New pole dancing studio to open in South Bend in January 2021

SOUTH BEND, Ind.—A new pole dancing studio is coming to South Bend.

Soma Pole Studio is planning to open the first week of January in 2021 at 218 Sycamore Street, inside of the building that used to house a field office for Pete Buttigieg’s presidential campaign.

The studio will offer a variety of classes such as introduction to pole, tricks courses, flexibility and conditioning and an exotic choreography class.

Soma Pole Studio’s owner, Mathilda Nassar, began pole dancing three years ago while she volunteering in Ukraine with the Peace Corps. She refers to the practice as both a sport and an art that combines dance with acrobatics. 

“I took a class with some friends and immediately fell in love,” Nassar said.

Nassar returned to South Bend a year and a half ago for graduate school and was unable to find any pole studios to attend in the area so she began training alone in her living room.

Now, as she opens her own pole dance studio, Nassar hopes to build a diverse, vibrant and supportive community of people.

While opening a new business during a global pandemic undoubtedly presents some challenges, Nassar has a list of precautions the studio will take to keep students and instructors safe.

Students of the studio must sign up online in advance. Walk-ins will not be accepted.

Poles will be seven feet apart to allow for social distancing, hand sanitizer will be available and masks will be required at all times while inside of the studio.

Temperatures will be taken at the door and students must answer questions related to possible exposure or symptoms prior to taking a class.

Equipment and studios will be cleaned before and after every class, Nassar said.

Share this article: