October 30, 2026

Pole doubles: what partner pole is and how beginners try it

Doubles pole, also called partner pole or duo pole, is two dancers working on the pole together. Sometimes both make the same shape at the same time without touching. Sometimes one dancer, the base, holds some or all of the other dancer's weight, and the other, the flyer, makes the shape. Most beginners first try it in a one-off workshop or a short series, not a weekly class. The studios we read either ask for some pole basics first or set the workshop at a level above total beginner. Three studios we read say you can come without a partner, and two of them say they pair people up in class.

This post covers what studio class pages and one doubles instructor say about partner pole. Every source was read on 29 October 2026.

What is doubles pole, exactly?

There are two broad kinds of doubles work, and the instructor we read separates them clearly.

Synchronized doubles. Jody Ryker, a performer and instructor writing for the International Pole Convention in 2016, describes it as "when both dancers create the same shape but neither one is supporting the other’s weight." These can be done on separate poles or on the same pole. She recommends starting here: "It’s a good idea to start out with synchronized doubles first."

Base and flyer. In this kind, one dancer holds the other. Ryker: "The base is the person supporting all or most of the other person’s body weight." The flyer is "the person whose weight is being all or partially supported by the base." She adds that the base "is also in charge of balancing the flyer", and that "Generally, the flyer will be the more flexible person on the team".

Studio class descriptions name more positions than these two. Pole Buzz at Queen Bee's describes its partner series as covering "the roles in different types of positions (base/anchor-&-flyer, side-by-side, tandem/shadow, etc)".

How do beginners usually try it?

In a workshop, from what we found. Every doubles class we read was a one-off workshop or a short series:

Pole in the Wall has run several doubles workshops, including "Duo Spin Pole", a static doubles workshop, and "Duo Pole".
Pink Parlor Studios ran "Partners in Grind: Doubles Pole Workshop".
Pole Buzz at Queen Bee's ran "Double Trouble", described as a "short 3-week series".

None of the classes we read was for someone who had never done pole. Pink Parlor says: "Some pole foundations experience is recommended, as students should already feel comfortable with basic pole movement and beginner spins." Pole in the Wall's spin workshop "is for pole dancers Level 1+", and its Duo Pole workshop is marked "Advanced Beginner/Intermediate Level". Pole Buzz's series asks more: participants "should be comfortable climbing and inverting." If you are new to pole, start with regular beginner classes and check the level on the workshop page before you book; our post on pole class levels explains what those level labels usually mean.

What happens in a doubles workshop?

The class pages describe a similar shape: warm up with your partner, start low, then go higher.

Partner warm-up. Pole in the Wall's spin workshop starts with "a warm up including some Acro Yoga poses to help our partners stretch." Pole Buzz's series includes "a variety of assisted (partner) stretches".
Floor and low pole first. Pole in the Wall's Duo Pole workshop moves to "double floor tricks", then "doubles low pole tricks, low spin tricks", before climbing. Ryker gives the same advice for training: "It’s also a good idea to work on some floor acrobatics together first."
Doubles climbs. Pole in the Wall teaches "a Doubles climb that starts static and puts you into a spin", and says of doubles climbs in another workshop: "These tend to be easier then a regular climb".
Free practice. The Duo Pole workshop ends "with free time for you and your partner to experiment and then a cool down to stretch."

Pink Parlor's description adds what the class is for: "connection, communication, balance, and shared movement around the pole."

Some workshops are on a spin pole and some on a static pole. If you have only trained on one, our post on spin pole vs static pole explains the difference.

Do I need to bring a partner?

Not at the studios we read. Pole in the Wall: "you will be partnered with another consenting participant in class." Its static doubles workshop says "those without a partner will be paired up at the workshop." Pink Parlor: "Come with a friend or partner, or be ready to pair up in class!" Pole Buzz: "Participants may come solo or in a partnership."

Pole in the Wall's static workshop also says "Each attendee must register individually", so if you are bringing a friend, both of you book.

Why is communication such a big deal?

Because you can no longer just let go. Ryker calls communication the first and most important thing, and explains why: "Your partner needs to know what you’re doing at all times so you can both safely dismount. If a trick doesn’t feel right, you need to tell your partner immediately and reset."

She also writes that "tricks will go wrong", and that when one does, "it’s almost never one person’s fault. You’re a team."

The base's job is harder than it looks. Ryker describes her first doubles attempt: "I could easily support her body weight, so I naively thought that basing would be a piece of cake." It was not, and that time she ended up competing solo. She is also frank that "sometimes basing can be quite uncomfortable", and asks flyers to "be considerate of your base!"

Being a good flyer has its own demands. Ryker: "To be a good flyer, you must be trusting (sometimes flying is terrifying!) and you must be able to hold your form."

How is this different from spotting?

A spotter is an instructor helping you learn a move; a doubles base is a partner who is part of the move. In a workshop the instructor still teaches and watches, and the partner work is what you are there to learn. Our post on spotting in pole explains what an instructor's spot is for, and why the studios we read leave spotting to instructors.

Can you compete in doubles?

Yes. Several competitions run doubles categories, including PSO, the IPSF and POSA, with their own rules. Our posts on pole competition levels and divisions and how pole competitions are judged cover how doubles entries are grouped and scored, and our competitions directory lists events.

For practice, Ryker suggests filming: "You’ll need to video yourselves to see how well you’re doing with this", meaning how well your shapes match.

Quick answers

What is doubles pole? Two dancers working on the pole together, either in matching shapes without supporting each other (synchronized doubles), or with one dancer, the base, holding the other, the flyer.

Can a complete beginner do doubles pole? The workshops we read expect some pole experience first, from comfort with basic pole movement and beginner spins up to climbing and inverting. Check the level on the class page.

Do I need a partner for a doubles pole class? Not at the studios we read. They take people who come alone, and two say they pair them up in class.

What is the difference between a base and a flyer? The base supports all or most of the other dancer's weight and balances them. The flyer is supported and makes the shape, and is often the more flexible partner.

What do you learn first in doubles pole? The classes we read start with partner stretches, then floor and low pole tricks, then doubles climbs.