in the Little Studio Space. Feel free to ask me about it!
To be reviewed: Cleo’s Rock and Pole TV, 123Poling and more!
