On Washington Avenue sits one of the most unique all-female fitness establishments this side of the Arch: The Dollhouse Studios (1428 Washington, 314-241-3655). Dollhouse, which calls itself a “premiere pole fitness studio,” offers classes ranging from Pilates, Zumba Stiletto Striptease, hip hop, strength training, and, yes, pole dancing. From time to time some professional dancers visit the open gym classes, but the gym serves every size and every ability level.
“Safety is very important, so we have different levels for our pole classes,” says Taliya King, one of the three owners, along with Lisa Potts and LaShell King. The three met in a fitness class directed by LaShell, and then opened Dollhouse in 2011. The facility’s walls are peppered with photos of different classes and events, as well as personal notes from members. They’ve also brought summer Zumba block parties, with mass dancing, to the Lou.
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Why did you open this kind of fitness facility, and not just another more common franchise?
There was nothing quite like this in St. Louis. Dollhouse Studios was birthed from our ideals as women. All three owners are all about camaraderie, support, and women empowerment. We wanted to represent that in our fitness facility.
What sets Dollhouse apart from other facilities?
Our attention to detail. We spent a lot of time looking at other facilities like this to pick out the things we all enjoyed and things we felt most women would like.
What is the most popular part of your business?
Our parties are the most popular. We have parties for 10 ladies, and they get the space for an entire hour. They can set up pole dancing or chair dancing.
Video Vixen class—what’s that all about? I hear it’s one of your more popular classes.
Video Vixen is a fun, flirty class for the ladies that want to strut their stuff like a video vixen.
Is the membership just for women?
Yes, it is. It’s just us girls in here!
Do you see your members as family?
Yes, it was important for our studio to foster sisterhood, unity, and fun. It’s a place for the girls to get away!
The Pulse, SLM’s new fitness blog series, seeks to inform readers about the best and brightest in the fitness business. The goal: to help guide you to great workout spots, whether picturesque parks, sweaty gyms, or martial-arts studios.
Writer Brian Byrd runs Train 4 Life Studio, located at 4255 Laclede in the Central West End. A father of three, he enjoys “talking about training, food, and consistency, as well as spreading the word about all the cool venues and people in St. Louis who do what I do.”
