Meet Our Pole and Aerial fitness team
aileen Creagh
Owner/Instructor
Aileen experienced the life-changing power of pole dancing and aerial arts in 2013. Since childhood through college and into her first pregnancy, Aileen was a gymnast and lifelong dancer. Though she holds a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology, Aileen spent most of her adult life as a full-time mother to her five kids. In 2013, Aileen lost 75 pounds and discovered pole dancing on a whim when a friend invited her to a local class. To say it was not what she expected is a gross understatement. The confidence, strength, and friendship she found helped her maintain her health, confidence, peace, and happiness. By 2014, she was an elevated ED, FlyGym certified instructor, and gold medal competitor (levels 1 and 2).
Aileen finds tremendous joy in both her dancing and the strength and confidence she sees in her students and fellow pole athletes. In 2019, she started conversing with fellow and former students, instructors, and studio owners about opening a brand-new aerial studio in Stamford, CT. As of August 2020, the studio became a reality and opened for in-person classes despite the COVID-19 pandemic! Besides her children, it is the happiest thing she ever did.
In addition to her elevatED Pole 1 and FlyGym certifications, Aileen is a certified and licensed Liquid Motion 1.0 and Heels instructor.
Personally, Aileen's friends, students, and fellow aerial athletes know her for her purple hair, her love of cupcakes and sparkly things, her 2 rescue dogs, and her eternal refusal to act her age.
She is committed to a happy life for herself and her children and as many hours in the studio with her friends and students as possible!
Elin Waterston
Instructor
Elin grew up in the dance world, starting Ballet at age 3. She studied many dance styles, including jazz, lyrical, theater, highland, Latin, ballroom, and belly dance. In 2008, Elin began practicing yoga, which complemented her dancing - each discipline improving the other. The concept of combining elements of dance, yoga, and aerial arts led her to Aerial Yoga and Rope Wall Yoga.
Elin's interest in movement, anatomy, alignment, and functional mobility is apparent in her classes. She believes keeping the body healthy and moving as it is designed to move is of the utmost importance. This belief led her to study Yin and Thai Yoga Bodywork and add therapeutic elements to her teaching skills.
Elin loves the freedom and joyfulness that all movement styles provide and the movement's ability to change and empower people. She is an avid student and teacher and likes to find fresh, creative ways to approach her practice. She is happy to share her love of movement with her students.
Elin holds the following certifications: Om Factory Aerial Yoga, 200HR E-RYT® Vinyasa Yoga, YACEP®, Grounded Aerial™ Bungee Dance, Fly Gym Aerial Fitness, Climb&Spin® Pole Dance, LaBlast® Ballroom Fitness, Matt Phippen 30 Hour TT, Biff Mithoefer Yin TT, Shai Plonski Thai Yoga Bodywork TT.
Additionally, she is the founder of Luna Aerial™ (aerial yoga teacher training program). And if all of this isn't enough, she is a brand Ambassador for Altar Ego (15% discount code end1212) and Svelte Belle (20% discount code Elin).
Paula Ditimi
Instructor
Paula has been involved in aerial arts for 11 years of pole fitness and 7 years of lyra. She walked through her first pole studio for fun and loved how it challenged her. Paula started teaching pole to pay for her pole addiction. She was taking classes 6 days a week when she bought a pole for her home, but in-person instruction was different. That is when she was presented with an opportunity to teach that changed her. Paula enjoyed poling through both pregnancies and says moving through her pregnancy was the only time her body felt good.
Paula is an Xpert Pole certified instructor. Her favorite aerial moment is watching a newbie fall in love with pole.
"Dance is my therapy. If you catch me in my zone with my eyes closed, whatever you see at that moment, I won't be able to do it again, so make sure you're recording!"
Jeni Janover
Instructor
Jeni Janover is the passionate founder and owner of Liquid Motion®. She is known for her highly technical but attainable and entertaining teaching approach. People flock to Jeni's classes because of her long list of credentials and her students' success rate. Her approach is always as follows: safety, education, and fun. Jeni believes that actual knowledge of one's body and understanding how to apply proper techniques gives students the power to find individuality in their dancing.
Jeni describes her style of dancing and teaching as a combination of science, logic, life, love, sex, and raw emotion, not to mention experience. She believes that knowledge, exploration, and education are the keys to bringing this ever-growing unconventional aerial and dance community to the forefront of modern culture.
Dominique Urso
Instructor
Dominique has been involved in pole fitness for 8 years. She was a competitive gymnast when she was younger, and after college, she was looking for exercise other than just the gym, a place where she could make new friends who shared the same interests. Dominque started teaching in 2013. She felt teaching would help her excel in our industry, network with other successful women, and build her confidence. She claims she is shy (introverted), although she might not come off that way.
Dominque has many memorable moments in her aerial journey, but a standout memory happened at one of her competitions. She blanked out 3/4 of the way through her routine and had to freestyle the rest. It was the first time she felt like she had failed, which happened again the following competition. After that, she learned that nothing goes how it's supposed to on stage, so success is how you recover and make it work in the moment.
One of Dominique's favorite aerial moments was her first competition at the Atlantic Pole Competition by the Pole Sport Organization. "I don't know why, but I had the most confidence. Maybe it was a beginner thing."
Outside the studio, Dominique owns Aerial Dancewear, is a designer/illustrator in the beauty and fashion industries, and is a dog mom. Also, those who know her know how much she loves to eat! Orchids are her favorite flower.
Dominique holds pole certifications from Xpert & elevatEd.
Ariella Rahbani
Instructor
Ariella joins EAF's fabric team, teaching both aerial and mat yoga. She said: "I have been practicing yoga for 13 years and teaching for 4. I have been practicing aerial yoga for 4 years and am preparing for 3. I got into aerial yoga after my 200-hour yoga training. I was looking for more ways to deepen my practice and fell in love with aerial yoga. I became certified through Om Factory and have been teaching ever since!
I started teaching because I realized that the aerial aspect accompanied my yoga training perfectly, and I wanted to share my passion for aerial with other students.
I own Rose Yogi LLC, my own yoga and wellness brand. I have my 200 hr RYT certification from Yoga Culture, aerial yoga certification through Om Factory, silks certification from Air Temple Arts, 20 hours of Flexologist training for one-on-one assisted training, 20 hours of Pilates mat certification from Equinox Inc., and I am currently finishing up my master's degree to become a Nutritionist.
My favorite aerial moment is seeing the look on a student's face when they have finally stuck a new move/transition/pose that they had been working on for a while and seeing the proud look over their face.
"I love to dance, travel, be around good people and energy, and let those times roll."
Amy
Instructor
Amy Cappelli started her pole/floor-work journey as an EAF student just a year and a half ago. Through rigorous training, unwavering dedication, and sheer hard work, she has become a Licensed Liquid Motion® floor-work and Liquid Motion® Pole Instructor.
Her certifications include CPR/AED certification and qualifications in Liquid Motion® 1.0 and Liquid Motion® Pole.
Amy expresses her passion for teaching and utilizing the Liquid Motion® methodology. She cites its ability to equip individuals of all levels with the essential skillset for enhancing body awareness and strength through seamless, sensual movement. She values the methodology's capacity to allow her to express herself fully and foster creativity. Moreover, she emphasizes how Liquid Motion® provides individuals the tools to freestyle confidently.
Amy is driven by her passion and determination to empower others to access safe and sensual movement through theory, creativity, and, most importantly, enjoyment.
Kana
Though Kana began pole dancing in 2022, movement has been a central part of her life since childhood: She was a competitive gymnast, cheerleader, and collegiate burlesque dancer. In the first half of 2023, she completed the Teacher Training Program at Body & Pole, became ElevatED Levels 1 & 2 certified, and completed Marlo Fisken's Invert Ready Program. She became a pole and flexibility instructor in the summer of 2023.
As a dancer, Kana chases the sensation of dancing "with" the pole rather than on it. As an instructor, she loves witnessing lightbulb moments when students understand and implement a concept that shapes their movement. She strives to provide dancers with a grounding and supportive presence as their newfound strengths emerge.
Outside of her pole life, Kana enjoys gardening, is a volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, and has dreams of eventually becoming a home birth midwife.
Liz Bohan
In 2009, Liz took her first pole class at a bachelorette party & immediately bought a pole, but learning was slow. While still in her previous career, a friend gave her an article about Jeni Janover, creator of Liquid Motion & one of your fabulous new instructors! Liz contacted her, and in Sept 2012, she began classes and her obsession with dancing in the air.
In 2013, Liz became Elevated Education certified to teach pole, and a few months later, she found Lyra & aerial hammock, now engrossing herself in the aerial world. Liz is self-taught and represents 4 dance, aerial & yoga studios throughout CT/NY.
Growing up, Liz danced as much as possible with friends & had an 8-year go-go dancing career working for various DJs in the Tristate. "It was the best job ~ a true ambassador of fun." This solidified her love for moving, but pole & aerials helped elevate Liz to make the shapes with her body the way she imagines is possible.
Liz came to pole as a way to heal & express herself ~ dancing has always been her medium for exerting excess energy and giving her life. Liz is interested in the brain & body, the mechanics of massage therapy modalities, laughing, and gardening & has a goal to feed as many people as her yard allows.
"Teaching dance is one of the most rewarding careers. I most enjoy helping students do things they didn't think were possible, and that's encouraging. I'm honored to be a part of the amazing staff at Empowered AF". 💜
Wendy
With a journey of 25 years and 20 of those devoted to the art of pole dancing, her passion for pole fitness has been a constant guiding force. In 2005, they made history by establishing NY Pole, New York City's inaugural pole fitness studio, pioneering a movement to revolutionize the fitness industry.
Their introduction to pole dancing dates back to 1996 when she first experienced its transformative power while dancing in a club. After a brief hiatus from '98 to '03, they embarked on a journey of sharing their love for pole fitness by starting to teach out of their apartment in 2003. Teaching became their calling as they aimed to empower women through the remarkable benefits of pole dancing – not only as a form of exercise but also as a means to embrace confidence and strength.
Throughout her career, Wendy has achieved numerous milestones, including competing in ESPN Fitness America and NPC competitions in the USA, where they clinched multiple titles. In 2008, she established Climb & Spin Pole Dance Education, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at pole instructor certification. The following year, they founded the US Pole Dance Federation (USPDF), further solidifying their commitment to advancing the pole fitness community.
Wendy's dedication to excellence is underscored by a comprehensive array of certifications, including ACE group fitness, Antigravity Fundamentals, and Climb & Spin Pole Dance and Fitness certifications. While their CPR certification lapsed in May 2020, they are committed to renewing it in the coming months.
Reflecting on her journey, Wendy says it's challenging to pinpoint a singular highlight. ''Every moment spent teaching pole classes, regardless of the student's skill level, is immensely fulfilling.''
However, one standout memory remains etched in her mind – the electrifying debut of the US Pole Dance Championship (USPDF) on March 15, 2009. Witnessing Jenyne Butterfly being crowned the first-ever US Pole Dance Champion in a sold-out theater amidst thunderous applause and stomping feet left them with a profound sense of accomplishment. It was a moment that affirmed the impact of pole fitness on a global scale, igniting a spark of pride and fulfillment within Wendy.
TAMMY
Tammy began her journey as a child who loved dancing, taking tap, jazz, and hip hop dance lessons. She also loved the art of gymnastics, being a big fan of the stunning movements and acrobats. In 2014, she started to take aerial yoga classes and found a new love. Aerial quickly became her passion! Soon, she became a certified flying yoga instructor.
Then, after several years of being a pole dancing student, in 2021, she got certified in Climb and Spin pole dancing.
She truly believes in the benefits of Aerial Yoga and the strength and beauty it takes to learn pole dancing. She encourages everyone to feel empowered during class, encouraging students not to give up when it gets challenging. When we move the body in new ways, we can learn more about who we are and what we are truly capable of.
Tammy is also certified in Angel Intuitive Therapy and is a Reiki Master.
She works full-time for World Wrestling Entertainment but loves reading Tarot/Oracle cards and talking about astrology.
Let's hang upside down together and bust a move on the dance floor!
GOSIA
Polish native, I moved to US in 2022. I’ve been having a major crush on pole dance for 7 years now. My first outside leg hang was pictured in 2017, but pole consumed my life since the pandemic. In class we are focusing on proper technique, lines, contact points, tricks and smooth transitions. As a mover with no sport background, I am a big advocate of conditioning and building proper strength fundamentals. I stay open to all styles of pole but my heart beats faster for static pole rotations and clean dynamic tricks.
Privately: 2 whippets, vegetarian, law degree, hatred towards immigration procedures, amazing human being for a husband. And pole. Always pole.
2022 Pole Instructor Certification from Extreme Pole Sport Poland
2023 Liquid Motion 1.0
+classes and workshops with over 50 coaches in Europe and US (pole dance, pole sport, heels, stretching, calisthenics)
2023 1st place PSO Northeast Championship Lvl. 3
Alex
Alex has been immersed in aerial arts since 2010, transitioning to teaching in 2012. Alex expanded into Lyra, starting with the pole, and explored silks, hammocks, aerial moons, spirals, hand balancing, and mild contortion. Self-taught in most disciplines, Alex's versatility is showcased through various aerial forms, with a particular fondness for untaped lyra.
Despite not naturally inclined towards athleticism or dance, discovering pole and lyra resonated deeply with Alex, instilling a sense of belonging and empowerment as a dancer. Alex's style emphasizes fluidity and organic movement.
Becoming a teacher has amplified Alex's passion for aerial arts, allowing for the breakdown of intricate tricks and combinations for students. Outside of aerial pursuits, Alex enjoys spending time with their dogs, engaging in outdoor activities, and crafting endeavors during her free time.
Accro Brandon
Instructor
Brandon started pole dancing in 2008 when he started dating a girl who happened to be a pole and aerial performer. Little did he know it would lead him deep down this path! In 2011, he started competing professionally.
Shortly after Brandon started doing competitions, he moved back to San Diego and started teaching at his local studio. As he began to travel for competitions, he would also hang around and do workshops at local studios or locations of friends in the community.
Some of Brandon's best moments on stage have been with other individuals, but as he started to believe in himself and get paying gigs, international contracts, and working for Cirque-style companies!
Brandon holds certifications from Acro Yoga Montreal and is a Liquid Motion Master Trainer.
One of Brandon's personal favorite aerial experiences was cruising the Caribbean with Norwegian Cruise Lines doing aerial and pole.
"I Hope to meet you all soon. I love to have fun, train hard, learn new things, and pass all that along to my students!"
Contact us to know more about our talented instructors.
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