London

Tempest Rose is 26 and teaches burlesque classes, pole dancing parties, Dirty Dancing parties and can-can hen parties in London
Different day job: Professional burlesque performer and core-member of The Kitten Club - burlesque cabaret troupe.
What do you love most about dancing: When I first discovered burlesque I was blown away. Here was an artform that allowed me to be sexy, funny, use the skills I'd acquired over my 15 years as a performer and most importantly - express myself! The burlesque course is great because it gives women a space to expore all of these things, to build their confidence and have fun. The most important thing for me as a teacher and performer is to see the women grow to love something that I love and to see them taking the confidence and elegance acquired during the course out of the room into their lives and to feel happier and more comfortable with themselves.
Fave song to dance to: So many! Nasty Naughty Boy by Christina Aguilera, anything by Madonna and any sexy jazz.
Most embarrassing incident while teaching/performing: Any embarrassment can be overcome with confidence!!
Where you can find me: Scouting out beautiful lingerie, buying corsets in Camden, sipping martini's at Volupte, backstage at the New Players Theatre or haggling over the price of feathers. You can read more about my work at www.tempestrose.com or www.myspace.com/tempestroseburlesque

Emma is 34 and teaches pole dancing lessons, burlesque classes, hula hoop classes, can-can parties and cheerleading hen parties in London.
Hometown: London
Different day job: Fitness Instructor
How long have you been dancing: 7/8 years
What do you love most about dancing: It gives a real sense of freedom, fun and thanks to being a Super Dooper Hula Hooper I can eat what I want when I want.
Why did you started teaching dance: I started teaching because I loved it so much I wanted to share my enthusiasm with others - especially girls that don't feel very confident - I am queen of the cheat and will find ways to make the most difficult trick easier!
Why you love teaching at Polestars: I love being a teacher for Polestars because I am so passionately addicted to pole dancing, burlesque and Hula Hooping that my enthusiasm rubs off on my students and they become addicts as well!! We Polestars are a friendly bunch.
Fave song to pole dance to: Finest Dreams by Richard X and Kelis or Super Massive Black Hole by Muse
Fave song to burlesque dance to: Cry to Me by Solomon Burke or The Stripper by Hot Ferrari
Fave song to hoop to: Out of Space, Prodigy and I Remember, Deadmau5 especially with one of my amazing LED hoops.
Best dancing experience: Getting my girls onstage in Madam Jojos at the end of the first 3 burlesque intermediate courses - what a huge achievement! Some of them have gone on to become Burlesque performers in their own right- Excellent!  Also Fire Hooping, terrifying yet hugely addictive...
Best teaching moment: So many, probably watching the progression on all of the courses, seeing faces light up when a seemingly impossible trick suddenly works and students coming back because they have loved it and want more.
Most embarrassing teaching moment: A nipple tassle flew off while demonstrating nipple tassling on the burlesque course - definitely more tape required!
Celebrity crush: Joaquin Phoenix before he went all beardy and decided to become a rapper.
Hobbies other than dancing: Tried Parkour a couple of weeks ago and think that might be my next favourite thing.
Personal motto: Just Do It!
Where we can find you: Hooping it up at various places, especially my Monthly Saturday Hoop Club in Greenwich. Check out my website at www.love2hoopdance.co.uk or join my facebook group Love 2 Hoop Dance for more information.

Claire is 22 and teaches burlesque classes, pole dancing lessons, Dirty Dancing parties, cheerleading hen parties, Chicago parties and can-can parties in London.
How long you have been pole dancing: Nearly two years
The best thing about teaching with Polestars: Definately getting to learn new skills such as Burlesque and Can-Can and getting to teach those too.  It's so good when you finish teaching a party and everyone has had such a brilliant time that they don't want to stop!
Different day job: Office worker (how boring!)
Fave song to pole dance to: Pussycat dolls, Buttons or anything a bit cheeky with a good beat
Fave food: Bread and dip, simple but satisfying
Fave film: Ooooh, so many...Clueless has got to be up there!
Most embarrassing incident while pole dancing: Getting height fright when climbing to the top of the pole in Circle Bar for my interview! It doesn't look high till you're up there!!

Faye aka Bettsie Swallows is 25 and is created and choreographed all of Polestars musical threatre hen parties (Dirty Dancing, Grease and Chicago). She also teaches burlesque classes, pole dancing parties and can-can parties in London.
Hometown: Nottingham
Different day job: MD of Push Productions
How long have you been dancing: 22 years
What do you love most about dancing: Getting dressed up in costumes
Why did you started teaching dance: Beacuse I enjoy dancing so much and wanted to make a career out of something I love.
Why you love teaching at Polestars: Beacuse it's fun and exciting! And you get to meet lots of new people and have a laugh.
Fave song for pole dancing: Dirty Diana by Michael Jackson
Fave song to burlesque dance to: Fever
Fave hen party product and why: DIRTY DANCING:  Because it is fun, enjoyable and recreates your favourite moves from one of the most loved chick flicks of all times. The songs are brill and everyone knows them, and by the end, everyone really lets go and has a right laugh.
Best dancing experience: Dancng for the royals at 'The Royal Variety Show'
Best teaching moment: The end of the class, when everyone comments how much fun they've had! It's very satisfying knowing you make people happy.
Most embarrassing teaching moment: I embarass myself in nearly every class ha ha !!!!... but that's the great thing about teaching! The more you let yourself go the more fun it is!!!!
Most embarrassing pole moment: Falling off!
Most embarrassing burlesque moment: Not being able to get my corset off.
Hobbies other than dancing: Fashion, Music, Antiques
Where we can find you: At Push Productions, a fresh, innovative and dynamic approach to the performance industry. Working with some of the top talents within the entertainment industry, which in the past has included Nigel Lythgoe from ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ and Bradley Walsh at ‘The Royal Masonic Gala’ and performaning across the UK such as shows at Saddlers Wells or The Royal Albert Hall. Push has also worked with Alesha Dixon, Roisin Murphy, Kimberly Stewart and Girls Aloud. I love dance and teach at Danceworks. In the past I have taken master classes at Laban, Pineapple, The Italia Conti Academy of performing arts, Gymbox as well as being a judge at the Celebrity Dance competition In Arizona USA and held a one off master class for them at the Kimberly Lewis of dance. Please visit www.push-productions.com

Natasha aka Chilli Blush (for burlesque) or Fawziya (for belly dancing) is 31 and teaches belly dancing parties, burlesque classes, can-can parties, Dirty Dancing parties and cheerleading hen parties in London 
Different day job: EA/Operations Manager
What do you love most about dancing: I love how it makes me feel afterwards, and the fact it means I can eat what I want!
Why did you started teaching dance: Drunken friends begging me every time we went out to teach them, and then other teachers asking me to cover their classes. I started out privately and realised I enjoyed it even more than performing.
Why you love teaching at Polestars: Polestars gives me peace of mind that everything will be provided for and well organised. Plus, they're always introducing new, amazing products that I get to learn. I get paid to do something I love.
Fave song to pole dance to: I can't poledance for toffee, but hope to learn that later this year.
Fave song to burlesque dance to: Big Spender or Mannish Boy
Best dancing experience: Dancing with the Bedouin in Egypt, I was so nervous and it was such an honour. I was asked back as well so they must have enjoyed it too.
Best teaching moment: Teaching a friend a move that her previous teacher couldn't help her with.
Most embarrassing teaching moment: Being told to mind the step before going on stage...and then tripping straight over it on to the stage.
Most embarrassing burlesque moment: Demonstrating a move and then realising that my outfit was so tight I couldn't do it!
Hobbies other than dancing: Cooking food, eating food, growing food...
Where we can find you: I've been belly dancing for 10 years and as a result you may see me performing at various haflas and venues throughout the country, including www.planetegypt.co.uk  www.pinkbellydancing.com and www.jwaad.com/fantasia.htm as a solo act or as part of the troupe - 'Daughters of Hathor' for Dawn Harvey (aka Zenuba). I also perform and teach privately and I'm in the process of setting up my website so watch this space for video clips of me dancing and teaching.

Rose is 24 and teaches burlesque lessons, pole dancing classes and can-can hen parties in London.
Different day job: I work as an actress, singer, pianist and voice coach.
How long have you been dancing: I've been dancing since I was a kid, and started pole dancing about five years ago.
What do you love most about dancing: The freedom of expression, moving to music and performing.
Why did you started teaching dance: I used to work as a pole dancer, and then a couple of years played one in a show.  After getting into it again I decided I wanted to keep it up and continue improving, but didn't want to be a stripper, so I started teaching.
Why you love teaching at Polestars: It's amazing to see girls progress on the pole or develop their character through burlesque. It's also the most fun you can have staying fit!
Fave song to burlesque dance to: This might sound strange, but it's the James Bond theme. The first burlesque routine I choregraphed was an escape act to this song and I still love dancing to it!
Best dancing experience: Performing a dance piece in Edinburgh where I got to climb I really high pole every night and dance on top of a bar!
Best teaching moment: Always in week 5 of the pole course, helping everyone to go upside down is great!
Most embarrassing teaching moment: Whacking my foot against the bottom of a pole before the class!  Luckily one of the girls was a nurse so she helped me, but the co-teacher had to take the warm up that night!
Most embarrassing pole moment: I was performing on the pole one night and had a bit too much to drink... I climbed all the way to the top, was about to go upside down when I slid all the way down and landed on my bum... not a good look!
Most embarrassing burlesque moment: Last year a friend and I decided to perform a Christmas burlesque gig. I was dressed as an elf and all my friends came to watch... that was quite embarrassing!
Hobbies other than dancing: Music, theatre, books, cinema, art, nice food, holidays...

Julia aka Miss Electra Cute is 25 and teaches burlesque parties and Chicago parties in London
Different day job: Theatre Festival Producer
What do you love most about dancing: The feeling of performing a routine well
Why did you started teaching dance: For these style in particular, the confidence that it gives women I teach.
Why you love teaching at Polestars: I think the company has a great group of office staff and teachers and all companies are made or broken on the people who work for them
Best dancing experience: Choreographing and performing in Strippers & Gentlemen in Edinburgh 2008 -- all the five star reviews made all the hard work, which drew on everything I've ever learned about dance, totally worth it!
Best teaching moment: The moment when a student suddenly "gets" a move that they've been really struggling with -- huge sense of accomplishment for both them and me
Most embarrassing teaching moment: Having jeans rip across the bum in a street class -- teach me to work in jeans!
Most embarrassing pole moment: When I learnt to climb -- just couldn't do it for ages -- kept getting up, like, three inches and thinking, I must have got really high up and then realising I still couldn't do it!  I can now though :)
Most embarrassing burlesque moment: Having my corset get caught on the lace on my bra during a performance and having to rip it away -- not in a sexy way either!
Hobbies other than dancing: Hanging out with friends, reading, doing crosswords and... this is really geeky... World of Warcraft
Personal motto: "He attacked everything in life with a mix of extraordinary genius and naive incompetence, and it was often difficult to tell which was which"  -- Douglas Adams from Hitchhikkers Guide to the Galaxy -- but I think he was just talking about me and got the pronoun wrong. 
Where we can find you: You can check me out on my YouTube Channel MissElectraCute -- posts coming soon!

Kate is 30 and teaches pole dancing hen parties and can-can parties in London.
Different day job: Personal trainer.
How long have been dancing: I have been pole dancing about a year and have been teaching with Polestars since March 2009.
Why did you start teaching dance: I started to teach as I wanted to keep on pole dancing and wanted to show other people what fun and confidence you can get out of it and how great it is at keeping you fit
Why you love teaching at polestars: Polestars are brilliant always coming up with new fabulous classes. They have helped me come out of my comfort zone and take on new things I'd never thought I'd do!
Fave song to pole dance to: Britney Spears Toxic.
Best teaching moment: When you see a student go upside down unassisted for the first time, the happiness and amazement in their face, you can't beat it!
Most embarrassing teaching moment: I fell off a bosu while demonstrating an excercise to a client in the gym! I've learnt to only teach a move i definately know i can do myself!
Most embarrassing pole moment: Probably when I was doing an inverted crucifix and one of my boobs half coming out! Sports bras are definately the way forward!
Hobbies other than dancing: Kickboxing and Pilates.
Where we can find you: I am a freelance personal trainer at Topnotch Health club in Blackfriars. I train people for weight loss, muscle strength and toning and sports specific goals. I also do circuit style training and pad work in the park. Please check out www.katelamb.co.uk for more information.

Katy is 28 and teaches burlesque hen parties, pole dancing parties and can-can parties in London.
How long you have been pole dancing: 2 years
Why you started teaching: Pole dancing is so much fun and I love sharing it with others, it's really cool to watch girls confidence grow and help them explore their flirtateous sides!
The best thing about teaching with Polestars: We don't take ourselves to seriously, it's all about fun.
Different day job: Office Manager
Favourite song to pole dance to:  Two Hearts, Kylie Minogue
Favourite food: Honey
Favourite film: Labyrinth
Most embarrassing incident while pole dancing: I was doing a handstand onto the pole during my first ever performance. I managed to miss the pole and fall flat on my back. Very embarrassing!

Liza is 31 years old and teaches burlesque classes, pole dancing lessons and can-can hen parties in London .
Why you started teaching:  I started teaching because I had been teaching fitness and dance for 5 years and wanted to try something new. I also believes that all women can be sexy and wants to teach that in her pole dancing lessons!
The best thing about teaching with Polestars: They're so friendly, efficient yet have a lovely laidback attitude and have made me feel really welcome. Also getting to make new friends both with other teachers and also my students.
Different day job: Site Secretary/Document Controller in London
Favourite song to pole dance to: Currently - Timberland, The Way I Are
Most embarrassing incident while pole dancing: Not realising I was revealing a bit too much out the bottom of my shorts!

Kelly-Kim is 22 years old and teaches burlesque hen parties and cheerleading hen parties in London
Different day job: Actor, Dancer, ETM instructor
Why you started teaching: teaching is a continuation from my acting and dancing (another string to my bow so to say!) i want to pass on my skills to others willing to try and there is nothing more rewarding then seeing people dancing and enjoying routines that i choreographed..
Why you love teaching at Polestars: the atmosphere of the company and the classes is like no other dance school: its not about how amazing you can dance, its about how sexy and amazing each individual can feel when they dance. I love meeting new people that have never so much as "shook their booty" before and then seeing their confidence beaming once they get the self-belief and feeling. Burlesque is such a classic amazing art form that originated from the theatre, which is a major passion of mine. in my eyes, burlesque is all about subtlety, not the stripping part. Its about forgetting yourself, putting on this persona/character and throwing away the days stresses and strains. I adore the confidence and sexiness of Dita Von Teese, Bettie Page and hope that every woman that goes to a polestars class can take away a bit of her for themselves.
Fave song to dance to: classic big band/cabaret music for my Burlesque Dances
Most embarrassing burlesque moment: asking a party to be careful with the riding crops as they can really hurt if you hit yourself to hard with them, however i was stupidly demonstrating the caution and smacked myself really hard on my arm! hurt so much, but it did make a good laugh! 
Best teaching moment: at the end of each class/party seeing a sense of accomplishment in the groups eyes. I love seeing them grow in confidence, gaining more experience in dance and knowing that i helped them reach a goal.

Aurora is 25 and teaches belly dancing parties and burlesque hen parties in London.
Different day job: Professional Bellydance Performer and Journalist
How long have you been dancing: 4 years
Why you started teaching: I love dancing and the more I teach the more I want to carry on teaching. I simply love having fun and meeting new people every time!
Fave song to dance to: Snakecharmer - Bassnectar & Kraddy
Fave food: Moroccan Couscous
Fave films: It has to be romantic and/or fun…loved "Little Miss Sunshine"
Most embarrassing bellydancing moment: I always do a last minute check on my performance costumes before a show but on that day I was in such a rush that I didn't. I had clearly lost a little weight since I had last worn my green costume (I have 13 costumes!) and so I basically spent 15 mins dancing and lifting my skirt back up every few seconds. And I know people always take pics when I dance!
Best teaching moment: All the time! But who could resist a cute 9-year-old at her birthday party or a hilarious 60-year-old at her retirement party?
See www.AuroraBellydance.com for more details about performances.

Zuki teaches pole dancing classes and hen parties in London.
Hometown: London
Different day job: Lots of different little things, I'm trying to be entrepreneurial, I'll try think of inventive creative ways of making money and then, try them out. I also work in a creche part-time and teach kids dance classes too.
Why you love teaching at Polestars: Because the aim of the classes is about learning but also just as importantly about having fun at the same time. It's not like school, as in you "be quite and do your work", you can have a laugh with the girls while shaking your booty! It's great, well organised, and there loads of different classes too, that are far from 'run of the mill'.
Most embarrassing pole moment: Ugh! It's painful to remember! Well... I was hanging upside down holding on with just my legs, when I had a sudden stroke of genius, I thought "what would happen if I let my legs go?!?!..." I think the blood must have gone to my head a bit too much because I just unwrapped my legs thinking I was going to float in mid-air or something. BUT NO... I fell smack bang head first on my kitchen floor. It was only my mum there but YES it was embarrassing! More embarrassing than the time my boob came out in class hahaha.
Hobbies other than dancing: Horseriding, I LOVE ANIMALS...alot!

Shirene Solak

Shirene is 26 and teaches belly dancing hen parties in London.
Hometown: London
Different day job: Retail Manager
How long have you been dancing: Since my childhood.                          
What do you love most about dancing: Dance is a life style, cant do with out it.
Why did you started teaching dance: I love dancing and teaching, dance gives me great satisfaction and joy. Initially my passion to teach surfaced progressively with more and more people asking me show them my dance moves, and this gave me the inspiration and confidence to start teaching dance.
Why you love teaching at Polestars: gives me great joy when I saw all the hens or participants having fun and especially when they walking out from the door with their fabulous booty shake!!!!  Also great oppurtunity to learn other style of dancing 
Fav. song to belly dance to: Mezdeke, OZY, Hassan Usta Drum solo, Harem, Turkish Pop music
Most embarrassing teaching moment: which one?  Most recent is fallen down Shakira belt from my waist, (must be way to much shaking)
Most embarrassing belly dancing moment: Flying ponytail hair extensions cross the room! During spinning moves, Luckily it was during practicing! I think no one seen it.... I think soooo Oppps!! 
Fave food: Turkish, Indian, Chiness, Nandos, I guess I love all of them
Fave films: Avatar, Notebook, Water for Elephant
Hobbies other than dancing: Travelling, swimming, diving, shopping
Where we can find you: Greenwich University Dance Society @Medway campus or Facebook 'Shirene Solak'  (shirene_salsashakeitbaby@hotmail.com)

Candice teaches burlesque hen parties, pole dancing parties and cheerleading parties in London
Different day job: Producer for Marvellous Ltd.
Why you started teaching: To have fun, whilst meeting new people. I also think giving woman the tools for feel confident and sexy in their own skin is a very rewarding.
Why you love teaching at Polestars: Polestars are the best at delivering great parties, which are loads of fun. Work hard, play harder is key to delivering a great service
Fave song to dance to: Groove Armada, Purple Haze
Fave food: You can’t beat a good roast
Fave films: Top Gun, Point Break (can’t beat the Old Skool)
Most embarrassing teaching moment: Wearing a strapless top and well... I’ll leave the rest to your imagination.
Most embarrassing pole moment: Again its going to be the strapless top moment.
Best teaching moment: Going out for drinks with a couple of girls from the class and watching them strut their  stuff on the dance floor to a cheering crowd.

Grace is 21 and teaches pole dancing parties in London.
Hometown: Shrewsbury.
Dancer How long have you been dancing: Since I was about 3.
What do you love most about dancing: The freedom and expression of the body, dancing always makes me feel happy.
Why did you started teaching dance: I was inspired by a great pole dancing teacher I had and she made me want to teach pole dancing.
Why you love teaching at Polestars: There are great company and very relaxed. They have given me a chance to teach others what I love doing.
Fave song to pole dance to: Anything by Britney or Lady Gaga
Fave food: Cheese and Chocolate Fave films: Dirty Dancing, Chicago, Grease, Honey, Flash dance, Sex and The City
Celebrity crush: Orlando Bloom, Robert Patterson
Hobbies other than dancing: Partying and having fun
Where we can find you: www.graciecollins.webs.com

Carmen is 24 and teaches pole dancing parties, burlesque parties and Dirty Dancing parties in London.
Different day job: Receptionist
How long have you been dancing: 23 years!!!!!!!!
What do you love most about dancing: Keeping fit and learning new moves.
Fave song to pole dance to: Bad Things
Fave song to burlesque dance to: Feeling good
Fave hen party product and why: Pole, because it will always be my favourite.
Best teaching moment: Teaching a student to go upside down on the pole and her picking it up absolutely perfectly on the third attempt.
Most embarrassing Burlesque moment:  My boots breaking while on stage performing.
Fave food: Either mashed potato or roast pork
Fave films: Avatar, Zombieland, Chicago, Dirty Dancing
Hobbies other than dancing: Creative writing, drama, climbing, going to the theatre
Personal Motto: Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

Kate is 31, she teaches burlesque lessons and can-can hen parties in London
Hometown: Manchester, but I live in London
Different day job: Theatre Choreographer How long have you been dancing:Since I was 3! A very long time.
What do you love most about dancing: I love the freedom it gives you and the way in challenges your body
Why did you started teaching dance: I love seeing people develop and grow in confidence. It's brilliant to help people to learn new skills.
Why you love teaching at Polestars: Polestars is a really warm, friendly company. All the teachers get on really well and there is always a lovely atmosphere in the classes.
Fave song to pole dance to: I'm just learning to Pole dance but anything by the Pussycat Dolls seemed to work really well.
Fave song to burlesque dance to: There's a song by the Andrew Sisters called 'Yes my Darling Daughter'. It's very slinky and cheeky. Great to striptease to.
Fave hen party product and why: All the parties are great. Can-can parties are really good fun and brilliantly chaotic. The Burlesque parties are great way to start off a hen-weekend and I've enjoyed learning Dirty Dancing. I love the film and the party is great.
Best dancing experience: Performing at a Vivienne Westwood show was lots of fun. It was a Baroque themed night with a modern twist.Very small costumes as well.
Best teaching moment: Watching the routine at the end of my first Burlesque course and seeing all these wonderful ladies, who'd been so shy the first week, performing their socks off (and everything else!)
Most embarrassing teaching moment: I thought I was being clever buying a cheaper role of tit-tape. It was awful. It was really sticky and useless. It got everywhere; people were losing tassles all over the place. Luckily everyone found it funny.
Most embarrassing pole moment: We were learning a move where you hook a leg round and hold either side it. I lost my bottle half way round and just hung there, gripping on, not able to work out how to get down. Two other girls had to help lower me to the floor. I,of course, felt very elegant and sexy.
Most embarrassing burlesque moment: Luckily not had any terrible experiences. Badly behaved nipple tassles are a constant fear though!
Hobbies other than dancing: Going to exhibitions, cinema, reading and running.
Personal motto: Be unreasonable; never settle, push yourself towards what you truly want.
Where we can find you: Our dance company website should be up and running soon! We'll be performing a lot over summer. Otherwise I'm currently working at The Globe Theatre-South Bank, The Haymarket Theatre-Basingstoke and the Brits School.

Why did you start teaching? Started teaching to combine hobby with business

The best thing about teaching? Love teaching dance generally. Polestars have a really good profile and are very professional.

Different day job: Day job is Business Angel Investor and business coach.

Favourite songs to dance to: Mustang Sally

Favourite Film: Japanese

Favourite Film: “Scent of a Woman”

Most embarrassing incident whilst dancing: When I had to exclude a guy because the girls complained about him.