MEET THE INSTRUCTORS

Kirsten Gerding has been teaching Pole since 2009. She is the Artistic Director of the Bay Area's all pole company, Flux Vertical Theatre, and is a principal soloist, known as "Mz.K", with the amazing Vau De Vire Society. In 2014 Kirsten got drawn into the world of pole competitions and has won several national awards including an international title for Pole theatre Mexico Classique (2018) . Not only a Pole Artist, Kirsten has toured with Jesus Christ Superstar, A Chorus Line and Cabaret. With such an extreme background in dance, theater and Pilates, her teaching style tends to be both challenging and fun, emphasizing the importance of core strength as it relates to creating a strong and resilient body with flow and grace. She is extremely grateful to be blessed with the opportunity to share her knowledge and experience with others every day doing what she truly loves to do!

Babraham Lincoln, our smallest national treasure, is a burlesque dancer, costumer, and visual artist based in Santa Cruz, CA. Her offbeat beauty mixed with her Warhol-esque edge and outlandish comedic timing has left audiences from San Francisco to Berlin begging for the Gettysburg Undress since 2010.  She is one half of Two Natural Redheads as well as the co-founder of the Santa Cruz School of Burlesque and Best Coast Burlesque.

At the age of three Leah was enrolled in her first ballet class and from then on she grew up with a bun on her head and pointe shoes thrown over her shoulders. It wasn't until four years past academia that she found herself on stage singing and acting along with her dancing. Overnight she became a "triple threat", starring in the production of the Rocky Horror Picture Show as Janet. Not just a "triple threat" anymore, she decided to run away with the circus and currently performs with the Bay Area company the Vau De Vire Society. In May of 2013 Leah saw her first pole show and fell in love with the apparatus. A particular performer inspired her to use the pole as a playful and powerful dance partner and to break the negative stereotypes associated with the history of pole dancing as a symbol of sex. She has won several Pacific Pole Championship awards and performs regularly throughout the Bay Area. Leah is a performer by night and a photographer by day. She owns her own company, Elle Aime Photography, and loves to capture women as their most glamorously beautiful selves, specializing in boudoir photography.

BIO TBA

A lover of all things slinky, Sade Symone had been dancing all her life. Poling for 6+ years and performing with Flux since 2019, she brings musicality and flow above all with killer style and unique technique. Sade’s main goal is to bring out the sexy in everything she does, come along and find your inner seductress.

BIO TBA

Vogue is characterized by model-like poses, inspired by Vogue Magazine, integrated with angular, linear and rigid arm, leg and body movements. The style of dance arose from Harlem ballrooms in the early 1930s. This dance style was originally called “performance” and evolved into the more intricate and illusory form that is now called “vogue-ing”. There are six elements of Vogue-ing: hands, spins, catwalk, duck walk, dips and floor performance. Not only will you learn the history of Vogue, but you will receive a workout. Jocquese will break down each element of vogue, each has specific movements that will strengthen and tone different parts of the body.

**All Levels ** Students should wear comfy clothes and shoes, and bring a water bottle.

Sydni Deveraux "The Glorious and Golden Glamazon" is a 2x award winner at the Burlesque Hall of Fame (Las Vegas, Nevada) and International Headlining performer with well over a thousand shows near and far under her shimmy belt. Hailing from Seattle, WA but now a Bay Area babe- Sydni teaches burlesque lessons both privately online and is an instructor at the beautiful Flux Vertical Theatre in Berkeley, CA. Sydni also holds over a decade of experience in production and mc’ing (Seattle, NYC, SF and more) and now runs that side of things under 2:31 Productions with her partner, Seven aka Butch Charming. 

A pinup and model since 2004, performing on stages since 2005, teaching since 2008 and producing various showcases since 2010, Sydni has spent almost 20 years consumed by the experience of performing divine musicality and powerful femininity. DivineDeveraux.com IG: @divine.deveraux & @231eventproductions 

Johnny Nuriel is a renowned Performer who is best known for his captivating stage presence. Johnny is skilled in a wide variety of burlesque/circus/and drag arts. As a teacher and mentor, Johnny encourages students to find their inner strength and power and channel it through their performance. He has been a featured presenter at BurlyCon for the past two years. He, along with his partner, Isaiah Esquire, continues to break down barriers and boundaries in burlesque. One fun fact about Johnny is that he is almost entirely self-taught. He, therefore, calls upon his students to break the mold and trust their instincts on stage, teaching from a natural and empowering vantage.

BIO TBA

Isaiah Esquire has been teaching dance since 2003. Since that time he has worked at such institutions as, Arthur Murray Ballroom Dance studio, Polaris Contemporary Dance Theatre, and many more. He's also featured choreography in numerous music videos, dance projects, and burlesque shows since 2007. Isaiah is best known for his emotive/sexy/powerful choreography and sassy heel workshops.  As a performer, He has been internationally awarded titles in the art of dance and burlesque. Students who attend Isaiah's class will be encouraged to push their boundaries and expand their movement. He offers an engaging and interactive class where you are empowered to speak up and ask questions to increase your knowledge and confidence.