Ecdysiast A Pole Dance Studio

I have a pole at home and am self taught (youtube and etc)
I jumped into the intermediate 1 class with Shannon.
She is an amazing instructor, the class is really great and fun.
It is an amazing cardio and weight training workout and you can really see the results.
Shannon is good at adapting different moves for different skill levels
I love Ecdysiast

Super-​friendly and interesting group of people (students and instructors both!) They’ve done a great job at building a legit community. Even when I re-​take a class or end up with the same instructor for a stretch, I always come away with new things to work on and play with. I’ve been coming here on and off for over a year now, and I don’t see myself stopping any time soon :)

I took the ‘Taster’ Pole Class, a one-​off taste of what pole dancing and the instruction is like. Even with a background in ballet and being in great conditioning, I was pretty sure I’d find this challenging in new ways and I was right. :) The instructor, Shannon, was approachable, respectful, candid and encouraging. And she told it like it is, which I really appreciated. She covered an amazing amount of ground in an hour for a group of 7 of us who’d never touched a dancing pole in our lives. At the end of an hour we’d learned a short set of choreography that included reverse turns, floor work, spins and positions up on the pole. As in, using your inner thigh/​shins to hold you up on the pole. I don’t know about the others in the class, but I felt pretty damn amazed at what Shannon had taught me to do in an hour.
The only thing that would keep me from joining the 8 week beginner class is that I already work out 4 times a week elsewhere. I am so intrigued at the different muscle groups I used for pole dancing versus my usual Pilates/​cardio/​weights– so I may well change my mind in a couple of months. While it was a workout of different muscles, the sense I get from pole dancing is that it is a performance-​based endeavor. You wouldn’t need to perform or be in a recital to get all you might want from it, but it’s not necessarily a workout exclusively for its own sake in a traditional sense. If you have an inner performer or exhibitionist, you will LOVE this, and the many mirrors.
The overall vibe of the studio is one of exuberance and light and an open-​armed welcome for anyone who wants to dedicate themselves to this form of athletic dance. There are women-​only days for those who prefer to dance in a single sex environment, which I found particularly thoughtful.

I honestly can’t say enough good things about pole dancing and especially Ecdysiast! I took the 8 week intro level course with Jen and was absolutely amazed at the progress I could make in 8 short weeks. The studio is very well designed and stocked with everything a pole dancer could need.
I was apprehensive about dropping so much money on an exercise class, but truly I think this class was worth every penny. Even though we just met once a week, I noticed my arms getting more toned/​muscular and even some abs developing — all in just 8 weeks. Also, you get free access to «pole play» (unstructured practice time) as part of your class package, though the only times I came it was really crowded.
I’m so bummed I no longer live in Portland, otherwise I would be taking every single class :)

I started taking pole classes a few years ago because I wanted to explore a new dance form and Ecdysiast was the perfect place to do it!
It’s a beautiful, well lit studio with high ceilings and super tall poles. The staff is extremely friendly and supportive and the classes are super fun. They offer a variety of levels starting with beginning and going all the way to Advanced III. They also offer two hour open pole play sessions four days a week for only $ 10.
The staff is very skilled and they all come from a wide variety of backgrounds so I am always learning something new. I feel like a have become a stronger person (literally, finally got some upper body strength) and a more well rounded dancer after training here the last few years.
If you are still unsure, they offer one time taster classes too so check it out :)

Since beginning classes a year ago in December 2012, I have completely fallen in love with the art of pole dancing — all thanks to this amazing community of talented instructors and committed students. The students at Ecdysiast are so friendly, and I never feel a sense of competition at the studio. The instructors are AMAZINGLY talented dancers themselves as well as super competent teachers and communicators.
I have never considered myself either strong or athletic, and pole dancing has completely transformed my understanding of what my body is capable of. I hadn’t taken any dance classes since I was in high school, my muscles were practically nonexistent, and yet I felt so comfortable starting out at the Beginner level. I felt so supported and encouraged by my instructors as well as my fellow students.
Pole dancing is incredibly gratifying. You learn so much in every two-​hour class and the rate at which you can improve is unbelievable. My body looks completely different since I started a year ago. Pole dancing has helped me build (visible) muscle in my arms, shoulders, abs, legs and back. I have gained so much flexibility as well. Every week I master new moves and reach new skill levels. It’s SO rewarding!
Classes begin with about thirty minutes of warm-​up (choreo dancing and/​or conditioning exercises, light stretching). The next hour is spent practicing pole moves (Spins and upright poses on the pole at the Beginner level, moving to aerial and inverted poses at the Intermediate 1 level). The last thirty minutes are spent doing intense stretching.
If you are enrolled in an 8-​week course, you can drop into FREE Pole Play (open studio) up to 4 times per week to really get your moneys worth. I also highly recommend their Strength & Flexibility class, which focuses on conditioning your muscles and improving flexibility without getting on the pole (one-​hour, $ 10).
I was very skeptical to start pole dancing when my best friend encouraged me to do it a year ago. I was surprised to find that the sport is much less about sexy dancing and much more about strength, flexibility, and acrobatics. Don’t worry, you’ll still learn how to shake your booty, but you’ll also learn how to hold your entire body weight up by just your burly biceps, how to do the splits, or how to do a handstand.
Thanks to Ecdysiast I’ve never felt better about my body and my ability to be a strong and badass chick. I’ve become a total addict and discovered a new passion. Couldn’t recommend this place more!

It has been six months since my first visit to this studio and I can tell my body is different. :-) I discovered that pole dancing is a great and fun workout that helps you feel sexier and confident.
All the instructors are very professional and what I really like is that depending on your dance background you can start from whichever level you feel comfortable with. They also offer you a comprehensive plan for each skill level and work with you to ensure you are confident to progress to the next level. Each person has their own pole and each lesson is two hours. By the end of the lesson you will know that you got a great workout. So I would strongly recommend pole dancing for anyone who wishes to get in great shape quickly!

I started taking pole dance because I wasn’t as confident as I really wanted to be in my own skin. This place looked very professional and I really liked that it was for ladies only, they do have co-​ed days some of the week though. I really enjoy the small class sizes so the instructor really has time to come around to every person to make sure they are doing things correctly with good form. Which is important if you plan on taking anything past beginner. It’s also great that everyone from different levels are pushed into the same class. So no one ever feels like one girl is better than the other, women can be competitive with other women obviously. I never thought I would fall in love with it as much as I have and now I’m going into advanced 1 and plan to buy my own pole. It’s empowering, athletic and overall awesome. I would highly recommend it to everyone.

I started taking the beginning level series of classes 4 weeks ago. Half way thru my classes and I’m loving this studio. Shannon is such an awesome dancer/​teacher, she knows how to push her students in the perfect way. I always go away feeling successful and ready to show off what I learned. They have private lessons available too which are great for making serious progress. Another great thing is they have pole play 4 times a week where you can come in and practice, a teacher is always there during pole play just in case there are any questions are help needed… oh and yes I’m already signed up for the next level… I guess I’m hooked.

What time is it??? It’s pro and con time!.. and I only have one con for this place.
CON:
*They only have 50 mm poles.
PROS:
*Tall brass poles
*Mirrors — they don’t cover all the walls but they are there if you need them. (I get the whole «dance from your soul» concept, but sometimes I want to see what the hell I am doing).
*Friendly staff
*Friendly vibe from most of the other students in the 2-​hour Open Pole session I went to
*2 HOURS OF OPEN POLE!!!
*Excellent prices
I will definitely be coming back on future trips to Portland, even though the 50s are a little bit of a struggle for me when I’m used to 45s. Another pro is that they have an interesting variety of classes and workshops.

This is the classiest pole studio in town, hands down! I took a beginner class here a few months ago and fell head over heels. The instructors are all amazingly fit, great dancers and super friendly. I instantly made friends with all the other girls in the class (yes, they are same sex classes) and am in the best shape of my life because of this one class! I totally stopped going to the gym as this is the only strength training I need. I will continue to go and recommend Ecdysiast to all my friends.
P. S. The co-​owner is one of the coolest, friendliest and most down-​to-​earth person I have ever met! Anyone who says otherwise is just jealous. ;)

Ever watch that Portlandia episode in season 1 where the college student is in the feminist bookstore looking for books for school? Fred (the shop owner) asks her to take classes from the bookstore, and the girl nonchalantly replies, «I have pole dancing class that day.» (Go watch it if you haven’t! The 3-​minute clip is on YouTube)
Join Ecdysiast and then you, too, can use that excuse!
boss: «Why can’t you work Tuesdays?»
me: «I have pole dancing class that day.»
Watch the reaction on the faces of friends, family, and co-​workers as they try to figure out if you’re serious or not as you’re laughing your butt off at their initial shock and their response, «I can’t imagine… I never would have thought someone like you… wait are you joking?»
Ecdysiast is the perfect place to get in shape with their knowledgable, friendly, and talented instructors. I took a 8-​week beginner’s class and loved it so much I enrolled in the intermediate classes. They also have drop-​in classes you can show up to, in addition to classes in strength and flexibility, floorwork, and Pilates.
I have no dance or gymnastics training, and cannot do splits (yet!) but I still have a ton of fun pole dancing. I find that pole dancing is great for building confidence, feeling sexy, and getting a toned body!
Ecdysiast will make you proud to say you’re «that chick» in the Portlandia episode.

I am a huge fan of this studio. As an experienced pole dancer, I hold studios to the highest standard. The instructors I’ve had are knowledgeable, encouraging, and patient. Class structure consists of a warm up, light stretch, then tricks, and more stretching. My only complaint is that there isn’t too much actual dancing, the class was mostly trick based, but the tricks were good. The studio itself is really nice and relaxing, like a spa or yoga studio. The pole are 50 mm brass, not my favorite, but sooooo tall. I will definitely be back.

I’ve been taking classes at Ecdysiast for about a year or so, but am just now getting around to writing their much deserved 5 star review. Simply put, the ladies that work at Ecdysiast rock. They are awesome instructors; incredibly kind and patient and encouraging. I wish I could tell you how pole dancing has changed me, not only strengthened my body but my mind as well. I feel like a more empowered person, and I have never been in better shape. (These classes can really kick your booty but once you start seeing the results, you’ll start looking forward to it!) I really urge you to look into it if you are at all curious, you’ll be glad you did!

Ecdysiast is an excellent pole dance studio. All of the instructors are highly knowledgeable as well as extremely talented. This is a great environment to learn pole dance because the classes are rigorous yet fun. The instructors really know how to help each student and differentiate to meet the needs of all students in their classes.

I have had so much fun at this studio! It’s a really great workout in an environment that’s comfortable and fun. I’ve been lucky enough to take classes form Shannon, Rain and Jen (although I’m sure all of the instructors are fabulous). They all have had a great sense of humor matched with incredible athleticism. They can literally defy gravity and look so elegant doing so, which is no simple feet you’ll soon find out. Before this class I had no idea pole dancing required SO much strength! Classes are small so you get one on one instructor attention and you also get to know the other girls in the class.
I’ve been very humbled by the experience at Ecdysiast yet it’s incredible how much better you get throughout an 8 week class. For me, it’s been a really empowering experience as well as just friggin’ fun. I’ll definitely continue to go here (Intermediate II, wahoo!) and encourage any one looking for a dynamic, kick-​ass form of exercise to check out Ecdysiast. But beware, you will get hooked.

I’ve been dancing at Ecdysiast for over a year now. I LOVE all the instructors to death, everyone there is super friendly and fun to be around. It’s a great workout and boosts your confidence for sure. It’s the ONE thing I look forward to doing all week, seeing as I work full time and go to grad school full time. Unfortunately, winter quarter is jam packed and after my recital (starts in Int. II & is a BLAST!) I’ll be limited to doing pole play until March :(Sign up for a taster class, come to the recital!!! You won’t regret it.

Quit giggling. Yes, it is a Pole Dance studio but if you think you are gonna be inside Devil’s Point, think again. This clean, well lit dance studio with eight poles is a haven and a heaven. You will be encouraged to let your sensual self explore, but only within the rigor of intense physical strain brought on by trying to gracefully swing around a vertical pole.
I recently went for a $ ²⁰⁄₁ hour taster class and strongly recommend this as a way to see if this is something you would enjoy. Apparently their classes are filling up, so don’t wait forever. An eight week beginners session starts at $ 250 with no make up classes allowed.
My instructor was one of the owners and her demonstrations were so floaty and beautiful it was inspiring. Plus, she gave excellent verbal cues and was able to adapt her session directly to my ability. She was positive and made me feel successful even if my triceps were dead and I bruised my knee.
Pole dancing is really an art form albeit a totally underrated one. This studio is gonna change your mind and brighten up your sex life. OH OK, I had to get ONE little spicy comment in. But seriously, you have to admit that telling folks you train at a pole dance studio packs some punch.
The classes are strictly women only with men invited to take private classes (um, not REALLY a bad option, right guys?). They also do parties and such, so check out the website and then get on in there.
OH and don’t wear ANY LOTION of any kind. It gums up the poles and drastically increases your chances of slipping and hurting yourself.