Instructors & Staff
OWNER / OPERATOR, POLE + DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Liana started pole dancing when Defy Gravity opened in August 2015 and something happened that never had before—she realized that she might actually like working out.
A few years and a career change later, Liana teaches a variety of Fundamentals and Level 1 offerings. Off the pole, they also co-teach Hipnotic Twerk Choreo.
Liana's dance style is a combination of sensual + erotic pole movement and contemporary flow. They are ElevatED certified for Levels 1 and 2. Liana’s classes are high energy and focused on celebrating your wins, both in and outside of the studio.
Liana Alcantara (she / they)
AERIAL ADMIN, AERIAL INSTRUCTOR
Amelia is an avid fan of musical theatre and was drawn to trapeze after seeing Pippin on Broadway. With no previous dance or athletic experience, she embraced the challenge of building strength and body awareness. Amelia began training trapeze, lyra, and silks at Ascend Flow Arts in 2014. She has been an aerial instructor at Defy Gravity since December 2017.
Amelia loves the theatrical elements of aerial arts and encourages students express themselves through aerial dance. She loves finding ways to incorporate skills from pole floorwork and chair dance into aerial routines
Amelia (she / her)
POLE ADMIN, POLE INSTRUCTOR
Jess has been a long-time student of movement and dance. She first discovered pole and aerial arts during college.
Jess joined Defy Gravity as a student in 2017 and began instructing in 2019. She loves supporting and celebrating her students through their own unique pole and fitness journeys.
Jess is Liquid Motion certified and has completed her 200 hr yoga training. She teaches heel technique in classes and private lessons.
Jess Leigh (she / her)
AERIAL ADMIN, AERIAL + FLEXIBILITY INSTRUCTOR
Robyn took his first aerial class at Defy Gravity in 2017 to cross-train for a marathon, and never left the studio. Robyn started on silks, branched to all the other apparatuses Dg offered, and honed his skills on lyra and hammock with training at contemporary circus schools such as Aloft and SOAR Aerial Dance.
Robyn can be found teaching all levels of aerial classes at Defy Gravity, and are especially proud of his work expanding the Aerial Fundamentals curriculum to include plus-size students. Robyn is passionate about working with students to build their confidence and joy in the air, because that's where he’s the happiest.
Robyn (he / him)
POLE INSTRUCTOR
Jess first tried a pole dancing class in January of 2013 through the student RSO Illini Pole Fitness. What they thought would be a fun, one-time activity turned into a passion hobby. An introvert at heart with no background in theater arts or dance, they love the performance aspect of pole dancing and lay the drama on thick, whether in a class combo, a competition piece, or a showcase performance. Jess can also occasionally be found on the aerial-side of the studio where their severe fear of heights really shines through.
Jess is ElevatED Certified for pole levels 1 and 2. They're excited to help others find the same passion and community at Defy Gravity they found, while also celebrating students' physical and mental gains in their personal journeys at DG.
Jess Lopez (they / them)
AERIAL INSTRUCTOR
Jordan knew it was love at first sight when she saw an aerial silks performance at a nightclub in San Francisco. She was ecstatic to finally get a taste for herself at Defy Gravity after moving to Champaign in 2016 and has come to embrace all manner of squishy apparatuses (silks and hammock).
As someone who always claimed to have no upper-body strength or flexibility, aerial arts has provided a pathway for making gainz in both. Jordan completed Defy Gravity’s aerial instructor certification in 2017 and is excited to help more people climb skyward. She's also an avid flow artist specializing in leviwand and fans.
Jordan (she / her)
POLE INSTRUCTOR
After taking one pole class on vacation in Atlanta, Athena instantly fell in love with pole dancing. When they moved to CU, they decided to attend classes at DG as a way to explore their interest in pole and meet new people, and through that, they quickly found their community.
After finishing her Master's of Social Work program, she decided to jump in to instructing. She hopes to help her students connect with pole in a way that is also healing and therapeutic, while still bringing joy and having fun. They will be teaching Pole Fundamentals and Fluffy Kitty Pole.
When not dancing, she is likely playing video games, board games with friends, or spending time with their adorable kitty.
Athena Kyle (she / they)
POLE + DANCE, FLEXIBILITY INSTRUCTOR
Jamie is an educator and plus-size movement professional who is committed to creating change in the visibility, and education of plus size artist-athletes while nurturing compassionate communities that encourage curiosity, celebrate diversity and prioritize inclusivity. She developed Fluffy Kitty™ Pole, a class for plus sized individuals and has expanded the curriculum to include Fluffy Kitty™ Flow, Fluffy Kitty™ Flex, and Fluffy Kitty™ Flirt.
Jamie holds certifications from ElevatED (Levels 1 and 2) and PoleandAerial.com (Pole and Pole Silks), WERQ dance cardio, Liquid Motion 1.0 and has completed a 200 hour yoga teacher training. Her love of movement is most exemplified in Burlesque Basics which she began teaching in 2015 with the opening of Defy Gravity.
Outside of DG, she works in social justice and education and performs with Carnivale Debauche, a burlesque and vaudeville troupe she co-directs. She is also a fierce lover of cats and the guardian of 3 chonky boys.
Jamie (she / her)
AERIAL INSTRUCTOR, PRIVATE LESSONS
Mx. Shirley Cean Rogiers decided long ago to become a circus and run away with themself. When Defy Gravity opened it's doors, it was to Opportunity's knock! Shirley answered by diving in head first: trapeze, lyra, silks, pole, etc.
After a brief dalliance in the desert, training, performing, and then teaching with the Reno Aerial Co-op, they returned to the DG scene and became a passionate instructor.
Shirley is more than excited to share their love of aerial arts, fitness, and performance with all, and brings that energy into every class! Come join in on the fun!
Mx. Shirley Cean Rogiers (they / them)
GRAPHIC DESIGN, POLE INSTRUCTOR
A theater role - and the search for more personal confidence and strength - actually brought Mimi (she/her) to Defy Gravity in 2019 but pole is what ended up keeping her there seven days a week. She made it two weeks into the 2020 "situation" before purchasing a home pole and continuing her journey virtually.
Her movement style gravitates toward dance and slower flow-based moves, but it's always good to switch it up and try new things.
Mimi teaches Pole Flow, Embrace Your Sexy, Chair Dance, and series-based freestyle offerings.
Mimi (she / her)
AERIAL INSTRUCTOR
Eli wandered into Defy Gravity one day in 2018 and just didn't go home. She fell in love with aerial and pole but became truly obsessed with aerial hammock after just one class!
She completed Defy Gravity's aerial instructor certification in 2019 and loves introducing new students to the joy of movement in the air. She teaches aerial hammock content in drop-in classes and private lessons.
Eli Reynolds (she / her)
POLE + DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Rose began their pole dance journey in April 2018 as a way to reconnect with their body and their mind. They believe dance is a unique experience for each and every person and encourages their students to find the experience that works for them.
Rose enjoys playing around with many apparatuses including pole, chair, and hammock, as well as flow toys including veil poi and hula hoops.
They love to talk all things board games, roleplaying games, cats, and mental health!
Rose Quartz (they / them)
AERIAL INSTRUCTOR
Stay-at-home parent by day and aerialist by night, Grace is thrilled to bring their love of joyful movement to their classes.
Grace wandered into Defy Gravity for a pole class in January 2019. They found their way into the aerial room shortly after and discovered that they're happiest place is in the air!
Grace is passionate about fat liberation and radical self-love. They love to celebrate every victory with their students and strive to make their classes a safe place for growth, learning, and creativity.
Outside of the studio, you can find them enthusiastically starting (but never finishing) projects, playing board games, or cooking. You can join them in Plus Size Aerial Fundamentals (PSAF) or Plus Size Pole + Aerial Conditioning (PSPAC).
Grace Chong (they / them)
POLE INSTRUCTOR
Beakie’s life changed when she stepped into Defy Gravity in Feb 2019 and she hasn’t looked back since. She is a lover of integrating spin pole and aerial tricks into her dance.
Common side effects of coming to class with Beakie may include increased confidence in yourself and your body and feeling like a total badass ready to crush it in the outside world. The confidence, community and connection awarded those in the pole community is infectious and addicting.
See you in Pole 2, Embrace Your Sexy, and around the studio!
Beakie (she / her)
AERIAL INSTRUCTOR
Even though she spent almost ten years as a stagehand in New York City, Morgan somehow managed to combine going to grad school with running away with the circus. After three years pursuing her MFA in Columbus, she moved to Urbana in 2021 and immediately came knocking on DG’s door (almost literally).
Morgan trained at Aerial Arts and the Muse in NYC, Aerotique and Movement Activities in Columbus, and Aloft and CirquesExperience in Chicago, and has a dance and theatre background. By this point she’s probably trained in at least every apparatus, but her primary favorites are silks, rope, and trapeze.
When she’s not upside-down, she’s busy earning dual Masters degrees in Russian/Eastern European/Eurasian Studies and Library Science as well as a minor in Translation, learning more languages than she knows what to do with, editing her novel, and cuddling with her kittyface.
Photo by Scott Ciulei
Morgan Fox (she / her)
POLE + AERIAL, BUNGEE FITNESS INSTRUCTOR
Maggie discovered Defy Gravity in 2016 and was ecstatic to find a new physical challenge, a much-needed creative outlet, and supportive community all in one place!
Maggie has been teaching aerial arts and bungee fitness since 2018 and pole since 2019.
She believes in celebrating the everyday victories and encourages her students to enjoy the journey to accomplishing their goals.
Maggie Berg (she / her)
AERIAL + FLEXIBILITY INSTRUCTOR
Christen began training pole in 2013 and aerial in 2016. With a background in salsa, swing, and ballroom, she finds the solo element of pole and aerial arts a challenging creative alternative to dancing with a partner.
Christen appreciates the balance between artistic expression and physicality—and especially loves the fact that she can get a great workout without stepping foot in the gym!
As an instructor, Christen’s focus is on developing solid technique in her students and creating an environment in which each person is empowered to set and work towards their individual goals.
Christen Mercier (she / her)
POLE INSTRUCTOR
Christine has been teaching at Defy Gravity since 2023. She began her aerial arts journey at DG in 2016, dabbling on and off in trapeze and pole. As a kid, Christine was a gymnast and dancer, but she took a long hiatus when adulting challenges, like grad school, work and parenting, became all-consuming. She's so glad to have dance and acrobatics back in her life again through DG!
Christine is an aspiring "power poler" who loves challenging herself to learn new strength-based tricks. She's also obsessed with Roller Pole, which fuses roller skating with pole dancing! She's a self-described pole nerd, hungry for knowledge on how to effectively build strength and flexibility while avoiding injury, following the motto "train smarter, not harder." In 2023, Christine became certified as a PoleStrong Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and enrolled in a Roller Pole instructor training program.
Christine Herman (she / her)
POLE INSTRUCTOR
Kalynn has been a student at Defy Gravity since early 2020. Though never having been a dancer growing up, she loved music and dance and was often found daydreaming to songs.
Defy has been her place of humbling, growth, support, and has nurtured her love for movement. Ever learning and always looking for ways to help others feel good in their own bodies, she's happily joined the instructor crew! She can often be found in the pole room, either teaching or as a student.
When she isn't at the studio she's likely playing video games, watching k-dramas, playing D&D, reading, or doing any of her 1000 crafts (seriously, she has so many hobbies)!
Kalynn (she / her)
POLE INSTRUCTOR
Teri started teaching at Defy Gravity in 2023 but has been taking classes here since 2017.
Her first love is pole, but she also loves the more dance-based classes such as burlesque and belly dance, and ventures over to the aerial side sometimes too.
Outside of the studio you can find her taking care of dogs, working backstage at a show, or hear her on her D&D podcast!
Teri loves teaching pole that is silly, spooky, and sexy, and she loves bringing this passion to new students. She also wants you to know that we will welcome you here no matter your gender, sexuality, size, age, or any other hurdles that may keep you from joining a class. We will accept you for who you are and yes, you CAN do it!
Teri Sturdyvin (she / her)
ASSISTANT STUDIO MANAGER, SOCIAL MEDIA, GRAPHIC DESIGN
Violet has been dancing at Defy Gravity since 2022. She loved it so much she stuck around and joined the staff as Assistant Studio Manager in May of 2023!
Violet finds dance to be a powerful healing tool as well as an exhilarating form of self-expression. You can catch her mostly in the pole room dancing at Fluffy Kitty Pole, WERQ, or Burlesque class - or hosting an astrology or tarot workshop! Violet brings her eight years of astrological study and professional practice to the studio and loves teaching practical tips for connecting deeper with the very nature we are a part of.
She’s happy to help answer any questions you may have at contactus@defygravitycu.com or via our Instagram or Facebook pages!
Photo by Beaks & Honey
Violet (she / her)
HOOP + FLOW, INVERSIONS + ARM BALANCES INSTRUCTOR
Christine is a dance/circus/yoga instructor and performance artist who joined the Defy Gravity family in 2015 as one of the studio's first aerial silks instructors.
Since then she has offered classes and workshops in Yoga, Hoop Dance, Circus Conditioning, Bend & Flex, and Floor Inversions & Arm Balances.
Christine also offers private lessons in hoop dance, fan veils, fire dancing, and fire eating. She can be found performing on stage throughout the Midwest and beyond with locally-based band Sun Stereo.
Christine Janak (she / her)
AERIAL INSTRUCTOR
Sarah initially joined the studio as a pole student, then later fell in love with aerial.
She currently teaches Aerial Fundamentals and Lyra.
Sarah Heller (she / her)
POLE INSTRUCTOR
Liza began dancing at a very young age and was trained in classical ballet. She hated every moment of it and quit dancing for 12 years.
In 2014 she took her first pole class in Israel. That class led her to rediscover her love for movement, on her own terms.
Since then, Liza has been pole dancing on and off and she has taken classes in Israel, San Diego and New York. In 2019 she joined Defy Gravity as a student and began instructing later that year after realizing how much joy she derives from guiding students through their pole journeys.
Liza Sh (she / her)
AERIAL INSTRUCTOR
Andrea teaches Aerial Fundamentals and Silks. She frequently performs on silks at DG’s biannual studio showcases.
Andrea (she / her)
POLE + DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Mariah teaches Pole Fundamentals and Fundamentals of Sexy. She also co-teaches Hipnotic Twerk Choreo.
Mariah has a passion for teaching beginners and hopes to be for other Black women what Rita, her first pole teacher, and other Black polers have been for her.
Mariah (she / her)
AERIAL INSTRUCTOR
Eva first joined Defy Gravity through Fluffy Kitty™ Pole and later fell in love with aerial. Along with Grace and other DG staff, Eva created Plus Size Aerial Fundamentals—an aerial class for plus size dancers, by plus size dancers.
Eva (she / her)
IT ADMIN + RIGGING
Jeto has been a part of DG since the very beginning. They keep our tech humming and our rigging and equipment safe. If you’re lucky, you might also take conditioning with them!
Jeto (they / them)