Melissa (she/they) Owner/Founder
Hello! My name is Melissa, I opened the Pole Palace in the Spring of 2013, however I had been doing pole for a very long time before that. I started Pole back in 2004 as a fun hobby when I was in college at the University of Michigan. Back then, there were basically no pole studios almost anywhere, or only in very big select cities such as Las Vegas and maybe New York City. Me and other friends whom I found online through pole dance forums, and often lived an hour away or more from each other would train at each others houses as there were no pole studios in our area, or most areas then, but we had our own poles. Over time, I trained in a variety of disciplines, including weight lifting, ballet, aerial silks, aerial hoop, trapeze, contortion and more, and in time received training from several world class pole and circus coaches, and got several fitness certifications.
Wendy (she/her), Instructor, ig @wwust
Wendy started pole in 2006 and immediately was hooked. It turned out to be more than just a hobby because the strength and confidence is life changing. Over the years she started teaching and performing until pole became a lifestyle. Outside of pole Wendy enjoys knitting and her two kids.
Nikki (they/them) Instructor, ig: @letinthelightsnik
Nikki is an Appalachian witchy babe from West Virginia. While rehabbing a dance injury they felt sad that they were gaining strength to dance again but didn’t have time to both cross train and dance. A partner sent them a video of a ballerina on a pole as a joke suggestion and it made sense! Pole is this amazing cross section between strength training and dance and, most importantly, the opportunity to become comfortable in your own skin and express yourself in ways that shed the normative culture of shame and fear around being a fully embodied sensual expressive human! Outside of pole Nikki is an artist and body-nerd nature-loving chiropractor.
Sara James (she/her) Instructor, ig: @saradoespole
Sara James is a multifaceted aerial burlesque dancer driven by fluidity and musicality. Her individual style has been described as liquid, alluring, and powerful. Sara brings a contemporary freshness to her classic burlesque acts. Drawn to the glitz, glamor, and sensual empowerment, she is proficient at morphing from an Old Hollywood beauty to a fiendishly sexy beast, sometimes in the same act! She performs regularly around Portland, Oregon for productions such as Jack London Burly Q Revue, Sinferno Cabaret, and Booklover’s Burlesque.
Sara was classically trained in ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance for over a decade before branching out into other movement styles, such as hip hop, tap, partner acrobatics, belly dance, and burlesque. With 8 years of teaching experience, Sara James is known for her dancey warm-ups, offering progressions and challenges, creative tangents, and silly humor. She teaches all levels from beginner to advanced, and places a strong emphasis on accessible progressions and finding dance, confidence, and creativity within a student’s abilities.
Sydney (she/her) Instructor
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Sydney took the Intro to Pole class at the Pole Palace in 2019 and never looked back. To her, pole dancing is a celebration of the amazing things your body can do. She’s originally from the Portland area and aside from pole she like to climb, mountain bike, and play volleyball. She has 2 dogs and is in school to become a doctor!
Slinky (she/they) Instructor
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Slinky grew up in the Santa Cruz Mountains in California. She was involved in musical theater until she switched to water polo for 10 years. She started pole dancing in 2019 (she thinks?) and started teaching in 2022. You can find her tromping around the woods, splashing in rivers, and sliding down frozen hills with her dog Kora when she’s not in the studio.
Laura (she/her) Instructor
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This is Super Laura she's originally from Colorado and landed in Portland via the Bay Area in 2007. She's been doing pole since 2018. She's been a personal trainer since 2012. That makes her uniquely qualified to teach our strength class Pole Strong, as well as teaches levels 1- 4 and doubles workshops. She is currently pole with a triples team. When she's not doing some form of pole or coaching, you can find her in search of the best soaking spot or spending time with her community. She's married to a wonderful artist and has a sweet dog called Sidney Lou.
Devin (Naughty Side) (she/her) Social Media/Photography/Instructor @naughtyside.dance
Devin has been poling since 2017, training doubles since 2019, and she began training triples in 2023. She and her partner Laura (collectively Bruised Pair) cinched bronze at PSO Northwest for “Doubles/Group" in 2022. Devin is certified in beginner/intermediate Roller Pole™ instruction by the legendary Kylie J. (AU). She teaches roller pole workshops and co-teaches an intermediate doubles series. She loves conceptualizing new tricks. Devin also does pole photography and invented her own pole body grip formula: Peppermint Stick™ by Naughty Side™. Her dance philosophy is that the art form is vast, always growing, and there’s room for everyone to create, express, and find joy.
Karla (she/her) Instructor @_bodyflow_
Karla Lancaster, a Pacific Northwest native, embarked on her pole journey in 2016 in Portland. After years of dedicated training, she paused to cultivate a healthier relationship with herself and her body. In 2019, Karla rediscovered her passion for pole and sensual dance, prioritizing joy and empowerment over competition. Now, she thrives on guiding others towards body positivity and self-connection through dance. Teaching Bodyflow and Erotic Pole flow at Pole Palace, Karla also shares her expertise in S Factor, Embodied Sensual Movement, Chair Dance, and as a Menstrual Cycle Coach. She cherishes pole as a transformative tool that uncovers hidden potentials, offers a dynamic physical outlet, and above all, promises pure enjoyment. When not teaching, Karla treasures time with her teenage son, husband, bearded dragon, and three dogs, envisioning a future animal sanctuary of her own.
Cat (she/her) Instructor @boobs.n.bruises
Cat's journey into pole dancing began when she was itching to break free from her couch potato ways during the pandemic. Curiosity led her to try The Pole Palace's taster class, despite some anxiety. As soon as she touched the pole, though, a spark ignited in her, and when she woke the morning after, bruised and sore, she felt stronger than she ever had before in her life. She felt a rush, a deep desire to throw herself headfirst into the world of pole. Fast forward a few years and Cat's still head over heels for pole dancing; the strength she's built, the self love she's earned, the thrill of constantly learning something new, and the amazing community she's become a part of keep her motivated on her journey. As an instructor, Cat creates a warm and encouraging environment where questions are welcomed and progress is celebrated. Whether you're taking your very first spin or refining your technique, Cat's classes offer space to explore the artistry and the fun of pole dancing.
Katie (she/they) Instructor @raedsoleil
Katie is Pacific Northwest born and raised. She began her pole journey in 2022 after years of curiosity about pole. As a former ballerina, gymnast, and rock climber, she knew spinning upside down on a pole was where she belonged. In addition to dancing, she loves the outdoors and can frequently be found hiking, climbing, and swimming, especially in the warmer months. After being a rock climbing instructor for 3 years, the passion of witnessing people trust themselves enough to try new and terrifying things stuck. Friends and strangers alike, it fills her heart to watch others grow and succeed.
Aresha (she/her) Studio Administer/Front desk team leader
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Aresha is from Texas and moved to Portland three years ago. She first got into pole simply because she needed to get out of the house to combat her seasonal depression, and she always admired strippers. It was love at first back-hook spin, and she quickly developed a passion for this art form. She loves the confidence and feeling of ‘flying’ she experiences while practicing and performing, as well as the amazing community of dancers around her.
Brandon (he/him) Front Desk @btlemanski
Brandon comes to the Pole Palace by way of Pittsburgh where he lived 10 years before moving to Portland in 2021. He joined The Pole Palace in June of 2022 after attending an in house showcase. Pole has been just the reach outside of his comfort zone he needed and has combatted issues from flexibility, to body image issues, and performance anxiety. Back east, Brandon was a certified ski and snowboard instructor and he continues to call the mountain his happy place where he often goes skiing, hiking, and camping with his loving partner Max. When not dancing, or otherwise enjoying the outdoors, Brandon can be found making delicious food in the kitchen which he loves to share with friends and family. Brandon can be found in class and at the front desk of the studio on Sunday mornings and thrives on the smiling faces of everyone who comes to beat down the Sunday Scaries through dance.
Hayes (he/they) Front Desk @hayes.smith234
Hayes is one of the front desk admins you’ll see scurrying around the studio. He has been pole dancing for about a year and a half now! Pole dancing has been an amazing way to connect with his body and identity. He is passionate about maintaining safe spaces for gender queer and trans individuals in the world of pole dancing. Outside of the studio, Hayes loves doing anything crafty, getting addicted to random apps, napping, and spending time with his animals.
Cassie (Sher/they) Instructor @thenellbent
Passionate about helping newcomers do things they never thought they could, Cassie brings infectious energy and a welcoming environment to her classes. Her teaching style includes strange metaphors to help things click, hyping up her students, and lots of booty shaking. She started dancing at three years old because her mom was worried about how often she was tripping over her own feet. Since then she has spent trained in a variety of styles– from musical theater, to kickline, to blues dance, to trapeze and eventually, pole. She spent a few years away from the dance world, disenchanted with a culture that can be restrictive and judgmental. Pole dance has rekindled her love of dance again, with its focus on body celebration and self-expression. Her own dance style is centered on musicality and she just loves that feeling of connection with an audience. Cassie moved from Oregon to Texas as a teen and is so happy to be back in the PNW. Beyond pole, she loves to practice trapeze, do karaoke, play outside, read, change her hair and play video games.
Brenna (Sher/her) Front Desk
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Brenna is from Cape Cod, MA and moved to the pacific northwest at the end of 2021. She has 10+ years experience in competitive cheerleading and an additional small background in gymnastics, with tumbling being her favorite activity. She has always admired the art of pole dancing and started her journey to create a healthy relationship with her body and mind. Embracing her sensuality has boosted her confidence, self love and mental health. Brenna is a cat mom to 2 beautiful calicos, Mabel and Cleo, who can often be found in the background of her home pole videos. An introvert at heart, when she’s not at pole or work she’s likely at home cuddled up with her cats. The community at Pole Palace has helped Brenna heal residual trauma from cheerleading. Past toxic teammates and coaches destroyed her self-esteem, and she’s managed to rebuild it with the support of other pole dancers and instructors. Future pole goals include competing at PSO and training to be an intro instructor to help inspire and guide beginner dancers to find their true power through the art of pole.
Alyssa (Sher/her) Instructor
Alyssa is from Bend Oregon but lived in Portland area for 10 years now. She initially came to pole to move her body and free her mind, and then she fell in love with the movement and sensuality it brings out in her. She has always been in her masculine with being a personal trainer outside of the studio and a Marine in the Marine Corps. She also competes in the IFBB of bodybuilding and puts a lot of work into her physique and into her coaching business. No kids or pets because she travels pretty frequently when in season.
Nina (She/Her) Instructor
Nina studied circus arts in England, Australia, and China. She loves to ensure you get a workout in class. You will warm up with cardio, isolations, stretching, handstands, and pole conditioning before you take it on spin. She loves doubles and group pole work. Life is a cabaret, but it could be a three-ring-circus!
Talor grew up and attended undergrad in Bellingham, Washington and embodies the heart and soul of the Pacific Northwest. She used to be a wilderness guide in Bend, Oregon and is an avid backpacker, hiker, and camper and feels the most at peace in nature. Talor was first introduced to pole when she started dancing at a strip club in Seattle. At the time she was an amateur MMA fighter and dedicated yogi, so strength and athleticism came naturally, but dancing, sensuality, and moving with beauty & grace was very new. Dancing unlocked something in Talor and she immediately fell in love with pole, felt empowered, reclaimed her sensuality, and realized dancing was her souls form of artistic expression after a lifetime of feeling not creative.
Pole dancing and stripping paved the way for Talor to discover aerial arts/contortion and begin exploring ballet, contemporary, belly dance, and other forms of artistic movement. Talor also teaches Lyra (aerial hoop) and yoga. When Talor isn't dancing, doing yoga, or exploring the outdoors, she spends time reading, snuggling her kitty, improving her sewing skills, and crafting random assorted wares.
When life was feeling dull, Candace found pole dancing as an alternative form of fitness. Walking past a studio after a few margaritas, she took a drop in class, and it took over her life. Pole dancing became her whole personality. By 2011, she started teaching other dancers in the VIP rooms, eventually leading workshops at studios all over the West Coast and Midwest. Candace has been practicing yoga for 18 years, believing active flexibility is the best cross-training for Pole dancing. She focuses on somatic movements, exploring the incredible things the human body is capable of with pole and flexibility.
Outside of the studio, she slips off her 8 inch heels and hits the gym to train as a power lifter. When this mother of two gets a free moment, you might find her by a river soaking up what little sun we have in the pacific northwest. Probably foraging for wild medicinals. Definitely reading a book or gardening. Candace always makes time to spend with friends and family.