By Jen Avison Smith
Las Vegas is famous for its affinities in athletics and the arts, housing everything from the Vegas Golden Knights to Cirque du Soleil – and one studio is bringing a feminine-forward twist to fitness and dance.
Eleventh House is a brand-new aerial arts studio in Downtown Las Vegas. Founders Hunter Bonvicin and Kim Hatchell opened Eleventh House last year on the auspicious Nov. 11 as a revolutionary concept bringing more than just workouts to the scene.
A Home at The House
The studio offers a serene environment complete with high ceilings and cozy lobby seating for a high-end vibe. Located on the edge of Downtown, Eleventh House encourages its members to relax in a social setting before class time.
“We’ve really taken time to curate an atmosphere that feels more like a spa and less like a studio,” Bonvicin says. “We want Eleventh House to be something where you’re not in a rush, have the time to grab a glass of hot tea, sit down and chat with their friends.”
All levels of pole, aerial arts and yoga classes are taught by a teaching staff stemming from a range of backgrounds and dance disciplines. Standout classes also include strength and conditioning, plenty of open gym time, a “Dope Sh*t” creative course series and a Sunday evening Yin Yoga sound bath, which gives locals a chance to prepare for the week ahead and visitors to detox.
Understanding the S Factor
Alongside these semi-traditional fitness offerings, Eleventh House offers the S Factor series, a program pioneered by Shelia Kelley. As the foundation of the 2021 Netflix documentary “Strip Down, Rise Up,” the program focuses on embracing feminine energy through dance.
While the program is celebrating its second decade of existence, Hatchell notes that Bonvicin and she are the first licensed S Factor practitioners in Nevada. While S Factor is available online, the duo is currently operating one of the only brick-and-mortar locations in the country.
S Factor takes place at Eleventh House in The Vault, a sultry room with several poles and a photo-worthy cage. Each S Factor course includes a rigorous 45-minute warmup that leads into an energetic routine or pole work, followed by movement and dance to finish the session.
The room also has no mirrors, a rarity in dance studios. By holding workouts in this environment, it allows students to drop their inhibitions and give themselves permission to “identify and own” their fitness and empowerment journeys.
“S Factor is the heartbeat of our space,” Bonvicin says. “It’s like a rage room, but hotter.” Hatchell says S Factor is a way to celebrate emotion in all its forms.
“People get to see [the practice] and recognize that it’s OK to express all kinds of emotions, whether it’s lust and playfulness and joy to rage and anger and sadness and disgust,” she says.
Visit and discover
In a city brimming with studios, Eleventh House aims to be an inclusive oasis that invites those looking to connect with their power as feminine beings.
“We want a core group of women, feminine-respecting and identifying people to look at this space and go, ‘Wow, this is everything I’ve been looking for. I’ve finally found a place where I feel comfortable and welcome,’ ” Bonvicin says.
Membership options are available. For drop-ins, new Eleventh House dancers can take advantage of an $11 first-time class fee. More: EleventhHouseLV.com
