The Pole Dancing Shop

This Friday, October 14, 2011 at 6:30 p.m., many will gather in New York City's Grand Ballroom for the Second Annual American Pole Fitness Championship.  The Pole Dancing Shop is proud to be an Offical sponsor again.

This year's championship will include a showcase by Matt Martsolf aka Mattcrobat, the official Youth Advisory Committee Board Member of International Pole Fitness Federation.  He will be performing with children 6 to 13 year olds from his studio in Ohio.  There was recently a furious debate in the UK about children participating in pole fitness classes.  The association wants to promote pole and other aerial arts as a way to be healthy and fit regardless of age.  

The judges come from all different kinds of backgrounds and include:

Elite Division Judges

• Stephanie Babines, owner of Oh My You're Gorgeous in Pennsylvania.  She has an extensive dance background and won a huge battle for pole studios everywhere when she fought to keep her studio open after a code enforcement officer attempted to shut her down.
• Judy Jovanelly, owner of The Girl Spot in Connecticut.  She also has a background in dancing and performing and is passionate about pole fitness. 
• Rebekah Hennes, an eating order dietician, personal trainer, pole instructor and contributing writer for Pole Spin Magazine.
• Jenyne Butterfly, an aerial artist who performs and teaches workshops all over the world.
• Caterina Gennaro, owner of Poleates in Southern California.  She also competed in APFC last year.
• Emily Kruesler, owner of Polesitions in Ohio.  She has trained with Jenyne Butterfly.
• Michelle Martin, owner of Cheeky Fitness & Pole Dancing Studio in Florida.  She has an extensive fitness background, including training in yoga, pilates and kickboxing. 
• Valerie Rush, owner of Vertical Fitness Studio in Northern California.  She also competes in bodybuilding and figure competitions. 

Masters Division Judges

• Valentino Brothers, former martial arts enthusiasts, Mario and Emil, born in Bulgaria, now teach yoga and flexibility in Santa Barbara, California. They have been applying their flexibility teaches in the pole industry for the the past year.
• Allegra, international pole dance instructor and performer from Australia. She has been pole dancing since 2007.
• Dima Shine, acrobat and Gold Medalist hailing from Russia. He has worked for Cirque du Soleil and is planning to open a pole studio in Las Vegas, Nevada.
• Lucy Misch, opened first pole fitness studio in the UK. Her production studio also filmed and edited the very first pole exercise DVD.
• Loic Lebret, one of the top male pole dancers in the world. He first started dancing in France in 2008.

The competition is divided into two parts -- elite and masters divisions.

If you would like more information about the competition, or would like to view videos submitted by the competitors, please check out their website. 

Are you planning to attend the American Pole Fitness Championship this weekend? Do you have a friend competing? If so, who are you rooting for? Please leave a comment below to share the love and feel free to share this blog post with your pole dancing friends!

Do you want to become a guest blogger? The Pole Dancing Shop now offers $20 store credit for approved post, articles and stories!