United States Pole Dance Federation (USPDF)

US Pole Dance Federation (USPDF) was founded in the beginning of 2008, and is the first organization in the US to host professional pole dancing competitions based on a fair judging format.

At the time of 2008 there were no credible pole competitions in the US that determined the winner by a professional score system. Competitions were often held in clubs, where the crowd of applause determined the winner. While this didn’t seem fair, the USPDF decided to present pole dancing as a competitive sport in a theater setting where people could truly appreciate the art of pole dancing.

In the USPDF competitions, all competitors perform two rounds: one compulsory routine and one optional routine in which they score points based on a 10.0-scale determined by judges. Whoever scores the highest points combined wins the competition.

All USPDF judges have extensive backgrounds in gymnastics, fitness, professional dance and choreography, and aerial work. USPDF judges are also thoroughly educated and trained by the board of USPDF.

USPDF consider pole dancing a sensual athletic dance form that demands coordination, flexibility, sensuality, creativity, individual style, and physical strength. All these elements are equally important in USPDF competitions.

Competitors come from various backgrounds all over the US. All competitors train at the level of professional athletes and dancers, which include a rigid schedule of pole practice, dance classes, stretch and flexibility classes, coaching and choreographers. They also work with additional professional service such as nutritionists and massage therapists.

USPDF appreciate the presence and hard work of the USPDF competitors and applicants, and is working to create more opportunities for pole dancers to compete in the future.

In addition to competitions, USPDF also runs an Affiliated Business Program for studios and an individual USPDF Membership program.

The Founders

Anna Grundstrom
Anna has a background as a professional dancers, starting back at performing arts school in Sweden, later moved to New York to attend the Dance Certification program at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, and studied various dance forms at Broadway Dance Center, Peridance, and Dance Space in NYC. She’s performed at theater productions, conventions and independent dance companies in NYC and Sweden.
She also has a background in media and production.

Wendy Traskos
Wendy has an extensive background in fitness. She competed in gymnastics as a child and later competed in fitness. She won several Fitness America Pageants, such as ESPN Fitness America Series Champion (’96 and ’97), and NPC Eastern USA Fitness Champion (’98). Her success sparked a career in the Professional Training industry.

Wendy is the owner of New York Pole Dancing, which opened in October 2005, and has since opened one location in Kalamazoo, MI, and White Plains, NY.

In addition to being a business consultant for pole dance studios in the US and abroad, Wendy co-founded the USPDF endorsed pole dance certification and education program, Climb & Spin, Inc.