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SOUL Aerial and Performing Arts Center

4.8 ★★★★★ 50 Google reviews · Pole studio in Richmond, Virginia

Free first class Parties & events Aerial arts too Beginner-friendly ClassPass

Gym offering aerial silk and pole-dancing classes for all ages and ability levels.

Plan your first class

  • Free first class or intro offer new students are welcomed with a free class or a discounted intro pass — check their site to book your very first class
  • ClassPass classes are bookable on ClassPass — an easy way to try the studio before committing
  • Parties hosts bachelorette & private parties — a favorite for birthdays and bachelorette groups; ask about private group bookings
  • Website & schedule soulaerial.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 804-310-4858

The classes they teach

Pole and aerial classes on the schedule at SOUL Aerial and Performing Arts Center, confirmed in students' own reviews and the studio's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🌱 Beginner Pole 4 mentions

“Love this place but classes start way too late and there’s no weekend classes for beginners.”

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🌀 Spin Pole

“Our active, always climbing and jumping son expressed interest in dance, specifically ballet.”

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🎀 Aerial Silks 2 mentions

“I took silks and Lyra classes at soul for two years.”

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Aerial Hoop (Lyra) 4 mentions

“This is also my favorite studio in RVA due to the pole class size (12 instead of 3 like the other studios) Not a fan of one of the lyra coaches though hence the 4 star.”

All studios teaching aerial hoop (lyra) →

What's on offer

Amenities students name in their reviews of SOUL Aerial and Performing Arts Center — the fastest way to tell what to expect before you book your first class.

🎀 Aerial Apparatus 4 mentions

“This is also my favorite studio in RVA due to the pole class size (12 instead of 3 like the other studios) Not a fan of one of the lyra coaches though hence the 4 star.”

Other studios with aerial apparatus →

Amenities are mined from reviews and the studio's own info — they tell you what students have experienced, not a formal guarantee. If something is a dealbreaker (grip aids, showers, private parties), confirm it with the studio before you go.

What students say again and again

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 50 Google reviews — with their own words as proof.

🌱 welcoming to beginners 4 mentions

“Love this place but classes start way too late and there’s no weekend classes for beginners.”

🧑‍🏫 amazing instructors 4 mentions

“The instructors are knowledgeable, the students are kind and hype each other up (so fun!”

💪 empowering & confidence-building 2 mentions

“I can confidently say that Soul is THE best studio I have stepped foot in.”

strong community vibe 6 mentions

“The staff warmly welcomed our family the moment we entered the door, and the instructors have created a truly magical class experience for us.”

🎉 fun & non-intimidating 6 mentions

“The instructors are knowledgeable, the students are kind and hype each other up (so fun!”

From the reviews

I have been a member at Soul for just over a year now, taking adult classes twice a week, and was a dancer for years growing up. I can confidently say that Soul is THE best studio I have stepped foot in. You immediately feel the warmth and quite literally- the soul, that Flynn has put into her studio.

★★★★★ — Sara, Feb 2022

I love Soul! Flynn is absolutely amazing with the kids. My daughter has been coming here a couple years now and she loves it so much! I was able to watch the way Flynn works with the students today for parent observation week and I’ve never seen someone work so well with a group of young kids.

★★★★★ — Sabrina, Dec 2021

My daughter has been at Soul Aerial for 2 years now. After her second year in the Alice in Wonderland Production at Dominion Energy Center, she is more excited about her upcoming third years than her first day walking thru their doors.

★★★★★ — T, Mar 2023

On a scale of cotton candy to Brussels sprouts, SOUL Aerial serves up a tiramisu experience. SOUL Aerial is tucked away in the corner of a strip mall of shops. While their ceilings are not super high, aerialists are able to train a number of tricks and apparatus.

★★★★★ — Barbara, Jan 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 50 reviews →

Bachelorette & private parties at SOUL Aerial and Performing Arts Center

SOUL Aerial and Performing Arts Center comes up for private parties — confirmed on their own site. A pole party is one of the most-booked ways to celebrate a bachelorette, birthday, or girls' night, and it's a blast even if nobody in the group has ever touched a pole. A few things worth asking when you reach out. First, group size and what's included — most studios run private parties for around 6–15 people with a dedicated instructor, a beginner-friendly routine, and time for photos. Second, the vibe you want — sassy heels-and-flow choreography, playful spins and tricks, or a mix; a good studio tailors it to the guest of honor. Third, booking and pricing — parties are usually a flat package booked in advance, and popular weekend slots fill up fast, so ask about deposits and what to wear (shorts for grip, no lotion). It's beginner-friendly by design, judgment-free, and genuinely fun — exactly the kind of thing everyone talks about afterward.

See their parties & events info

Your first pole class at SOUL Aerial and Performing Arts Center

Nervous about your first pole class? Almost everyone is — and a good studio expects total beginners to walk in the door. Here's what to know. You don't need to be strong, flexible, or thin to start — pole builds all of that, and your first class is about learning to spin, walk the pole, and hold on, not inverting on day one. What to expect: a warm-up, some conditioning, and a few basic spins or a short combo — it's a real full-body workout, so expect to sweat and to feel it in your arms and core the next day. Rest whenever you need to; no one is watching or judging. What to wear: shorts and a tank or sports bra — bare skin on your arms, legs, and stomach is what grips the pole, so save the leggings for aerial or floorwork. Skip the lotion the day of class; it makes the pole slippery. Grip aids: most studios keep grip liquid (Dry Hands / iTac) on hand, and knee pads make floorwork comfy — ask at the front desk. What to bring: water and a small towel. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign in and meet your instructor. It clicks fast — most people leave their first class already planning the next one.

Pole is for every body, and it's about strength, artistry, and confidence — not performing for anyone else. If you're pregnant or working around an injury, check with a doctor and let your instructor know so they can offer modifications.

Where to find SOUL Aerial and Performing Arts Center

1632 Ownby Lane &, 2407 Ownby Ln, Richmond, VA23220

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Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and student reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this studio? Claim your listing — it's free.