The Full Circle team is proud to have experienced, approachable, and knowledgeable instructors with diverse backgrounds and styles. We all share a passion for movement.

Our Weekly Instructors

  • Emily Sanderson

    she/her
    FOUNDER & OWNER, POLE & FLEXIBILITY INSTRUCTOR

    Emily is the founder and owner of Full Circle. She's been teaching movement for more than half her life and pole dancing since 2012. As a teacher she loves teaching mindful and challenging movement and helping students realize their potential is so much more expansive than they thought. As a business owner she is passionate about creating spaces that people feel good in and making opportunities for people to connect. In her spare time you can find her hanging with her dog Soba and dancing with her boyfriend Kyle.

    IG: @eeemly
    web: www.eeemly.com

  • Nickoleta Lytras

    she/her
    STUDIO MANAGER & INSTRUCTOR

    Nickoleta found pole just before turning 40, when she was looking for a creative outlet outside of her career as a math teacher. She was thrilled to learn that there were so many different styles and ways to be a pole dancer -- while she loves learning tricks to add to her repertoire, she is happiest during a freestyle when she allows the music to guide her. As an instructor, Nickoleta is excited to work with dancers of various backgrounds, ages, and body types, showing that pole can be genuinely inclusive.

    IG: @nickoletaly

  • Alex the Pole Twink

    he/him
    POLE INSTRUCTOR

    Alex, an NYC native, started his pole journey in early 2016. Since then, Alex has graduated from the Body&Pole workstudy program, performed all over NYC, has become both Elevat-ED and Liquid Motion certified, and has taught at multiple pole studios throughout NY. 

    As a pole dance instructor, Alex’s mission is to help individuals discover capabilities they never thought possible, and to have fun while doing so.

    IG: @alexthepoletwink

  • Alicia Gerstein

    she/her
    POLE & FLOORWORK INSTRUCTOR

    Alicia is a dancer and performer with a background in contemporary dance, puppetry, and stilt dance. She is interested in exploring expressivity and sensuality at all heights, and loves how pole dance opens new dimensions of possibility in movement. In addition to teaching pole dance, she is a certified Liquid Motion instructor and MELT Method instructor; and she hopes to help students increase their body awareness for healthy and effective movement on and off the pole.

    IG: @like_a_shark

  • Anaika (Nikey)

    she/her
    POLE & FLOORWORK INSTRUCTOR

    Anaika aka “Nikey” is a dental hygienist who fell in love with aerial and floor movement 8 years ago. If there is one thing Nikey enjoys is teaching a room full of beautiful people and shouting “Yaaaaaasss”. She is super honored to be a teacher at Full Circle! Come slink and strengthen that body.

    IG: @fillwithamor

  • Ann Afloat

    she/her
    POLE INSTRUCTOR

    Ann is a dancer, teacher, and learner for life. She has a big love for sensual movement and heels techniques and wishes to inspire those who cross paths with her on her journey of dance. When she's not dancing, you will most likely find her watching scifi movies, dreaming up possibilities, and eating something very sweet.

    IG: @annafloatx

  • Anna Grundström

    she/her
    POLE INSTRUCTOR

    Anna is a bodymind movement facilitator and professional dancer. She has over 25+ years of experience as a professional dancer, pole dancer, movement practitioner, performer, teacher/instructor, artistic coach, choreographer, and artist -on and off the pole. When she's not dancing you can find her writing, daydreaming in the park, or hanging out with her two cats.

    IG: @agrundstrom411

  • Brigitte Madera

    she/her
    POLE INSTRUCTOR

    Brigitte is a pole dance instructor from NYC. With her vast knowledge as a dancer (both grounded and aerial) she sees movement as the ultimate form of therapy and self expression. Brigitte’s biggest goal for her students is for them to fall in love with the journey, which in turn will have them to gain the skills and confidence to find their authentic voices as movers. Brigitte is beyond honored and excited to be a part of the Full Circle team!

    IG: @gigisplendid

  • Coleen

    Coleen

    she/her
    POLE INSTRUCTOR

    Coleen is dancer, teacher, and performer based in NYC. To her, dance is the ultimate form of self expression. In 2018, she fell in love with pole dancing and never looked back. As an instructor, her goal is to create a build a strong technical foundation for her students so they can express themselves freely and fiercely. Coleen is thrilled to be apart of the Full Circle team!

    IG: @coleen.squish

  • Emily C

    they/them
    POLE INSTRUCTOR

    Emily is a pole artist, movement trickster, and liminal being. They began dancing as a stripper and their love for pole expanded into a holistic movement practice. They have been teaching pole for 2 years. They believe in movement as a transcendent language; between individuals, between one's own consciousness and subconscious, between the self and the universe. Through teaching pole shapes and transitions Emily aims to give their students the movement vocabulary to explore their world deeper.

    IG: @meditativemotions

  • Jacqui Ray

    Jacqui

    all pronouns
    POLE & FLEXIBILITY INSTRUCTOR

    Jacqui is pole dancer and performance artist based in Brooklyn. Their movement background is intermixed with pole, contortion foundations, and a variety of other dance styles. He loves opportunities for chaos in movement, art, and self-expression, which has driven her to encourage her students to find freedom in their pole and performative practice. They're a food enthusiast....and so much more....but definitely very into food.

    IG: @Sp00kyp0ledancer

  • Kayla Thomas

    she/her
    POLE INSTRUCTOR

    Kayla is a born and raised New Yorker who began her pole journey in the fall of 2017, when she joined her college pole dancing team. She did not begin formally training in pole studios until a year later. Although Kayla’s movement background is varied, ranging from childhood ballet and tap dance classes to capoeira and latin dance, pole has captured her heart. She is excited to be part of the Full Circle instructor team, and enjoys guiding students through their movement journey. Kayla values safety and exploration above all else, and believes we should all develop a deep appreciation for our bodies.

    IG: @kluhthomas

  • Rebecca Pole Instructor

    Rebecca Nunez

    she/her
    POLE, FLEXIBILITY & FLOORWORK INSTRUCTOR

    Movement has been an integral part of Rebecca’s life since 3 years old when she took her first dance class. She started her pole journey in 2019 while simultaneously building her bodywork business Trust Your Body. Rebecca has an extensive background in biology, body mechanics, recovery, rehab & energy healing. She truly believes that anyone can build better interpersonal relationships through self-care in the form of movement, mindset rewiring & meditation. When she is not in her office working on clients, shooting content or on her computer helping clients worldwide she is likely wrestling with her French Mastiff Artemis or taking a bath.

    As a coach & instructor Rebecca aims to help her students channel the divine feminine energy inside. And help them become aware of it, harness it & share it with the world.

    IG: @bendwithrebecca

  • Ro

    she/her
    POLE, FLEXIBILITY, & FLOORWORK INSTRUCTOR

    Rodenellie, also known as Ro, is an entertainer and instructor based in NY. She has a background in dance, but never considered herself a dancer until she started pole dancing. Pole quickly consumed her life because it gave her a chance to tap into her inner strength, express herself, and push herself beyond her wildest dreams. She's no stranger to flying and spinning as she's a former competitive figure skater, but unlike figure skating, pole has allowed her to explore moving freely without focusing on perfection. Her goal is to equip her students with a strong foundation that they can build on whilst developing their own personal style within the realm of pole.

    IG: @its_roro

  • Tamara Star

    she/her
    POLE & FLOORWORK INSTRUCTOR

    Tamara is a highly intuitive mover who delves deep into personal research, constantly exploring, practicing, and refining movements and techniques to share her findings with others. She believes in the power of prioritizing how movement feels in the body over how it looks and guides those in her classes to focus on connecting to their bodies.

    Dancers in her classes express that Tamara has a way of unlocking new ways of moving and thinking for them - as a freestyle mover herself, she teaches techniques and transitions but encourages dancers to explore and expand on their movements. She specializes in Move Like a Memory: a low, and slow flow, Liquid Motion, Heels and Spin Fluidity.

    With Tamara you can count on a playlist that will set the vibe.

    IG: @move_like_a_memory
    web: privatespotstudio.com

  • Tresa Stephens

    she/her
    POLE INSTRUCTOR

    Tresa has been a pole dancer, aerialist, and all around studio rat for the last 9 years. She started pole dancing in 2015 with no prior dance/athletic background, and completed ElevatEd pole instructor training in 2018 in Hawaii. When she’s not working her desk job in insurance during the week, she’s at the studio encouraging newer pole dancers to train the fundamentals (on both sides) and not to be afraid to take up space. Her favorite things about pole are the community and the incredible sense of self agency that comes with learning how to express yourself through movement.

    IG: @tresawithoutthee

Substitute Instructors

  • Blaine Pole Instructor

    Blaine Petrovia

    he/him
    POLE INSTRUCTOR

    Blaine Petrovia Is an NYC based performer and instructor. Known for his devilishly sensual and dynamic tricks, Blaine has acquired numerous Pole competition titles such as PSO’s National Champion, IPN’s North American Champion, USPSF’s Pole Art America Champion and is also a Pole Expo Pole Classic Champion! Blaine is a creative an energetic instructor.

    IG: @blainepetrovia

  • Kana Higuchi

    she/her
    POLE, FLEXIBILITY, & FLOORWORK INSTRUCTOR

    Movement has been a central part of Kana’s life since childhood; she was a competitive gymnast, competitive cheerleader, and collegiate burlesque dancer. For a short while, work and school took her away from her body, but in the summer of 2022, pole welcomed her back to movement. As an instructor, Kana strives to provide a grounding and supportive presence for dancers as their newfound strengths emerge.

    In her non-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.

    IG: @kanahiguch

  • Kenny Dearie

    she/her
    POLE & FLEXIBILITY INSTRUCTOR

    Kenny has been working hard to perfect her sensual yet powerful style of pole dancing and it showed placing 1st for USPDF Novice Sexy 2017 pole competition. Since then she has been performing in various shows, music videos and events. She aspires to one day dance in a music video with her favorite artist Drake but in the meantime enjoys learning different techniques and styles of pole dancing and sharing her years of pole dance and flexibility to her students.

    IG: @kennydearie

  • Madda

    she/her/ella
    POLE & FLOORWORK INSTRUCTOR

    With a background rooted in the vibrant culture of the Bronx, I bring a unique blend of creativity, discipline, and authenticity to my craft. Whether teaching, dancing, or exploring new avenues of artistic expression, I am committed to inspiring others and embracing the richness of every moment.

    IG: @maddafestation

  • Marianne Dabir

    she/her
    POLE INSTRUCTOR

    Marianne fell in love with pole dancing in 2016 and began teaching in 2021. Inspired by the many incredible instructors who have helped shape her own journey, she strives to create a safe and supportive environment for students to learn proper technique, discover their own unique movement quality, and share in the joy of pole dancing. When she’s not teaching, learning, or jamming at the studio, you might find her performing on stage, obsessing over her dog-ter Parsley, interpreting a tarot spread, or talking to her plants. 

    IG: @carbzz__

  • Rachelle

    she/her
    POLE INSTRUCTOR

    Rachelle Somma comes from a diverse movement background including ballet and martial arts. With a deep passion for movement and a drive for artistic expression, Rachelle has explored various disciplines throughout her career. Continuing her journey for artistic exploration, Rachelle found her passion in pole dancing. Her talent and dedication led her to win first place in Low Flow at PSO Atlantic (DC) in 2022. 

    Rachelle specializes in Spin pole, Low Flow techniques, and is deeply passionate about choreography and musicality. She thrives on creating captivating routines that not only showcase technical proficiency but also evoke emotion and tell a story. Her ability to fuse movement with music allows her performances to resonate with audiences on a profound level.

    IG: @rachellenidrasomma

  • Samantha Star

    she/her
    POLE & FLEXIBILITY INSTRUCTOR

    Samantha Star is both a dynamic performer and informative instructor with 22 years of pole experience. She believes perfecting the fundamentals is the best way to gain strength and coordination to achieve a higher level of fitness and grace. Her methods help her students achieve confidence, strength and power. Samantha teaches in NYC & Brooklyn and also travels the world to perform, compete, judge, and teach workshops.

    IG: @lithiumkitten

  • Sonali

    all pronouns
    POLE INSRUCTOR

    Sonali took her first pole class in 2017 and has been dancing and performing ever since. A lover of all things aerial, few things make her as happy as spinning upside-down 10 ft in the air. In 2021, she became a Climb & Spin certified pole instructor. She loves helping her students feel strong and confident in their bodies. Her goal is to provide a solid foundation and space for her students to explore and find their own style.

    When she's not pole dancing, she can be found thrifting, reading in a park, drinking on a roof, or seeing live music somewhere. Come talk to her about trashy TV, pop punk, and WWE.

    IG: @thats_so_nali

  • Stella Pole Instructor

    Stella My Bella

    she/her
    POLE INSTRUCTOR

    Stella is very passionate about sharing her love of pole dance. She teaches people to move with hot bitch intentions – sensuality, awareness and confidence! She has been pole dancing since 2007, teaching since 2011, and in 2019, became a stripper. With every lesson, she provides a technical foundation and space for exploration and self discovery. She also emphasizes body care via balanced training. Stella strives to provide a safe space for people to express all the parts of themselves, including their sexual side -- she stands for sexual empowerment!

    IG: @stellamybella

    web: www.stellamybella.com

  • Yeireline Rodriguez

    she/her
    POLE INSTRUCTOR

    Yeireline is a pole dance and flexibility instructor in NYC with a passion for strengthening the mind, body, and soul connection through movement. Yeireline is ready to make the dance community a bit bigger! Known as her students personal hype woman, Yeireline knows no larger joy than seeing someone find their inner voice via dance and movement.

    IG: @yeirespins

Join the team!

Interested in teaching for us? Although we are not currently hiring, you can get on our list of potential instructors by filling out this form, and we'll reach out when we've got positions available. You can also reach out via email if you have any questions.