Meet Our Instructors:
AKA,THE APS FAMILY
Akila
Studio Owner & Founder
Hey besties! I'm Akila, the proud owner and founder of Akila Pole Studio! Ever since opening our doors in the summer of 2021, my mission has been to create a vibrant, supportive, and inclusive space where people can feel empowered and experience the sheer joy of pole. At the heart of everything I do, is a deep commitment to creating a space that nurtures personal growth, celebrates diversity and encourages self-expression. Community is the driving force behind my approach. It is the cornerstone of our studio, where people from all walks of life come together, support one another, and celebrate each other's successes.
I started my pole journey back in 2019, and it was love at first spin! Like most people I became completely captivated by it and eventually pursued my teaching qualification and started teaching out of my own home. It’s incredible to think that just a few years later, Akila Pole Studio was born! Having a background in drama and physical theatre has given me a deep appreciation for the power of movement as a form expression and storytelling. My personal style is characterized by flowy, spinny movements that embody grace and fluidity, and I strive to create space for students to explore their own unique style while embracing fluid movements.
I love to bring a super energetic, non-judgemental & uplifting vibe to every class, so students feel safe to freely express themselves, build confidence, and above all, have fun! Creating a community that embraces and supports each other is incredibly important to me, and my aim is to ensure that each person, regardless of their background or experience, feels welcome and valued.
You can catch me teaching group classes at the studio on Mondays & Wednesdays (and floating around on other days of the week!) <3
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Leila (Cutie)
Certified Pole Instructor
Leila AKA Cutie Whippingham is a former stripper/ pole performer/ instructor who has worked with the likes of CupcakKe, Burna Boy, Snoop Dogg, Shygirl, James Blake, Boiler room, Nike, vogue and Diesel to name a few. She began pole in 2014, became a certified instructor in 2015 and has since refined her style of signature spicy choreo and aerial moves which she loves to teach.
Catch Leila at Akila Pole Studio on Tuesdays!
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Phoebe
Certified Pole Instructor
Phoebe has over 10 years of experience pole dancing, and has been a part of the Akila Pole Studio family for a year and a half. Her style often combines spinning flow with an artistic touch, as well as choreos with a sassy, energetic flow. Phoebe enjoys providing the building blocks for her students to unlock their own style of dancing. She will help you explore the creative side of pole - whilst making it a fun and empowering journey for you!
Join Phoebe at Akila Pole Studio on Thursdays!
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Legziana
Certified Pole Instructor
Legziana first started pole dancing in 2019 and instantly fell in love with it as a form of self expression. She has since transitioned into performing and teaching and is known for her sexy and fluid movement (and endless long legs!) She enjoys teaching beginners and facilitating a safe space for students to express themselves and explore movement.
Join Legziana on Wednesday evenings & Saturdays at APS!
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Coffee
Certified Pole Instructor
Coffee is a London-based heels enthusiast from Hong Kong and Taiwan. She first started pole dancing in 2018 and currently teaches every other Wednesday at Akila Pole Studio, in alternation with Zac. Her favourite style is technical flow with lots of twirly transitions. Cheryl is also a founding member of Cobalt Flame, a London-based pan-Asian pole dance collective that aims to uplift dancers of Asian heritage and create a safe space for all to freely express their creativity and sensuality.
Join Cheryl at Akila Pole Studio on Wednesday nights!
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Zac
Certified Pole Instructor
Introducing Zac, our talented and passionate pole instructor. With a background in dance and pole since 2019, Zac's journey has been a gorgeous blend of strength, creativity, and artistic expression.
Zac's love for all things soft and floaty is evident in his teaching style, where he seamlessly combines the art of dance with the strength and technique of pole. His classes are a fusion of fluid movements and elegant transitions, and a focus on embodying the music.
Join Zac at Akila Pole Studio on Wednesdays & Sundays!
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Alexandra
Certified Pole Instructor
Introducing Alexandra Mutungi, an accomplished pole dancer who has been perfecting her craft for over three years. Recently, she took on the role of a pole instructor, sharing her expertise with others. Alexandra's movement style is a captivating blend of sensuality, delicacy, and embodiment. For her, pole dancing serves as a powerful method of self-expression, allowing her to explore and convey her innermost emotions with grace and artistry.
Find Alexandra on Sundays at Akila Pole Studio!
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Yasmin
Certified Pole Instructor
Introducing Yasmin, Akila's bestie! Yasmin has a lifelong background of dancing and has a passion for fitness, also working in the fitness industry as a personal trainer. After taking her first ever pole class with Akila in 2021 she instantly fell in lovve with pole dancing and became very passionate about it. She loves the blend of athleticism and artistry that pole combines, finding freedom, empowerment and expression through the sensual yet srong nature of the movement.
Catch Yaz at Akila Pole Studio on Thursdays!
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Divya
Certified Pole Instructor
Divya started pole in undergrad with the Brown University Poler Bears. She's been obsessed ever since. Before, her background was in ballet, and she loves bringing a soft and fluid style of dance to the pole. As an instructor, she loves to help her students unlock their own movement pathways, specialising in contemporary pole, and slow cathartic flow in heels. Divya also competes internationally, most recently at ExoGen Australia. On stage, she moves with the same gooey, sensual energy that she teaches in her classes!
Join Divya at Akila Pole Studio on Thursdays!
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Angie
Certified Pole Instructor
Angie is a pole dancer, performer and instructor. Originally from Sydney Australia, Angie loves to express her sensual goddess vibes both on and off the pole. Angie has over a decade of experience teaching all levels of pole, and enjoys guiding her students movement through her signature Old School style of pole. Her experience as both a performer and competitive pole dancer also provides her students with a wealth of knowledge when preparing for their own performances and routines.
Find Angie at Akila Pole Studio on Mondays & Wednesdays!
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Vanessa
Certified Pole Instructor
Introducing the wonderful Vanessa! As well as being a pole instructor, Vanessa is also a barre instructor as well as a qualified dance movement psychotherapist! She is passionate about mental health and believes that movement is her passion and purpose.
Find Vanessa at Akila Pole Studio on Monday nights!
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Emily
Certified Pole Instructor
Emily discovered her love for pole three years ago at Akila Pole Studio, where her passion and strength quickly flourished- and now she's come full circle as an instructor! With a background in personal training and years of gym experience, Emily brings power, energy and encouragement to every class. Known for her love of dynamic tricks and combos (especially allegra, ayesha and inverted eagle), she's all about helping students feel strong, capable, and empowered every time they step up to the pole.
Join Emily at Akila Pole Studio on Mondays!
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Rachael Gisella
Certified Pole Instructor
Rachael Gisella is a professional pole dancer and performer who splits her time between London and Lisbon. She has gained recognition for her dynamic and sensual low flow routines and emphasis on musicality. As an award-winning dancer, she has earned titles in Basework and is the current title holder of ExGen New Face Flow. Her talents have also taken her to share the stage with acclaimed artists such as Snoop Dogg and Burna Boy. Rachael loves nothing more than sharing her passion of Sexy Style Pole with students; striving to create a safe space for them to freely express themselves.
Catch Rachael at Akila Pole Studio for popup classes/workshops during her next return to LDN
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Emma
Certified Pole Instructor
Emma has a lifelong history of being in sport, from childhood competitive swimming to now having a passion for calisthenics and movement of the body. After wanting to try pole for years, Emma took the plunge and bought herself a home pole during covid and taught herself the basics. She instantly fell in love and since then moved to London and joined Akila's as a student! Emma is a lingerie and swim designer by day and pole instructor by night, both roles combine her passion to make people feel confident and empowered in their body!
Join Emma on Tuesday nights at Akila Pole Studio!
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