6-fig startup, zero guarantees: How S’pore’s pole & aerial studios survive

Hanging midair may be difficult, but running an aerial or pole business comes with even higher stakes

Whether you’re suspended five metres above the ground on silks or spinning around a pole, the physical risks of aerial silk and pole classes are obvious. What’s less visible is the financial balancing act required to keep a studio open in Singapore.

The country has seen waves of fitness trends, from spin and reformer pilates to HYROX, many of which have shuttered in recent years. In contrast, aerial and pole studios have been around since over a decade ago, still surviving amid a saturated fitness scene thanks to a tight community and the versatility of the sports. 

Vulcan Post speaks to three studio owners to understand the economics behind their businesses and how the financial and operational stress keeps them on edge more than any stunt ever could.

The unglamorous side of running a studio

Setting up an aerial or pole studio isn’t as simple as renting any open space. Because both disciplines require significant ceiling height and structural integrity, not every commercial unit can accommodate the equipment safely.

For aerial silks, hoops, and pole rigs, ceilings must be high enough to allow tricks and inversions, while the floors and beams need to withstand dynamic loads—sometimes dozens of students swinging or spinning at once.

As such, for many studio owners, finding a suitable location proved unsurprisingly difficult, including the founder of Adedance Artistic & Aerial Productions (Adedance), Adelene Chua-Adams. 

“Aside from the old badminton hall in Geylang, nowhere was very big and able to cater to aerial properly,” shared Adelene. This led her to start offering small-scale aerial classes at her Yio Chu Kang family home in 2017, before eventually taking the gamble of opening her own studio in Tai Seng. 

But the hunt for her own space was far from smooth. Adelene shared that many of the units she liked were classified under Zone B1, a commercial zoning category that requires businesses to pay 12 to 24 months’ upfront government levies before they can operate legally.

“We tried many avenues of appeal, but ultimately couldn’t get around this extra cost from the URA and SLA. Lesson learned there.”

That’s just one operational cost. Adelene also shared that starting an aerial and/or pole studio requires three to four months’ rent as a deposit, and renovations can cost anywhere from S$50,000 to over S$100,000, not to mention the additional cost of purchasing and installing the truss, sound systems, air conditioning, lighting and signage. 

All in, opening an aerial or pole studio can easily require a six-figure upfront investment before the first class even begins.

Jasmine Han, founder of MAD Collection (formerly known as SLAP Studio), pointed out that finding a space with strong ceilings and flooring is essential to protect the safety of the instructors and students. However, she emphasised the need to negotiate favourable quotes for renovations, as it can set the owners back before they can break even. 

“You need to have a professional engineer to come and certify the safety and ensure the rigging is up to a certain standard,” she added. “Nothing we do is rocket science, but it’s a lot of little, little things.” 

She also pointed out that most studios often run without the help of external investors and have to pay recurring expenses, such as managing their online payment systems, studio maintenance and staff salaries, even during holiday closures. 

Beyond capital, owners must also be able to adapt to unforeseeable situations, from finding last-minute teacher replacements to handling customer complaints and even fixing broken toilets. For them, the physical fear of falling is easier to manage than the constant uncertainty of running a small business in Singapore.

As a business owner, every single day, you are stepping on Legos and eating glass all at the same time. But this is what you need to have the ability to change directions quickly, to be able to get up when somebody punches you in the face. Jasmine Han, founder of MAD Collection

Diversifying revenue streams in a competitive market

The costs of setting up and running aerial and pole studios make steady, predictable revenue essential: businesses cannot rely on hype alone.

All three studios offer class packages for students, ranging from trial classes to weeks to months-long term-based systems with varying price points. Here is a breakdown of their offerings and prices:

With classes priced roughly between S$38 and S$48, studios operate within narrow margins—high enough to cover overhead costs, but low enough to remain competitive, especially in a market that has grown more saturated over the years.

According to Tracy Mak, the co-owner of Milan Pole Dance Studio Singapore (MPDS), there are over 30 aerial and pole studios in Singapore, among the highest per capita globally. 

“With increasing competition within aerial and pole, as well as the lifestyle dollar of travel and other fitness options, people are spoilt for choice, less committal and increasingly price sensitive,” she pointed out. 

As such, studios have to expand their class offerings to create additional revenue streams. For example, Adedance offers acrobatic, contortion and handstand classes, and MAD collection and MPDS offer heels and dance classes apart from pole. 

These studios also offer corporate packages, where they perform for events such as dinners, dances and brand launches. Adelene noted that 75% of Adedance’s income comes from classes and 25% of it comes from performances, which provide higher-ticket revenue but are less predictable than weekly classes. 

“We’ve performed for massive events ranging from F1, the SEA Games Opening Ceremony, Mercedes car launches overseas and more,” she said. 

Collaboration is key to survival and growth

Over the years, aerial and pole have grown steadily in popularity, a trend the three business owners largely attribute to the strength of their community. In the early days, studios relied almost entirely on word of mouth to attract students.

Pole, in particular, has also seen a shift in perception, according to Tracy. 

She recounted that when she tried pole 18 years ago, she was admittedly sceptical as the sport was seen as taboo due to its association with strip clubs in the West. Today, more people view it as a “serious” form of fitness that is suitable for all ages.

“There are still lingering stereotypes, but overall, people are far more open,” added Tracy. “There’s much more recognition and respect, especially as people see how physically demanding and impressive it is when we perform tricks in the air.” 

Beyond running her studios, both located within Outram Park, the 46-year-old aims to elevate the entire industry to be recognised nationwide. In 2025, she gathered key players in the aerial and pole scene, including MAD Collection and Adedance, to organise the first Singapore Aerial Pole Fiesta as part of the Singapore Urban Sports and Fitness Festival 2025. 

Through the event, aerial and pole studios were able to present themselves through performance showcases and interact with the local mainstream crowd by offering try-outs. The two-day event drew over 3,000 participants, and the positive reception has pushed Tracy to form the Singapore Aerial and Pole Federation. 

As aerial and pole are still considered niche sports in Singapore, forming a federation can help them gain greater recognition from government bodies and corporates to advance these sports locally. This means having access to grants, donors and performance opportunities. 

However, since the federation has yet to officially launch, studio owners still often rely on their own resources to keep their businesses running. With rising rents and intensifying competition, collaboration may be a more sustainable strategy than aggressive discounting, a trap many fitness businesses in Singapore have fallen into.

Jasmine also cautioned that engaging in price wars would only decrease the credibility others have built for decades, and that teachers also play a huge part in maintaining it. 

“If you want to open a course, class or session, make sure your teachers are qualified enough to deliver and understand it,” she emphasised.

Despite its growth, there are some who believe aerial and pole are fads that will die off with time. Amid a wave of fitness studio closures in recent years, Tracy shared that it often keeps her on her toes as an owner. 

That said, she firmly believes that these two sports have long-term potential in the country, with their combination of sport and art encouraging greater involvement. Adelene also echoes this sentiment, adding that participation has been higher than ever. 

“I was actually surprised to hear this comment because we feel it’s anything but dying! Just pop into our studio at 7:30PM or on a weekend, and we are jam-packed!” 

Mastering tricks in the air may take strength and balance, but running a studio in Singapore demands something else entirely: capital, resilience, and the ability to adapt quickly. For these founders, staying afloat financially is often harder than hanging from the ceiling. 

For now, demand remains strong, and these founders are betting that discipline, not hype, will keep them in the air.

• Learn about the businesses featured below:
  • MAD Collection
  • Adedance Aerial
  • Milan Pole Dance Studio
• Read more stories we’ve written on Singaporean businesses here.

Also Read: She couldn’t find a circus troupe to join in S’pore. So she built one herself.

Featured Image Credit: Adedance/ MAD Collection/ Milan Pole Dance Studio Singapore