Pole Dance Community

What is the Pole Dance Community?

The Pole Dance Community (PDC) is an advisory body for the pole dancing industry.

We provide advice to pole dance schools and individuals who choose to pole dance for fitness and recreation. Pole dancing is a modern day phenomenon undertaken by both men and women of all ages, shapes and sizes.

The Pole Dance Community (PDC) provides a series of codes of conduct promoting best practice within the pole dancing industry and provides insurance and support for pole dancers.

Strict compliance with these codes allows industry professionals to proudly display the PDC Approved logo.

As well maintaining good practice within the pole dance industry the PDC also provides you with:

·         insurance - for both pole dancers and pole dancing instructors

·         a universally recognised grading syllabus

·         information on pole dancing events

·         pictures and videos

·         a free magazine featuring leading pole dancers and promoters

·         referrals to recognised teaching resources

·         news flashes covering the whole pole dancing industry

The Pole Dance Community also offers the Advancement and Accreditation programme which grades student and instructors and encourages continuing professional development.

The Pole Dance Community is proud to endorse the Vertical Dance Pole Dancing Qualifications.

Grading (students)

Grading provides tangible feedback for the student on their progress and gives them something they can show off to their friends!  It shows that they are learning a recognised sport at a reputable school, which should help to dispel some of the misconceptions their friends and family may hold.

In order to unify standards across our membership, a universal grading criteria has been developed. Students may progress through five grading levels and have their achievement recognised by all PDC Approved Schools. If a student moves location, they will be able to continue their grading progression at any other PDC Approved School.

Students are graded according to criteria that have been decided democratically by all PDC Approved Schools. All PDC Approved Schools may grade students according to the agreed criteria. Grading test sheets and notes are provided to the schools to facilitate this. They can be downloaded here: grading sheet and here: grading notes

Students are provided with an official AAP book (their pole dancing passport) in which their grading is recorded.  On request, the PDC can also provide a certificate acknowledging the student’s success.

 buy your membership here

recognition within the industry, the PDC has introduced three levels of instructor excellence.
The requirements for each of the three grades have been decided democratically by all PDC Approved Schools

Instructor Level 1. By complying with Approved School criteria, all PDC Approved School instructors are automatically awarded Instructor Level 1 status.  All level 1 instructors have; provided the PDC with copies of their insurance and first aid certificates, confirmed that they are using safe poles, agreed to teach no more than three students to a pole and have promised to keep their charges reasonable.  This, along with a PDC requirement for instructors to have three years experience means that over 60% of schools who have applied for PDC Approval have been turned down.
A PDC Level 1 instructor represents the highest level of professionalism and teaching quality within the pole fitness industry.  Click here to see our Level 1 instructors.

Instructor Level 2. Instructor level 2 is achieved by providing a suitable pole dancing CV to the PDC as well as submitting your AAP for updating.  The CV should detail such things as; time spent dancing/teaching, number of students taught, competition success achieved by the instructor and/or her students, copies of press or other media articles relating to the instructor, provable commitment to career development i.e. courses attended.  In addition, the application must be supported by at least two other PDC Approved Schools.  In general,  Level 2 instructors should exemplify excellence in teaching quality and have extensive pole fitness industry experience. Click here to see our Level 2 instructors. All Level 2 applications are subject to a £20 application fee.

Instructor Level 3. A level 3 instructor grade will be achieved by very few and represents the very highest possible standards in the pole fitness industry. Level 3 instructor status is awarded based on a mixture of experience, teaching quality and industry recognition and must be democratically voted for by the PDC Approved Schools.  PDC Level 3 instructors are ambassadors for the industry. Click here to see our Level 3 ambassadors.

 buy your membership here

Here are just a few comments we received from PDC Approved Schools regarding the AAP.

"LOVE IT!!! Everything about it is so professional and it's so nice to have a pole record of achievement that will be recognised nationwide!" Tracy Huckfield, Pagan's Pole

"yayyyyyy this is awesome!!" Deanna Michelle Wallace

"I showed the girls the sample booklet, they love it and the whole grading idea" Karen Chandy - Body Barre

I have just ordered my booklet online ......  I can't wait to have a look through everything and, although I have my training through KT, I will look forward to working my way through the book too!  I love the pieces of paper telling me that I can actually do stuff properly!  Karen - Princess K

Questions and Answers

How much does it cost?
Membership to the AAP Program costs £30/year and includes free personal accident insurance while training at any PDC Approved school.
 
Do I have to train at a PDC Approved school to become a member?
No.  You can train wherever you like but your gradings must be taken at a PDC Approved school.  We understand that many pole dancers train at home or do not yet have a PDC Approved school in their area and we do not want to exclude you.  Please note that the PDC Personal Accident insurance only covers you while training at one of our Approved schools in the UK.
 
How do I join in?
Either ask at your PDC Approved school (your instructor is authorised take your membership fee and pass the paperwork onto us), or if you train at home or at another school, you can buy your membership here.

If you can think of any other questions you would like to see answered here - please contact us and let us know.
Thanks :-)