About Our Classes

Brass Butterflies takes an alternative approach to group activity and fitness.  Pole, Aerial, and Specialty Dance curriculum classes are at the core of what our studio offers.  Students gain confidence as they build physical strength, flexibility and endurance.  We teach pole dancing, aerial arts, and specialty adult dance classes in progressive 8-Week series, with material to challenge the absolute beginner to the elite competitor and every level in between.  Students are encouraged to work at their own pace in a supportive and non-judgmental atmosphere.  

Pole And Aerial Curriculum Classes

Our Pole and Aerial Curriculums are taught in progressive levels.  The core, foundational skills in each level are covered over a term of classes (typically 8 weeks) with different material covered each week and lots of review of foundational moves from previous levels to develop muscle memory and confidence.  After the Intro levels, students will typically take at least two terms, often longer, to build strength and master the core skills in each level before moving on.  Instructors will introduce non-core skills, transitions, progressions and combos from term to term so students who are in subsequent rounds of a level will still feel challenged and engaged.  

Students should be able to demonstrate a checklist of foundational skills learned in each level before moving on to the next level.  Progressing to the next level should always be done at the start of a new Term.  Pole Curriculum Classes include Intro to Pole, Beginner Pole, Intermediate Pole , Advanced Pole, Masters Pole 1 & 2, and Masters Elite Pole.   Aerial Curriculum Classes include Intro to Aerials (mixed apparatus), then Beginner 1 & 2, Intermediate 1 & 2, Advanced 1 & 2, Masters and Elite in Aerial Silks, Hammock, or Bar (includes Aerial Hoop (Lyra) and Dance Trapeze) (separate streams).  

Split classes (for example Advanced/Masters Pole) will cover both levels listed and welcome students working at either level.  Split classes listed with a number, such as Advanced 2/Masters, are open to students at those specific levels of progression.  A 2 in the name of a pole level means you’ve completed at least one full Term at that level and a 1 means you’re taking that level for the first time.  Levels 1 & 2 within the aerial curriculum are more clearly defined and have separate checklists so a student could potentially still be in sublevel 1 of a level, even if they’ve been in that level for multiple terms.

Specialty Dance Curriculum Classes

Our adult dance curriculum classes are a newer addition to our curriculum programs.  Burlesque classes may feature beginner or intermediate group choreography, solo act creation, or specialty series based around specific props or movement styles.  Burlesque curriculum classes will generally culminate in an optional performance opportunity.

Beginner Heels dancing is our newest curriculum series, launching in May 2023 (try it out as a drop in/Teaser on Fridays in April).  Offering a progressive introduction to the iconic dance style made popular by artists such as Beyoncé and Yanis Marshall, the Heels Dancing program will eventually expand beyond Beginner introducing Intermediate and Advanced levels featuring more intricate and fast-paced skills, combos, and choreography. Heels curriculum classes will be run either as performance prep series that will end in a live performance opportunity, or they will culminate in an optional video experience.

Curriculum Enrichment Classes and Clinics

Pole and Aerial Enrichment Classes and Clinics are classes that are taught in one of our core curriculum disciplines (pole, aerial, dance) and they enhance or explore outside the core skill progressions of the curriculum.  As the name suggests, these classes are designed to “enrich” our core curriculum classes.  Most of these classes will have curriculum pre-requisites, however they are not required to progress to higher levels in the curriculum.  They are typically not taught or registered for in a series, so  students may register for them as “one-off” classes, assuming they meet the pre-requisites.  Examples of these classes include Nemesis Move Clinics (i.e. Basic Inversions, Shoulder Mounts, Ayeshas), Flow & Choreo, Spin Pole, Floorwork, Pole Conditioning, Chair Dance, and Low-flow.  These classes can be registered for using individual purchase options or classes passes, and are included in our membership packages.

Special Note for May/June 2023 Term: Beginning in the May/June 2023 term, Pole Flow and Choreo (curriculum enrichment class) will be offered twice per week on Wednesdays and Fridays.  During this term, the Wednesday and Friday flows each week will be taught by the same instructor and will feature the same choreography.  You are welcome to register for both classes if you want to work on the choreography more than once, but please be aware that Wednesday and Friday each weekl will be the same.

Non-Curriculum Classes

Our non-curriculum selection of classes have been developed to supplement and complement our core curriculum programs.  With options to aid students in developing flexibility, conditioning, endurance, musicality and dance, these fun and challenging classes are a great addition to your regular fitness routine and, if attended in addition to your curriculum classes, may help you progress faster.  Non-curriculum classes are typically off apparatus (do not use the poles or aerial apparatus) and do not usually have curriculum level prerequisites.  

You do not need to be a pole or aerial curriculum student to enjoy and benefit from many of these classes. Special equipment/accessories may be required or recommended for some of these classes, such as running shoes, knee protectors, leg warmers or tights, high heeled shoes, etc.  Please check the class description and special instructions when registering for a class for the first time so you can be prepared.

We are also currently offering many of our signature Non-curriculum classes as on-demand video recordings in our On Demand Video Library. These are recordings of online classes that ran during 2020-2021.  Click below to learn more.

Open Practices

Open Practices are supervised but uninstructed times for students to practice the skills they have learned in their classes, workshops, and private or semi-private lessons.