Long-time friends Kelsey Avila and Anna Frantz are taking their friendship to the next level by launching a business together. They are participating in the South Coast Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) program this summer, and hope to open their pole fitness business in late spring 2019.

Pole fitness is, simply put, fitness on a pole. The sport, which may show up at the Olympics, requires strength, coordination, flexibility, and grace. Avila and Frantz noted that it might be a natural fit for people who are fans of yoga and CrossFit, as it builds a similar kind of overall strength, especially in the upper body.

Avila and Frantz have been friends since attending Dartmouth High School together, where they were both involved in competitive dance.

“We’ve always choreographed together, so we’ve always been able to problem-solve and brainstorm together, bouncing ideas off each other, and just having that team-building aspect to our friendship as well,” said Avila. “So I think it transfers really well into having a business together.”

Although some people were skeptical, they saw their long friendship as a strength when creating their business. Avila and Frantz became interested in pole fitness together, so co-creating a business seemed like a natural part of their “pole journey.”

“I think we were both struggling to find something that we really enjoyed in the realm of fitness,” Frantz said. “We had tried a bunch of stuff-- yoga, zumba, even just working out in the gym regularly-- and we just didn’t find that one thing that kept us coming back. So we were looking out for something new to try, and we ended up finding pole.”

They both enjoyed the challenge of the classes, and the fact that they could accomplish something new in each class, which kept them motivated to go back.  It was also fun, although Frantz said that the first time she was on a pole she “felt like an awkward turtle.”

“This gave you the opportunity to not only get a workout that was rigorous and you’d be going back and be sweating by the end of it, but it also incorporated the musicality, the dance, the passion, and the flow that we’ve always had,” said Avila.

They envision their studio as having a succession of classes increasing in difficulty and skill level, after everyone took same beginner class to get comfortable using the pole as a tool, gripping it, and being comfortable working around it.

One of their biggest priorities is making the studio a place for a community of support and empowerment. Frantz and Avila made it clear that they want their studio to be open to anyone, of any age, gender, or body type.

“We want to focus on creating a community where people can come and be confident, and also a little bit vulnerable, but also [where] everyone is supporting one another,” said Frantz. “Pole does kind of ask you to do that and challenge yourself.”

She said that pole can be intimidating because it requires exercisers to bare a bit more skin than they might be used to in exercise classes, and some people feel like they are too old or self conscious to get into pole. That makes it even more important to create an environment that feels supportive rather than competitive.

They also are very focused on technique and safety, although, like any type of exercise, injuries happen.

“You do leave with bruises, but it’s all part of the game,” said Avila. “We call it pole kisses.”

“It’s kind of a badge of honor,” said Frantz, laughing.

Frantz and Avila will continue to work their way through the EforAll program, which will guide them in developing a business plan, surveying potential clients, creating branding and curriculum, and eventually, setting them on their way to finding a physical location and starting classes. They hope to open their business next year.