Staff Bio
POLE DANCE CHARLOTTE
FUN AND FITNESS DANCE STUDIO
2006-2011
Celebrating 5 years of Pole in 2011
Owner/Main Instructor/Choreographer
Kelly Wood
*15 years ballet/choreography experience
*Current member of USPDF
*Certified Pole Instructor
*Host/ Instructor of tv Channel21 "The Art of Pole Dancing" pole show
Air date: 12/31/2010 @ 8:30pm
Kelly the creator, owner and main instructor of
Pole Dance Charlotte fun and fitness dance studio shares her journey of success.
Five years ago, Kelly a mother of four wonderful children who's current ages are 18,16,15 and 5 needed a part time job that allowed her the ability to earn extra money from her full time job to help support her two sons and daughters. In early 2006 she purchased her very own franchised pole business with a Toronto based company called A Pole Lot of Fun. With the determination to be successful she armed herself with nothing more than a portable stage pole and a handful of boas and began hosting traveling private pole parties in living rooms of women in Charlotte and it's surrounding area. Sadly later that same year A Pole Lot of fun went out of business. In August of 2006 she started Pole Dance Charlotte fun and fitness dance studio. Forced to start from scratch she did just that and created and entire in-studio "pole only" program using her 15 years of ballet and dance choreography background. Her dream to be a successful business owner has blossomed into three Charlotte based pole studios in five years with five additional instructors.
Kelly's most recent accomplishment came in August of 2010 when Pole Dance Charlotte's pole program was proven as an effective and safe weight loss system with the completion of "Ms. Pole Fit Weight Loss 2010", the studios very first weight loss challenge. Through this challenge women of all walks of life volunteered for 30 days to take four different pole classes with Pole Dance Charlotte two to four days a week. After 30 days of intense "pole only" classes our contestants weighed in with a safe weight loss and very noticeable loss of inches in the chest, waist, hip and thigh area.
Kelly continues to live her dream daily by teaching everyday women the ART of pole dancing.
She suggest you consider the following as you choose a pole dancing studio......
There are some that can dance very well on the pole, but the question is can they teach others to do the same?
She welcomes you to stop by and take any one of our drop in classes to see for yourself.
Annie- Pole Instructor (Southend)
Stage Name: Snap Dragon
Annie Vereen, a native of Georgia, attended Winthrop University for a B.A. in Dance Education and since graduation, she has moved to the big city to teach, choreograph, and contribute to a stronger artistic community in Charlotte (as she leaps tall buildings in a single bound... in stiletto pumps with rhinestones). She became an instructor for The Art of Exotic Dancing For Everyday Women in 2004 and in the same year became co-artistic director of Viscera Dance Theatre, a Charlotte based dance troupe that makes choreography infused with modern dance, exotic dance, multimedia performance art that focuses on issues concerning identity, as well as, guerilla street performances for environmental activism. She is a lead activist for Greenpeace, looking for ways to involve everyone in environmentally conscious activities and organization, Annie is a trained singer, and totally shreds the Tori Amos jams. She has worked with many innovative photographers as a model, and she plays the violin as well as three years of practice and instruction can give her. Currently, Annie is blowing everyone's mind in her floral design classes (where she avoids baby's breath at all costs, and to good effect), Annie joined Pole Dance Charlotte as an instructora little over a year ago, and completely rocks the short shorts. "Exotic dance and teaching women are two of her passions. When you put them together you find an environment that is not only fun, but one that becomes a sanctuary. She is excited to grow in the Exotic dance field with Kelly and everyone who walks into Pole Dance Charlotte!"
Photo above by Tim O'Brian
Sarah - Pole Instructor (University)
Stage Name- Cassy
Sarah started with the company in late 2010 and is a gift to our studio that keeps on giving. With five years of pole experience , former gymnastics training and a definate love of pole she fit into our Pole Dance Charlotte family quite nicely. You will find Sarah in our University location doing what she does best teaching strength and conditioning and pole tricks class every Tuesday evening. Want to get in shape,build strength and have amazing flexibility? She will get you where you need to be.
Sarah's current pole goal is to start competing in late 2011. Can't wait as we all know she is going to do great!
Pic coming soon!
Brittany- Fun Coordinator
Stage name- Sunflower
We love our little Brittany! As one of the original employees of Pole Dance Charlotte Brittany has been our front desk receptionist, greeting and checking in students to classes since 2008. Brittany plays another vital role as our party fun coordinator she is the one responsible for booking all of our Girls night out, Birthday and Bachlorette parties. This role has proven more difficult over the years as the word of our popular parties has spread. But she handles it with ease sometimes coordinating more than eight parties and four instructors in one weekend between two locations and at the end of the day each event happening as planned, not an easy task when your in school studying to be a fashion designer. Next time your in our studio, take a look around her artistic drawings are everywhere....she really has a talent of sketching all of our advanced pole moves.
When you call into the studio, ask for her and say:"Brittany hook me up!"
She will make it happen!!!!!!!
Tami- Intern(Southend)
Stage name-
Some of you might recognize Tami as our You Tube video star. You can see her performing our 1st quarter pole choreography of 2011 via a you tube video on our website under classes and memberships.
Tami has been a student of Pole Dance Charlotte since November of 2010 started classes as most, with a friend not expecting much. With very little upper body strength she struggled for the first two weeks, not even her extensive background in lyrical dance helped her to master the pole. As a full time Pharmacy student Tami found the time to attend classes at least two times a week with our unlimited monthly membership. Setting a goal with a time limit along with persistence and determination 45 day later she was able to climb to the top of our 14ft poles located in the Southend studio with ease.
With upper body strength in tow and her beautiful dance style she is now able to master moves she once put off.
Tami has a bright pole future ahead as she is officially a competitor in the upcoming Ms. North Carolina pole competition this Memorial day weekend and this competition is only the beginning.
You will find Tami assisting Kelly with classes every Saturday morning in our Southend studio.
Pic coming soon.
Jarina- Intern (University)
Stagename- Honeybee
A Charlotte native, Jarina has been with the studio since our 2010 Ms. Pole Fit Challenge in August of 2010 and placed second runner up in last years contest. With no former dance experience or general workout routine to pull from Jarina found out first hand how difficult it can be for the everyday woman with a full time job and family to attend pole class at least three times a week(a requirement for the contest) but well worth it to have a body that is toned,tight and in great shape in a short period of time.
In as little as 30 days Jarina lost over 5lbs....4 1/2 inches to her waist, 2-3inches in her bust , hip and thigh area with Pole Dance Charlotte's pole workout program.
Under Kelly's watchful eye she has developed into a fabulous teacher, guiding our members through an excellent sensual pole class which happens to be her favorite.
You can find Jarina teaching our Pole Sampler and Sensual pole classes every Monday evening in our University location.
When asked what her current pole goal is Jarina says: "I just want to learn everything possible!"
Pic coming soon.
Jackie- Intern (University)
Bio coming soon.
