Meet the Knockout Bodies Team
Knockout Bodies classes are taught by a team of passionate & well qualified instructors. We all love what we do & believe that pole and aerial are more than just a workout! We keep classes small, so you will get plenty of individual attention and get to know your instructors & classmates well! Our focus is always to give you the best experience in a safe and injury free environment. We all have experienced the many benefits of pole and aerial including feeling strong and empowered. Let us show you that too.
Charisma Blue
Charisma recently acquired Knockout Bodies in 2017 from its previous owner Jen Cichon who started the studio in 2010.
Charisma fell in love with pole dancing as an alternative way of getting fit. She was getting bored with her current workout and turned to pole dancing as a way to break free of the monotony. She was instantly hooked with her first class at Knockout Bodies in 2011 and has been pole dancing ever since. After taking a year and a half break to have a baby, she turned back to her passion of pole dancing to get back in shape and to have some “Mommy Me Time”. Taking her passion for pole to the next level, Charisma became a certified pole instructor in early 2016 and found a new reason to love pole. She loves to see her students succeed and to provide the encouragement to try something new and different. Charisma was a dancer and theater background and applies her theatrical flair to all of her performances and routines. Recently, she took home 2nd place at the Central Pole Competition in 2017 for her Level 2 Dramatic Division performance and 3rd place at the MN Pole Competition in 2015 for her Novice Level Artistic Division performance. She was also a certified Sports Massage Therapist in 2008 and applies the self-care principles to her training and teaching style.
Dakota Wolfe
Dakota has been teaching pole dancing for five years and dancing for seven years. Her signature style is classic pole with a show of amazing flexibility, graceful flow, and awe inspiring drops. You can find her performing several times a year at multiple aerial and variety shows in the Twin Cities as a solo or part of Cirque du Pole performing group.
Most recently, Dakota took home the gold at Central Pole Competition in 2017 in the Doubles Division and placed second at the Pole Princess Competition in 2015.
Misty
Misty has been a fitness instructor for over 15 year & has dedicated her life to health, healing, & fitness.
She is a NETA certified group fitness instructor, certified Spinning instructor, and certified clinical Pilates instructor. Misty is a performing arts physical therapist, with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, a master’s in physiotherapy, & a doctorate in hand & upper extremity therapy, and has comprehensive mat & equipment Pilates certification. Misty offers teacher training through Vertical Art Athletics. She is the ’09 North Star “Miss Fitness” winner, & currently performs with the group “Cirque du Pôle”.
Laura
Laura stumbled upon pole dancing when classes were offered at her yoga studio. As soon as she started dancing, she was hooked! After training hard for three years at Knockout Bodies, life intervened and she had to step away from coming to class, but continued to pole at home with her own pole. Life eventually calmed down and after taking several instructor training courses through Pole Art Athletics, she was finally able to realize her dream of becoming a Pole Fitness Instructor! She loves helping students discover how fun fitness can be through pole dancing.
- Third Place – Minnesota Pole Competition Intermediate Entertainment 2019
Tasha
Tasha has been poling since October 2015 and started teaching March of 2017. She is dedicated to learning and getting stronger so she can continue to grow in strength and agility and to help guide her students in their pole journey. She competed in 2016 at the Minnesota Pole Competition and recently tied for third place in the Level 2 Dramatic Division at the Central Pole Competition in 2017. When she is not at pole class, she is an avid cosplay costume designer and attends conventions across the country. She is also a self-proclaimed Cat Lady and the proud parent of Pumpkin and Vader.
Kelsey
Kelsey has been a competitive dancer for over 21 years. Growing up, she competed in ballet, lyrical, jazz, and acro dance. Deciding to share her love of dance, she became a dance instructor and eventually found pole dancing in 2013. She fell in love with it and embraced the community fully. She loves how pole dancing has brought her confidence, happiness, and some of the best friends a girl could ask for.
- Second Place – Minnesota Pole Competition Elite Entertainment 2019
- First Place – Minnesota Pole Competition Doubles Division 2019
- First Place – Triangle Pole Competition Level 4 Dramatic 2019
- Third Place – Triangle Pole Competition Doubles Division 2019
- First Place – Space City Pole Competition Doubles Division 2019
Alice Dawdson
She graduated from a 2 year program at NW technical to pursue a career in industrial science and manufacturing; while perusing automation and programming languages.
After moving to the twin city area, she discovered and fell in love with fitness. Eventually settling into the performance art community at Knockout Bodies Gym where she began her career as a part time instructor.
Her hobbies include pole dance and pole sport, sewing, sculpture, and travel.
Lindsey
Lindsey is one of our passionate instructors with an approach to honor freestyle majority of the time! She has been a student at Knockout for five years! Despite life interruptions such as major abdominal surgery, traveling, school, and work- her love for pole has remained strong! She is a Social Work student and has many years of working in Human Services. This contributes to her inclusive, communicative, and approachable demeanor as an instructor. You won’t be leaving her class without a good laugh, a new song, or a smile! In addition to her employment, dance background, and education, she’s also completing her Yoga Teacher Certification and she is Reiki attuned. “Mind, body, and spirit fuel my creativity- in both my personal practice and group instruction. Let’s submerge our entire self into movement, TOGETHER.” Interested in a reiki session with her? Email her at divinemovement1111@gmail.com to schedule your session.
Myss Angie
Myss Angie is a visionary that believes in helping empower women, strengthening the community, and bringing pole dance and the performance arts to new platforms. She is thrilled to help others with their fitness and dance goals!
She has been teaching, training, and performing pole dance and fitness since 2010, been a pole sport judge since 2014, holds titles for 1st and 3rd Place Champion at the Central Pole Championships for her pole double routines with Dakota Wolfe and Cheryl Birch.
Myss Angie is also the creator, artistic director, and pioneer for Pole and Performing Art, an event production company, and the non-profit program that supports pole dance artists, Momentum Movement Arts.
Fitness Certifications:
- Pole Barre Fitness Instructor 2017
- Pole-ates Pole Fitness Instructor 2016
- Aerialates Fitness Instructor 2014
- 500-hr Yoga Alliance Instructor 2010
- AFAA Group Exercise Instructor 2006
- Saint Cloud State Aerobics Instructor 2004
Elisabeth Gress
Elisabeth has been dancing in some form for the majority of her life, including extensive training in ballet, jazz, contemporary and tap. She found pole and aerial arts in June 2017 and started instructing with Knockout Bodies in Winter 2018. Elisabeth holds a Doctorate of Physical Therapy and is a current instructor with Vertical Arts Athletics. She enjoys helping her clients and students have the most successful, safe and fun experiences in all movement forms.
Certifications
- Vertical Art Athletics Foundations
- Vertical Art Athletics Pole Mobility
Competitions
- 1st place PSO Chicago 2018 Level 2 Dramatic Junior
- 1st place PSO Gateway 2018 Level 3 Entertainment Junior/Senior
- 1st place MNPC/LOL 2019 Advanced Performance Theater
- 1st place MNPC/LOL 2019 Doubles
- 2nd place PSO Triangle 2019 Floorwork/Low Flow Level 2/3 Junior/Senior
- 3rd place PSO Triangle 2019 Doubles
- 1st place PSO Chicago 2019 Level 4 Entertainment Senior
- 1st place PSO Space City 2019 Doubles
- 1st place PSO Space City 2019 Level 4 Entertainment Senior
Jean Luc Dicard
Jean Luc will be celebrating his 5 year pole-aversary in June 2019! They have been an independent pole performer and entertainer around the Twin Cities and MN since winter 2014. Jean Luc has been a member of various local performance troupes, and currently is a member of The Vigilantease Collective. Since spring 2016, they have been instructing pole students from brand new to advanced levels, and making group pole choreography. He is a Certified Shiatsu and Massage Therapist, and had their own bodywork practice 2013-2017. Jean Luc has a background in movement arts such as gymnastics, modern dance, contact improvisation, and Wu Chien Pai martial arts. Pole dance has helped Jean Luc embrace sensuality and assertiveness, and move towards being and becoming their most authentic self. Witnessing people play and heal through somatic practices such as dance gives them life.
Awards:
-2016 MN Pole Competition, 1st Place, Men’s Division
-2018 MN Pole Competition, 1st Place, Men’s Division
-2019 MN Pole Competition, 1st Place, Elite Artistic Division
Certifications:
-2014 Shiatsu and Massage Therapist Certification from CenterPoint Shiastu and Massage Therapy School
-2017 Pole-ates Foundations Course from Vertical Art Athletics
Courtney
Courtney tried pole dancing in 2012 and was immediately addicted after that first hour of class. she became a certified instructor shortly after and worked at Lady Katherine’s dance studio and Fit Pole-tential in Hudson, WI and Yoga4You in Savage, MN. She has taught pole tricks, dance and a various fitness classes including Cirque-It, Flexibility, and more!
Certifications
- APPI Pilates for Rehabilitation: Matwork 1
- Cirque-It Fitness (c)
- Pole Dance Instructor Certified –
- PDIC Beginner Certification Levels 1-4
- PDIC Intermediate Certification Levels 5-6
- YogaFit (c) Teacher Training Level 1-2
- Restorative Yoga & Deep Listening
- Vertical Art Athletics Foundations
Tria
Tria had her introduction to pole at her bachelorette party in 2015 but it wasn’t until 2017 when she started taking pole classes regularly. With a background in ballet, jazz, and lyrical she started pole for a new dance outlet but stayed because of the athleticism of the tricks. She loves the confidence pole has given her and the community surrounding it. Slow, controlled, flow is her style whether it’s in heels or barefoot. Tria began teaching May 2019 and is Knockout’s newest instructor.
Certifications
- Vertical Art Athletics Foundations
Competitions
- First Place – 2019 PSO Central Level 3 Senior Exotic
- First Place – 2018 Minnesota Pole Competition Intermediate Artistic
Shadowcat Sophie
Shadowcat Sophie (aka Missy) is a Minneapolis-based circus performer and teacher. At the age of five, she began dance and gymnastic classes, moving on to competitive cheerleading and teaching dance and fitness classes in high school. After additional dance training that ranged from performing at the Citrus Bowl to studying traditional dance in Trinidad, Sophie found her way to aerial arts and fell in love. Over the past six years she’s trained locally, nationally and internationally while completing Nimble Arts and Born to Fly Teacher Training, as well as earning her RYT 230. With a passion for proper form, her specialties are choreography, finding ways to make circus arts accessible to all skill levels and indulging in chai lattes.
Brandy Jane Grey & Seebie Sparklehaus
Brandy Jane Grey (she/her) and Seebie Sparklehaus (they/them), come to you after three years of flying together on lyra.
This Mixed-Level Lyra class is best for lyra students with some fundamentals who have completed the Intro to Lyra series and feel comfortable with all skills covered in the series. It is not unusual to take the intro series multiple times.
The structure of class is as follows:
– Warmup and Prehab
– Fundamentals (hangs, alignment and balance work, and beats)
– Skills (drops, rolls, advanced poses)
– Transitions and Sequencing
– ArtistryWe accept all students at all ability levels and are happy to work with folks to design your path in circus.
We both train lyra in private and semi-private lessons with many local instructors, including Lynn Lunny, Kristen Zyra, Cheryl Birch, and whoever is passing through! Together, we are committed to ongoing training and study from science-based materials published by Jen Crane (cirque_physio), Catie Bier (physioflex), and Emily Scherb (thecircusdoc) to keep up our ongoing learning. Seebie did lyra teacher training with T Lawrence Simon, previously at NECCA and currently in Boston at the Commonwealth Circus Center. Brandy did her lyra teacher training with Paper Doll Militia in the Born to Fly program.
In our 3 years teaching together, we have developed a dynamic curriculum in fundamentals, skills, and artistry. We feel strongly about instilling all students with excellent training habits and empowering everyone to safely explore artistry and expression.
See how we work
Professionally Trained Instructors
