Amelia

Don't let her uncommon accent fool you – she's from 'Down Undah"! Meet Amelia: the newest addition to Pole Dance Studio's diversified team of instructors. Amelia left her home town of Sydney, Australia in the of Fall 2006 to pursue her interests in Vancouver, Canada.

Amelia entered the Amateur Division of the Miss Pole Dance Australia competition in 2006 earning the Runner-Up spot with her energetic moves and acrobatic style on the pole.

Amelia has extensive training in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Gymnastics. She has been a Certified Group Fitness Instructor for 7 years in Australia and is currently a Weight Room and Group Fitness Instructor here in Vancouver. She has traveled and taught fitness classes in Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. – and now adds Canada to her international credentials.

Apart from Pole Dancing, Amelia's interests include: basketball, hiking, spending time with good friends, and "dancing until the wee hours of the morning".

Amelia's style of instruction is enjoyable because of her 'Britney Spears' smile coupled with her fun and outgoing personality. Her natural ability on the pole is matched by her energy and acrobatic skills derive from years of training and practice. Her knowledge and experience as a Fitness Instructor allows her to tailor the students' dance moves according to their own capabilities.

Britt

Britt has been with Pole Dance Studio since 'Day 1'. She has over 11 years' experience as a professional exotic dancer. She has worked internationally in Iceland, Greece, Guam and all over Western Canada and the United States. Her easygoing attitude and flare for freestyle adds to the all-around structured classes and workshops at Pole Dance Studio.

A graduate from the Helen Lefeaux School of Fashion Design , Britt has successfully launched her own clothing label Fascino Diva which currently showcases bikinis and swimwear. Check it out at www.fascinodiva.com and see what her season's collections will be. Fascino Diva has been featured in The L Word, Smallville, Canada's Top Model, Urban Rush, Reel Sexy Sports Fishing Show, Best Body magazine, Ion magazine and Arc 2 online television.

Danielle

Danielle is a proud mom to 7yr old Eleni. Danielle's agility, gymnastics background and dance experience – including a background in jazz, hip hop, salsa, cheerleading, disco and musical theatre – makes her one of the premier performers and instructors for Pole Dance Studio. Danielle's potent combination of gymnastics skills and theatre experience make her an expert in making beginner to advanced students feel comfortable learning the acrobatic moves of pole dancing. Among her many accomplishments and awards include Vancouver's Miss New Star and Runner up for Miss Hard Body Okanogan. She has also appeared on City TV, The Province and the North Shore News.

Danielle has performed at The Commodore Ballroom, Holt Renfrew, Celebrities, The Roxy, Skybar, Barcode, and the Purple Onion. In the past, Danielle has been a promoter for QMFM, CFUN, Molson, Labatts, Finlandia Vodka, Asian Family Foods and Ocumare Rum.

Danielle's idealistic nature embodies her strong beliefs in the empowerment of women and of equal opportunity of all genders. She believes that everyone is a sensual being and that attitude and confidence play a large part in cultivating a truly sexy person. "Everyone has it (sexiness) – you just have to let go and find it!" She also takes social responsibility very seriously and believes that we all play a part in the harmonizing of our society. She participates by donating prizes for various charities, volunteering at Eleni's school, adopting families at Christmas, giving clothing to less fortunate families, supporting the SPCA and is a member in the Friends of the Environment Fund.

Sarah

Sarah's experience in performance art and as a VIP dancer in exotic night clubs from a previous life casts her as another versatile performer and instructor for Pole Dance Studio. Her trademark braided fuchsia locks reflect her free spirit and fun attitude towards life. Self-described as "uninhibited and wacky", she loves to "push boys around" but still dreams of a "black" picket fence in suburbia one day.

As an exotic dancer from a previous life, Sarah always found a way to show her own style of dancing that doesn't conform to traditional ways of stripping.

Her stage name was Lady Mystique. Today, she continues to mystify everyone with her own brand of sexy acrobatic pole dancing.

Sarah designs her own line of fetish wear. Her multitude of interesting and sometimes bizarre costume designs include but are not limited to zombie masks, spaceman costumes, rubber chicken and '50's style burlesque.

Sarah adds her colorful personality to Pole Dance Studio and includes her catchphrase "alternative sexy" to Pole Dance Studio's "redefining sexy" slogan.

Sharon

Often mistaken as a professional exotic dancer because of her grace, agility and acrobatic abilities on the pole and dance floor, Sharon is proud to be one of the rarest breeds of pole dancing instructors who never had to 'strip' for a living.

Sharon has a knack for making complicated pole dancing moves look easy, graceful and artistic – "You make it look so easy!" exclaim many of her students. She is Artistic Director and Choreographer for Pole Dance Studio.

Sharon relates to the 'everyday' women who are her clients and can break down the most complicated moves into easy-to-follow movements that end up being accessible to all her clients – from beginner to advanced. She is also the Lead Instructor for Pole Dance Studio and has trained all the other instructors.

Always having been active and attracted to competitive and extreme sports most of her life, Sharon started teaching pole dancing as a form of alternative exercise at Fitness World in Kitsilano. At that time, pole dancing was still considered a social taboo and has not yet been introduced inside fitness centres.

Armed with an extensive background in martial arts, fitness and dance, Sharon decided to leave the corporate world to open her own unique pole dancing school – even designing her own line of removable dance poles.

As alumni of the University of British Columbia and with postgraduate studies that have nothing to do with pole dancing, Sharon made a major and gutsy career change into becoming one of the pioneers of pole dancing for fitness as an instructor and inventor of her own line of removable dance poles.

She has successfully converted pole dancing into a legitimate form of exercise and art form that is physically challenging, mentally stimulating and emotionally rewarding.

Siobhán

Siobhán is one of Pole Dance Studio's newest arrivals who brings more than 10 years of pole dancing and exotic performance to the studio's growing list of versatile and experienced instructors.

Born in Vancouver, B.C. – but of 100% Irish heritage – Siobhán has found opportunity in years past to travel extensively in Asia, Europe, and Micronesia.

Like Britt, another instructor/performer for Pole Dance Studio, Siobhán has a degree in fashion design. Siobhán is the proud mother of two. Between her children, work, and Pole Dance Studio, Siobhán is constantly on the go, being active outdoors as well as indoors.

Arriving at the studio, Siobhán is hard to miss, being the only "blonde bombshell" on staff. Her own long, platinum blonde tresses add to Pole Dance Studio's diversity by complementing the other brunette, black, and fuchsia-haired instructors. Her elegant freestyle technique makes both her demonstration and instruction easy to follow. Her smile and love-to-have-fun attitude always makes her students feel immediately at ease.

Jenny

"Pole Dance Studio wishes to introduce Jenny (a.k.a. "Victoria Knight") to its team of instructors. Prior to joining the studio, Jenny spent 5 years exotic dancing on The Circuit throughout B.C. and Alberta. With varied dance experience in Jazz, Ballet, and Tap Dancing, and with extensive Yoga training over the years, Jenny has developed a fluid, free-flowing style of dance.

Since her debut in 2000 and after receiving Runner-Up in the "Red Hot Rookie of the Year" at the Moondancer Pub, this lithe vixen had been struttin' her stuff at her favourite venues in Surrey, Victoria, and Kamloops, among other towns in Western Canada. Jenny is distinguished by her "Oscar the Grouch" show which began in a tub of water with the audience singing the Rubber Ducky Song from Sesame St. and which ended with a girl-gone-wild, slip-and-slide splash-fest – much to the delight of the admiring (and soaked) viewers!

In her free time away from the Stage, Jenny designed her own costumes. Nowadays, she continues to explore her creative process by designing and sewing new costumes from time to time. Jenny stays fit and healthy by combining Pilates, Yoga, and Running when not at Pole Dance Studio. An avid student of biology and physiology, Jenny is presently studying to become a Dental Hygienist. When not dancing or studying, Jenny takes care of 3 young children with her partner. Where does this girl find the time??

In 2007, Jenny made her instructional debut during the "Naughty Kitten's Pole Erotica" adult weekend retreat on the Sunshine Coast where she taught women basic pole dancing skills and floor work.

For Jenny, dancing is not only great exercise but also an opportunity to strengthen her relationship with her body. With a focus on the nuances of posture and movement, Jenny's deliberate motions make the difference between dancing and dancing well. Her personal belief is that dancing is a part of what makes us human and what adds to her own confidence as a woman, performer, and entertainer."

Johnny Pleasure
(Male Mannequin)

The perfect male dance instructor. Lap Dancing, that is.

Johnny popped up to the studio one day as Pole Dance Studio was
entertaining the idea of having a male consultant attend the Lap
Dancing and Striptease Workshops to provide a more interactive
component to the workshops. Sensing that Johnny fits the bill of the
strong, silent type, Pole Dance Studio hired Johnny on the spot without so much as accepting an application or conducting an interview.

Johnny is a bit of a mystery. He does not speak about his origin very much. In fact, he doesn't speak at all but listens one hundred percent! Now show us a man who can do that! Johnny is a self-made man who has made a solid career from modeling and pleasing women.

One may think that a male member on Pole Dance Studio's team can't possibly offer students and party participants anything more than what your Average Joe off the street can! (Actually, Joe applied too, but we don't settle for just any Average Joe here at Pole Dance Studio!). Au contraire! Johnny brings an impressive list of qualities in a man that is well-suited to his position in the studio: he's a passive listener, he's flexible, he doesn't complain, he works hard, and – most importantly – he's anatomically correct!

Johnny will never interrupt you, and he will always look you in the
eyes when you are speaking to him. We have yet to hear Johnny complain about anything or give a bad remark to anyone. And Johnny is always..."ready".

Johnny is always present at the studio. You will usually find him
sitting in one of the corners on a chair somewhere – you can't miss him…he's the guy wearing all the gold chains. So, the next time you
visit Pole Dance Studio, be sure to make your acquaintance with Johnny – it's guaranteed the pleasure will be all his!

Tatiana

Tatiana is Pole Dance Studio's "Go-To" girl – she's the one with whom you may have spoken on the phone or corresponded via email when planning your group parties or inquiring about schedules and classes.

Being the Studio's Assistant Manager and Sharon's Executive Assistant, Tatiana works tirelessly behind the scene with the administration of the company, and ensures client satisfaction with her efficiency in organization, attention to detail, and diplomatic demeanor. Tatiana is Pole Dance Studio's Home Party specialist and is frequently seen in-studio assisting clients.

Communications Coordinator (Media and Promotions liaison) is Tatiana's official title. For Tatiana, "public exposure" means more than just the casual sense of the phrase -- while wandering around town or rollerblading the Stanley Park Seawall, she shamelessly sports Pole Dance Studio's signature "iPole" sexy tops and booty shorts.

Dancing is Tatiana's passion. She also trains regularly with full intensity at the Studio in both Pole Dancing and Chair Dancing. With over 3 years of practice and training behind her, Tatiana's desire to take her level of Dance to even greater heights has allowed her to become one of Pole Dance Studio's most accomplished students. Tatiana has taken Hip Hop and Freestyle Nightclub classes to add to her dance repertoire. Today, Tatiana's addiction to the sensual Latin dance styles of Salsa and Bachata has heavily influenced her personal dance style! Tatiana's other activities include tennis, rollerblading, hiking, camping, watching movies, dining out or cooking in, nature and the outdoors, and an endless pursuit of the Arts (particularly dance and music).