Natalie TeKanawa is one of the world’s first pioneers of professional pole dance, having been involved in all aspects of the industry from clubs, pole studios and gyms through to the competitive and elite performance arenas since early 2000. With over 10 years of experience in both managerial and training capacities, Natalie is known for providing elite level pole dance training across Australia and around the world.

Training pole instructors and performers is Natalie’s main passion and her focus. Her extensive training and choreography record speaks for itself, with many of her performers having won awards both nationally and internationally. Natalie is passionate about promoting pole dance as an art and a sport that is accessible worldwide to all members of the community. In addition to this, Natalie currently manages both Girlfriend Fun and Fitness and the Pure Pole Academy, whilst also acting as an agent for a variety of world class performers through Girlfriend Management and Pure Pole Management.

Felix Cane, has well earned her credits in pole dance having earned MISS POLE DANCE WORLD in 2009 and 2010, MISS POLE DANCE AUSTRALIA for two years, and having been featured for two years in CIRQUE Du Soleil’s celebrated ZUMANITY show.

Before discovering her passion for pole dancing, Felix was schooled extensively as a dancer firstly in Perth, from the age of 11 until the age of 15, when she moved to London where she continued to study many forms of dance, but predominantly contemporary and classical.

Felix has experience performing with professional contemporary and classical dance companies, working in many different venues including theatres in and around London. Whilst in London she also worked in television and film.

Julie Brand, known as Veena in the pole community, is the founder of Studioveena.com the world’s largest online pole dance studio and community. Veena has been an ACE certified personal trainer for nine years. Applying her knowledge and personal experience, she developed the Veena pole method, which has shown great success in teaching pole dance to students from around the world! Her method was one of the first of its kind to focus on teaching beginners strength and conditioning pole moves, before moving on to Static Pole spins for beginning dancers.

From housewives to professional dancers, Veena has taught over 2000 students the art of pole dance. Veena is also a wife and mother of 4 boys. Veena enjoys the artistic aspect of pole dance and feels that pole is for everyone regardless of age, gender or background.

KT has been an instructor and performer for over 17 years and is the director of Vertical Dance. She is a qualified fitness instructor in the UK and USA as well as specialising in Pre and Post-natal Pole Fitness. She continues to train in pole related sports such as injury prevention, shoulder stabilisation, Aerial Circus, Yoga and is about to qualify as a teacher with a level 3 instructor status with both the Register of Exercise Professional and the Pole Dance Community.

Working tirelessly to promote pole as a fitness and sport, KT was the first to create a instructor training programme that focuses on safe and effective class design. Her courses are now internationally renound, have taught over 300 instructors worldwide and are endorsed by the American Council on Exercise, the Register of Exercise Professionals, The Pole Fitness Association and the Pole Dance Community.

KT has put her mark on Pole Fitness history by creating events such as Pole Unity, Miss Pole Princess, the Guinness world record in Pole and creating online training which have set a bench mark of all other events and instruction. She created the first pole fitness DVD that included and man and pushed for higher standards within the pole industry. Over the last seven year her events have raised over £50,000 for charity and raised awareness for pole.

KT has toured the USA, Europe and Asia instructing workshops and judging competitions. She is incredibly passionate and feels very fortunate to be part of such a rewarding industry.

Mat Daniels is a passionate and accomplished acrobatic performing artist and coach with experience across a wide range of Circus Arts. He is a committed member of the international performing arts community training and touring nationally and internationally; and an innovative coach developing circus artists in partnership with some of the world’s leading circus training institutions.

Mat has been scouting and auditioning potential Australian based athletes and circus performers for Cirque Du Soleil since 2010. Mat’s pole dance judging experience includes the Asia Pacific Pole Dance Championships in 2011 and Miss Pole Dance Victoria 2011.

Mai Sato trained in Ballet, Jazz, and Contemporary dance when she was young. She started working as a Dance Instructor for Pole Dance Tokyo (Art Flow Tokyo) in 2008. In 2009/2010, Mai won IPDFA’s International Pole Championships. Mai is currently working as an Aerial Performer in Cirque du Soleil “ZED”, where she is the first Japanese Aerial performer in any Cirque du Soleil show.

Dave has been instructing pole fitness part time since May 2005.
Aside from instructing, Dave has trained with top pole dancers from across Australia and internationally. He has also trained in gymnastics, circus and enjoys being a performer. He has entertained with his pole performances at nightclubs in Australia and overseas, for charity events and at private functions. Dave is a pole dance advocate and would like to see a larger international awareness of pole as a form of fitness. In 2009 Dave won the title of Ultimate Men’s Champion at IPDFA’s International Pole Competition.