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Step 1
Wear normal exercise attire to stay comfortable while you learn to pole dance.
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Step 2
Pay close attention to your hand placement as you pole dance. The hands should grip the pole firmly enough to help keep your body weight balanced. Do not cross your hands over one another because this will prevent equal distribution of weight onto the pole.
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Step 3
Move your legs deliberately around the pole to dictate your body's direction. Your feet are the prime movers in pole dancing because your hands and torso are relatively stationary in relation to the pole.
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Step 4
Prevent lost momentum and discomfort by keeping your legs loosely wrapped around the pole. The temptation for many first time pole dancers is to hang on to the pole tightly to avoid falling. Your hands and torso will provide enough stability to allow your legs to stay off of the pole.
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Step 5
Try to balance yourself on the pole several times before you begin dancing in earnest. Put together what you have learned about hand, body and leg posturing in one fluid motion. This step is analogous to a swimmer learning to float and tread water before trying the back stroke.
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Step 6
Consult with a pole dancing instructor at a local gym or fitness center about private lessons. Some participants may feel embarrassed about learning to pole dance, or feel self conscious about the activity at the start. One-on-one sessions allow you to focus on learning techniques instead of on fellow class mates.
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Step 7
Research videos and other instructional materials to determine if pole dancing is right for you. You should pay particular attention to any bending or motions that will strain chronically injured areas. Websites like Dancescape provide an introductory video and details on the exercise benefits of this style of dance (see Resources below).
