Art of the Catwalk

Hi ladies,

I'm Marion Shaffer and I constructed Art of the Catwalk from the ground up to be something that no one had ever experienced before. Many things set us apart from any other gym or dance studio in this city. We center everything on our clients, and our focus is personal attention. We have created an atmosphere where women can have fun, and actually enjoy working out together while seeing results and learning proper form and up-to-date dance steps. We love working here, and helping people find their inner vixxen. I guarantee that we have something for every Woman. Please feel free to stop by and see what we are all about...

• What forms of payment do you accept?

  
  

  We accept cash, credit/debit cards including American Express and Discover, FSU Card, PayPal, and local checks with proper id. Sorry we do not accept starter checks or out of state checks. You must present ID when purchasing items/classes at the Art of the Catwalk. In special circumstances we will offer payment options that will allow you to use credit terms here, but we will require two forms of payment and proper ID. We also might require a co-signer, either way you go our studio is very flexible and we offer an array of payment options to suit any budget.
  

• How do I sign up for a class?

  
  

  If you aren't a member yet, try out one of our classes to see which one is best suited for you. When you see a time that will work call us here at the Studio at 850-309-7653 and we will take your reservation. We offer online signup so you can pick and choose what works best for your schedule. Your place on a class is confirmed when it's paid for and reserved, we do require a 24 Hr cancelation or you can lose your paid time or online signup privileges. Our pole classes are for members only and are the only classes that work on a structured progression. We still have multiple times and days that each level of pole class is offered but we do not allow non-members to take any pole class except our Pole Teaser Intro Class. If you want to try pole fitness, and are not able to join our studio as a member, we do offer private one-on-one sessions and duo private lessons so that you can try it with a friend but it's more exclusive than a class type setting.
  

• What happens if I have to miss a class?

  
  

  If you're unable to make it to one of your classes please make sure that you give us at least 24 hrs notice. If you do not make it to a class and you haven't given us notice, you could lose your privilege for class signup. . PLEASE NOTE Failure to do so on a regular basis will limit your booking further classes with our studio. If you are able to give us 24hr prior notice, we will put a credit on your account that will be able to be used on merchandise or anything that you like here at the studio up to a year from your payment date.
  

• Feeling Slippery?

  
  

  Sweaty Hands? Can't quite seem to keep a good grip on the pole? Here are some helpful hints to make your workout a lot less slippery!

  1. No lotion
     Never wear lotion or oils, it will cause you to slip and slide and create a dangerous situation. And even if you don't put lotion on your hands, if it is on your legs it will get on the pole when you wrap a leg around the pole.
  2. Practice makes perfect
     Often times your hands sweat more when you are learning a new pole move. That is because you haven't quite figured out how hard to grip the pole and so you put a lot more strain on your hands, causing you to sweat. Eventually you will start to develop a muscle memory of the most effective way to perform the trick and you will relax and your grip will be correct.
  3. Breathe
     I know this sounds simple enough but you would be surprised as to how many people hold their breath while dancing. The more you breathe the more relaxed your muscles will be and the drier yours hands will become.
  4. Bring a little towel
     It's just like going to the gym! Bring a little face towel sized towel to wipe the pole off between tricks. It will help keep the pole from collecting residue from your skin. Once you gain more confidence in your pole tricks you will grip the pole better and sweat less.
  5. Pole Grip
     Perfect for really advanced tricks can be purchased here or at any athletic store, look for Prince or Tight Grip near the batting equipment and tennis rackets.

• What do I wear to Pole Dance?

  
  

  Picking the right outfit is crucial to a pole dance class. Most pole studios, including ours suggest wearing shorts here are a few other things to consider:

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Wear shorty shorts
  The shorter the better! Your upper thighs are very important to developing a good pole routine. Many of the tricks and holds you will learn require using that part of your legs. Longer shorts can make gripping the pole difficult and even dangerous!
  
  Don't wear warm-ups, basketball shorts, or soccer shorts. They are too slick and you will not be able to do the pole tricks in the class. Instead try Cheerleading shorts, or our signature pole shorts, they are made to do acrobatics and they will be a lot more comfortable as well!
  
  Don't wear long sleeves! In fact for harder tricks tank tops and sports bras are recommended. You will need the grip you get from your arm and armpit. If you want to wear a regular t-shirt make sure it is tight fitting, otherwise when you flip upside down, so will your shirt!

  
  Never wear lotion
  We cannot stress that enough.

  
  Never wear rings or watches
  They will pinch your skin and damage the poles.

• Do you really wear stripper shoes in class?

  
  

  

  Pole shoes also known as .Stripper heels are a MUST! Basically they are not the same construction as regular stilettos; They are specifically designed for pole dancing. Heels are going to give you the best support, they will protect your feet from busing, makie it easier to climb the pole, and accentuate turns and spins. If possible make sure you get them with ankle straps so they don't fly off! Pleaser, Ellie, and Luscious are some of the best pole shoes. We sell a large variety in our studio and on our website as well.

• What do I need to bring to participate in a class?

  
  

  For all of our classes it is necessary to wear comfortable attire, most people wear regular fitness clothes.

  
  

  • We recommend sports bras especially if you are larger breasted, for an extra degree of support and motion control in a soft construction to exercise in comfort.
    
  • Good athletic shoes that support your arches and that you only wear inside the studio
    
  • Zumba and Jamaican Dancehall don't require, but recommend a dance sneaker with low tread.
    
  • It's recommended that you bring your own towel because we will get you to sweat.
    
  • It is also advisable to purchase a Yoga Mat (for health reasons). We do not provide mats, but we do sell them in our studio boutique.
  • For Pole Classes shorts and short sleeve or tank tops are best. No Lotion on hands arms or legs.
  • For our Chair classes, we recommend bringing a pair of heels but it is unlikely you will wear them the entire class so be sure to bring something that you are comfortable wearing for warm-up.

• How many people are there in a class?

  
  

  Our Flagship studio is centrally located downtown, and we have the largest facility of its kind in the East Coast. Although its over 14000 sq feet, we keep the class sizes small enough that you can enjoy yourself, and our instructors are approachable and welcome feedback so the classes feel more personalized than a typical studio or a gym. We pride ourselves on personal attention and customer service. Our fitness and dance classes are no more than 40 people and no less than 5. Our pole classes are limited to one to two students per pole so average is about 10 people plus one to two instructors. All of our classes must be confirmed in advance, there is a 24 hr cancellation policy on all classes. For all non-members you must pay in advance to secure your spot in a class.

• Do I have to be in shape to join?

  
  

  Everyone has to start somewhere. Our clients find our classes challenge them and get results faster than the gym because they are able to switch up their routine, and work at their own pace. Our program allows you to pick and choose what classes suit your taste. Members that have joined from another gyms or fitness facilities end up liking our structure more than anything they've experienced elsewhere. Our Instructors/Classes challenge your body more than you have ever challenged yourself. Also because you aren't repeating the same routine it's easier to create muscle confusion and keep from hitting a plateau. Catwalk has developed a way to give you the benefits of personal training without the high price. Catwalk has helped thousands of women that haven't ever had a regular exercise program. If you follow our guidance you will see that you can finally stick with a fitness routine. Our members get special attention and leadership from industry professionals. There is nothing like working towards something and finally accomplishing it. Catwalk's Team of instructors are passionate about their specialized fields of fitness and they love seeing you succeed in your GOALS.

• Who comes to classes?

  
  

  Our classes are fitness based so every Woman is welcome. We encourage you to consult your physician before starting any exercise program to give you professional advice or to alert you to any physical limitations. Our classes have a supportive and friendly atmosphere where we welcome everyone and you will see that no matter what class you try there are all different ladies from all different walks of life. Basically any WOMAN is welcome no matter what your age, shape or size.