Pole Dancing....carcraig won't give up her day job (Pink Kiss Pole Dance Classes)

Member Name: carcraig

Product:	Pink Kiss Pole Dance Classes
Date:	23/09/08 (630 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brilliant laugh, novelty factor

Disadvantages: Pricey as exercise class, the aches & pains, the neighbours wanting a demonstration in the back gard

I recently went to my sister's Hen Do. This, in itself, is not all that unusual as she is about to get married for the THIRD time. (Our Dad is banned from using the word "again" in his Father-of-the-Bride speech!) What was slightly novel was that included in the itinerary for our day was a Pinkkiss Pole Dancing Class *gulp*...

Now I had been told that Pole Dancing is very good for toning and fitness and it is regarded as a credible exercise form. I'm not sure, however, that 16 girls/women in the tipsy state we were in, doing ANYTHING could be considered a healthy pursuit. No matter the alcohol definitely helped to reduce our inhibitions and we were all game to have a go.

Our particular lesson took place in a club in Edinburgh near the Playhouse Theatre (I think it was called C.C. Bloom's.) I found it a bit weird going into such a venue in daylight hours when it was all but empty (but the carpet was still sticky so that was reassuringly familiar.)

There were two poles on the small dance floor which was surrounded by mirrors so we were perfectly aware at all times how ridiculous we looked.

Our instructor for the day was friendly and very enthusiastic (especially considering this was three o'clock in the afternoon and she had been working until 5am the previous morning.) She introduced herself, we signed our Disclaimer Forms (!) and fetched some drinks from the bar, and then she led us through a short warm-up routine.

We had been advised prior to the lesson to wear pumps or trainers for the warm-up and cool-down and heels for the lesson along with our shorts and vest-tops or t-shirts.

Our instructor, wearing the most amazing vertigo-inducing wedge platforms which I'm sure I couldn't even have walked in, began by demonstrating the routine that she intended to teach us. "Aye, right" we muttered as she swung herself elegantly and sexily round the pole upside down. (As an aside "Aye, right" is, I believe, the only example in language where two positives make a negative.)

Then it was our turn. The routine was broken down move by move and we went up to the poles (which were on raised podiums for an added Health & Safety Risk) two at a time, while our fellow Hens cheered us on, braying their drunken encouragement and laughing as we attempted to move sexily round the poles without toppling off the podiums.

I now have a new found respect for Pole Dancers - it's really tricky and very hard work. All that supporting your own bodyweight as you swing round the pole really helps to work up a thirst, I mean sweat. But it was also really good fun and a brilliant laugh.

Halfway through our lesson we took a break from the poles and we were given a short crash-course lesson in lap dancing. This, for me, was the least enjoyable part of the class. May be I hadn't got enough Vodka & Irn Bru down my neck at this point, but I just found this slightly uncomfortable. I'm not a prude in anyway, but I just couldn't "get into it" and shake my thang in the face of one of my sister's friends.....may be it would have been different if it had been David Tennant sitting in front of me.....

Then it was back to the poles, Pussy Cat Dolls blaring as we ran through our whole routine one more time (no attempts at inverted swinging though!), before being presented with our Certificates of Commendation. Oh yes, I was officially "transformed into a Dance Minx" - I have it in writing, y'know ;-). The Bride-to-Be was also given a bottle of pink fizzy plonk, a small box of chocolates and a bright pink sash (presumably free advertising if she wore it to the pub later?)

The class lasted between 1½ and 2 hours in all and the next day I could really tell that I had been working muscles I was unaccustomed to working. My arms and shoulders were aching and my legs had a most attractive collection of bruises of various shades. I really did feel like I had had a work-out (no pain, no gain etc).

My sister had booked the class as part of a Hen Night Package on the internet so I don't know exactly how much it cost us. I checked the Pinkkiss website though, and a two hour class will set you back £25 based on a class of eight people or more. Pricey as an exercise class may be, but not bad for a special occasion. Pinkkiss hold classes in 28 cities around the UK so there's likely to be one near you! They also offer Burlesque Dance and Cheerleading classes *shakes pompoms*

So would I recommend it? As a one-off - absolutely! It was a brilliant laugh, good exercise and it certainly gave me something to talk about at Mums & Toddlers the following week!

Four stars from me.


Other Information

www.pinkkiss.co.uk
(The company previously traded as PoleCatz)
Block of 6 classes (lasting 90 minutes each) are priced at £135


This review has previously been published by me on Ciao under the same member name carcraig

Summary: Recommended as a one-off, but expensive as an exercise class