HIGH-FIVE & WELCOME!
We understand that stepping into a new studio and possibly even starting a new activity can come with many questions and thoughts.
Here are a few tips and tricks to help you navigate your first visit to our studio.
When you arrive, please leave your shoes, worries & judgements at the front door.
We ask all participants to arrive at the studio no later than 5 minutes before the class start time. Classes start & end on time. No late arrivals or early dismissals.
Please respect your instructors and fellow students and turn your phone & smart watches on silent mode and refrain from using your phone during classes (except filming yourself).
Only bring your towel (or mat), water bottle, grip (if needed) and phone into the studio spaces. Everything else must be stored in your locker.
Please leave all jewelry at home or take them off when you arrive at the studio. Any type of jewelry can harm you during your practice and cause damage to our apparatuses. If that happens, you will be held responsible.
Do your best to stay in the room for the entire class. If you do need to leave the room, just give the teacher a heads-up before leaving the room. That way we know you’re okay.
To respect and ensure safety we ask that during class, you work on the specifics that your teacher provides for you. If you need any progressions or regressions, kindly ask.
You are welcome to film yourself during class, however, please make sure to ask for consent if there are any other people appearing (in the background) of your video.
Wipe up your practice space (and make sure to take all grip off the poles after class) & neatly return your mat & props.
Please respect the rules and the teachings. Come with an open heart and mind, ENJOY YOURSELF and HAVE FUN!
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DO I NEED TO HAVE PRIOR EXPERIENCE TO JOIN CLASS?We will teach you everything you need to know to progress in your chosen class. No prior background is required to participate. In our planning, you can see what level is required for each specific class. For the moment, all of our flexibility or strength practices (flexibility, yoga or Pilates) you are all level classes. If you are a complete beginner in poledance , you can either sign up for our Pole Level 1 or 1&2 class or sign up to our 6-week INTRO TO POLE course. If you are interested in trying our sequence or choreography-based classes, we suggest taking the EMERGE course or a few Pole Level 1&2 classes first, to ensure you grasp the pole basics and can follow along more easily. With the guidance of your instructor, you can determine when you are ready to advance to the next level.
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IS POLE DANCING ONLY FOR WOMEN?No, absolutely not. At The Base Studio, we strongly believe that pole dancing is for everybody and every body. We adapt to your unique strengths, needs, and desires and will welcome you with open arms.
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I FIND IT INTIMIDATING TO TAKE MY FIRST CLASS WITH PEOPLE THAT ALREADY HAVE EXPERIENCE, WHAT DO I DO?We understand that joining a class where others already have experience can be intimidating. However, please note that at The Base Studio, our house rule is to be welcoming and supportive to everyone. You will quickly notice that our students enjoy cheering each other on and sharing tips and tricks they’ve learned along the way. If you prefer to start in an environment with only beginners, please check out our EMERGE course series. This 6-week beginner course starts every couple of weeks and will be the perfect place for you!
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I HAVE NO UPPER BODY STREHGTH, IS THIS A PROBLEM?No problem at all! It's our duty to assist you in developing strength and body awareness. As you continue attending classes, you'll notice improvements in your upper body strength. Additionally, incorporating cross-training into your routine can significantly boost your overall strength and enhance your fitness level.
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WHAT ARE AGE LIMITATIONS?Anyone aged 16 or older is permitted to sign up for classes, open practice, and private sessions at the studio. All participants under 18 must have a parent or legal guardian accompany them on their first visit to the studio to complete our Parental Consent Form and present a government-issued photo ID. Currently, we do not offer classes to students under 16. However, if there is enough demand, we will introduce this in the future.
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WHAT SHOULD I KNOW BEFORE MY FIRST CLASS?The Base Studio is a space for everybody and every body, who is passionate about movement, art, self-expression, and empowerment. We have created a strong community, and foster a welcoming, inclusive, and respectful environment to all participants. We do not tolerate bullying, disrespectful behavior or violation of other’s personal space. Such behavior will result in being removed from the studio, and no longer being able to attend classes at The Base Studio. In the words of one of our students: “Michelle has brought together a group of amazing people and fostered the creation of wonderful bonds. Everyone is being so supportive, encouraging and loving. We laugh, we push ourselves, we are thrilled for each others’ progress and achievements and that gives class even more value.”
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CAN I VISIT THE STUDIO BEFORE TAKING A CLASS?Yes absolutely, we would be happy to meet you, show you around and answer any questions you might have. To set this up, please send us an email so we can make an appointment for your visit. All visits happen outside of class hours.
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CAN I COME WATCH ONE TIME TO SEE WHAT CLASSES ARE LIKE OR BRING A FRIEND / MY PARTNER TO SEE WHAT I CAN DO?No, unfortunately this is not possible. People who don’t participate in class are not granted access to the studio.
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WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?Our studio is located in the 13th arrondissement, at 18 Rue Edmond Flamand, right between Gare d’Austerlitz and Bibliotheque Nationale de France. The closest metro is Quai de la Gare (M6) and we are a few minutes’ walk from Gare D’Austerlitz (M5, M10, RER C) and BNF (M14, RER C).
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WHAT SHOULD I WEAR AND BRING TO CLASS?Please do not apply any lotions or oils within 24 hours prior to a any pole dance class. Sweating will release the lotion or oils back to the skin surface, and you will be unable to safely grip the pole. Bring a (yoga) mat if you have one to all classes. If you don’t have a mat, the studio can provide you one. If you want to use a mat from the studio, please make sure to bring a big towel that covers the surface. Yoga, Pilates, and flexibility wear clothing that feels good, keeps your body warm and is comfortable to move in. Bring a towel as you might get hot! Pole dance we recommend shorts and a sports bra (or swim wear), as the more skin you have exposed, the easier it is to stick to the pole. Please avoid using undergarments that have been worn all day in place of workout attire. Choreography and sequence-based wear anything that makes you feel good and make sure to bring socks and kneepads. Heels (platform 6”, 7” or 8”) are required in Heels Technique and Heels Fundamentals and optional in our other choreography and sequence based classes. Liquid Motion wear clothes that cover your body, so it doesn’t stick to the floor (think socks, leggings, something that covers your shoulders. Knee pads are OBLIGATORY.
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WHAT KIND OF PLANS DO YOU OFFER?You can find all details for memberships here and other pricing here but we believe in offering different options to meet the wants & needs of our clients? Currently, we provide different options for our group classes: single visit options, class cards of 10/20/50 classes and monthly memberships (a regular and VIP version). For our open practices, we offer single visit options.
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HOW DO I SIGN UP FOR CLASS?After create your personal space on our website or app, you can purchase a plan. After which, you can go to our calendar to sign up for classes. If you need to cancel a reservation, log into your member space in the app or on the website, go to My Bookings and click Cancel next to the class time. If you have trouble canceling or have any questions, please email us at basestudioparis@gmail.com.
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WHAT IF I NEED TO CANCEL MY CLASS?No problem! We understand that sometimes unexpected events occur that may prevent you from attending class. At our studio, we have a cancellation policy in place to ensure fairness and efficiency for all our members. If you need to cancel a class, we kindly ask you to do so at least 24 hours prior to the start time. If you cancel within this timeframe, your account will be automatically credited for future use. However, if you cancel within the 24-hour window or fail to attend without prior notice, your account will not be credited. This policy helps us ensure that class spots are available for those who wish to attend and allows us to maintain accurate class counts. If you need to cancel a reservation, log into your member space in the app or on the website, go to My Bookings and click Cancel next to the class time. If you have trouble canceling or have any questions, please email us at basestudioparis@gmail.com.
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DO YOU OFFER A MONTHLY UNLIMITED OPTION?No, we don’t offer an unlimited plan because typically, when studios implement this, there's a system of fines for late cancellations – and this doesn't align with the type of energy we strive to create at The Base Studio. Instead, we offer a VIP membership, which includes access to up to 20 classes per month along with unlimited access to open practice. Our monthly VIP membership is only available with a 12-month commitment.
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WHAT IF I WANT A MEMBERSHIP BUT I CAN’T COMMIT TO A YEAR? CAN I CANCEL IT PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE?Our regular membership and VIP membership cannot be canceled prior to the expiration date. However, we do offer a more flexible option. Our 'Membership - No Engagement' plan is slightly more expensive but provides you with the benefits of our memberships as well as the freedom to cancel whenever you want. Our 'Membership - No Engagement' plan auto-renews every month. Therefore, on the day it expires, your account will automatically purchase another month under the same terms. To cancel, a request for cancellation must be sent by email to basestudioparis@gmail.com at least 48 hours prior to the auto-renewal for it to be effective starting at the next invoice.
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IS IT POSSIBLE TO EXTEND THE DATE OF MY CARD/MEMBERSHIP?While we understand that sometimes plans can change unexpectedly, unfortunately, it is impossible for us to adjust the parameters of the proposed pricing plans for individual clients. This is to ensure consistency and fairness for all of our clients. We do our best to communicate very clearly about these parameters prior to purchase, to encourage our members to plan ahead to make the most of their purchase.
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CAN I EAT OR DRINK AT THE STUDIO?We strongly encourage you to bring a reusable water bottle and stay hydrated. Please finish and dispose of any other beverages before entering the studio. If you are taking multiple classes, you are welcome to step into our kitchen area between classes to quickly eat something. Please only bring snacks that leave no mess and refrain from foods with strong smells or nuts to ensure the safety of our allergic friends. Any other food must be consumed outside. You are responsible for cleaning up after yourself and leaving the space clean. Alcohol consumption is not permitted before engaging in any physical activities at the studio. If you arrive intoxicated, you will not be allowed to participate and will not receive a refund.
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CAN I TAKE PICTURES OR FILM DURING CLASS?Taking pictures or filming yourself is allowed in our classes, as long as it doesn’t disrupt the flow of the class and you respect other students’ privacy. If you wish to take pictures or film yourself, try to ensure that no one else is in the photo or video. If this is not possible, please notify and ask permission from the people around you. Please note that filming other people (including instructors) during class without permission is not allowed. If you want additional opportunities or time for pictures and filming, please consider booking a pole practice or private session.
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WHAT IF I ARRIVE LATE? CAN I STILL JOIN CLASS?But we get it; life happens… Parisian transportation issues, meetings run over, kids spill juice on your clothes, heck life can be complicated. To best anticipate all of this, we advise you to plan your arrival 10-15 min prior to class. If you are signed up for a class (whether you are an existing client or brand new to The Base Studio) and are running late, you have a 5-minute window from the start time of the scheduled class time to keep your reserved spot. If you arrive with less than 5-minutes until the start time of class, your spot may be given to a standby student if there is a waitlist. To ensure the safety of our clients and have our instructors pay full attention to the clients, we only allow late entry at the discretion of the instructor. If you are running late please CALL or TEXT us so that your instructor can be informed. We unfortunately cannot allow late entry past the 5min mark. Thank you in advance for understanding!
Would you like to visit our studio prior to signing up? We would be happy to meet you. Please send us an email to make an appointment!