STAFF
JESSICA ANDERSON-GWIN
I am a 3x international pro pole champion, dancer, aerialist, and storyteller. I have been honored to perform on stage at major events like Coachella, with singing artists such as Alina Baraz, on TV on MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew, represent tech products in motion capture for companies such as Optitrack, and was the subject of the documentary “Off The Floor: The Rise of Contemporary Pole Dance” by filmmakers Matt and Katie Celia. In addition to many notable industry jobs, I enjoy helping others reach their full potential, whether it be a competition piece, learning a physical technique, or creating their own individual art. I love sharing skills with my community to make our net and friendships grow! At my heart, I love to tell stories whenever I can in whatever medium I can. I’ve begun adding fire dancing to my skill set, and I am looking forward to introducing some of this to Jagged this coming year.
ALona Hapon
I currently live, dance, and teach in Los Angeles. My pole dance journey started in Ukraine back in 2017, and I’ve have loved it ever since. My background was in dancing and performing. I have been teaching pole dance and heels classes since 2019. To be a helpful guide in your learning journey is my biggest pleasure. My aspiration lies in discovering the blend of techniques, advice, and useful tools that can empower my students to navigate the range of movements—from the simplest to the more complex—fostering a deep connection with their own bodies. To me, technique is a foundation upon which beautiful movements and choreographies are built. Seeing progress of my students is a profoundly meaningful reason to continue my teaching and learning journey.
MINA MECHANIC
Mina Mechanic started her aerial journey in 2008. She has competed and won national and international pole dance competitions. She has also traveled the world performing and teaching workshops. Her resume includes dancing in music videos for Usher, Enrique Iglesias, and Diplo. She currently teaches silks, pole, Lyra, and flexibility classes.
REBECCA CHEN
Rebecca is a circus artist specializing in aerial hoop and dabbling in dance trapeze. A Los Angeles native, she harbors a fondness for green juice, pink sunsets, and angsty hair thrashing (because, balance).
Her style has been described as "a spinning vortex of edgy power." Find her petting strays, reapplying sunscreen, and teaching every Saturday at Jagged.
RIRI VALORA
Riri Valora is a pole fitness instructor whose passion for the art form blossomed later in life. Transitioning from a self-professed couch potato to a dedicated pole enthusiast in her late 20s, she found her calling and never looked back. With a deep love for teaching, Riri fosters an inclusive environment where students of all levels are empowered to thrive. As the instructor of the intermediate spinning pole class every Thursday at Jagged Vertical Dance and Fitness, she inspires others to discover their strength and grace through pole fitness.
robin gopal
After spending buckets of time learning to be a bioengineer and working in healthcare, Robin took a hard left and ran away with the circus. She loves using her understanding of physics to help defy gravity on every apparatus, but especially enjoys the unique problem solving hammock requires. Robin is passionate about using her background to help all students and making the seemingly impossible, possible.