Online Pole Dance + Aerial Fitness

I'm not sure who has nominated me for again, but it definately always heals and warms my little heart every year when I see these emails come thru. Thank you, deeply, to whomever is out there still cheering me on.

Fun fact: I do still teach actually, mostly online to a very small select group of peeps who go on to win gold at comp, soooo I must still be good at what I do???? 😆

But maybe it's finally time to get back into it more officially? 🤔

(But like next week, when I'm not *deadly* sick)
🥰😆

Again, thank you. You've no idea what it means to me 🥰🙏🙏🙏

Excited to spend some time with these girlies today!! 🥰🥰

I did a trip down memory lane this morning to revisit some of my most favorite pole memories. This just a small chunk, I had limited time, there is more to come. These people (and many others) represent the OG OPD peeps.🥰

Life has thrown me many a curveball but I still have such a passion for this sport. And I am STILL metamorphosizing... great things take time. 🧡

Thinking about you, and love and miss you all!

Well, . We are outta here. Ill write more later when I am less sweaty, sad and more rested. But from the bottom of my heart and soul, thank you for being a part of this chapter of my life.

Its not the "end" of OPD+AF. Just the start of something different. As said, OPD isn't a place, its our family. And COVID can't take that away. It lives on in our students and our instructors.

We are still connected and ❤️

I am resting for the next few days as every single day has been a 12+ hour day this week. Next week I will continue processing the refund requests. ❤️🙏

Added: it keeps breaking my heart to repeatedly answer this question this week, so please know: The equipment is ALL sold. ❤️

WE ARE DEVASTATED BEYOND WORDS TO ANNOUNCE OUR
PERMANENT STUDIO CLOSURE EFFECTIVE APRIL 15TH, 2021


PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR DETAILS:

Dearest OPD+AF Family,

My heart and soul is devastated to announce that I am being forced to close the Okanagan Pole Dance + Aerial Fitness Studio. The repeated COVID closures have taken their final toll and coupled with some health issues and some other unfortunate external factors, there isn’t a way for me to continue without pushing myself and my family farther into debt.

Students with class credits remaining are invited to turn their remaining classes into account credit and to make purchases from our in studio merchandise (clothing and grips aids and such) to try and lessen the financial impact this will have on myself and my family. I will do my best to refund everyone who would rather a refund (partial refund for partially used passes, ie. 50% refund if 50% of classes were used, etc) I will also be selling the OPD+AF equipment to my students for the same reason. But please consider supporting your local pole and studio this one last time through in-studio purchases, instead of refunds, if you are able.

We will be in the studio every evening this week until April 15th, for you to do some shopping and to say goodbye to your instructors and the studio.

Your beloved OPD+AF Instructors have been informed and while we are all heartbroken, we are making sure each interested instructor gets set up with the appropriate pole, aerial and safety equipment to teach at home private one-on-one lessons, as this is the only way to continue in the wake of this pandemic for the foreseeable future. They are still as highly qualified, certified and insured as they always have been and they carry the heart and soul of OPD+AF forwards with them in a new way.

This week I am working on packing up, selling equipment and merchandise and starting to process refund, our plan is to be moved out by the 15th for the new tenants to take over the space.

As well, the OPD+AF website will be turned into a portal for you to contact your favourite OPD+AF instructors for private lessons. Each participating instructor will have their own information, so all info on private lessons going forward will have to be directed to each of them individually.

If you will be requesting a refund, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT [email protected] and please allow at least 2-3 weeks for me to start working though those requests and for Mindbody to return to credit cards.

DO NOT TEXT, CALL OR COMMENT/MESSAGE VIA SOCIAL MEDIA for refunds, I need to keep it all organized and the most efficient way to do so is to funnel all of these requests to ONE spot. I unfortunately don’t expect this to be a quick process, but I will do the best I can as quick as I can of course and appreciate your patience and understanding in this difficult and hear breaking time.

Watching my students and instructors transform through pole and aerial has been one of the greatest gifts I could ask for and I will miss it and everyone I have met with every fibre of my being.

If you have enjoyed your time at our studio, please consider leaving an exit review of the studio on Google, FB, Yelp, etc. Your instructors and studio owner would love to hear the positive impact it has had on everyone to lessen the painful transition away from studio-life.

Thank you so much for being a part of this chapter of my (our) life. Best of luck to you all and please stay safe and healthy in this strange time.

Also, F*CK COVID. I'm not holding back anymore. xx

Much love,
Erin Smith + The OPD+AF Team
Okanagan Pole Dance + Aerial Fitness
[email protected]
www.okanaganpoledance.com

Photo cred: Dimitrov Photography

😭IMPORTANT: STUDIO CLOSURE DUE TO COVID19😭

Dear OPD+AF students,

As per the PHO update today Mar 29, 2021, we have to close the OPD+AF studio temporarily effective tonight at *midnight* until April 19, 2021 Tonight's Thicc B***y and Pole: Strong will run as scheduled.

Please rest assured all active passes/class credits affected by this closure will be returned to your account and expiries extended appropriately, as they were the last times. 😭

We are so so sorry for the inconvenience and hope that we can reopen soon. Please stay safe and stay healthy and help us flatten this curve so we can get back to what we love! 😭

👉👉Please let me know you have recieved this, by cancelling your classes between tomorrow March 30 and April 19, 2021.

If you are booked into any classes in the near future and I still see you registered, I'll be contacting you shortly. Working my way through the rosters 😥🙏

❤😷
- Erin + the OPD+AF Team