INSTRUCTOR

She/Her
Ellen began her dance journey in 1994 and transitioned into pole and aerial in 2006 after a decade in competitive rhythmic gymnastics as both dancer and coach. She has trained across the U.S. and internationally, blending diverse styles into her teaching. With a focus on safety and longevity, Ellen believes dance should be a lifelong source of joy and fulfillment.

INSTRUCTOR

She/her
Coco started dancing as a child and hasn’t stopped since. When she took her first pole class, it was love at first spin! Now as an instructor, her passion is helping you discover your own style, build confidence, and have fun through every move.

INSTRUCOR

She/Her
In 2017, Ashley took her first pole classes while living in Berlin on a Fulbright scholarship. After moving to Scotland, she continued to pursue pole, also branching out into aerial hoop and silks. While in Scotland, Ashley earned certifications in Flexibility (Alixa Flexibility), Heels Pole (XPERT Fitness), and Matwork Pilates (Body Control London), which she taught at her local studios. After returning to the States in 2023, Ashley earned certifications in Pilates Reformer and Apparatus (Balanced Body). She is now a full-time Pilates instructor. Ashley believes that pole and Pilates complement each other beautifully and loves to combine her passion for these disciplines in her teaching. She recently earned her Lvl 1 Pole teaching certification with Pole Fitness Alliance, and is currently working on Lvl 2.

INSTRUCTOR

She/They
Through her experiences as a student, instructor, and dancer, Bunny has fallen more in love with pole dancing as a form of self expression. As a queer sex worker herself, Bunny wants her students to know and feel that there's a space for everyone and every body in pole. Performing and teaching across the U.S., she loves working through the duality of pairing big powerful basework tricks with flowing lines and silky movements.

INSTRUCTOR

They/Them
Liv is an artist spanning multiple intersecting mediums based in Chicago and New York. They are a sex worker, actor, playwright, and dancer. Liv has taught yoga since 2019, but since beginning their pole career as a stripper in 2022, they have fallen in love with teaching various types of pole classes. From conditioning, to tricks, to heels or low flow, Liv will encourage you to discover your own style while building the confidence, strength, and flow that inspires this work. 

INSTRUCTOR

He/Him
Zack has been teaching pole for over 7 years, and choreographing and dancing for over 15. Dance has been a passion of his since he was a kid. He started in musical theater, but quickly became dance leads in all the shows. He continued on to try his hands at ballet, salsa, ballroom, vogue, hip hop, tap, contemporary, and even West African dance styles. Outside of pole, he is a middle school English teacher and a drag queen around the city. His classes are always trying new dance moves and combos, and focuses on helping his students grow.

INSTRUCTOR

She/Her
Birdie takes her passion for fitness, body acceptance, and self-exploration to bring you a class that feels like a safe space to challenge yourself. Progressions are her love language, and she believes wholeheartedly that everyone moves differently, and that is the beauty of pole. Whether you are learning spin and heels technique or how to shake some butt, you're guaranteed to be laughing throughout class.

MANAGER & INSTRUCTOR

They/She
Hannah was born and raised in California but fell in love with pole dance in Salt Lake City, Utah. They've been a mover and groover their whole life with a degree in Ballet and over 10 years of dance experience. As an instructor, Hannah strives to balance fostering a love of movement and the body-mind connection as well as unlocking clean and efficient technique for different bodies. She believes that dancing is not just about aesthetic expression, but also (and maybe more importantly) about the sensational experience of moving and feeling. On the technical side of things, their background in dance and kines-/physiology knowledge help them adapt cues to each student's habits and backgrounds for that satisfying light bulb moment.

In addition to teaching, Hannah performs and choreographs both pole and contemporary dance. When they aren't wiggling around in a studio or stage, they can be found curled over a sewing machine or rolling out their perpetually grumpy muscles.

INSTRUCTOR

She/Her
Shillo is a Detroit native who has recently made Chicago her home, as of late Summer 2025. She has been pole dancing since 2015, exploring various apparatuses with a passion for sensual and lyrical movement. Her competition experience expands between PSO and Pole Theatre USA as a competitor and judge for PSO and soon to be others as well. She truly loves performing, artistry, instructing/guiding, coaching and lifelong learning, such as her current interest in vocal lessons. Advocation for inclusivity of ALL bodies, especially those who are curvy, midsize, fat, and/ or just proportioned differently than what is sometimes deemed the societal body standard. Bodies fluctuate, and loving every version of it through time is something she wants every person to feel. Her main focuses are performance quality, stability, mobility, strength, confidence, conditioning, and proper technique to make sure you are thinking about your body with longevity in mind. 

INSTRUCTOR

She/Her
With over fourteen years of dance experience in both the studio and the club and eight years of teaching under her garter belt, Liora is thrilled to join the team at Lace & Steel. She has previously taught pole, flying pole, and aerial hoop at The Brass Ring in Humboldt Park and Emerald City Trapeze Arts in Seattle, WA. An elbow grip enthusiast, spin pole specialist, and unapologetic lover of divorced dad rock, Liora brings a blend of skill and humor to everything she does. Her background in music and theatre shines through in her musicality and emotional range onstage. Liora is passionate about helping her students develop their physical strength and artistic depth while discovering the joy of movement and the incredible pole dance community.

INSTRUCTOR

They/Them
Tila Von Twirl is an award winning performer (BHOF 2009/2010 Las Vegas) that has been tantalizing audiences across the globe since 2008, blending classic and modern, upside down and right side up, in ways you have never seen before. 

 Specializing in acrobatic chair dance, feather fan dancing, and camp, Tila is one third of The Dolls of Doom, a core member of Fringe Factor Dance and one half of the power duo, Lando Blaze and Narcissa. Head of the Haus of Twirl. A trained dancer and choreographer, Tila has danced for “Tomorrow” featuring Fleetwood Mac, "Sing" featuring Elton John, “Metamorphus” featuring Billy Joel. Most recently, Tila has delighted in hosting shows around Chicago, (PeekEasy/Bordel/Unbridled). Tila is also producer, curator and host of Embodiment, Eve of Eve at Untitled Supper Club, and Sit Down and Shut Up. Tila is on staff at the Newport Theater Camp and Velvet and Chrome as an instructor as well as nationally traveling for Queen Bee Cabaret (Ohio), Detroit School of Burlesque, School of Shimmy (SF), Studio L'amour(Chicago), Fishnet Follies (SF), and BurlyCon (Portland) among others.

Putting the Femme in Themme, it's Tila Von Twirl!

INSTRUCTOR

She/Her
Xena is a stripper, producer, and actor who specializes in classic club style low flow. She has been dancing since 2020 and she has a background in rock climbing and yoga.