I took my first pole class here and have now been going for about 9 months. Melissa is an awesome teacher and makes a super fun enviornment. She's so good at balancing her time with students in her classes. She gives great feedback, and great encouragement. I've progressed so quickly and definitely would not be where I'm at without her help. I haven't had many classes with the newer instructors yet, but I've met both and they are seriously talented! The studio is clean, spacious and decorated with lights all around. There are students at all skill levels, and it helps for an inspiring class. read more

Absolutely love the teaching style and instructors are excellent. They are attentive, fun and really take the time to make sure you learn the moves/routines. It's apparent they are passionate about what they do and dedicated to help those who really want to learn pole fitness. read more

I really love this place and Melissa (teacher), I couldn't ask for better teacher at this time! She is so dedicated, I have so much fun in her classes too! And I am understanding things that were kind of difficult for me to understand before. I know this may be small things for others but for me as weak plus size it's huge. She always giving me simple tips but huge results for me, specially to save my energy, and in control. I look back at my videos and I ask myself how I did it? I have been able to keep what I learned or re-learned and to do a bit better the following class. I absolutely recommend this studio. read more

I have been dancing for 3 years all over the country and have NEVER left a pole class early, until tonight at Providence Pole. I paid for a Pole Choreography class and showed up 15 minutes early (5:15) like the instructor directed. The class was supposed to start at 5:30, 5:30 finally rolls around and the instructor doesn't notice and proceeds to gush about her new toxic boyfriend. 5:40 comes, the instructor mentions she is going to wait for the late people, how unprofessional. (Really? You ask us to get to class early so you can disrespect our time and money anyways?) 5:50 passes, the owner still hasn't started the class. I sit and wait, it was my first time at this studio and I'm wondering if things are just done differently here, I'm giving this chick the benefit of the doubt. 6:00 rolls around and we have wasted 30 minutes of a 1 hour class staring at each other. At this point I'm beyond annoyed, I just got dressed and upon leaving, a classmate mentions that "The instructor is going through a lot right now, you should be more patient." Excuse me??? I'M Going through a lot right now and I paid to come to this "professionals" studio to get away from in all, not to hear her life story and woes. I did not come here to hear a stripper yell at her toxic ass boyfriend in the back room, if I wanted that shit I would've gone to work at the club. I came here to wind down, NOT to be the more professional one. I have never had an instructor disrespect my time like this. I will not being going back and have already let fellow pole dancers in Prov and North Carolina know to avoid this trashy waste of space at all costs, what a fucking JOKE. Providence Pole fit was my worst pole class experience yet. read more

I highly recommend this studio! The owner & instructor Melissa is extremely nice and welcoming to everyone who walks through her door. She is very patient with her students and is always so excited when they nail a move. Melissa takes her time when explaining moves and encourages her students while also allowing them to move at their own pace. Her choreo classes are fun and you learn routines to all types of music. Melissa always adjusts her routines based on the experience of everyone in class. And, if you can't quite get the move then she always gives you an alternative move that fits with the choreo. I read a previous comment here and I'm not sure who the reviewer is talking about but it definitely isn't this Melissa. I've been going here for 10 months and not once have I seen a hint of rudeness or anything other than extreme patience. Melissa is absolutely the best! The other instructors, Kristin, Rachel and Anastasia, are great too! You won't be disappointed here! read more

A couple friends and I signed up to take a class on a Friday evening. We arrived 15 minutes early and found that the door was locked. We attempted to call and got the voicemail, which was full. I then emailed to get a refund and was inundated with a email rant, blaming my friends and I for being late. The owner claimed that she was there and was completely disrespectful and unprofessional in her email. She does NOT do refunds. I've decided not to pursue a refund or take a class at this location. I went to Crush Fitness in East Greenwich instead and was impressed by the professionalism and quality of class. read more

I don't exactly have many pole dancing experiences to compare this to, but for my first time it was fun! I signed up for these classes through the LivingSocial deal which allowed me a 10 class pass at a serious discount. I'm not sure why it didn't occur to me that pole dancing was difficult but I wouldn't buy the 10 class pass unless you're sure you're going to love it. Lucky for me I did love it and will definitely be returning! I arrived at Pole 101 taught by Katie a little apprehensive (I can hardly do a single pull-up so what was I thinking right?). The studio is small and private with fully curtained windows. This was great because I didn't want passerbys watching me fall on my ass. There are only 5 poles in the studio so a max of 4-5 students. Some might think this is a bad thing but really it lends more one-on-one time for the instructor to help you (and you WILL need help). Of the 4 ladies in my class two of us it was our first day. The instructor went over all the basic ways of holding the pole and positions, warmed us up and then we got right into climbing and basic spins. I felt that the pace of the class was relatively fast but I'm the type who gets bored quickly so for me it was perfect. Also the instructor was very encouraging and non-intimidating, so that was good. By the end of the class she had us doing things I wouldn't've imagined I would be able to do at the start. I've been playing roller derby and going to the gym all year so I'm no couch potato and I feel like I had a serious workout yesterday. Looking forward to trying some of their other classes including Pole Circuit (which is more strength and conditioning) and Pole Fluidity (which focuses on flexibility and dance form). read more

I took a pole 101 class, in town visiting for the weekend. Melissa is a terrific teacher. Very technical, very detail oriented. I have been poling for a while but learned a ton of critical basic stuff that I'll be practicing for the next few months. This will be a stop for me every time in Providence. Thanks, Melissa! I'll be back. read more

I've taken pole classes in several different studios and let me tell you, this one is the best so far!! I went from barely being able to do a few beginning moves, to completing a Scorpio to Gemini and back, inverted, with no hands. Oh yes. There isn't any attitude here except "go for it, you can do it" and "atta girl". This studio is the Place to be! read more

Such an inclusive place ! The teachers care about you and your progress and make sure you are learning at the level you need to be. It's a wonderful studio where you get your money's worth! read more

I've been going to PPF for over two years now. The new owner, Melissa, took over about a year ago. I'll write this review from the perspective of someone with pole experience (but who isn't super advanced), since I was only a beginner at the studio when it was owned by the previous owner. Full disclosure: I love this studio. It's kind of my happy place, hence the 5 stars. But I'll try to give a fair and balanced overview of the place. Space: The studio space is fairly small, so classes can get full. I mostly attend "advanced" classes, and usually there aren't too many students there-- it's rare that every pole is taken. I'm not sure what the situation is like in 101 classes. The studio isn't in the best area and it can be hard to find, but I've never had problems getting to/from the place. Poles: The studio has a variety of poles, both across types of material and sizes. There are 2 40mm poles, both of which are chrome; two 45mm poles, of which one is brass and one is chrome, and two 50mm poles, one of which is brass and one of which is chrome. Some of the poles spin and some don't. I like the variety in poles, and in the classes I frequent I can usually get my preferred pole. I really appreciate that these poles are actual dance poles-- the other studio nearby uses some kind of PVC pipe, and I've been to other studios with other janky pole materials, so I like that PPF has real poles. Instructors: there are three instructors, each of whom has her own style. I'll describe them a bit below. Melissa: Melissa has tons of experience in exotic dance, and as a result she is a fantastic resource for figuring out how to move from pose to pose in a way that is aesthetically pleasing. She is extremely creative, and I'm always learning new and interesting floorwork from her. I especially recommend picking her brain on footwork-- she's always showing me cute little steps around the pole that make choreo look better. Her enthusiasm makes her classes extremely fun to attend! She's great at suggesting challenging moves to have as goals, and I love that she personalizes her suggestions to her students. Zane: I like to think of Zane as a friendly drill sergeant. She's the one who will remind you to point your toes, and insist that you train both sides equally. As someone with a history of injuries, I really appreciate that. She has an impressive knowledge of anatomy and physiology, and she uses that knowledge to teach you how to do moves safely. As you get to know her, she makes sure to learn about your personal comfort levels and limitations. For example, I have a wrist injury, and she often tells me that I might be better off modifying a move slightly in order to not place as much weight on my bad wrists. Zane really goes the extra mile to help her students achieve their pole goals. Noelle: Noelle also has exotic dance experience, and she is the master of teaching buttery, sultry floorwork. She teaches a stilettos class, and I love that there is a dedicated class for learning to dance in heels. Her low flow and floorwork choreography is always new and innovative, and I like how she breaks it down into components. As someone who is vaguely choreo-challenged, I find her classes easy to follow and fun! I miss her "twerkonomics" class, but she is always willing to teach twerk and that stuff is no joke! I never realized what a workout that can be! Overall, I really like this studio. I've gotten to know several of the other students over time, and it's a really fun community to be a part of. I highly recommend attending a class. read more

I have been going to this studio since November of 2017. I have enjoyed my time and have become a part of the tight knit group of women who frequent this establishment. The owner is accommodating to me and my abilities since I have a bad back and cannot do some of the moves in the traditional manor. She has taken time to adjust things for me so I can still keep up with the rest of the group. I won't lie this is not an easy fitness class. It will kick your butt if you've never done it or it's been a while but I recommend it. I've never felt stronger or more in tune with my body. read more

Love this place. The new owner is enthusiastic and is an exotic dancer herself. She is super friendly and personable as well as being talented and a great instructor. Sunday morning community yoga and pole for $5 a class can't be beaten. I'll be a loyal customer for a long time. read more

I am extremely disappointed with the employees of this unprofessional establishment. I signed up for a class last night. On the website, it does say to make sure you are not late, which is understandable. I live an hour Way but I heard good things so I decided to make the drive. It was pouring rain and a car accident on the road caused traffic that was clearly out of my control. I even called twice to let them know I would be a couple minutes late with no answer. Then, we arrive there is no parking to be found anywhere around the place so I had to walk a good 5 minutes. It was 5 minutes past the start of class and the door was locked. I knocked and Zane opened the door and very rudely exclaimed that she was in the middle of a class and slammed the door in our face. I drove an hour away, paid $20 that I won't get back, and was treated extremely rude by the staff. read more

I took two classes at Providence Pole Fitness a few years ago. I am writing this review now because i finally returned to pole dance after a very negative class experience here, and I want folx, especially beginners, to hear about my experience so they are not also discouraged. I went in for one class (a 101 class with Priscilla) as a total beginner and enjoyed the class. The place was not in great shape, honestly, but otherwise I found Priscilla to be a patient, compassionate and effective teacher for beginners. Since I'd had a pretty good experience with my first 101 class, I decided to try another one a week or two later. This 101 class was taught by Melissa, and it was truly an awful experience. Melissa was rude, cursory, and though I was struggling significantly and feeling rather embarassed about it she was critical and offered little to no support to me. If you are a beginner, avoid taking a class with Melissa. There is no excuse for treating beginners so poorly. read more

I recommend this place if you have every been interested in taking a pole dancing class. They have a great Groupon deal and the class is challenging..... Beyond that.... The website encourages patrons to take the Pole 101 class with multiple instructors and I will second the notion. The instructor in my first class was... Not great. I won't mention her name in the hope that she was just having an off day. She mentioned half a dozen time how tired she was, which is not what I want to hear when I have gotten up early on a Saturday to exercise with you. The biggest problem though was when we were doing headstands against the pole, she walked up to me and said " I haven't seen you do any inversions yet." I proceeded to straddle my legs open, but apparently that was wrong because an instant later she pulled one of legs straight out causing my back to pull away from the pole and totally freak me out. Lady, I am never upside down and supporting my whole body with my forearms. Talk me through what you are going to do, or better yet don't touch me and just show me what I should be doing. My second instructor Dashiell was a lot better. She took her time with us, repeatedly showed us how the moves should look and explained what muscles should be supporting us. I do have some other gripes with this place. The floor should to be professionally cleaned so it not covered in scuffs. Now granted, I'm sure girls wear fancy shoes in the advance classes so maybe this isn't reasonable. However, the yoga mats, those need to be cleaned. There is no excuse for those looking funky. They don't have a water-cooler which seems like a weird oversight. One of the poles has the chrome worn off in parts and a seam that is not flush which makes it uncomfortable to use. Finally there are just too many poles for the space. Everyone needs to go in the same direction or you will definitely get hit with a foot/arm. read more

I have been poling for about 9 months now. Fell in love the first time i tried it. Purchased the promo for 10 class pass at Groupon and Living Social - such a good deal. It's a very small studio with 5 poles so the instructors have more time to around and help each student. I usually go to Polegression class with Stacy (owner) - it's open to all levels and she helps you with tricks that you are struggling with. Don't be intimidated if the other students with you are doing complicated tricks! Pole dancing is a journey. Listen to your body and you will know when you are ready to try more advanced tricks. read more

A friend and I wanted to try something new and found Providence Pole Fitness through Yelp. We will definitely be returning! The workout was great and we had fun just learning the basics. I do agree with one of the other reviews here- the floors definitely need to be redone or have professional cleaning! The studio is small, but, honestly, that's not a bad thing because you know the class size will always be small and you get more one-on-one time with your instructor. read more

Bought a Groupon to try this place out with some friends, we had no idea what to expect at all. After one class we were hooked, this was such a great workout that focuses on upper body strength and lots of stretching. The place is very small inside with only 6 poles so the class isn't intimidating and the instructors are so welcoming. I have been to over 20 classes so far and I am not going to lie, it is hard, I have seen huge progress in my upper body strength and my flexibility has increased dramatically. If you want a challenge and do something that guaranteed most of your friends haven't, then try it out. The only downfall here is the upkeep, I believe they may be in the process of potentially moving as the place is for sale but they do need to make some upgrades if they can. Now I have been to several different instructors here and they are all different so try out different ones and see what works for you. Do not be intimidated as they are all willing to help and watch you grow stronger and most of all have a great time doing it. read more

I have been to a couple pole dancing classes for bachelorette parties. The goal should be to make the bachelorette and her friends feel as sexy as possible and to have fun. I feel like we were being taught how to become pole dancers, also the instructor took my sister, the bachelorette's pole the entire time to demonstrate. I wouldn't recommend for parties but for fitness or lessons yes. read more

I was looking for a pole class and encounter pole fitness and thought this could be the place for me. Looked at the schedgule and left the house when i showed up a sence confort seemed to prevail, so it was all systems go! While participating i began to notice fears, reservations and dought just left with this wonderful person who was teaching. Soon there after i began joining this class more and after being complimented on my progress by my instructor, i knew that i was only as good as the person im learning from pleased to know that i shared with her that i felt the same. There's time to smile in my progress, the other women are welcoming and it's a pleasure to be there. Come find out who this teacher/owner is you will enjoy her and be greatful you did. read more

Love this studio!! Melissa is such an amazing teacher! I always learn something new and fun! Highly recommend!!! A+++

Two weeks ago I went in for my first 101 class not knowing what to expect, and fell absolutely in love! I hadn't ever previously been to a gym or another public fitness class, and while a bit of a challenge,It's a wonderful workout regardless of what class you take, and the instructors are knowledgeable,observant,and motivating! Definitely try all the classes you can. This class gives me motivation and goals to set for myself while getting into shape and improving at my own pace! The owner, Melissa, is absolutely fabulous, kind, knowledgeable and open minded. She is constantly looking for ways to improve herself and her classes to make things better for the studio and create progressive changes for more things in the future. It has become something I look forward to and will be going back many times! Recommend to anyone! read more