EXPERT POLE COACHING, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY, AND A DROP-IN SCHEDULE THAT MEETS YOU WHEREVER YOU ARE IN YOUR POLE JOURNEY.
Born From a Love of Pole Dancing. Built for You
ABOUT US
We Built A Pole Dancing & Fitness Studio We Wished Existed
Lauren and Jenna met in 2014, both at different points in their pole journeys. By 2016 their friendship had grown and Lauren was teaching, competing, and traveling to take workshops anywhere she could find them. During these travels, Lauren noticed what she really craved from a pole studio environment did not exist...yet. So she created it.
Jenna supported Lauren's founding of Embrace Pole Art and Fitness from the very beginning. As the studio, their friendship, and their experience grew so did Jenna's involvement; in 2025, she went from Senior Instructor to Co-Owner.
Embrace was built on the conviction that pole dance deserves to be taught with the same rigour, care, and expertise as any other athletic discipline and that every student deserves a space where they feel safe, supported, cheered for, and seen.
Since its founding, Embrace has grown into Edmonton's premier pole fitness studio, bringing world-class instruction to our community, hosting visiting coaches, and even bringing the Pole Theatre competition to Canada. We are constantly learning so we can keep giving our students more.
Our Mission
To move you - through every level, every phase, every expression. We're Edmonton's home for expert pole dancing instruction, genuine community, and the kind of confidence you didn't know you were capable of.
MEET OUT TEAM
The People That Will Cheer the Loudest in the Room
Every Embrace instructor has completed a hands-on apprenticeship under a senior coach and are certified instructors who actively continue their own training, and bring a genuine passion for helping students move safely and confidently. This is a team that doesn't just teach pole - they embrace it.
Lauren Sarah
CO-OWNER✶ SPECIALTY: Split Tricks & Pole Art Choreography
✶ LOVES: Guacamole, a sweet treat 🧁 and a patio on a hot day in the shade
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Lauren started her pole fitness journey in 2011 while looking for a fun way to get back in shape. With a background in figure skating and ballet, she was no stranger to fitness, however this presented a new and exciting challenge. A few months later she had fallen in love with the art of pole dance and after a year she completed her training to become an instructor.
In 2014 Lauren applied to compete in her first pole fitness competition. She traveled to Winnipeg to train with Canadian Pole Fitness Champion Tara Meyer and the experience inspired her to push herself to the next level. After a successful amateur season, she was motivated to grow as a pole athlete and compete at a higher level. Lauren loves performing and participates in competitions across North America on a regular basis.
Lauren specializes in flexibility training and is also an IBBFA certified barre instructor and a Registered Acrobatique AcroDance Instructor. She is the national organizer of Pole Theatre Canada and a Pole Sport Organization ambassador. She strives to share her passion for pole fitness with her students and inspire them to push themselves further than they ever thought possible.
Titles & Certifications:
- XPERT Certified Pole Fitness Instructor
- 2022 PSO Northwest Level 5 Championship Runner Up
- 2022 PSO Northwest Level 4/5 Low Flow & Floorwork Champion
- 2019 CPFA West Coast Regional Exotic Champion
- 2019 PSO Northwest Level 5 Artistic 2nd Runner Up
- 2019 Exotic Generation USA Finalist
- 2018 PSO Northwest Level 5 Exotic 3rd Runner Up
- 2017 Canadian Pole Fitness Championship 1st Runner Up - Pole Art Division
- 2017 PSO Northwest Level 5 Exotic 1st Runner Up
- 2016 Alberta Pole Fitness Championship Semi-Pro 1st Runner Up
- 2015 Alberta Pole Fitness Championship Semi-Pro Champion
- 2014 Alberta Pole Fitness Championship Amateur Champion
Jenna Dahl
CO-OWNER✶ SPECIALTY: Theatrical Choreography & Drops and Tumbles
✶ LOVES: Glitter, coffee ☕️ and the dehumidifier
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Jenna started pole fitness in 2014 as a new way to explore her passion for dance. With a background in jazz, tap, ballet, and skating she was excited for a new challenge, and it didn’t take long for pole fitness to become her new obsession. After competing nationally for the first time in 2016, she has since performed numerous times and is known for her engaging stage presence.
Jenna specializes in theatrical choreography, barre, stretch, and Burlesque fitness and is thrilled to be sharing her various style backgrounds with others. She is passionate about the Embrace team and encourages everyone to give this empowering sport a try, even if they have no formal fitness background.
Titles & Certifications:
- XPERT Certified Pole Fitness Instructor
- IBBFA Certified Barre Instructor
- 2025 Pole Theatre Canada Professional Comedy Champion
- 2024 Pole Theatre Canada Professional Classique Champion
- 2022 PSO Northwest Entertainment Level 4 Champion
- 2022 PSO Northwest Low Flow & Floorwork Level 4/5 2nd Runner Up
- 2019 Pole Theatre Canada Finalist
- 2019 PSO Northwest Exotic Level 4 Runner Up
- 2019 PSO Northwest Low Flow & Floor Work Level 4/5 2nd Runner Up
- 2016 Canadian Pole Fitness Doubles 2nd Runner Up
Kirsten
SR. INSTRUCTOR✶ SPECIALTY: Low Flow Choreography & Controlled Falls
✶ LOVES: Salmon, Jellycats & Crafts ✂️
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Kirsten started her pole journey in 2017 at Embrace Pole Art as an attempt to try something completely out of her comfort zone. Even without much prior fitness or dance experience, Embrace soon became her second home. Both for the community she had found and the enjoyment of building strength and flexibility she never thought possible.
She is enthusiastic in encouraging others to give pole fitness a try no matter their fitness or dance experience. She is thrilled when students discover their unique strengths and interests within Pole Fitness. Outside the studio, Kirsten can be found planning out her next sewing or craft project.
Certifications & Titles:
- Pole Theatre Canada Semi-Pro Comedy Winner 2025
- PSO Northwest Entertainment Level 4 Champion 2024
- XPERT Certified Pole Fitness Instructor
Ruth
INSTRUCTOR✶ SPECIALTY: Spin Pole
✶ LOVES: Travel ✈️ & Wicked
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Ruth began her pole journey in 2020 in Saskatoon, not knowing it would become one of her biggest passions. Since then, she’s fallen in love with the strength, creativity, and confidence that pole inspires, while continuing to explore movement through aerial silks.
As an instructor, Ruth believes pole is for everybody. Her goal is to create a supportive, welcoming space where students can laugh, challenge themselves, celebrate every milestone, and discover they’re capable of more than they thought. Whether it’s your first class or your fiftieth, she’s excited to be part of your journey.
Certifications
• XPERT Pole Instructor
Monica
INSTRUCTOR✶ SPECIALTY: Forearm Stands & Heels
✶ LOVES: Art 🎨
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Monica has a background in ballet and also taught yoga for several years in Calgary. She started pole dancing in 2018 and has been teaching pole since 2023, previously in Calgary and Kamloops, now with us at Embrace.
Noriko
INSTRUCTOR✶ SPECIALTY: Conditioning!
✶ LOVES: Coffee, books 📚 & helping others feel empowered
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Noriko grew up dancing and playing sports, and started lifting weights in high school. She was drawn to pole as it combined her love of performing and strength. Noriko started pole in 2013, and took the plunge to become an instructor in 2021. Her favourite part of teaching is helping students become stronger and see their confidence grow. There's nothing like having a student achieve a move they thought was out of reach.
Certifications:
- XPERT Teacher Training
- NASM Personal Trainer
- Girls Gone Strong Women's Coaching Specialist
Tess
INSTRUCTOR✶ SPECIALTY: Leggy Shapes, Pole Flows & Sensual Yoga
✶ LOVES: Folklore, fish 🐠 and Being “mistaken” as a cryptid
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Tess started her pole journey in 2021 after encouragement from her therapist to "shake some ass, and cry a little". Just kidding! However, her therapist did support her in trying out pole dance as a way to challenge her anxiety. Although she had no dance background, she quickly fell in love with the art form, the community, and the confidence she was building. Learning pole can be challenging but it has rewarded her with the confidence that with enough devotion, and a caring community, she can do all sorts of challenging things.
In the years since the start of her pole journey, Tess has also become a burlesque dancer and you can occasionally catch her performing under the stage name Starlit Selkie. She also has completed her YTT 200 in Mexico, and become a yoga teacher. As a pole instructor, she loves supporting students to go after their dreams, build confidence, and develop their own artistic style.
Certifications:
-XPERT Pole Instructor
-Yoga Alliance YTT 200hr Yoga Teacher
Shalene
Apprentice Instructor ✶ SPECIALTY: Still discovering!
✶ LOVES: Book Club & Whimsy 🦩
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Shalene started pole in 2022 and it immediately became one of her greatest passions. Moving from Red Deer to Calgary and then to Edmonton in this time, she has had the pleasure and the privilege of learning from so many incredible instructors throughout her journey so far. The instructors at Embrace are no exception, and she is so thankful to have found her home here.
Shalene has a background in figure skating and vaulting (not the pole kind — the horse, trick-riding kind) and has always loved expressing herself through movement. She has performed in three pole showcases so far and can’t wait to perform even more and compete. Shalene is also very excited for the next stage of her pole journey as an instructor on the amazing team at Embrace.
Shalene’s favourite things about pole are the supportive and fun community, how it inspires self-confidence, the creativity that it fosters, how it connects you with yourself and your sensuality, and the strength that it helps you build.
Angela
INSTRUCTOR✶ SPECIALTY: Lollipop Pole
✶ LOVES: Gluten Free Sweet Treats 🍫
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As a graduate from NAIT’s Personal Fitness Trainer program and an all around movement enthusiast, Angela has dabbled in everything from rugby to cheer, to Muay Thai and ballet. She lives to explore and find new ways to challenge her body, which led her to trying aerial arts in 2015. After immediately falling head over heels for aerial silks, trapeze, and lyra, Angela soon started her pole journey and found her new obsession for life. She brings this passion and love to her teaching, along with the knowledge of working as a personal fitness trainer for the past 8 years.
Come challenge yourself at one of her circuit-style boot camps or catch her contagious enthusiasm for movement in a beginner-level pole fitness class. Angela also teaches our lollipop (pole-lyra) workshops where students can try out and play on this unique and exciting apparatus. Outside of the studio you can catch Angela performing in a studio, music festival, or a theater near you!
Certifications:
- Certified personal trainer
Carmen
INSTRUCTOR✶ SPECIALTY: Polestands & Low Flow
✶ LOVES: Bike Riding, Hot Dogs 🌭 & the Sun
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Carmen began her pole fitness journey in 2018 when she was looking for a fun activity to get back into shape after some time away from sports! She immediately fell in love and still enjoys the challenge of learning new tricks, choreography, and more!
Outside of the studio, Carmen can be found on top of mountains, on her bike, or trying new activities with friends!
Titles & Certifications:
XPERT Certified Instructor
Ready to Try Your First Pole Dancing Class?
You don't need any experience, a certain body type, or a specific fitness level. Sign up for any Level 1 pole dancing class and we’ll take care of the rest!