West Coast Regional
Caterina Gennaro, CA
www.poleates.com, www.caterinagennaro.comCaterina owner of Poleates pole dancing studio in Westlake Village, California, is a former model and competitive gymnast, a world-renowned underwater photographer and shark diver, plus a Discovery Channel television personality and mother of twins. This athletic, multi-talented pole dancer has competed at international competitions like Pole-A-Polooza 2008 in Las Vegas and the USPDF Championships in New York City in 2009, and she continues to promote the sport at numerous Los Angeles area venues.
Zoraya Judd, UT
Zoraya is a 1/2 Argentine, 1/2 Swedish, and mother of 2. With the help of her husband, she owns a marketing company, Atlas Fitness, distributor of nutritional supplements and teaches Pole Fitness classes. Being an extremely driven person, her love for pole grows every time she sees a move she is yet to accomplish. She has countless role models in the pole world that continue to take her breath away.
Nadia Sharif, CA
www.xpolesitions.comNadia comes from a strong background of the arts. She has trained in Jazz, Ballet and Gymnastics and was also a performer at the Millennium in Motion Performing Arts Studio in El Monte, CA. She was introduced to the magnificent world of Pole Dancing in 2007. Since then she has devoted her spare time to learn the techniques that are required to perform on a competitive level. Nadia is exploding with excitement about being a part of the pole fitness movement!
Mina, CA
www.youtube.com/uslagirlMina comes from a background in Dance and Gymnastics. She has been Pole Dancing for 2 years. She brings grace, strength, and flexibility to the pole. As a proud member of the ‘Vertigirls’, Mina performs in showcases all over Los Angeles and was recently featured in the LA Times. With a degree in Communications from UCLA, Mina’s resume includes experience in journalism and marketing.
Mina teaches pole classes at Allure and Evolve Dance studios in Los Angeles.
Faith Daniels, CA
www.poleates.netFaith is a classically trained ballerina with 18 years of dance experience. Santa Barbara Festival Ballet Company was the start. Faith quit ballet due to serious injury. She needed to apply her artistic energy. She worked in the gym industry for a few years as a personal trainer. Then she found pole dancing as a true love. She's been pole dancing for two years at POLEATES and instructing for a year. She has also expanded to the ariel silk world.
Natasha, CA
www.thepolegarage.com, www.bespun.comNatasha started pole dancing four years ago. She’s trained at S Factor, The Pole Garage and Be Spun and never imagined she’d be competing and on the road to instructing other women to “let loose their corporate hair.” A lover of creative expression, Natasha is also a published poet who comes from a family of creatives/athletes (father is three-time U.S. champ in martial arts, mother was a journalist). Natasha lives in Los Angeles with her fiancé and three cats.
Elle, CA
www.youtube.com/elleshadow
Described as bringing an other worldly quality to her dancing, Elle integrates her pole work with the flexibility of her yoga practice, her strength as an all-around athlete, and the sensuality of her training on sacred and mystical movements she inherited from a Toltec master. With attention to form, light, music, and movement, Elle makes of each dance a fusion between elements of light and dark, bringing together her passion, experience, and beauty to offer her audience an unforgettable experience.
Lindsay, AZ
My name is Lindsay, I am 25 years old. I have been pole dancing for 6 years and teaching pole dancing for 4 years. I have trained many girls for competitions, but never competed myself...I guess there's a first time for everything! Good luck to all competitors!
Amber Richard, CA
www.poletential.com
Amber has been a ballet dancer since the age of five, trained following the Royal Academy of Dance method, and competed throughout high school. She pursued her love of dance at the University of California Irvine, graduating with a BA in Dance. She is currently continuing her education in the field of physical therapy and fitness training. She loves teaching and enjoys the mix of artistic expression, confidence boost, and fitness workout that pole dancing
provides.
Estee Zakar, CA
www.ESTEEZAKAR.comBorn in Los Angeles and moved to Denver, CO, to receive my MA in Social Work. Pole dancing makes me to combine my love for gymnastics and dance into a self- expressive art, which I both teach and perform. I’m the spokes model, fitness demonstrator for X-Pole USA, and sponsored by Mighty Grip. I believe pole dancing allows women to bond into a community pioneering a great athletic sport and advances the art of pole dance. I am thrilled to be a part of this journey!
Lisa Wilhoit, CA
www.bespun.com, www.youtube.com/user/LMWILHOITLisa is an instructor at BeSpun in Hollywood, CA. Lisa began her pole dancing career in 2007, and focuses on combining strength, grace and flexibility. With a background in gymnastics, professional acting and regular yoga practice, Lisa has been able to incorporate her passions for performing and fitness into a new art and sport. She’s excited to be part of the 2009 USPDF West Coast Regional Competition.
Leigh Ann Orsi, CA
www.bespun.com
Leigh is a Southern California native who grew up on the stages of Hollywood as a child actress. “I have always been an athlete. I’ve competed in springboard diving, circus arts, and kickboxing. I bring my background in entertainment, acrobatics, and martial arts to the pole room.” She started pole dancing at 19 and opened her own studio, BeSpun, at 25. She currently lives and works in Hollywood, Ca with her husband Chris Reilly, former professional fighter and owner of the boys' gym next door, www.LegendsMMA.com.
