At Athena Vertical Dance we pride ourselves on having knowledgeable instructors. All of our instructors have spent years training in Pole Fitness, Lyra, Silks or Dance as well as many extensive hours working with different spotting techniques and injury prevention. We also pride ourselves on keeping a safe space for everyone and have a strict no bully policy. We are also LGBTQ friendly. Please let us know what pronouns you prefer if we are using the wrong one. With all new students we ask what their preferred pronouns are however please correct us if we make a mistake.
Instructor & Owner: Jane Carter has been a student of pole dance since 2009. She was drawn to pole fitness as an activity that could compliment her marathon training. She was hooked from the very first spin and has been addicted ever since. She brings her years of yoga experience to help compliment her pole instruction. Jane spent many months studying extensively with Noelle Wood as well as traveling through out the country to study with many of the top pole professionals including but not limited to Brittani Ptylar, Josiah Bad Ass Grant, Lou Landers, Steven Retchless, Samantha Star, Phoenix Kazree, Sashja Lee, Mary Kolaciski, Jamilla Deville, Fawnia Dietrich, Flying Laura, Natasha Wang, Nadia Sharif, Michelle Stanek, Michula Nunez, Pantera Blacksmith, Kim Jordan, and Derick Pierson. And is currently certified by Jeni Janover as a Liquid Motion instructor. She has been full time teaching since 2014 and loves the find new combos and ways to put things together Jane loves to challenge not only her students but also herself. She is a firm believe her “doing something that scares you” Jane has competed in many pole competitions around the US including Portland, Las Vegas, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle, Edmonton Canada as well as Turin Italy and Reykjavik Iceland Currently she is training and preparing for POSA 202o World Championship. You can see her the second Thursday of every month at Julias on Broadway where she is a cast member of Magnifique as well as the surrounding Tacoma and Seattle area. You can find more information on Jane Air at www.janeair.net
Current Awards:
2019
*Aerial Olympics All Star Specialty National Qualifier
* 1st Place USPSF Naitonals Elite Masters (3 time National Champion) Qualified for POSA Worlds 2020
* Pole Theatre Canada Qualifier Professional Drama
* 2nd Place Aerialympics Alternative Apparatus Category
* 1st Place Pole Championship Series Arnold Classic – Masters Level
2018
* 4th Place POSA World Championship Masters Level Turin Italy
* Qualified for Pole Theatre Canada Professional Drama
* 1st Place USPSF United Pole Sports Federation Pole Ar Elite Masters (second year in a row) – Qualifying for 2019 POSA Worlds In Russia
2017
* 1st Place USPSF United Pole Sports Federation Pole Ar Elite Masters – Qualifying for 2018 POSA Worlds In Itlay
* 2nd Place North American Pole Dance (NAPDC) International Masters
*1st Place Pole Sport Organization (NWPSO) Level 5 Exotic Masters
*Qualified for Pole Theatre Iceland Professional Comedy
Jane has also performed all over Washington State and recently in Canada. She has performed at the Tacoma Cutura Cabaret and at The Can Can in Seattle with the Vertical Cabernet and multiple times with The Bordeaux Project as well as a cast member in their three month run of Wine Flight where she performed as the American Woman (California Wine) and another three month long run with the Bordeaux Projects Femme Fatal where she played Helen of Troy. Her performing highlights include performing for USC at both of their big events Paradiso at the Columbia River Gorge and FreakNight at the WaMu theater on her lollipop; as well as performing at The Showbox along side Holly Bordeaux and the Suicide Girls.
Jane is also a cast member of Glitterati since 2015 now know as Tacoma Cabaret. Performing in their monthly Drag/Variety show which runs the second Saturday of every month. Jane loves to be behind the curtain as well and put together the sold out show The Merry Go Round Broke Down as well as multiple studio shows and student showcases. Jane is available for performances as well as private instruction. Jane is available by email at jane at athenaverticaldance.com
Pole Instructor Mireya Lace (CeeCee)
Mireya Lace (CeeCee) is a NAYS, NCAA, and AAU certified basketball coach and a teacher who turned to pole arts as a way to gain confidence in herself and comfortably in her femininity. She became addicted to pole after realizing it helped build muscle tone, upper body strength, and a strong self-confidence. She in currently studying under pole instructor and Athena Vertical Dance owner Jane Carter, and continues to build upon her pole knowledge by participated in workshops whenever she can. Over the past year she has studied under international professional pole instructors Lou Landers from Australia, world competitor Brittani Ptylar from the US and dance instructor Kim Jordan from Brazil.
Mireya loves to teach her pole students how to accomplish tricks, spins, and floor work while helping them gain confidence in their presence while on the pole and get their “sexy back.” She loves to challenge and encourage her students while having fun and enjoying the art of pole. She has competed in the 2015 and 2016 PSO NorthWest Pole Championships and has performed at Athena Vertical Dance and with AB Entertainment, Glitterati and Tacoma Cabaret Shes currently working on her next routine for our next show as well as her next PSO Emerald Championship in March.
Melissa – Pole Instructor
Melissa discovered pole using a groupon in January of 2011. She was immediately hooked, finding pole both challenging and fun. She did her very first routine as a baby poler in the Spring of that year. She came to pole with little athletic background, only a love of dance and entertainment, ever since it has inspired her by being a creative outlet, physical challenge, and tons of fun. Melissa attended a one day intensive at “Miss Indigo Blue’s Academy of Burlesque” and took a workshop with Seattle’s Burlesque troupe “Stripped Screw” in 2012 with performers who continue to inspire to this day. She discovered a love for aerial silks in 2012. Melissa performed at pride 2013 fabric doubles and pole, and 2014 pole. She trained and performed with “Gig Harbor Aerial Fitness” 2014-2018 doing fabric, rope, and singing, when not performing with this troupe she often lent her skills as a rigger, stage manager, or announcer. Melissa also supported local talent with the troupe formerly named “Glitterati” as stage manager, spotlight holder, door person, and guest performer/singer. She continues to perform with “Tacoma Cabaret” and at her home studio “Athena Vertical dance”. She has taken many workshops over the years with talented instructors including: Brittnai Pytlar 2019 & 2018, Josiah Grant 2018, Suwasit 2017, Phoenix Kazree 2015, Oliver Pavick 2015 & 2014, Kim Jordan 2015, Samantha Star 2014. She continues to study under the fine tutelage of instructors Jane Air, Yoanna, Meriya, Senora, and Mae Bee. At PSO Northwest Melissa brought home the gold in Exotic L2 Master 2018, and Entertainment L2 Master 2019.
She is continually inspired by pole and the loving community she has found at Athena Vertical Dance, a truly inclusive studio where warmth and acceptance is fostered. Melissa goes out of her way to meet students where they are at on their pole journey and works to support their goals. She is a firm believer that pole and fitness should be fun, challenging, and is an individual sport which can become whatever you choose to make it (competitive, creative, sensual). Melissa has a quirky sense of humor and embraces her inner nerd, she uses that creativity on stage, and teaching with a light hearted sense of humor. Pole brings her joy, and who knows it could do the same for you!
Todd Rogers – Aerial Instructor
Meet Todd Rogers. He has been doing silks for 8 years and instructing for 6 . He just recently got into straps and is a NASM certified personal trainer and nutrition consultant as well as currently working on many more certifications. He is a great source of knowledge and never hesitates to share his expertise when asked . So if you have a goal in your Aerial, pole, or fitness Journey he would love to help you out. If you stick around the studio for long you probably meet his adorable daughter Zoe who loves the studio and is always climbing