 |
MASTERS DIVISION JUDGES
The highly anticipated sophomore event of the American Pole Fitness Championships will take place live at the Manhattan Center, New York City, October 14, 2011 at 630pm. Door/Red carpet will open at 5pm. Men and women will compete for their individual gender division for the coveted title. The championships will be divided into 2 parts this year, –Elite and Masters Division. The Elite Division is to be judged by APFA’s carefully selected US based members and esteemed individuals in pole sport. APFA Committee members will pre-screen all submitted applications before being presented to the Elite Division judges listed below. How to get started and be part of the best in pole sport the country has to offer? APFA is starting something rather unique this year, applicants are encouraged to put their best foot forward when working on a video submission since this is what the Elite Division Judges will be viewing to make their decisions. Please visit the APPLICATION PAGE for full details. Deadline for submission is June 30, 2011. The Elite Division finalist will be announced July 5, 2011. Top athletes chosen by the Elite Division judges to advance to the Masters Division will be announced July 15, 2011. They will compete live before the audience and international panel of judges who will select the American Pole Fitness Champion 2011, male and female. Preview List of Elite Division Judges of the American Pole Fitness Championships 2011: Listed below are the Masters Division International Panel of Judges of the American Pole Fitness Championships 2011: Valentino Brothers (US)
Emil & Mario Valentino Mario and Emil Valentino were born and raised in Vratsa, Bulgaria and studied Martial Arts in Military Academy in Pazardjik. They began learning the principles of Hatha Yoga in 1989. In 1990 they moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina where they lived for 8 years. During that time, they developed a system to enhance flexibility which enables the disciple to prepare for advanced states of Yoga. Mario and Emil ran studios that taught the system to the yoga practitioners, dancers, and students of Martial Arts. These studios are still in operation under the guidance of some of their former students. From 1998 until 2004 the Valentino Brothers lived in New York City where they continued their research of all the components of a healthy lifestyle which accounted for the overall well-being of the body and mind. They moved to Santa Barbara in 2004 where they continued teaching yoga and flexibility in athletic clubs, fitness centers and private studios as well as working with celebrities and promising athletes preparing them for competitions in their fields. A little under a year ago, Mario and Emil were introduced to Pole Fitness. After trying the pole exercises for a few months they realized how well-rounded and beneficial the workout is; how much strength it delivers for the entire body. Since then they have been working on adapting their system for the pole fitness performers and incorporating the pole exercises into their own daily workout. Preview The Valentino Brothers’ video footage here.
Allegra (Australia)
Allegra Allegra is a world renowned international pole fitness performer and instructor, and has also appeared on national TV and radio in her homeland. Allegra has developed her skills on the pole and as an entertainer to become one of Australia’s top showgirls. Allegra is known for her unique combination of control and sensuality, and her mastery of the spinning pole. Allegra began pole dancing in November 2007 and in under two years was able to win the national title. Allegra is Miss Pole Dance Australia 2010. Allegra plans on teaching some of her world renowned pole dancing techniques during the weekend of the championships in New York. Class schedules coming soon. Preview Allegra’s video footage here. Dima Shine (Russia)
Dima Shine In 2002 Dima decided to leave his successful career as a world champion in Acrobatic sports with over 30 Gold medals to follow a different dream, to be a solo performer on stage. It started while performing as a generalist with Cirque du Soleil’s Dralion in London’s Royal Albert Hall where Dima met Viktor Kee (artistic director & choreographer of Art Vision Productions). Dima spent 2 years in circus school in Kiev, adapting his acrobatic technique and perfecting his abilities to create a unique, breathtaking, a World Class performance yet to be seen. After much time, sweat, experimentation and a healthy dose of doubt and frustration, they presented Dima Shine’s hand balancing act at the International circus festival in Paris “Cirque de Demain” in 2006. Dima’s new creation was subsequently an incredible success. In Paris, he received a Gold Medal and a Prix de Publique which has been followed by gold medals at various competitions such as “Latina Festival” in Italy, Grenoble and Domont Festival in France, that alone confirmed his place among one of the greatest performances in the circus arts of our time. He also won the Russian Idol, a television contest program in Russia. Although he enjoyed the newfound fame and attention, he donated the prize money from the show (app. $40,000) to his community’s local orphanage and to his former Sport training facility. In 2009 Dima returned to his previous employer, The Cirque du Soleil, where he just completed a Broadway production and continuing in the renowned Cirque du Soleil`s show “Zumanity” in Las Vegas. From a generalist performer to a star feature in famous venues around the world, Dima`s new goal is to open an advanced Pole Dancing Center in Las Vegas. Preview Dima’s video footage here.
Lucy Misch (UK)
Lucy Misch She began her three year BA in English Literature at the University of York. Though she planned to audition for drama school, Lucy wanted to broaden her understanding of the academic side of literature before embarking on a vocational course. She believes that an actor’s main tools are the words she commands. During her second and third years at university, Lucy set up the UK’s first Pole Exercise club. She had a vision – now shared by many – of bringing pole dancing out of the nightclub and into the living room, knowing what great exercise it could be. She was also one of the first to target this unique form of exercise at men as well as women, over time developing a distinct style of pole dancing with them. Lucy devoted many hours to running the club, writing an instruction syllabus, training instructors, and of course giving classes. Many students responded to her dedication and enthusiasm, and it had become the most successful sports club on campus by the time she left York. Alongside her pole work, Lucy began to train in aerial silks (tisu) and cordalisse. She also found time to attend workshops in other circus disciplines including static trapeze and Chinese Pole. Towards the end of her degree, she formed her own production company, Lucy Misch Productions Ltd, and filmed and edited the first ever Pole Exercise DVD. Lucy has produced a further 3 exercise DVDs and devised and directed various performances based around her circus and pole skills. She was the one responsible for introducing pole fitness into Saudi Arabia.
Loic Lebret (France)
Loic Lebret Lebret is also unique in that he is one of the top male pole performers in the world to comprehensively busts the myth that pole dancing is only for women. His love affair with the pole began back in April 2008 in Paris, when he picked up a friend from a pole dancing class and was instantly entranced by what he experienced and decided to learn how to do it himself. He realized the demands that pole dancing makes on the body, in terms of flexibility, strength and endurance, and determined that he could effectively combine the graceful and romantic elements of his traditional dance training with pole fitness moves to create the artistic pole dance concept. One of Lebret’s famous acts is his Superman performance, which was a huge TV hit, when it featured in the show Got Talent, comprises of the entire body being painted in an intricate design that took three hours for the makeup artist to create! Lebret is one half of the dance act ADDICTISSIME where he performs in France as well as abroad. Preview Loic’s video footage here.
|
|
