Dana McAtee
Founder
Dana McAtee is a passionate and dedicated pole dancer and aerialist . Her love affair with pole dance began in 2004 when she was first introduced to the art form. From that moment on, she was hooked, and in 2006 she started teaching pole dance herself. Her commitment to her craft has led her to pursue additional training in flexibility, Pilates, and aerial.
Over the years, Dana has had the opportunity to train with many renowned pole dance teachers, honing her skills and developing her own unique style. She remains humble and always considers herself a student of the art form. She believes that there is always something new to learn, and she continues to push herself to grow and improve her skillsets.
Dana's passion for pole dance and aerial extends beyond her own personal practice. She is committed to sharing her knowledge and expertise with others, and she has become a respected instructor and mentor in the pole and aerial community. Her teaching style is focused on empowering her students to embrace their bodies and push past their limits to achieve their goals.
Today, Dana continues to inspire and motivate others with her passion and dedication to her craft.
Amanda Montoya
Helen Day
Helen began her aerial training at the Hanger Arts in London, before joining Zu Aerial Dance in Brighton as a student, and later as a performer and collaborator. She has performed at corporate events, private parties and cabarets all over London, the UK and Europe, with Zu Aerial Dance and also with her own solo work.
She joined Cirque du Soleil for the creation of 'Toruk', based on James Cameron's 'Avatar', in 2015, as a puppeteer (and later as puppetry artist/coach). After a few months she also began training for the aerial rope act in the show, and happily swung from the 'vines' as a na'vi, touring the world with the show until 2019.
She now lives in West Hollywood, and when she is not in the air she can be found acting on screen, working as a performance capture artist for the video game industry, puppeteering, and having adventures with her rescue pitbull Queenie.
Iris Shih
Iris is a dedicated and passionate pole artist with a deep love for the dance form. Her journey began in 2008 when she first discovered pole dance and was instantly captivated by its blend of strength, grace, and self-expression. In 2015, she began teaching pole, driven by her desire to inspire and empower others through movement. Iris believes in the transformative power of pole dance, not only as a physical activity but as a means of self-expression and empowerment. Her teaching style emphasizes technique, balance, and creativity, encouraging students to safely explore their unique strengths and push beyond their limits. She has devoted herself to mastering her craft and helping others achieve their own pole dance goals.
A lifelong student constantly seeking to expand her skills and knowledge, Iris’s commitment to continuous learning has led her to explore complementary apparatuses such as aerial silks, lyra/hoop, and cube. Additionally, Iris is a certified yoga instructor who specializes in restorative yoga, bringing a holistic approach and supportive demeanor to her classes.
Kennedy Kabasares
Kennedy Kabasares is an aerialist and actor. He attended high school at the San Francisco School of the Arts where he studied theater, and was also taught circus arts with Judi Finelli of the Pickle Family Circus. Kennedy was invited to compete in the 2011 Aerial Acrobatic Arts Festival in Denver, where he took first place for static trapeze.
His current artistic endeavor, PULL project, is a narrative theater/circus hybrid with performance artist traci kato-kiriyama, which has been presented in the US and Canada.
Kevin Holland
Kevin Holland is an aerialist, dancer, and choreographer specializing in artistic act creation. He has taught aerial workshops and created acts for students of all ages for over a decade.
In 2022, he graduated with his BFA in dance from Cal State Long Beach. Kevin has performed his aerial chains number on the national US tour for Vampire Circus, Santa Circus in Miami, FL and for Terry Beeman’s Mental Head Circus. He also has danced for DIAVOLO: Architecture in Motion – TRUST show throughout Los Angeles county, and his own choreography has been commissioned by dance companies throughout California.
Melissa Coindreau
Melissa performed as a principal dancer with the San Antonio Met Ballet for 5 yrs. A an international touring artist her professional credits include Grease, Cabaret, The Broadway Musical Swing, and she has had the pleasure of performing with such greats as the Cab Calloway Orchestra, Twyla Tharp, Terry Beeman's Mental Head Circus, and Michael Buble.
She holds US titles in Swing Dance and , is a certified yoga and Pilates instructor. Consumed with the idea of taking dance into the air she found her way to aerial arts. Melissa is an advanced pole technician with competitive experience. She has also coached championship pole artists, produced, costumed, and choreographed aerial concerts, and loves any opportunity for a creative challenge. With over 20 years of professional experience, she is trained in aerial hoop, silks, hammock, and enjoys blending the world of dance and aerial together. She is proud to share her love of dance and aerial innovation with her students.
Melissa Hellewell
Melissa was immediately hooked when she first tried aerial silks in early 2011. One week later she tried lyra, and then six months later, she began training on the flying trapeze (and hasn't stopped since!).
As an instructor she loves to encourage students to notice the progress they are making no matter how big or small. Melissa feels the same sense of accomplishment she felt as a beginner each time works with a new student.
Samuel Petre
Samuel Petre has a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Now, he is a Los Angeles based Acrobatics and Aerial Arts Performer, Teacher and Choreographer, Commercial Actor, and Dancer. His experience of work includes a variety of local North Carolina, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Los Angeles based theatrical and circus cabarets, theme parks and commercial gigs.
Yasmin Gonzalez
With a lifelong background in dance, I’ve always been drawn to the beauty and creativity of body movement. I discovered aerial and instantly fell in love with how it blends graceful flow with powerful strength. It became more than just a practice—it became a passion that made me feel both empowered and artistically free. As an instructor, my biggest goal is to help others discover that same sense of strength and freedom in their own aerial journey. I aim to create a welcoming, encouraging environment where students of all levels can explore movement, build confidence, and express themselves through the art of aerial. Whether you’re just beginning or continuing your aerial path, I’m here to support you every step (and spin) of the way!