About Pole Divas - Pole Divas

Shelley Henkel Shelley has an extensive background in performance; her dance training includes jazz and classical ballet, and the completion of high levels in gymnastics. Her travels led her to become a go-go dancer in Japan where she performed in popular night spots, and began teaching pole dancing and the art of lap dance to aspiring exotic dancers. She has also had great success as a singer with a high profile commercial band at Crown Casino and other prominent Melbourne venues. Shelley has completed a three year Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in dance and women's studies, giving her performance even more edge, and a strong understanding of the importance of female empowerment. Shelley has been teaching at Pole Divas since its inception and came second in the Victorian Final of Miss Pole Dance Australia in 2005. Her warm, outgoing personality, and creative choreography, makes sure you’ll always leave her class with a smile on your face.
Jannine Davey With her extensive dance background including studying, teaching, choreography and performing, Jannine naturally took to pole dancing when she first started at Pole Divas as a student. She absolutely loved the new form of dance she had found, and worked her way up to becoming one of our first advanced course graduates, and our first student turned instructor. As well as teaching beginners though to advanced level courses, Jannine has also become a regular performer for us at events such as corporate functions, exhibitions and huge dance parties. Jannine’s enthusiastic love of pole dancing makes her an exciting teacher to learn from.
Sarah George Sarah worked as an exotic performer at all of Melbourne’s major men’s clubs for 3 years, quickly progressing to a stage performer and becoming a headline act at venues all across the country. She has held various titles such as Miss Nude Victoria, and appeared in magazines such as Ralph and Penthouse. Since retiring from exotic dancing, Sarah’s talents lead her to new ventures, appearing in various TV commercials, being MC at Sexpo, and most importantly becoming a mum to a beautiful baby girl Samsara. Sarah has no professional dance training which leads her to believe that ANY woman can learn to move in a way that compliments her body and expressed her sensuality.
Sarah McIlwain Graduating from Pole Divas first advanced course, Sarah brings a real passion and dedication to pole dancing. Working as a massage therapist with a personal training, gymnastics and dance background she encourages students to push themselves to become stronger dancers. Sarah has trained with some of the top pole dancers around the world from the United Kingdom, America and the amazing Australian girls. She is currently training in the art of Chinese pole which is a circus discipline usually performed by men due to the strength requirement. She has trained many club dancers and more recently has worked with male gymnasts and dancers. Sarah dances regular gigs at Girlbar, Prince of Wales and does shows at a number of venues around Melbourne. Her love, study and dedication to pole dancing contributed to her winning Miss Pole Dance Victoria 2007.
Staci Bring it on! Staci is the ultimate American cheerleader. Trained in classical ballet, jazz and tap, her athleticism, energy and vibrant enthusiasm lead her to cheerleading, which took her from high school through to college. Her success and professionalism in this highly competitive sport opened the door for Staci, to the sought after position of head coach/choreographer for a top American high school dance team. Staci’s passion for performance continued on to the sensual and captivating art of exotic dance. She has entranced and enthralled audiences from Portland to Phoenix as well as on the stages of premier gentlemen’s clubs throughout Los Angeles and Australia. Staci also enjoys being a wife and mother to two happy, energetic children. Combining 25 years of dancing and teaching experience with Staci’s love for health, fitness and fun she will definitely entice you into the empowering art of pole dancing at Pole Divas.
Tania Fletcher With her extensive background in various forms of dance, including ballet, jazz, contemporary and her beloved hip-hop, it was when Tania started at Pole Divas as a student in 2005 that she found her greatest enjoyment in fitness and dance, falling in love with the pole instantly! A natural performer, Tania and her best friend Lisa have been the reigning doubles champions for three consecutive Unleashed events, and since then Tania has become the resident booty shaker at Pole Divas with her popular workshop Pussycat Funk! Tania’s love of teaching and choreography as well as her bubbly personality make her classes fresh and fun, and her love of performing ensures she is always ready to put on a show!
Anna Lemish Anna brings to Pole Divas a diverse mix of choreographic influences, including hip hop, funk, street Latin and exotic dancing. She is testament to the benefits that pole dancing can bring you in terms of positive body image and self confidence. She has taken what was once simply a keen interest in pole dancing to greater heights, culminating in her inclusion in the Miss Pole Australia (Victorian Division) and winning the advanced section of Pole Divas Unleashed in July 2006. "We want to help you unleash your inner diva", she says, and to that end she is dedicated to making her classes both cheeky and fun, to encourage new participants who perhaps thought that Pole Dancing was too challenging. Anna is the perfect instructor to disarm any hesitations that new participants might feel. Five minutes in her class and you too will be a pole dancing devotee!
Noilani Beck Noilani has spent most of her life as an Acrobat. She fell in love and held a passion for Gymnastics, dance and performing at a very young age. She held a 4 year Scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport from the age of 8, studying women’s artistic gymnastics. From the age of 13 to 16 years she represented Australia in “Power Tumbling” where she held the Australian National Championship title for 3 yrs running, won Gold at the “92”Pan Pacific Games and a silver at the “93”World Championships. Noilani is a personal trainer and also instructs one on one and group workshops in aerobatics and handstand balancing. She spent 3 years training at (NICA) specializing in handstand balancing, Adagio and Acrobatic tumbling, with a main specialty and performance in handstands. Noi now teaches our gymnastics workshops here at Pole Divas.
Melissa Christina Melissa is Melbourne's most sought after Belly Dance Artist and has been for over 10 years. She has taught and performed Australia wide including high profile shows at Crown Casino in Melbourne, Jupiters Casino on the Gold Coast, Good Morning Australia and as a special guest on the Secret Life of Us. As a fully trained Latin American and Belly dancer she is a member of Melbourne's most popular Latin floor show 'Ole Ola' with Fabio Robles. Melissa's dance background incorporates jazz ballet, Flamenco, African, Street Latin, Belly Dance and Lebanese Folk Loric. She has studied in Egypt with various dancers and choreographers, and brings a new and fresh dance style to Pole Divas with her new Belly-licious classes. Think Shakira, Beyonce and Fergie… hot, hot, hot.
Louise Landers Louise has been dancing for over 20 years, studying various styles of dance including classical ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, musical theatre and acrobatics. She is also a trained aerobics fitness instructor, and has been working as a dance teacher in a range of styles for the last 5 years. She has performed in many corporate and commercial dance performances, including a 2 year stint with the high profile Disney Events Company. Louise has been a Pole Divas student for years and competed in Pole Divas' dance competition UNLEASHED taking out first place at each level, including winning the overall best performance in the December 2007 competition, The Pole Diva Award. Louise shows passion, strength, flexibility and the perfect personality to be a Pole Diva, a love of life and dance.
Lulu Quill Lulu has been a performer all her life, with extensive training in acting and a long addiction to an array of interesting sports, which now includes pole dancing! Lulu has been training with Pole Divas over the last few years and excelled quite quickly through the ranks, winning the Advanced Solo competition at Pole Divas UNLEASHED competition mid 2007. Lulu has fantastic stage prowess, with a talent for dynamic tricks and making it all look seamlessly easy.
Kennetta Hutchens (Owner) Kennetta has been involved in the Exotic Dance industry for over 10 years. She started as a dancer, ran an agency, then held the role of Entertainment Manager and a partner of one of Melbourne’s leading strip clubs, the first one to install poles in Australia. Kennetta has a vast knowledge of the industry, and has had the experience of dealing with and training literally hundreds of girls over the years. She is also a qualified personal trainer. Kennetta first entertained the idea of opening a pole and exotic dance school in 2000. It came from years of watching girls in the club perform, and seeing the transformation it made to their confidence and self esteem, as well as fitness and body shape. She recognized this awesome style of dance as an art form that should be shared with the everyday woman also.