MARY ELLYN - USA - Nomination for Pole Dance Instructor of the Year 2010

Mary Ellyn Weissman is the owner and creator of Empowerment Through Exotic Dance, Ltd., which was the first pole dancing school in the Chicago area. She will turn 50 years old in May 2010, is married and has two sons who will both be in college in the fall.

Mary Ellyn prefers to be a teacher rather than a performer. Her greatest enjoyment comes from sharing her skills with her students and sharing their excitement as they succeed.

Her method of teaching breaks down the elements of each move helping students to learn with ease. Her class environment encourages students learning within a fun supportive atmosphere.

Having experienced the growth of pole dancing from it’s earliest stages within the US, she also believes that safe pole instruction is an essential aspect of teaching. In addition to her background as a registered nurse she received her certification as a Group Exercise Instructor through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America and studied and took classes in body mechanics and injury prevention.

In the interest of further promoting safe pole dance instruction, in 2008 she developed the first pole instructor certification and training programs in the Midwest US that was approved for continuing education by the AFAA.

Mary Ellyn has also worked with and supported several organizations like the USPDF, the PDC, the IPF and the IPDFA in their quests to improve pole dance recognition through competitions, regulations and guidelines.

In 2009 Mary Ellyn produced her first international event - Dance Wicked For A Week. This event, held in Jamaica, brought together top names in pole dancing and burlesque to offer workshops for women from inexperienced to advanced level dancers with a showcase performance as the highlight of the week. After it’s great success she is hosting Dance Wicked again in 2010.

From the very beginning her priority has been her students and her enjoyment has been watching them grow and respond to her classes. While keeping their safety in mind, it was equally important that they not only toned up and got fit in a safe environment but also had a safe environment to explore a new and somewhat controversial form of dance which they soon realized helped them to improve their self esteem and confidence.

She has found that for some, this growth was a result of improved levels of fitness while for others it was an improved acceptance of whom they were both inside and outside.

Since she began pole dancing Mary Ellyn has been influenced by many people who she had the opportunity to meet, not only other pole dancers, but dancers of other styles, entertainers and business owners as well.

Her heroes are moms, wives, doctors, teachers and numerous other professionals as well as women who have overcome histories of abuse, disability and various misfortunes but despite it all have learned to enjoy life and live it fully.