About us

Did you know the first ever pole dance world champion was Japanese? Many people do not even know there are such things as national and international championships for pole dancing. Pole dancing has become an international phenomenon in the last few years and may even become an Olympic sport.

At Studio Botan, we offer pole dancing as a form of fitness and art as well as dancing. Lessons are for complete beginners to more experienced dancers. We are an 18+ studio open to both WOMEN and MEN. Everyone is welcome to take lessons at Studio Botan. In the future, we are plan to provide a wider range of dance such as Flamenco, Hula, and Tahitian etc.

Sayaha Aida, the creative director of Studio Botan, has lived in multiple countries, performing and instructing various styles of dance, as well as teaching group fitness from hip hop, street jazz, zumba, and pole dancing in Tokyo, Miami, and now San Francisco. Sayaha was first exposed to pole dancing when she was working as a full time dancer in Tokyo Japan where the first ever pole dance world champion, Reiko, came to perform at the club event Sayaha organized and danced at. After Reiko, Sayaha has studied pole dancing under top international and national pole dancers such as Felix Cane, Jenyne Butterfly, Marlo, Jamila, Allegra, Estee, Yukari, and Natasha Wang. We are excited to welcome some of the top pole dancers in the world to Studio Botan, as guest instructors for special workshops.

Instructors

SAYAHA

Sayaha Aida is the creative director of Studio Botan. She is an accomplished athlete and internationally acclaimed dancer, with extensive training, choreography, and performing experience in New Zealand, Japan, Miami, and San Francisco. Her focus for the past several years has been pole dance, which has been an ideal combination of her formal dance background and fitness experience. She is currently in training for the Miss Pole Japan competition.

Sayaha has imported Miami flair to San Francisco, and has been teaching pole dance as a fun way to build strength and cardiovascular fitness, engaging fundamental dance concepts such as rhythm and musicality, all while students learn one of the hottest trends now hitting the mainstream.

We very excited to have Ms. Aida as our creative director, and she is now available for group and private training sessions. She will definitely make you sweat!

 

 

VIVIAN (Pole 101)

Vivian starting dancing at Studio Botan in January 2012 and is proud to be a part of the instructor team. She loves pole dancing because of its acrobatic and artistic qualities and enjoys sharing her enthusiasm with her students!

ALEXA (Pole Virgin)

Trained almost exclusively in ballet, Alexa’s traditional background collided with her wild dancer’s soul in an exotic and sensual love affair when she discovered pole.

NATALIA (Pole 101)

Natalia found pole dancing by accident and now it has become one of her greatest passion. She likes how it’s different from everything and loves the reaction of people when she says what she does. She enjoys teaching very much!

 


Our Facility

We are conveniently located on the corner of Montgomery and Jackson in San Francisco's historic Jackson Square -- between the financial district and North Beach, 1 block from the Transamerica Pyramid.

Our modern spa-inspired studio features tall 14 foot poles, large mirrors, and floor to ceiling windows (with available privacy screens) looking onto Montgomery street.

We hope our warm and supportive environment will be perfect place for you to take your fitness and dance training to the next level!

Our Advantages

We go beyond simply learning pole tricks – our instructors have extensive dance experience, and you will learn dance concepts and acquire strength and skills which can be applied to any form of dance.

Fitness is emphasized, so you can combine your cardiovascular, strength, and flexibility training in one fun and funky activity.

Tall 14 foot spinning poles are suitable for beginner classes up to world class competition. Studio Botan welcomes and encourages men to participate.

We have relationships with several national and international champions who will periodically host workshops at the studio.

Our Name

Botan is a symbolic flower in Japan, representing "high class," "sincerity," and "faithfulness," and was also the national flower of China until 1929.

"Botan" is also the Japanese pronounciation of "button." Buttons symbolize the merging of cultures, an in the case of our studio, the merging of art, fitness, and dance into one activity.

This dual meaning is depicted in our logo, where a button is shown in the middle of a botan flower.