The Warehouse Dance Studios in Wallington celebrated its 10th anniversary this month after being threatened by closure during the pandemic.
The pole studio was founded in 2015 by sisters Naomii Serrant and Ezmaii, with the vision to teach and dance to music which reflected the cultures they grew up around, in south London.
A change in ownership came after the struggle of the pandemic which led to Serrant and her best friends Dominique Stagg and Steve Lee taking on the helm.
Lee said: “Covid was playing havoc with absolutely everyone and at that moment we stepped in as mates to help run the studio, became business partners, and then a few years later moved it to the building that you know now.”
During lockdown, the studio entered peoples’ homes via zoom fitness sessions, designed to maintain muscle strength and flexibility until in-person sessions resumed.
Stagg said: “Between us and two other instructors, we had a stretch class, pilates class, pole and floor conditioning.”
Classes were made available at £5 a class which helped keep the business going while waiting for council funding, which they eventually secured.
The Warehouse started as a smaller studio in Waddon providing a second home for people to leave their responsibilities behind and be themselves.
Serrant said: “We wanted a space that people felt was like home and a place for fun and expression.”
However, that was jeopardised when they were served an eviction notice on the other end of lockdown.
While refurbishing their current place, they still ran classes in the old premises which was earmarked for redevelopment by the owners of The Shard.
Lee said: “We then had to move the students and classes over, literally kind of overnight.”
Since overcoming these challenges, The Warehouse has been thriving.
The new, bigger space allowed for their own facilities, new instructors and for their pole family to grow.
“It provides a space for people to find that extra bit of happiness in their day,” Lee said.
As one of the few pole studios to survive the pandemic, the owners’ main aim is to stay open for the next generation of people who want to try pole dance.
Rachel Attisou, a 32-year-old account assistant, who started her Warehouse journey in March said: “The teachers are super friendly, and the atmosphere is so positive.
“Everyone cheers and claps for each other, which makes it such a welcoming and supportive environment.”
Ahila Thurailingam, a 31-year-old engagement and inclusion manager said: “Poling at The Warehouse has impacted me in such a positive way.
“I feel like I’m getting stronger and can see myself improving in such a visual way.”
Stagg added: “It’s so good for your self-esteem, your body-confidence and for anyone that suffers with any type of anxiety or neurological disorder.”
The Warehouse prides itself on staying true to the roots of pole in the sex worker industry, by encouraging students to dance and try heels.
Lee said: “We’ve never shied away from teaching women to embrace being sexy and owning that.
“We like the fact that we’ve always been a pole school that has done that.”
The next Absolute Beginners course starts 10 November at The Warehouse Dance Studios.
Featured image credit: The Warehouse Dance Studio
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