So you signed up for your first pole dancing class, and now you’re wondering, “What should I wear?”
In general, you should wear whatever makes you feel most comfortable, but there are a few guidelines that will help you feel more successful in your first pole dancing class, whatever you choose to wear.
1. You don’t have to show skin, but you might need access to it.
For bottoms, you can wear athletic shorts or yoga shorts, if you’re comfortable in that sort of thing. If not, pants are good, as long as you can roll the legs up so you can expose the skin on your ankles, shins, and knees. Compression leggings are tough, for example, because you can only roll them up so far.
On top, a well-fitting tank top over a sports bra, if you have boobs, is a good pick because you can roll the tank top up or down as needed.
2. Layers are helpful.
What you choose will depend on your climate and the time of year, but think booty-shorts-under-sweatpants or crop-top-under-sweatshirt kinds of layers. If your studio has the AC cranking in the middle of summer, you’re going to be chilly when you walk in, but once you get going, you’ll want to peel those sweaty layers off easily.
3. Skip the lotion, and leave your jewelry at home.
I repeat, no lotion. Not even a little. Most studios will tell you this in their onboarding materials, but it can’t be stressed enough. Not only will you have a hard time gripping the pole, but also some lotions can be really tough to clean off the pole and therefore damage the equipment.
Rings and bracelets can also scratch or damage the pole, so most studios have a no jewelry policy. Yes, even your wedding ring. If you never take your wedding ring off, you’ll spend 10 painful minutes in the studio bathroom with soap and water trying to wrestle it off. I slipped my wedding band on and off so often going to and from pole class that I eventually lost it! Leaving your jewelry at home for safekeeping is a good idea.
4. Unlike your local convenience store, bare feet are allowed!
If your first class is a basic pole dancing class, starting out in bare feet is perfectly fine! Most people do. You’ll be able to spin, climb, and body wave in your bare feet. If you absolutely must rock a pair of pole dancing heels, make sure they are Pleaser, Ellie, Hella Heels, or a comparable heel made for pole dancing. Regular heels, no matter how pretty or sparkly, don’t have the rubber sole required for pole dancing. For more info on how to choose the right pole dancing heel, check out my other blog post here!
5. Protect your knees.
A lot of beginner spins, like the Back Hook spin, for example, have you landing on the floor on your knees. Beginner floorwork moves, like the Sexy Crawl, are also hard on the knees. Your knees won’t get tougher over time, so rather than trying to break in your knees, break in a pair of Bee’s Knees Knee Pads instead.
Unlike volleyball knee pads, the Bee’s Knees Knee Pad is made for pole dancing, featuring hook and loop straps for easy on and off, an open back design, a sleek and sexy look, replaceable pad inserts to keep your knees protected, and strap extenders for additional length, if needed. In fact, the Beginner Bundle has everything you need to get started, including the Ultimate Pole Goal Notebook to track your progress and note your milestones—including your very first class!
Now that you know what to wear to your first pole dancing class, it's time to kickstart your pole dancing journey, and Bee's Knees will be there every sexy step of the way.