Katharine F.
Yelp
Here's the 411 on Dance 411 (bwahahah): this place is unique but a bit of a mess. I and a few of my girlfriends bought 4-class Groupon's to be used for their "Ladies Liberation" series, which includes pole-dancing, lap-dancing, and a few other classes designed to allow womenfolk to release their inner strippers. The studio also offers kids and other adult classes in ballet, hip hop, salsa, African dance, and more.
First thing to be aware of is that parking S-U-C-K-S here - their parking lot is TINY and during high-volume time periods (i.e. when classes are releasing/getting started) it morphs into the seventh circle of hell. Apparently Dance 411 has permission to use the parking lots of some of the neighboring businesses on Moreland, but I didn't learn this until my most recent visit, when they finally stationed someone outside to direct drivers out of the over-full lot. Incidentally, every single time I have visited at least one a-hole has decided to park wherever he/she feels like it, never mind that it's blocking someone else in. The staff literally have to march into the various classes and ask these buttheads to come out and move their cars. Who does that??
Second thing to note is that they have NO changing facility other than the (small) restroom - I usually go to dance/exercise classes straight from work, and here I have to wait for a spare stall (there are two) to change in. A little odd for a dance studio.
The first time I visited I screwed up - you have to reserve your spot in class online (I'm used to Dance 101 where you just sign in when you arrive) and when I and my girlfriends arrived, the lap dance class we wanted to attend was already full. The front-desk staff was completely overwhelmed and apparently their online reservation system was screwed up because a LOT of women were arriving thinking they had reservations when their names were not on the list. After waiting to see if their might be any cancellations or no-shows, we eventually decided to head into a contemporary jazz class instead. Total disaster. No warm-up. Acoustics in the classroom made it virtually impossible to hear the instructor. And though it was supposedly a beginner-level class, and I actually have a decent bit of dance experience, I got left in the dust 16 beats into the choreography. After five minutes of looking like complete idiots, we high-tailed it outta there. The still-overwhelmed front-desk staff did not refund our money (we paid separately for the class since it wasn't included in our Groupon package) but did give us a free pass to take another class at a later date.
Our next visit went much more smoothly. We registered in advance for the drop-in pole dancing class, strapped on some stilettos, and headed into a studio that had been outfitted with @12 stripper poles. So. Much. FUN. The instructor was amazing and upbeat. Everyone was there to have a good time. And let me tell you - that pole shit is not easy. I definitely got a workout!
I eventually made it to the lapdance class as well - also very enjoyable, although the instructor at times seemed a bit more interested in entertaining herself than in teaching the class. Still, I learned some, ahem, *interesting* moves that will certainly entertain my gentleman friend should I ever work up the courage to show them off.
One other thing that may ease your mind - the "Ladies Liberation" classes are limited to women only, NO spectators (so don't show up asking to observe a class), and the studio pulls curtains covering all the windows so there are no gawkers staring in. Overall it's a fun and supportive environment in which ladies can feel comfortable loosening up and shaking their stuff.