
We wanted to know how much we could learn after just four weeks of pole dancing, but Flaunt Studio gave us way more than just killer moves
Wanna learn something new this year? If you’ve mastered the Korean language and tried all these creative classes then it might be time to head over to Flaunt Studio in Sheung Wan to try pole dancing. I attended a few classes each week over the course of four weeks, find out if I found my inner J-Lo below.
It’s all about community at Flaunt
Founded in 2015 by Hong Kong-based pole dancer Tessa Yung, Flaunt is now operated by students of the centre who took over when Tessa left HK. The result is an inclusive dance studio where students of all levels are welcomed by friendly instructors across a range of classes.
I’m not going to lie, I was a little intimidated when it came to taking my first few classes: What if I couldn’t stay on the pole?, What if I wasn’t as good as everyone else? But everyone was so friendly and helpful, that I really needn’t have worried.
Pole dancing has had a bit of a renaissance lately for a number of reasons. Social media has really helped get the art form out to the masses, breaking down the stigma that was once attached to it. Of course movies like Hustlers and international superstars on shows like Britain’s Got Talent have helped to elevate it too, and Hong Kong has a dynamic and bustling scene.
Zero – J-Lo in four weeks flat
Well, I wish I could say that. The reality is that pole dancing takes strength, courage and practice, practice, practice.
What I loved about Flaunt was the variety of classes available. Besides the beginner pole classes that I took once or twice a week, there are a whole host of complementary disciplines to master, including exotic floor work, chair, heels and pole twerk.
In the beginner classes, we learned how to walk around the pole and the different grips needed for different movements – bring on those bruises. Then there were the spins. While some people could do these easily on the first try (I’m not jealous!), it took me about three lessons to get spinning on the pole. I think the hardest part for me was trusting that I wasn’t going to fall flat on my face, but with kneepads, there’s really nothing to worry about.
It’s funny how when you’re an adult, you just want to be able to do things on the first try, but, like anything new, it takes time to get better. I loved seeing my progression over the course of the four weeks, and it gave me an even greater respect for pole dancers – #SuchStrength! Luckily, Flaunt also has open classes where you can go along and practice your spins or routines by yourself, meaning that if you don’t have a pole in your tiny HK apartment, it’s no problem.
One of my favourite classes was the pole twerk class that blended floorwork with twerking and really great music. This was a really good workout for the bum and hips and the vibe in the class was really upbeat.
Between all the dancing, the teachers at flaunt make sure you’re well stretched both before and after class, which I really appreciate. On top of that, they run a selection of stretch classes throughout the week to help you get into the splits or stretch different areas of your body.
Flaunt is the kind of dance community that you want to be a part of. All the teachers and students are positive and encouraging of one another, and it’s one of the coolest studios I’ve been to in Hong Kong.
Flaunt, 4/F Bonham Centre, 79-85 Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong