TranZenDance Studio

I attended TZD two years ago for about 6 months and was jerked around by Lori, the owner, the entire time.
Her pricing plan was by monthly membership only, which was $ 200/​month for 4 two-​hour classes per month. Students had to stay with their starting class, which met at the same time on the same day every week. If a student missed a class, she would have to make up the missed class by attending another group’s weekly class. The class had to be on the same level as her original class, which limited the days and times one could attend. Confused? You ain’t heard nothin’ yet.
My second month, I missed three classes because of vacation and weather. I took three make-​up classes. A month later, I was told I had taken 2 make-​up classes too many and would have to pay $ 50 a piece for them. I spent months going back and forth with Lori and her assistant, even showing proof that I was not in class on certain days, and was told I was wrong. Finally, I wrote a long, point-​by-​point email with all of the evidence included and never received a response, much less an apology for the mistake. For 4 months, I didn’t know if I was going to get a surprise $ 100 charge on my credit card.
Lori talked smack about strippers but rubbed a finger over her crotch when she performed (I don’t have a problem with strippers or crotch-​rubbing. I just found it judgmental and hypocritical).
She told our class as a whole we were going to be moving up a level after our showcase but then told one student that only certain girls would be moving up. Then, at the showcase, everyone moved up – even the girls who couldn’t yet meet the requirements for the level we were currently on.
We had to pay extra if we wanted to perform at the open house, and the classes in the month or so leading up to the performance were dedicated entirely to rehearsing for the performance. So, if a girl didn’t want to perform, she could twirl around the pole without instruction if no one else was using it during class. With about twice as many girls as poles, there was hardly ever a spare pole during rehearsals.
There were no mirrors and no videos of practice, so students really had no idea what they looked like until they bought a DVD of a performance they were in. We rarely received constructive criticism beyond basic mechanics for doing the move, so there was a roomful of girls who didn’t know they weren’t fully extending their legs or who were hunched over or who were moving way too quickly and awkwardly. We were only allowed to cheer for each other, which sounds great, but it doesn’t make for better dancers. I thought I was a damn rock star until I saw my performance, and then I was horrified that I had actually done that in front of anyone – much less a crowd of people.
Classes always started up to 30 minutes late. Over half the class was warm-​up or talking.
At the end of my sixth month, I suddenly came down with something that caused the lining of my lungs and the cartilage in my chest to become painfully inflamed. I could barely breathe and had to sleep sitting up because the pressure from laying down caused unbearable pain. I couldn’t work and had just moved into a new apartment. I had enough savings to pay for 2 – 3 months of rent and was told my condition could last up to 6 months. I called the studio and left a message explaining this and asked for my membership to be put on hiatus until I was better. I also wrote Lori an email because I’d had problems with calling previously.
The next day, Lori called and left a message, saying she needed a doctor’s note before she could cancel my membership and that I couldn’t make up the last class I had missed unless I continued to pay the $ 200 monthly fee indefinitely while I was bedridden. The day after that, I received an email from Lori saying that she was sorry I was ill and that she could put me on hiatus with no problem until I was better. It was like she had no recollection of the voice mail she had left me.
While all this was happening, I found out that my favorite teacher, Marguerite, now of Denver Dance, had quit because she, too, was being jerked around constantly and couldn’t take it anymore. She was was wonderful and supportive and inspirational and was the SOLE reason I stayed as long as I did. I ended up writing a scathing email to Lori, demanding that I be released as a student and reimbursed for the classes I hadn’t been able to attend. I never went back. At least two other students followed her as well.
To be fair, the studio was beautiful. From what I’ve seen, the new studio is even more stunning. But practicing in a beautiful studio is not worth feeling like I’m losing my mind. I have had much better experiences in studios that don’t take themselves so seriously and don’t create unnecessary problems for their students.
Once I got my own pole and started recording my practice, I improved more in a week than I had in six months at TZD.*
WHEW!
*Please practice safely!

This is more than just dancing around a pole. It’s about loving yourself, reclaiming your body and uplifting your soul. The classes are parts yoga, Pilates and dance. It’s an experience that transcends dance (get it?). It’s the hardest workout you’ll ever love.

Not a good experience. Only a few classes (all are ridiculously late at night — 10pm work out anyone?) and they won’t let anyone join them until someone else has left the class. They came across as very clicky. I was told to try an intro class (which was still pricey at $ 50 or $ 60 — and no it wasn’t a private lesson) and then as it turned out, there was not one class with an open spot. What a joke! I will definitely look elsewhere as the pole dancing was fun, but who needs to deal with this kind of run-​around just to get a workout in?

Lori has such an amazing studio that is so clean and professional. This is such a great form of exercise and getting in touch with your more feminine side. Would highly recommend you try going to a class for something different.

Just had an «Intro Pole Dance» class at this studio and it was so awesome! Also a great work out I used some serious muscles I had no idea even existed. Lori has a way of making everyone feel beautiful & capable, even if you are a beginner that has no idea what you are doing. This class is great fun and empowering as well. I hope when I get some free time and cash I can return and continue to learn from her, because she is truly gifted with dancing skills and people skills.