” Hi! We’re Sharon and Kirstin, the founders of IncrediPole. In the spirit of celebrating nine years of the studio, we wanted to share some of the history of IncrediPole with our community.
We met in 2013 at a Bed Stuy yoga studio that had a small pole program. On those four 50mm poles, we found an incredibly supportive and non-competitive community. When the studio chose to end the pole program, we knew the community was special and deserved its own home to grow and thrive. After months of searching throughout Brooklyn, we stumbled upon a 1920s-era Polish Democratic Club reception hall in Greenpoint that was being used as a preschool. After one look at the cathedral ceilings, we knew we had found our spot. We scraped together our own cash for rent and fees, then opened a credit card to purchase the floors, poles and mirrors. We soon set to work building out the space ourselves. In August of 2015, we opened IncrediPole.
During the first year, we both worked multiple jobs as we poured everything we had into the studio.. Slowly, our passion project started to cover its own expenses. Sharon ran everything behind the scenes and Kirstin taught nearly every class. We both cleaned nightly, threw rent parties, held community queer classes, hosted workshops, and organized showcases. Above all, we strove to build a space where everyone is welcome. Within two years we expanded into a second room. which we named the Lair, and our original studio became the Loft. We were able to hire some incredible teachers (some who are still with us today!), and implement our first work study program. We continued to build the business until 2020…
After five years of continuous growth, the pandemic hit. Our landlord refused to cooperate with us and pressured us to reopen solely to pay rent, even though it was neither safe nor legal to do so.. As the guidelines continued to shift, we decided not to reopen, prioritizing safety, and opted to leave the space we had called home for the last 5 years. In summer 2020, with no long term plan for the future, we packed up the studio and stored what we could in Sharon’s mom’s New Jersey basement. We opened a tiny one-pole studio in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where we hosted online classes, rentals and private lessons to keep our business alive. In early 2021, we started looking for a new home for IncrediPole. By May, we had the keys to our current location in Gowanus. We spent the summer tirelessly painting, laying flooring, creating a class schedule, and having the mirrors and poles installed. We reopened in August 2021, on the 6th anniversary of our original opening, and have spent the last three years hiring, adapting, and growing into the studio we are today.
We couldn’t have done any of this without every single person who walked through our doors–staff and students alike. We’re so grateful for this amazing community that has supported us through thick and thin (3 floods in 2 spaces!) and has helped us to create a studio beyond our wildest dreams. THANK YOU!
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