Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kelsie Fitchie. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Kelsie, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?
When I first started SkyDance, I had this big dream of creating a booming studio that brought in tons of cash and produced top-tier athletes. I was 23, excited, and ready to bring something completely new to my small town—pole dancing classes had never existed here before. Back then, I thought success was purely about numbers—how many people walked through the doors and how much money the business was making. So, when that didn’t happen right away, I felt like I had failed.
Over the years, as I developed real, genuine core values as a business owner, my perception of success completely changed. I learned that my business is a direct reflection of who I am—it will only grow as much as I nurture it. SkyDance became successful when I shifted my focus from external validation to internal alignment. I realized that success wasn’t just about money or numbers; it was about the impact we had on people’s lives.
For me, success looks like:
1. An inclusive curriculum – one that welcomes all body types, fosters real learning, and prioritizes safety over ego.
2. An educated and passionate instructor team – people who truly believe in the SkyDance mission and are dedicated to teaching, not just showing off.
3. A welcoming, uplifting space – where every person who walks in feels celebrated, included, and inspired to grow.
4. A lasting impact – where our students don’t just see classes as a passing phase, but as a meaningful, valuable part of their lives.
Something I never expected when starting a female-dominated business was how much I would learn about myself. I had unresolved issues with my own femininity that I didn’t even realize. Through this journey, I was able to face those things, give myself grace, and grow—not just as a business owner, but as a person. And funny enough, only when I embraced my authentic self – fully and unapologetically and was open to learning and growing – did everything start to fall into place.
At the end of the day, I believe success is a full-circle moment; it won’t come to you until you’re truly ready for it.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m Kelsie, and I’m the proud owner of SkyDance Pole Fitness in Grants Pass, Oregon. When I opened SkyDance at 23 years old, it was the first pole dance studio in my small town. At the time, I had no formal business education, no degree, and honestly, no idea what I was doing. What I did have was a deep passion for pole fitness. You see, I wanted to run away and join the circus, but I learned the hard way that you actually have to have somewhat of an athletic background and prior knowledge in aerial skills in order to do so. Having none of that, and no resources locally to learn, I decided to install a pole in my home, and teach myself. Never in a million years would I have fallen in love with this apparatus so much, and that I would prefer it over all others. Pole dancing had transformed how I saw myself and it was something I wanted to share with others. That’s how SkyDance was created: out of a desire to create a space where people could experience the same confidence, strength, and joy that pole fitness gave me.
SkyDance started as just a studio for anyone to come in and try pole dancing, but it has grown into much more than that. We offer a structured, tiered curriculum for pole dancing technique and skills, along with low flow, conditioning and flexibility classes, all designed to help students grow at their own pace. Our classes cater to beginners as well as advanced athletes, so regardless of if you have never touched a pole, or if you are able to do all the crazy stuff you see on the internet, there’s a place for you here.
What I believe truly sets SkyDance apart is our community-first approach. We prioritize our students above all else, adapting to their learning styles, holding all level open studios for the camaraderie, considering their goals and motivations in how they are pushed in classes, holding quarterly members events to ensure they feel celebrated in our community, and more. Over the years, this has fostered an incredible, nourishing community that many people didn’t even know they needed until they experienced it. There’s something really special about women coming together, doing incredibly hard physical activities, and cheering each other on. We’re all about creating a space where confidence, resilience, and self-acceptance exists and is encouraged. This is a protected space where we uplift each other.
Apart from the community vibe, we focus heavily on technique and accuracy. Whether that be in our exotic flow classes, or our pole fitness classes, we prioritize ensuring our students are educated on how to activate the intricate muscles in their bodies and understand the proper technique to execute skills specifically, helping everyone improve safely and effectively. Pole dancing is all fun and games, but to acknowledge that it can also be dangerous and take necessary steps to ensure that our team are true professionals in the sport give our students a lot of trust in us.
Additionally, we address the deeper struggles that many people face: body image issues, self-doubt, and the fear of stepping outside of their comfort zone. In the studio, it’s not just about physical strength, it’s about mental transformation, too. We challenge our members to break free from the toxic mindset of self-hatred and replace it with self-love and acceptance. It has been known for people to push past their doubts, embrace their body for what it can do, and rediscover their confidence at the studio.
Looking back on how far we’ve come, I’m incredibly proud of what SkyDance has become. The studio has become a staple in our small community; what started as a tiny, unknown studio has grown into a thriving business offering high-quality fitness and dance classes. We’ve formed strong partnerships with local businesses, and we’re able to give back through many programs. One of our favorites is our partnership passport membership with local gym, American Alpha Training. We were able to create a discounted passport program for our primary pole members to go and learn how to cross train in the gym, and for the primary “Alpha” members to come in and use their strength for a method of creative outlet.
What makes me the most proud, though, is watching the women who’ve walked through our doors overcome their fears, celebrate their progress, and step into their confidence. That’s what SkyDance is all about, empowering people to see themselves in a whole new light.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
The best source of new clients for me has been word of mouth. Social Media platforms, unfortunately, don’t always support the content that supports the nature of my business, and often limit the reach of content to my local community. However, word of mouth has been invaluable in bringing in new members. It has been the driving force behind the volume and quality of client’s I’ve gained. The community speaks for itself, and that authentic connection has been the key to building my client base.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
One of the most defining moments of resilience for me came in September 2023 when the studio was flooded. A busted water heater in my unit flooded the entire space, four inches of water affecting mine and five other businesses in the complex. To make matters worse, my landlords refused to cover the cost of replacing improvements in the unit, and were incredibly late in starting the necessary renovations. This was in the middle of summertime, and the studio was shut down for almost two months. though it could have been much longer if I hadn’t taken action.
Instead of waiting around for our landlords to get their act together, I took matters into my own hands. I pulled together receipts and correspondence from our original remodel in 2020, proving that they were responsible for unit and cost of the repairs. While I fought to secure the reimbursement, I didn’t sit idle. I hired friends and family to install unit improvements, and dry out the space. Meanwhile, we partnered with American Alpha Training, a local gym, to hold smaller classes and keep the community spirit alive.
We also hosted a photo marathon at the stunning Applegate River, offering our members an opportunity to connect and stay engaged and inspired during the closure. It was an administrative nightmare trying to chase down reimbursement money, but in the end, it worked out, and I was able to reopen the studio much sooner than expected. Sadly, two of our neighboring businesses couldn’t recover and closed their doors due to the flood.
It was a tough situation, but it was also a testament to the strength of our community and my determination to keep things moving forward, no matter the obstacles.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://skydancepolefitness.com
- Instagram: @skydancepolefit
- Facebook: @skydancepolefitness
Image Credits
All photos captured by : Lily’s & Horns Photography