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Girlfriend Fun & Fitness:
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Instructors, Trainers and Performers
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Michelle (view profile) Studio Manager, Pure Pole Head Instructor, Aerial Performer
Miss Pole Dance Queensland 2011 – 1st Place |
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Michelle began pole dancing in early 2008 and joined the Girlfriend Fun and Fitness team as an instructor in mid 2008. Michelle is a trade qualified Boilermaker having completed her trade in the heavy mining fabrication/repair sector. Michelle also has a strong and successful background in gymnastics and trained at the Australian Institute of Sport when she was younger. Michelle brings her gymnastics skills into her performances with a very strong trick base and surprising strength and flexibility. With a strong passion for pole dance and an interest in aerial hoop, MMA and martial arts, Michelle is constantly improving and evolving as a performer. Michelle also loves sharing her passion for pole dance by instructing. Michelle specialises in training all levels of clients and upgrading the skill base of pole dance performers and instructors in the areas of pole tricks, flexibility, strength and control. Competitions and AwardsMichelle competed in the doubles section of Miss Pole Dance Australia 2009/2010 and achieved 1st runner-up and the Best trick award after pole dancing for only 1 year & 7 months! She then went on to take out the Australian Pole Dance Championships in the Women's Freestyle division 1 month later, earning her a position in the 2010 Worlds championship in Tokyo. In August 2010 Michelle won 1st place in the Miss Pole Dance Queensland competition, with her high energy, Tomb Raider inspired performance (watch it here!). More recently, Michelle has won 1st place in the Women's Freestyle division of Asia-Pacific Pole Dance Championship 2011 with a Terminator themed performance that showcased her incredible strength, flexibilty and death defying pole tricks. As a result, Michelle has been invited straight to the finals of the 2011 International Pole Championship, which is to be held in Hong Kong next year. Michelle is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, and can be booked for private one-on-one lessons, instructor skills upgrading, pole parties, group bookings or for performances. [Close] |
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Georgia (view profile) Pure Pole National Manager, Pure Pole Instructor/Performer
Miss Pole Dance Queensland 2010/2011, Amateur - 1st Place |
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Georgia has been pole dancing for several years, and started instructing with Girlfriend Fun and Fitness early in 2009. Georgia also trains in aerial silks, trapeze and Chinese pole and draws inspiration from jazz, disco, latin, ballet, contemporary and hip hop when freestyling on the pole. Georgia enjoyed pole dancing from the start, even though she was absolutely awful at it. But she persevered, despite her lack of strength, grace or flexibility and her patience finally paid off! Georgia now holds the Amateur Performance of the Year title for Miss Pole Dance Queensland 2011. She has also performed at many of the Girlfriend events including the Pure Pole Academy open day, Sammy's Seafood Festival and various night club appearances. Georgia has recently graduated with degrees in I.T. and Journalism, and now works several jobs including full time software development, freelance writing and web design, and instructing with Girlfriend Fun and Fitness.
Apart from pole dancing, Georgia also loves computers, travelling and anything sparkly. Georgia fervently believes that most of life's problems can be solved with a cup of tea. Georgia can be booked for private one-on-one lessons, pole parties and group bookings or for performances. [Close] |
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Nikki (view profile) Pure Pole Academy Instructor, Pole Performer
PoleCandy Semi-Pro Pole Dance Competition, Doubles Division - 1st Runner Up |
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Nikki started pole dancing in 2008 with Girlfriend Fun and Fitness at UQ sport. She was instantly hooked and by 2009 she had completed her instructor course in pole dancing. Nikki has performed all over Brisbane for Girlfriend Fun and Fitness, as well as run a workshop in Sweden with Pole Fitness Sverige and guest performed in the Swedish sports pole dance showcase in Gothenburg. Nikki loves teaching pole and is able to cater for students of all shapes and sizes from beginners to advanced students. She believes that pole dancing promotes a healthy mind as well as body, and has personally experienced the therapeutic benefits that pole dancing has to offer. Aside from pole dancing, Nikki has also completed her Bachelor degree in Psychological Science. She plans to pursue a career within social psychological research, and has a secret passion for statistics. Most importantly, Nikki's enthusiasm for pole dancing is contagious and she loves her classes to be fun! Nikki can be booked for private one-on-one lessons, pole parties and group bookings or for performances [Close] |
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Danielle (view profile) Pure Pole Academy Instructor, Pole Performer
Miss Pole Dance Queensland Amateur 2011/2012 - 1st Place |
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Danielle started pole dancing with Girlfriend Fun and Fitness in early 2010 and began instructing in early 2011. Growing up Danielle has always been active and competed in many different sports. She has a strong background in swimming where she competed at Qld State level and was a member of the Brisbane Torpedoes Representative Swim Team. After competitive swimming, Danielle was looking for another fitness challenge and decided to give pole dancing a whirl! She instantly became inspired by the determination, strength, power and flexibility needed for pole fitness and quickly became addicted and now she says that she couldn't live without her pole! Danielle has taught group lessons at the Pure Pole Academy and Love and Rockets and has been hired to instruct and perform at many hens nights. Danielle recently performed at the Thrifty Threads Charity Ball and is looking forward to participating in many more performances and competitions with the Girlfriend Team. Aside from Pole dancing, Danielle is an accredited Swim Australia Learn to Swim Instructor and has been teaching for 3 years, she also holds her Certificate III in Community Recreation Instruction. She is currently studying her Certificate III and IV in Fitness and is looking forward to helping people lead active, happy and healthy lifestyles. Danielle can be booked for private one-on-one lessons, pole parties and group bookings or for performances [Close] |
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Jodie (view profile) Pure Pole Instructor
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Jodie has been instructing pole for nearly four years and has been a Group Fitness Instructor for several years in such activites as Freestyle dance, aerobics, circuit fit and bootcamp. Jodie is addicted to the weights floor at the gym, loves everything circus and spent several terms training with Vulcana with a particular interest in Lyra (Aerial hoop). Ever the fitness addict, Jodie has also competed in a variety of sports including touch footy, soccer and Austag and also did rock climbing for several years with overhang climbs being her forte. (There’s nothing like hanging upside down from a cliff!) Jodie has a passion for anything related to gym, acro, burlesque, dance and of course POLE! Health and fitness is a major part of her life and Jodie enjoys embracing all new challenges whether at the gym or at the pole studio. When not on the gym floor or choreographing a new exciting routine for Pure Pole, Jodie can often be found on a beach, on a dance floor or buying SHOES - very high heeled shoes, of course! Jodie teaches a variety of classes at Pure Pole, including the Choreo Casuals where she brings a fun and sexy new routine each week, Beginners and Intermediate pole courses and occasionally Burlesque or Pure Pole Flaunt. Jodie can be booked for private one-on-one lessons, pole parties and group bookings - for all enquiries please visit the ‘contact us’ page. [Close] |
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Amy (view profile) Pure Pole Instructor, Pole Performer
Pure Pole Prodigy - 2012 Scholarship |
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Amy started pole dancing in September 2010 with Pure Pole Academy (AKA known as Girlfriend Fun & Fitness) at UQ Sport. Following this course, Amy enrolled at our Valley studio and what started as an alternative to a weights program soon became an addiction to the art of poling! Amy has always lived an active life; dancing and swimming through school and later taking part in triathlons and half ironmans to challenger herself. Amy moved into the world of pole dancing in pursuit of something a little different to mix up her training. She soon found herself addicted, when she discovered that pole dancing not only tones and strengthens your body, but gives you confidence, a new challenge every time you step into a class and most importantly an amazing sense of achievement when you finally nail a move! Amy did her first pole performance at the Pure Pole Show Night in November 2011 and absolutely loved being on stage and showing off her new tricks. Amy is now performing with the Pure Pole Prodigy troupe, and has already performed solo at the Ideal Bride Expo (Feb 2012) and Mascara Ladies' night at the Electric Playground (Mar 2012). Amy is looking forward to performing more and is planning on competing for the first time in August 2012. Amy has also completed a bachelor of Health Science and is working as the operations manager for a Health IT company. Amy started instructing with Pure Pole at the end of 2011 and is loving it! “Pole dancing is one of the best all body work outs around and most importantly it is a lot of fun,” says Amy. “I challenge anyone to give it a go! I guarantee you will be amazed at what you can learn to do and how amazing your body can be!” Amy can be booked for private one-on-one lessons, pole parties, group bookings and performances - for all enquiries please visit the ‘contact us’ page. [Close] |
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Travis (view profile) Pure Pole Instructor, Pole Performer
International Pole Dancing Champion IPC (Doubles Division) |
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With Travis’s background in gymnastics and dance he has been able to very quickly learn the art of pole dancing and master a range of advanced tricks. His strength and flexibility he has managed to perform tricks that are quiet masculine and feminine. Travis is also trained in Classical Ballet, Contemporary, and Jazz at a professional level, which was a great advantage for when he joined the Pole Dancing scene in October 2010. Travis brings his extensive dance and teaching experience to Pure Pole, having taught ballet and contemporary for all ages and worked/performed with Raw Dance Company, Outcast Opera Company and Hot Dance. Travis also performs as a cabaret and burlesque dancer, based in Brisbane and performing internationally. He entertains audiences with his unique styles of traditional burlesque, cabaret, and neo-burlesque. Travis bringing a unique fusion of all his dance skills to Pure Pole, where he primarily teaches the sexy heels course Pure Pole Flaunt and the men's class Pure Pole Power. Travis can be booked for private one-on-one lessons, pole parties, topless waitering, group pole/burlesque bookings and performances - for all enquiries please visit the ‘contact us’ page. [Close] |
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Kate (view profile) Pure Pole Instructor, Hula Hoop Specialist
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Kate came to Pure Pole Academy/Girlfriend Fun and Fitness from a circus background. Specialising in hula hooping, acrobalance and Chinese pole, Kate has trained with various recognised organisations such as Circa, Vulcana Women’s Circus and the Flying Fruit Fly Circus under a variety of renowned instructors including former Cirque Du Soleil performers. Kate has taught and performed across Queensland and interstate at events such as the Brisbane Exhibition, the Urban Country Music Festival, Sexpo, the Woodford Folk Festival and the Tasmanian Circus Festival. Kate also has extensive knowledge in exotic dance and the associated industry, and is available for exotic dance themed Hens parties. “I took a liking to pole dance because of its acrobatic potential, which was very interesting to me coming from a circus background,” says Kate. “I love to combine the two skill bases; the strength and agility of acrobatics and the smoothness and beauty of pole dance. I love pole for fitness because not only are you exercising but you're also learning new tricks, and there is such potential to grow your skill and ability with practice.” Kate teaches a variety of classes at Pure Pole, including Beginners Pole Dancing, Hula Hoop and Burlesque. Kate is also available for private Hooping lessons. Kate can be booked for private one-on-one lessons, pole parties, group bookings and performances - for all enquiries please visit the ‘contact us’ page. [Close] |
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Chris (view profile) Personal Trainer, Body Transformation Specialist, Pole Performer
Cert III, IV & Diploma in Personal Training and Business |
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Chris is a body transformation specialist with a background in dance, beach volleyball, gymnastics, strength training, equestrian and now pole! Chris has long admired the strength and technical aspects of pole dancing and fitness, and had his first taste of it at a close friend’s Hens Party with Pure Pole some years ago. Chris began pole training in 2011, after discovering that men could join classes too, and hasn’t looked back since! “It’s an incredible and challenging workout that complements my own strength training programs perfectly,” he says. “You really learn how to move your body through space and against gravity, with only a narrow, slippery pole as a point of reference, so it’s a challenge for the entire body and mind.” Chris works with the current reigning Ms Fitness Universe at her luxury studio in Brisbane City, in addition to training at Pure Pole Academy. Chris initially completed a Marine Biology degree and post graduate research at UQ, but then decided to pursue his real passion in health and fitness at MAX International College for Fitness Professionals in Brisbane. Chris teaches Strength & Conditioning at Pure Pole, trains the Pure Pole Prodigy troupe and several instructors and is available for private personal training sessions to help you reach your goals, both on and off the pole. Chris specialises in body sculpting and sports-specific training, where he selects appropriate exercises and nutrition plans for his clients, to help them reach their goals and maintain permanent results. “Watching my clients progress and change their lives so quickly and positively is the most rewarding experience I could ever ask for! If you have a general health and fitness, sporting or nutrition related goal, or if you would like to build up your strength to help you tackle those tricky pole moves, I would love to help you out!” - Chris To book a session with Chris, please see reception or visit the contact us page, to send an enquiry. [Close] |
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Natalie (view profile) Managing Director
Pure Pole Academy - Managing Director, President |
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Natalie TeKanawa is one of the 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 also the current Competitions, Systems and Criteria Specialist for IPDFA, where she is responsible for setting guidelines and standards for pole competitions, writing the IPC judging criteria, profiling competitions seeking IPDFA approval and managing the IPC judging panel. 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. [Close] |
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Pure Pole Prodigy (read more) Performance & Competition Trainees Pure Pole's exclusive training program designed specificallty for students who have mastered the basics of pole dancing and would like to take their performance skills to the next level! Pure Pole Prodigy isn't about the hardest tricks, or the craziest combos - it is about taking what you can do, and turning it into a great performance! We also cater for competitive pole dance training, for those wanting to enter the competition circuit. Click here to read more... Click here to read more... |