The Ultimate Pole Dancing Guide: What to Wear to Pole Dancing Class
Learn to Pole
Embarking on your pole dancing journey is a thrilling experience. You're already nervous about so many other things. Let us ease your mind with what to wear for your pole dancing class.
This guide will not only help you understand the importance of proper attire but also define what constitutes the perfect pole dancing outfit, whether you are heading to a studio or training at home.
Why the Right Pole Dancing Attire Matters
Choosing the right clothing for your pole dancing classes is crucial for a successful experience. Ill-fitting attire can hinder your grip on the dance pole, limit movement, and make executing dance routines challenging. Moreover, comfort plays a significant role, allowing you to focus on dancing rather than your appearance.
Incorporating your unique style into your attire is the fun part and can really make choosing your pole dancing outfit enjoyable. We have tons of fun, vibrant, and affordable pole wear at Fit2Flaunt. Check out our collection and enhance your pole dancing journey effortlessly.
🌟 Did you know? You can also get your very own dance pole from us to practice at home. We stock options for every skill level, including pressure mounted portable poles that need no drilling. We even have an app to guide you step by step.
What to Wear to Pole Dancing Class
Pole dancing is more than just an art form. It is a form of calisthenics where you use your own body weight as resistance, which makes it the ideal full body workout. As emphasized earlier, understanding what to wear for your pole dancing class can make or break your overall experience.
Choosing the right top
Sports bras and tank tops are every pole dancer's first choice. They provide all the support you need to make sure you can focus on learning versus feeling uncomfortable due to inadequate top support.
For beginners, opting for a longer shirt or covering up the sports bra is entirely acceptable. However, as you progress into more advanced techniques, shorter shirts become essential, ensuring that your sides are exposed. This exposure is crucial as it serves as an important point of contact for numerous intermediate skills.
Selecting the ideal bottoms
If you're just starting off, you might not be comfortable flaunting the cute bikini bottoms you see all over Instagram yet. The great news is they aren't mandatory for you to have a fun experience and a good grip on the dance pole.
Because you'll be focusing on pole spins such as the fireman and sunkist when you're first starting, capri pants or leggings will give you all the grip you need on the dance pole. As you progress and begin working on skills that require more points of contact, you'll need to switch to shorts for safety and enhanced grip.
🌟 Pro tip: enhance your practice sessions with the Fit2Flaunt app. Learn pole dancing right from the comfort of your home.
Deciding on footwear: shoes or bare feet
Choosing between bare feet and pole shoes is a personal preference, and both are perfectly fine. Some dancers prefer bare feet because dancing with heels is more challenging and adds more weight for you to lift. Others prefer dancing in pole shoes as a form of expression. It's a big confidence booster and it helps bring out your alter ego on your dance pole.
Experiment with both to determine what feels best for you. Relax and be prepared to be blown away by how much fun you have. BEWARE: pole dancing is very addictive. You've been warned 😅
What to Bring: Grip, Alcohol and the Rest
Now that we've covered everything you need to know about picking out your first few pole dancing outfits, let's talk about the other things worth knowing before your first class.
No oils, lotions or moisturizers
Wearing any type of oil or lotion will completely limit your ability to grip the dance pole and ruin your experience. It is extremely important that you refrain from using any of these items the day you'll be poling, unless you plan to shower right before.
Rubbing alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is a pole dancer's best friend. It's used to clean your dance pole, and your hands when they get sweaty. It is totally normal to clean your pole several times during your dance session.
Pole grip
There are many different types of pole grip to help you maintain the perfect hold on the pole. In the beginning alcohol will be sufficient, so don't worry. Just like with everything else, as you progress you'll inevitably try different ones to see which works for you. We offer a pole grip that completely dries your hands out when practicing.
There are other grips that are more sticky and are great to use on contact points like your elbows or behind your knees. Trying different ones will help you find the perfect combination for your individual pole dancing journey. You'll find them all in our dance pole accessories.
What to Wear for At Home Pole Dancing
Training at home changes one thing only: nobody is watching. The grip rules are identical, so shorts, a fitted top and bare feet still win. What home gives you is the freedom to work in whatever you want without feeling self conscious about it, and to stop and restart a move forty times without holding up a class.
Wipe the pole down with alcohol before every session, exactly as a studio would, and keep about four feet of clear space around it.
Skin grips, fabric slides. Every clothing decision in pole comes back to that.
You Can Do It
Lastly, and most importantly, this is your reminder that it's completely normal to feel anxious and unsure when you don't know what to expect. With the Fit2Flaunt app we guide you step by step through your pole dancing journey and completely take out the guesswork.
We have a first timers section dedicated to giving you all the support you need to get started. Our easy to follow, detailed tutorials have helped thousands of pole dancers around the world learn to pole dance right from the comfort of their home.
New to all of this? Start with our complete beginner's guide to pole dancing, which covers choosing a pole, setting it up safely and your first five moves.
As always, Happy Poling, Flaunter!
Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions, any concerns, or even if you just need a few words of encouragement. That's what we're here for. 💖
What to Wear Pole Dancing: FAQs
What should I wear to my first pole dancing class?
Shorts or leggings with a sports bra or fitted tank, and bare feet. Beginners spend their first weeks on spins and floorwork, which need grip from your hands and legs rather than your sides, so leggings are fine to start. Bring rubbing alcohol and a small towel.
Why can't you wear lotion before pole dancing?
Lotion, oil and moisturiser leave a film on your skin that removes your grip on the pole entirely. Skip them on training days, or shower right before your session. This applies to your legs and hands equally.
Do I have to wear shorts to pole dance?
Not at the beginning. Spins, walks and floorwork work fine in leggings or capri pants. Once you start training moves that grip with the backs of your knees, inner thighs or sides, bare skin becomes a safety requirement rather than a style choice.
What should you wear for at home pole dancing?
The same as a studio: shorts or leggings, a fitted top and bare feet. The grip rules do not change at home. The only difference is that you can train in whatever you feel comfortable in, with no one else in the room.
Should beginners wear pole shoes or go barefoot?
Barefoot to start. Heels add weight and make balance harder while you are still learning where your contact points are. Pole shoes are worth trying once your basic spins feel steady, and many dancers find them a confidence boost.
What can I wear to pole dance if I am plus size?
The same clothing as everyone else: shorts or leggings and a fitted top. Skin contact is what holds you to the pole, so choose whatever length you feel good in and expose a little more as you progress. A silicone or powder coated pole gives extra grip if you want it.
Do I need pole grip as a beginner?
Not on day one. Rubbing alcohol on the pole and on your hands handles most beginner grip problems. Add a drying grip aid once your hands start sweating, and a tacky grip later for elbow and knee contact points.
What else should I bring to a pole class?
Rubbing alcohol, a microfibre cloth, water, and knee pads if you plan to do floorwork. A crash mat is worth having at home before you start training anything above the ground.
Shelly Murdock is an exotic dancer turned entrepreneur. She is the founder of Fit2Flaunt and Exotic Workout Studio, and has spent years empowering women through pole dancing.
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