Lisa D is known as a passionate performer with a unique style and a love of unusual tricks and transitions. She strives to create pieces that resonate with her audiences and which linger with them long after the curtain falls. In 2013 Lisa placed second in the Victorian Pole Championships, third in Miss Pole Dance Victoria, was invited to qualify for the World Pole Sports Championships in London and was one of only 8 finalists worldwide for the International Pole Dance Fitness Association’s Performer of the Year award.

AWARDS:
2013 – 2nd place, Victorian Pole Championships.
3rd place, Miss Pole Dance Victoria.
Nominated for IPDFA Pole Performer of the Year.
Invited to qualify for the World Pole Sports Championships in London.
Featured in documentary, Art Of Pole 3D
Performer, Encore Sydney Pole Show 2012
3rd place, Miss Pole Dance Victoria, Finalist in Miss Pole Dance Australia
2nd place, Australian Pole Championships
Performer, Encore Sydney Pole Show 2011
2nd place, Miss Pole Dance Victoria, Finalist in Miss Pole Dance Australia
3rd place, Asia Pacific Pole Championships

With a solid dance background already up her sleeve, Kristy Sellars began pole dancing in 2007 and was instantly hooked. In 2009, she opened PhysiPole Studios in Ballarat. 2009 was also the year Kristy competed at her first professional competition, Miss Pole Dance Victoria. She competed again in 2010, this time placing second runner up and receiving a wild card entry to Miss Pole Dance Australia where she performed her Pirates of the Caribbean piece.

After taking a year off performing to have a baby, Kristy made her comeback performing a piece at Encore Sydney Pole Show where she played a deranged mental asylum patient. Shortly after, she stunned the pole

world with her now famous “Flight Attendant” routine and took out the 2012/13 title of Miss Pole Dance Victoria. Since then, Kristy has travelled to the USA to perform at Girl Next Door and International Pole Convention, competed in Pole Art in Helsinki and most recently placed second runner up in the inaugural Pole and Aerial All Stars competition.  Kristy’s pole routines incorporate a range of dance styles including hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary and musical theatre. She has choreographed routines for some of the world’s most renowned performers. “I couldn’t wait to meet Kristy Sellars – choreography guru- when I toured Australia last year. I jumped at the chance to get her to help choreograph my 1920s piece for the UK professional championships 2013.” Says UK Champion Bendy Kate. “I really recommend using Kristy as a choreographer!” New Zealander, Karry Summers had previously never let anybody choreograph her routines but was “blown away” by Kristy’s “style and creativity”.  Kristy also collaborated with Sergia Louise Anderson who says “Her talent as a choreographer, dancer, artist, and teacher is unparalleled, and her professionalism, presence, attention to detail, musicality and ability to use story/character is impeccable.”

Sergia is a visual storyteller. A master of character, she suffuses each performance with honesty and depth through her richly detailed choreography. Her breathtaking musicality, spirited movement and crisp, elegant lines sweep the audience along and immerse them in the moment. Sergia brings this personal connection from the performance stage into the classroom, enabling students to find the energy in their own movement. Drawing on her background in salsa, ballet, jazz and theater, she provides a firm technical foundation for innovative tricks and transitions, accessible to dancers at all levels. Her New York Theatre credits are far reaching including working with Broadway director Jerry Zaks in City Center Encores! Bye Bye Birdie. She has also appeared in numerous national commercials including spots for Verizon, Cascade, Chrysler and has

Direct from the U.S, Sergia Louise-Anderson is a confirmed guest artist for Elements 2014

co-starred in TV shows 3 lbs. and ABC’s The Forgotten, as well as acting in re-occurring roles on CBS’s Guiding Light. Recent films include the lead in Tony Tango. Sergia is an X-pert, Poleates, and Pilates Certified Instructor. She has a BFA in Drama from Tisch School of the Arts, New York University.

Guest Chreographer

Melisa Gowen is an independent dancer and dance teacher.
Melisa is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts, receiving a Bachelor of Dance Hons in 2003. During her years at the VCA, Melisa had the privilege to work with renowned choreographers John Utans, Dr Don Asker, Anna Smith, Neil Adams, Simon Ellis and Brett Daffy.

Her earlier training, she studied full time classical ballet atEcole Classique in Sydney, where she attained her Advanced Certificate and Teachers Certificate (Dist) from the Royal Academy of Dance. She has taught Classical Ballet and Contemporary dance for over 10 years for private and tertiary institutions including professional classes at Chunky Move in Melbourne. She has a strong passion for dance education and presently teaches at The Ballet Class in Rose Bay.

During her Honours year at VCA, Melisa co-directed a dance education tour, Taking a Chance to secondary schools in Melbourne and Regional Victoria. She presented her own choreographic work Await and performed in Phillip Adam’sToro Intermezzo. In the same year she undertook a professional secondment with Dance North, Townsville, performing in their season of The Dancer and the Dance.

Melisa became a founding member of Sydney’s independent dance collective, DirtyFeet, 2005-2007. She has performed Contemporary works by Carol Dilley, Michael Whaites, Kay Armstrong, Anton and DirtyFeet. Her performances have included dance film clips, commercial work, independent works and The Australian Dance Awards. She has also participated in choreographic research projects at Critical Path NSW as part of their Responsive Program.

Melisa most recently performed in Annalouise Paul’s new cross cultural contemporary dance work Conversations in Rhythm and Dance, which was presented at Campbelltown Arts Centre and Parramatta Riverside Theatre.

Melisa is a recipient of The Keys-Arenas Dance Scholarship Trust for 2011.

Dancer

Always curious about pole, Brook attended her first open night at Studio Verve^® in May 2011. This spurred her curiosity further and she signed up to PoleFit^® 1 the next day. Growing up playing basketball and oztag, sport has always been a big part of Brook’s life. At a very young age, this girl decided, she loved to sweat!

Driven by the mental and physical challenges of pole, Brook likens pole to ‘a marathon, not a sprint’. Though it sometimes takes some time to achieve certain skills, it’s an exciting and challenging journey and she credits PoleFit^® for her increased strength, flexibility and most importantly, body awareness. Being able to manoeuvre her body in ways she would never have imagined, pole has been an empowering journey for her.

Brook is a proud PoleFit instructor as Studio Verve Dance Fitness, who recently qualified as a finalist in the NSW Australian Pole Championships. She is excited about continuing her pole journey as a Pole Evolution™ dancer.

Dancer

Earning a reputation for being able to pack every pole skill she’s mastered into each of her routines, Clare’s passion for pole fitness^® is loud and proud! Not having a strong urge to continue with dance lessons as a child or the usual fitness trends later on as an adult, Clare was a little apprehensive when she signed up for her first PoleFit^® lesson. Thinking her lack of upper body strength would let her down; her concerns soon vanished once class started. Clare ended up having so much fun, she’s been attending ever since!

A firm believer of the PoleFit^® program, Clare has transformed from someone who avoided physical activity to someone who now thrives on it. She is constantly amazed by the strength and flexibility she has gained from pole dancing and loves that there is always something new to learn. She will try anything challenging or that involves being upside down and has since further developed her aerial skills by studying other disciplines such as Silks, Lyra, Static and Flying Trapeze. Clare lives by the mantra, “you get back what you put in” and believes you can do anything if you really put your mind to it, you just have to practice! She loves teaching at Studio Verve^® because she gets to share her pole passion with others and keeps fit doing so.

Clare has also qualified as a finalist in the NSW Australian Pole Championships with her fellow Studio Verve instructor group Fusion Five. Clare is passionate about furthering her pole performance skills as a Pole Evolution™ Company Dancer.

Dancer

Michael has been pole dancing for three years – initially learning pole at home, he decided to formalise and take his training to the next level by signing up for PoleFit^® Men classes at Studio Verve^®. Originally from the Philippines, Michael’s background is in contemporary lyrical dance which he studied for two years. In addition, he competed as part of a troupe for another two years, and has also trained in Aerial Trapeze, Silks and Lyra.

Michael’s recent professional credits include performing a solo routine at this year’s ‘Sydney’s Encore Pole Show’ held at the Factory Theatre where he brought the house down!  Always putting his emotions and heart into his dance, Michael is a true artist, who loves to feel the song and interpret it with movement, feeling and attitude.

Pole has rekindled Michael’s passion for dance and he loves to incorporate dance movements into his pole routines. In Michael’s own words, “My love for pole and dance, together with the encouragement and guidance from Studio Verve^® has helped me to see my potential in becoming a pole artist, dancer and performer.” He is now excited to be sharing his passion for pole as a Studio Verve^® Instructor, and brings high energy and humour to each class.

Dancer

A born performer Eden has been dancing from the age of 3. She has studied all genres of dance and in 2010 was lucky enough to be one of the youngest students accepted into ED5 International, where she is currently dancing fulltime, working hard to complete her Diploma in Performing Arts, and loving her life.

Eden wants to dance her way through life and plans to can-can her way to France and the Moulin Rouge”.

Dancer & Guest Choreographer

With over 20 years’ experience as a teacher, choreographer and performer, Shari’s love of dance embraces traditional and modern styles including Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Hip Hop, Funk, Samba, Kizomba, Jive and Dancehall. In addition to this well-rounded repertoire, Shari loves soaring to new heights and has trained in aerial skills such as Lyra, Static Trapeze, Tissue, and Circus Hoop. Her love of dance has paved the way to performances right across the world; from numerous commercial works, stadium and parade work in Australia to the Diwalli ‘Festival of Lights’ in India.

Shari is excited to be part of Spiral Rhythms 2010 and proud to be showcasing pole dance as an versatile and inspirational art form.

Dancer

Having had an early interest in theatre studies and drama, Hannah has also always enjoyed dance and aerobics as a way of keeping fit.

She began pole dancing at Studio Verve Dance Fitness® in 2007 primarily to improve core strength and flexibility but also to try something different. Hannah quickly became addicted to pole dancing and the new found level of fitness that came with it.

Being an advanced student and a part of Pole Evolution™ Dance company affords Hannah the opportunity to push her skills further and challenge herself as a performer in a professional production.

Above all else, Hannah is excited to share her passion for pole dancing in Spiral Rhythms 2010 and she is determined to have fun doing it.