Alexi

Alexi is a Level 4 Master Trainer with 8 years experience within the Health and Fitness Industry as a Personal Trainer and Group Exercise Instructor.  With a degree in professional musical theatre training across a variety of dance styles, Alexi has taught Pole Dance at Beginner and Intermediate Level at a LDA for 5 years now.

Specialising in Sports Specific Conditioning, corrective exercise, functional training and Flexibility, Alexi will take you to the peak of your ability, with a primary focus on strength and conditioning to unleash your true potential.  Expect to work hard in her classes and watch your fitness excel.  Expect a variety of training approaches within her classes, with a fun and energising yet results orientated approach. All abilities welcome.

Alexi teaches the following class formats: Kettlebells, Reformer Pilates, HITT, Pole Dance, Boxing, Skill Circuits, Bootcamp, Beginner to Advanced Core Workouts, and Deep Dynamic Stretch. All abilities welcome.

Andrew

Andrew teaches our Pole Lads classes every week at London Dance Academy. Having completed his pole instructor qualification, he continues to refine his skills in house through our ongoing teacher training.

Andrew has competed in and won the Parapole title at both the IPSF European Championships and IPSF World Championships in Canada. He was also voted Male Athlete of the Year 2019, and Gold in Pole Theatre UK Drama category. 

Andrew first discovered London Dance Academy through chance after reading about Antigravity Yoga; London Dance Academy was the only studio in the UK offering classes at the time. Although he hadn’t exercised for 16 years, following an accident that left him with reduced use of his leg, Andrew enjoyed the class and the studio and soon became curious about the pole dancing on offer.

Watch Andrew’s incredible story in this short film on youtube

Despite his worries about his injuries, Andrew became addicted to pole from his very first few classes. “When you achieve a move that you’ve always wanted to do and you finally get it, the elation is amazing.”

Although he eventually took the decision to have his injured lower leg amputated in early 2018, Andrew got back to training very soon afterwards. Just over a year on, he is now a Parapole World Champion, having won gold at both the IPSF’s championships in Holland and World Finals in Canada. 

Andrew loves the “endorphin rush” of new tricks most of all, especially in challenging or unusual combos. Expect to build some serious strength and achieve impressive moves in his classes!

Andrew insists that with the right support and people around you, you can achieve anything you want in life. “There’s something out there for everybody.”

Book Andrew’s classes in our timetable

Angeliki

Angeliki teaches aerial hoop and aerial silks at London Dance Academy. She holds a Foundation degree and Postgraduate Certificate from the National Centre of Circus Arts. At the Circus Centre she trained in all kinds of aerial disciplines like hoop and silks. She specialised in Aerial straps. Angeliki is blending movement principals with straps technique to create her own very unique style of performance.

Watch Angeliki’s graduation performance on our youtube channel.

Angeliki first came to aerial 10 years ago. She already started  dancing at the age of four and her training includes ballet, contemporary, jazz and modern theatre dance. A trained dancer, she wanted to expand her skills and have fun. So she started trying some acrobatics balance classes and then discovered aerial silks. For her, it was “the idea of becoming superhuman” that made her fall in love with the sport! 

She says that “Practicing aerial fuels me with self-empowerment. It teaches me how to listen and trust others. And Aerial arts allows me to explore my creativity and conquer my fears.” You can expect a detail-oriented class with a strong emphasis on technique in Angeliki’s classes. All classes have a supporting and friendly environment and a great playlist. Although she is an in demand circus performer, Angeliki says her proudest achievement is having her London Dance Academy students ask for more of her classes!

For the last few years she has been performing and teaching aerial disciplines in the UK and abroad.

You can book Angeliki’s classes in our timetable.

Anna

Anna teaches hoop and stretch classes regularly at London Dance Academy and frequently covers pole level classes too. She is a well known elite hoop performer and competitive poler, with a plethora of titles under her belt: UK Aerial Championships (1st Place), Pole Art France (1st place, semi-professional category), Pole Art Spain (1st place, semi-professional division) and UKPPC (1st place, Instructor category).

See Anna McDonnell’s performance in Pole Art France and UKPPC in 2018 on our youtube channel

In her youth, Anna formed part of the British Rhythmic Gymnastics Squad. She first tried aerial whilst living in Argentina in 2010: “I saw some people doing silks in a park and thought, “that looks like something I would LOVE to do.” Given her gymnast’s background, she quickly fell in love with hoop and silks – although she didn’t transition to pole until 2014. “I’ve never looked back.”

Anna won Semi Pro at Pole Art France

Anna finds that “when you are doing aerial or pole, you are completely in the moment. All of your worries melt away.” She says that she also loves the fact that “it’s super sociable. Everyone in the pole and aerial world is super supportive. It’s a great community to be part of.” 

Although she has competed in lots of different competitions across the globe, Anna says her proudest pole achievement was winning the Semi Pro category of Pole Art France in 2017. “I had just come back from an injury and I had been away from pole and aerial for a whole year. Being back on stage after such a long break was a very emotional moment and the track I used really meant a lot to me.”

Nowadays, she transfers this passion to her students at London Dance Academy. “It sounds like a cliché but honestly, seeing my students’ progress is just incredible. It’s so gratifying to see how people improve not only physically but also with their self-confidence.” Anna likes to keep her classes relaxed with a focus on personal expression. But she also aims to make them challenging enough for students to experience the buzz of leaving their comfort zone. “My teaching mantra is pretty much, “It’s not about what you do, it’s about how you do it.“

Book Anna’s classes in the timetable

Anouska

Anouska teaches Discover Pole, Pole Level 1, Pole Level 2, Exotic Pole, Twerk, LAP dance and conditioning at London Dance Academy. She is one of our busiest teachers and a qualified personal trainer. Anouska has been training at London Dance Academy for years. She first tried pole dancing on a ‘whim’ and soon became obsessed.

Although she had a background in personal training and martial arts, Anouska says she found pole challenging at first. Luckily, making new friends at the studio kept her coming back. Eventually, pole helped her to “learn that I was able to work hard to achieve the goals I wanted to achieve and it made me, for the first time ever, actually like my body.” Nowadays, she says pole has “given me more confidence than I ever thought possible and it’s given me my pole family!” 

Pole dancing gave Anouska more confidence than she ever thought possible and brought true happiness into her life. 

Having experienced so many personal benefits from pole, Anouska naturally wanted to share her passion with students and help them on their own journeys. She describes helping people to progress as “an absolute privilege”. Her goal is to pass on the magic that she has discovered through pole onto others so that they can fall in love with it as she has.

Depending on the class, you can expect both strength, conditioning and technique from Anouska. As well as an emphasis on finding your confidence and style of movement. She says her proudest pole achievement to date was organising London Dance Academy’s 2019 Christmas showcase. “Every single performance was wonderfully unique and showed that pole is for everyone. Being part of that and also being able to perform alongside members of my pole family was an honour.”

Watch performances from the London Dance Academy showcase on Instagram.

Book Anouska’s classes in the timetable

Claire

Claire teaches weekly level 2 Pole Dance classes at London Dance Academy and is also qualified to teach Discover Pole, Level 1 and 3 too as well as stretch and splits. She is incredibly proud to have been teaching Pole at London Dance Academy for nearly eight years. Claire has training in ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz and pole.

Although she had taken part in various dance classes throughout her life, Claire first discovered pole at 21. “One day I forgot my book and decided to try the class that was on before the contemporary dance class I’d signed up for – that class was pole! From the first class, I was hooked!” 

Have a look at our teacher video’s on youtube

Claire loved the combination of gymnastic and dance elements of pole and says it is one form of exercise that she always enjoys. For Claire, the best parts of teaching are “helping others to achieve their goals. And giving them the opportunity to get lost in something to take their mind off daily life”. 

London Dance Academy allows teachers to bring their own style and personalities to classes. Claire loves having this freedom to express herself. “My personal teaching style is upbeat, inclusive and very supportive. My music taste is also quite alternative so expect to be dancing to grungy rock music!”

Book Claire’s classes in our timetable

Claudia

If this all sounds a little intimidating – don’t worry! Claudia has many years of experience teaching complete beginners with little starting flexibility through to pros. She says you can expect “a fun, upbeat class where everybody works hard. We do some exercises in partners so everyone gets to know each other.” She loves the excitement of seeing students achieve new moves, and seeing them becoming stronger and more flexible week by week.

Book Claudia’s classes in our timetable

Elisabetta

I love to Elisabetta teaches Aerial Yoga and Hoop at London Dance Academy. She is a qualified yoga instructor as well as a circus arts performer and coach. 

Elisabetta first moved to London from her native Italy to study Japanese History of Art. She first tried aerial out of curiosity, as a circus school had opened up near where she lived. She was impressed by all the incredible things she didn’t know was possible with her body. As she improved, she fell in love with the way that aerial “stimulates my creativity and self expression. It gives me self confidence and it’s fun!”

What is the difference between Aerial Yoga, AntiGravity Yoga and Aerial Silks?

The the benefits, the teaching techniques and the intensity are all different in our Aerial classes. Which class to choose depends what you want from your training. We’s asked our teachers to explain the differences below to help you find your new favourite class.

Read our Aerial blog to find out more. 

In 2015, she left the art world to “run away with the circus”, doing an intensive circus course in order to qualify as a teacher. She has performed in big venues, but especially loves teaching. She says “I love to see my students improve and become more confident.” and to “see students overcoming their fears and leaving the class with a smile.” Although she places a big emphasis on conditioning in her classes, she also aims to introduce students to the idea of being playful on the equipment.

Watch one of our Aerial Yoga and AntiGravity Yoga classes in action on our youtube channel

Book Elisabetta’s classes in our timetable

Hannah

Hannah Rose teaches our core pole level classes and spin pole at levels 3 to 5, alongside Conditioning, Splits and Pole Performance.

Hannah Rose is a professional Pole Dancer and Circus Artist based in London. She is the twice winner of the UK Professional Pole Championships at Elite level and 3 times winner of the Best Tricks Award. She also competes internationally and won 3rd place in Womens’ International Elite at Pole Art France.

In her performance career some of her most recent highlights include the opening of the BRIT awards and as a semi-finalist on Ninja Warrior. She has also judged numerous competitions across the UK and internationally including UKPPC, Pole Revolutions and IUPDC. And she teaches masterclasses across the UK and abroad.

Watch some of Hannah’s stunning competition performances on our youtube channel.

She uses her intimate knowledge of the body gained from her circus training to help develop students’ pole dance technique so they can execute moves safely and beautifully. She is also Xpert and First Aid qualified.

Nothing is out of reach

She has been pole dancing since 2010 and teaching for the last 6 years. Hannah is also a professional trained circus artist specialising in Aerial Straps. She uses her knowledge gained from her circus training to help develop her students’ pole dance technique. She is known for her badass dynamic style and flowing combos and static spins on the pole. Her passion and dedication to teaching shows. And she shares her love for pole with her students. Hannah loves helping students achieve tricks they’ve been working on for months, and watching them develop their own style or create routines.

Her teaching motto is everything is achievable with the right amount of conditioning, technique and practise. Nothing is out of reach, there is no such thing as ‘I can’t’ just ‘I can’t yet’!

Book Hannah Rose’s classes in the timetable

Jackie

Jo

Jo Foley teaches aerial silks, hoop and stretch at London Dance Academy. She has over 15 years experience performing with gymnastics, theatre and circus for a variety of events ranging from commercials and music videos to corporate events and private parties and everything in between.

Jo is an accomplished and experienced international aerialist and acrobat

Jo first discovered circus at the age of 14 and loved the fact that it was “for everyone: it doesn’t matter what your body looks like, it’s about what it can do.” She says her continued love for the craft is down to the fact that “there is always something new to try, another level to push yourself to, physically and creatively.”

Watch Jo’s showreel on our youtube channel

Jo says “I always want people to have fun in my class, laughter is so important. It’s really scary as adults to try something new, particularly something like aerial. I like to create safe spaces for people to feel confident and not worry about it being perfect.”You can expect a strong emphasis on strength, conditioning and technique in Jo’s classes. As she knows from her years of experience that it is key to long and injury-free time practicing aerial. 

What Jo loves especially about teaching is “watching people’s journey from being nervous, self critical and worried, to getting stuck in, trying, laughing, playing, making friends and letting go. It’s important to me that everyone leaves my class feeling like they have achieved something.”

Book Jo’s classes in our timetable

Katarina

Katarina fell in love after one class

Kerry

Kerry teaches AntiGravity Yoga at London Dance Academy. 

She first tried an AntiGravity Yoga class back in 2016 as it was something new and different being offered by her gym. “I fell hook, line and hammock in love with it!” She loved the fact that even as a beginner, it’s possible to safely execute inversions, flips and tricks in AntiGravity Yoga. “I was having so much fun I didn’t even realise I was working out!” Kerry says that starting AntiGravity Yoga helped her improve her flexibility and continues to strengthen her core and upper body too.

Watch the incredible Pink perform at the Grammy’s with AntiGravity Hammocks on our youtube channel.

Eventually, she quit her corporate career to pursue teaching full time, and says she enjoys it so much she doesn’t even think of it as a job! “I love helping people overcome their doubts and achieve things that they weren’t sure that they could when they initially walked through the door, and see those people improve in their technique and confidence week on week! I love giving people an escape from the day – how can you think about those emails that you need to send when you’re suspended in silk?”

Style wise, Kerry likes to keep her classes fun filled yet challenging , with a focus on good technique so that you can benefit from AntiGravity Yoga’s full body fitness effects.

“I hope that you will leave my class feeling lighter and brighter and with a smile on your face.”

Book Kerry’s classes in our timetable

Laura

Laura has got a long experience in pole. “I started pole dancing 10 years ago in Queenstown, New Zealand. A friend from work introduced me to it and I was instantly hooked. I was taught by some super inspiring women in New Zealand which really made me fall in love with it.”

What I love about pole is the amazing feeling you have when you finally get a move. The confidence and support you get from others in the studio, there are no egos and it was all about cheering each other on whether you were a baby poler or super experienced. Also, the sparkly shoes.

After starting pole I have more confidence in my every day life. I found pole helped me love my body and appreciate everything I can do.

I adore teaching and seeing someone new to pole catch the bug and see their confidence and ability grow. My motivation for teaching is to pass on my enthusiasm and to give new polers that solid base skill set to progress.

Laura’s proudest pole moment was competing in the 2018 Dance Filthy Northern heats. Competing also gave her the fire to improve and get her teaching qualification. In class you can expect an incredibly well curated pole playlist that Laura has been working on for the last 10 years. Laura’s style is a beautiful pole flow with a sexy flair. 

Book Laura’s classes in our timetable

Lisa

Pole dancing makes you feel sexy and strong

Louise

Louise is a professional Dancer and Choreographer,  Magician an Illusionist. She has worked with the worlds most renowned artists and magicians, and appeared on tv screens internationally as well as in London’s West end. 

Louise started dance lessons at the age of 5

Louise says: “I first started dancing aged 5 when I started ballet lessons back home in Scotland – I just loved it and soon started jazz and Tap which led me to dancing as a juvenile dancer in various pantos and shows. I just always loved being on stage and entertaining people but also the team spirit of dancing – working together rehearsing together and making life long friends. I trained as a young adult in Acting but decided at 23 to go and train properly in dance which is when I moved to London! “

Once a dancer, always a dancer

She has danced on BBC Children in Need, The Apprentice and at the o2 and Wembley as well as on stages all over the world including Ultra Music Festival, Pride Paris and in various music concerts  and music videos  for artists such as The Vamps. She has also appeared – and disappeared! – I’m various magic tv shows such as BBC The Magicians and Now You See It. 

Watch Louise dance in a flashmob for Elizabeth Arden and John Varvatos on our teacher playlist on youtube.

“I think, once a dancer, always a dancer and these days I dance not only to keep fit but for my mental wellbeing – getting those happy endorphins pumping!”

Louise says: “I absolutely love teaching. I genuinely absolutely enjoy it. Helping to build people’s confidence and help them to feel the way I do about dancing. I love creating a safe place for them to just go for it. Seeing their progress from first lesson, to a few lessons down the line is so rewarding. Also seeing my choreography come to life on someone else is always fun!”

Louise’s teaching style is fun and inclusive

Louise’s teaching style is simple – fun and totally inclusive. “EVERYONE can dance, some people just need a little encouragement to unleash the beast! My aim is that by the end of the lesson everyone leaves feeling fabulous about themselves. We still work hard and sneak in technique as well as fitness. But the focus is on learning favourite moves from classic music videos and that feel good factor. I do try to sprinkle in a bit of the old Scottish charm as well, just for good measure! “

Book Louise’s classes in the timetable

Lowri

Lowri is one of the UK’s up and coming contortionists and aerialists. She has performed in a vast variety of circus shows, worldwide specialising in contortion, aerial hoop, aerial silks and aerial cradle.

Her performances range from a traditional touring big top show to International corporate and Cabaret events. Lowri trained extensively in artistic gymnastics and ballet for over 12 years before moving to the circus world.

She began training in elite level artistic gymnastics before running away to join the circus. She started performing in Zippo’s traditional circus, then Cafe de Paris, Glastonbury and events in the Maldives, to name a few.

Watch Ooh la Lowri and Pixie LeKnot in some of their showreel on our youtube channel

Lowri has performed for Usher, Will.I.Am and the exclusive ‘One & Only’ Resort in The Maldives and Glastonbury Fest just to name a few. She teaches contortion and gymnastics at London Dance Academy.

Lowri has also performed in the world’s largest water show. ‘ The House of Dancing Water’ by Cirque du Soleil’s creative Franco Dragone. There she specialised in aerial cradle, diving, trapeze and harness work.

Lowri’s teaching method’s reflect her vast experience and enormous passion for circus and fitness. She says: ‘Be passionately curious, always dream one size too big‘

Book Lowri’s classes in our timetable

Magda

Magda teaches Splits and our Pole level classes here at London Dance Academy. She runs weekly Discover Pole and Level 2 classes as well as frequently covering for all levels from 1 through to 4. 

Magda qualified as a pole dance instructor in Poland, training under the talented eye of Edyta Borchowiec in 2016. She has since competed in the pole doubles category with fellow London Dance Academy instructor Jackie. In IPAAT, Pole Theatre UK, Heir To The Chrome. And winning second place at Pole Sport Zurich, and first place at Pole Revolution UK.

Pole Dancing brings happiness and smiles to my life

Magda’s classes are energetic

Pole dance fills her life with positive energy and brings a big smile to her face each time she enters the studio. 

Book Magda’s classes in the timetable.

Melissa

Nofisa

Nofisa teaches Discover Pole at London Dance Academy and is a cover teacher for some of our other pole and dance classes. She is also a Personal Trainer and qualified Exercise to Music Instructor. And she loves bringing a lot of energy to a room full of people. A proud moment in her pole journey is coming 1st place in the talent show section of Miss Galaxy Universe, a Fitness Model Competition for Women.

Pole dance helped me unleash my sensual side

Nofisa was 22 and living in the USA when she tried her very first pole dance class. “I had been saying for 6 years that I wanted to try. I knew it would help to develop my confidence and help me to unleash my sensual side.” It was even better than she’d expected; “When I was on that pole I felt free to express myself, confident, and unapologetically badass!” Nowadays she finds it empowering to be able to teach what she knows to other women. She is strong and full of sass.

Discover your first pole lesson in our class descriptions

Nofisa says “The world is calling for more women to reclaim their power and go after their desires. When females stand in their power and are in alignment with their true desires, everyone around them benefits.”

She finds teaching beginners the most rewarding because she loves “watching their fears and stories melt away as they gain confidence. One of the things I hear the most in the classes I teach is how confident a person felt after.”

Book Nofisa’s classes in our timetable

Rachel

Rachel started dancing at the age of 5.  “Some of my friends asked me to join them at their local ballet class. I decided to give it a go… and this is where my love for dance began”.

She completed all of her ballet, tap and modern dance examinations, and at the age of 18, went on to study a BA Hons in Theatre Dance at the London Studio Centre. Rachel really fell in love with dance when I realised how happy it made her. “Dance makes me feel proud, excited and alive.”

Of course, over the years I have received a lot of knock backs like any other dancer, and the feeling after being cut from auditions is the worst! But it’s the way that you deal with those situations that counts.

Rachel is the person she is, because of dance

Dance has given me strength, determination and discipline. I am the person I am now, because of dance. I have confidence and motivation to keep improving and learning new skills each day. I have danced in resorts and hotels as well as cruise ships all over the world. I have also choreographed touring shows and managed production teams.

Alongside my performing career, I have always taught dance. I love the fact that through teaching, I can share my knowledge and skills with others, helping students to achieve their goals and watch their passion for dance grow, like mine continues to do.

As a teacher, Rachel likes to motivate and inspire others. I want to bring people together that share the same passion as mine. I want people to feel good when they take my classes and ensure that they leave with a smile on their face.

I like to focus on technique and choreography, ensuring that when the class is over, you have really achieved something. My belief is that those people out there that have never tried a dance class, have not lived. And life is for living, right? 

Book Rachel’s classes in our timetable

Sophie

Sophie teaches our key pole level classes at London Dance Academy, from beginner through to elementary, intermediate and advanced. She also teaches the beg-int level spinning pole classes, and floorwork, flow and stretch.

She qualified with the International Dance Teacher’s Association with an Associate in Freestyle. Sophie placed second in the Instructor category at UKPPC 2017, first in the Pro category at Dance Filthy Southern 2018, and was also a finalist in the Pro Category at UKPPC 2018 and Pole Art UK 2018.

An experienced professional dance teacher, Sophie first tried out pole whilst recovering from an injury and fell in love: “it allowed me to continue dancing and expressing myself through movement whilst in the air.” She stuck with it, enjoying the unique combination of strength and femininity that pole offers.

One of the benefits of pole dance is meeting fantastic people

One of the main benefits pole dance has brought to her life is “meeting a fantastic group of people who have become my family and closest friends”.

Some of her proudest pole achievements to date include placing second in her first ever pole competition, and performing/modelling for Stella McCartney and Adidas for the Spring/Summer 2014 campaign with the London Dance Academy agency.

I did it!

With over twelve year’s experience in teaching, there’s very few pole woes that Sophie can’t remedy. She is known at the studio for her approachable, friendly teaching personality and patient troubleshooting. Making sure every student in her classes gets enough one on one time.

Her enthusiasm shines through lesson after lesson; “student’s successes and achievements are my successes and achievements. I also love seeing that excitement and joy of ‘I did it!’. It sounds cheesy but it’s very fulfilling.