Instructor Bios

Colleen comes to pole with a background in acting, dance and the circus arts. She is a core member of Cirque-tacular Entertainment, a circus events company with whom she performs both family-friendly pole acts throughout the country, as well scintillating and risqué acts for nightclubs in NYC & Atlantic City. Last fall, Colleen choreographed and performed a pole act for the hit show, “The Accused”. Concluding a three month run at The Tropicana Resort & Casino in Atlantic City, the esteemed show was voted “Best Casino Show of the Year” for 2011. While having been a two-time competitor in Polesque, Colleen has chosen to focus less on the competition aspect of pole fitness and more on the artistic development of pole dance. She aspires to create themed and stylized dance performances and freestyled pole movement pieces, workshopping them at various pole and circus showcases around the city. Colleen is a certified X-Pert Pole Instructor, is CPR/AED and Instructor Certified, and a Lifeguard. When she's not dancing through the air, she may be found swimming through the water and teaching little kids how to float.

"I have been taking lessons from Colleen almost a year and it is fantastic. The studio is great - there is a lot of room to do all the maneuvers. Colleen my instructor gives individual attention to each student so you really are always working at your maximum level. If you are able to master the move, she gives you add-ons and twists so you can make it your own and work at higher levels. Colleen is also a great instructor for helping you find "your dance". Not just doing the mechanics involved - but putting your personality and emotion into it. the mood in the class is very inviting - the women are friendly and you find yourself really looking forward each week to class. I have referred a number of folks to Shockra for dance classes. No one has ever been disappointed." -Madonna S.

"Colleen is great with beginners for pole dancing class!" -Shauna

Specialty 6-week Group Series ($180 for 6 classes)

One-on-One Lessons ($125)

------

Why are you passionate about your dance style(s)?

Because it's a little bit of acting, a little bit of dance, and a little bit of circus all in one.

What is different about your class?

Being that we are all individual persons with our own experiences what then makes my class unique is me. I pour a bit of myself into each class through personal style, workouts and dancing. I encourage my students to find what is unique about them and add their own personal flair.

How do you keep discouraged students motivated?

Everyone progresses at their own pace. Rather than judging yourself against your classmates on the pole nest to you (easier said than done, I know) find what YOU can do and do it well. There are no lost causes, no hopeless cases. We all have our strengths and our weaknesses. Own your strengths. Overcome your weaknesses. Rome wasn't built in a day...create your own personal empire.

What is your focus in your class?

The primary focus of my class is safety. Through the encouragement of proper body alignment and core strength, while minimizing risk of injury. I follow a philosophy that is better to perfect a few set moves rather than to dangerously exceed your physical limits by trying to excel too quickly.

Briefly describe the atmosphere at SHOCKra and what is class like every week.

Shockra classes are all work, disguised by a bunch of fun!

How is your 6-week series different from other classes in the city and what will people gain by the end?

Through a 6 week series at Shockra, you will begin to see an all-around toning of the body as you gain a growing vocabulary of pole movements on, around, and up the pole. As an instructor, I will set the foundation for what you are going now and what's to come later down the road. I hope to inspire confidence and help you find your inner sexy.