Elevate

Negative experience: I started my aerial journey with Elevate back in January 2023 and once I felt I had hit my maximum potential with their low ceiling studio and low quality silks, I decided to train in Dublin where I feel there is greater growth potential and support amongst teachers. I felt the environment in Elevate was cold, hostile and very unwelcoming. There were times when I'd walk into the room and not even get a hello from one of the teachers, Aine. That same teacher spent the first year calling me “Flo” rather than making an effort to learn my name which I found to be discriminatory as a black woman. I had a demoralising interaction with Aine on Wednesday 28th May when she approached me about not following her lead in the class. I made it clear to her that I wasn't aware that I was supposed to because it appeared to me that people were working on their own sequences ahead of performance night. From what I could see, Aine was only showing her prepared sequence to one person - a girl who was to my left. I expressed my confusion to Aine and she responded by telling me that I should pay more attention, which I felt was quite rude. I matched the tone in which she began the conversation, and expressed the importance of teachers showcasing leadership skills in their classroom by reestablishing student expectations if the teacher feels they're not being met. When it was clear that I was in fact supposed to follow the sequence she was showing the girl beside me, I told Aine that I didn't want to spend my time going back and forth with her during a class that I paid for and asked her if she was going to teach me or not. She declined and said no. Instead, she suggested that I follow the lead of an unqualified student to my left and learn from her.To be refused service and then told to follow someone who is unqualified to teach is not only unprofessional from my perspective, but I think it also goes against safety regulations and practices in an aerial context. I spent my hard-earned money to be a paying customer in Elevate for years and to be denied the opportunity to learn in that manner - and within earshot of others - was nothing short of humiliating. What's more is I expressed the above to the owner Maria when she reached out to me (on May 29th), and she never even replied. In my opinion, that speaks to the ethics - or lack thereof- that Elevate has about being respectful and cultivating a supportive environment. I have video evidence of the start of my interaction with Aine, if I knew it was going to get worse, I would have continued recording. In short, I've spent a good bit of time trying out other studios in Dublin and they are the reason why I fell in love with the aerial community. As for Elevate? I would only recommend it to people who want to feel ostracised, belittled, and stagnant in their aerial progress because that was my experience.

Fantastic experience: Absolutely amazing, loving every bit of it. Teachers are talented, super skilled and engaging. Totally recommend doing some classes. I am going for classes for a few years now and will be for another few years.

Fantastic experience: Amazing studios and great teachers

Fantastic experience: Can't wait to get back to the Elevate classes need to become more flexible

Fantastic experience: Fantastic studio with amazing teachers!!

Fantastic experience: Great facilities & teachers, kids love it

Fantastic experience: Brilliant studio with fantastic teachers!!

Fantastic experience: Yoga classes for kids is brilliant, kids loved it too. Great location and premises.