Judges & Adjudicators
Damian Kutryb - JUDGE
Damian Kutryb – Owner of GFFdamian Dance Studio in Manchester and founder of GFFdamian Pole Camp has been Pole Dancing since 2013 and fell in love with it immediately. He practiced Pole Dance regularly at home and in classes and is still picking up new moves and styles to improve his standard. The PoleHog brand Ambassador.
Famous Mr Unicorn, his viral video reached few views.
– Winner of International Pole Idol 2016
– Runner Up Mr Pole Fitness UK Champion 2017
– Best Entertainer Award ' Mr Pole Fitness UK Championships 2017
– Winner of JLN UK Pole Championships 2017
– Best Entertainer Award 'JLN UK Pole Championships 2017
- Finalist Mr Pole Scotland 2018 Championships
- Finalist North East Pole Championships 2018
- Winner Mr Worldwide International 17/18
- Finalist Top Model Guy UK 2018
– Mister Gay Warsaw 2017
– Mr Gay Poland 2017 Finalist
– Mr Gay Poland Digital 2017
– Mr Gay Poland Photo 2017
– Mr Gay Poland Public Voting 2017
Experienced Pole Sport and Pole Art Judge. Qualified X-pole Pole Fitness Instructor, X-pole Children's Pole and Aerial, Alixia Flexibility and Zumba. Damian is strong, has fantastic flexibility and is extremely advanced, he can make a basic pole move look like contortion!
As well as Pole Fitness Damian is also an experienced teacher of Aerial Hoop and Aerobics.
Damian has featured in British media on TV and tabloids. He danced at the Jimmy`s Carr show the `8 out of 10 cats does countdown` and he featured in Documentaries called the `Pole, Pride&Prejudice`, `Success abroad`for Discovery Channel+.
He teaches workshops Internationally.
Michael Donohoe - Judge
Co. owner of Fierce Fitness Kildare, Michael has been working within the fitness industry for 14 years now.
After qualifying in Fitness Instruction and Personal Training he began working for Total Fitness in Dublin. Over a number of years he developed his skills and progressed to a Level 3 Exercise Specialist.
He then moved on and opened a private personal training studio. He ran this for 3 years.
Soon after that he started his journey into pole fitness and after training for one year began competing.
For 7 years now Michael has been training and competing in Pole as well as training in Circus Arts.
Michael is the head coach of his Circus Fit programme where he teaches people of all ages Trapeze, Flying Pole, Hand Balancing, Rings and also Strength and Conditioning.
His ambition is to introduce as many people as possible into Circus Fit as an alternative, fun, motivating and highly rewarding way to keeping fit and healthy.
His training and guidance makes this achievable for people of all ages, shapes and sizes.
My Achievements
*World Pole Dance Sport&Fitness 4th Place 2016
*Mr Pole Dance UK Champion 2015
*World Pole Dance Sport&Fitness Finalist 2015
*Mr Pole Fitness UK Runner Up 2015
*Pole Theatre Ireland Proffesional & OverAll Winner 2014
*Irish Pole Fitness Male Champion 2013
*All Ireland Pole Dance Champion 2013
* ITEC Diploma in Personal Trainer
*ITEC Diploma in Fitness Instruction
*ITEC Level 1 & 2 Certification in Anatomy and Physiology* Over 10 years experience
Jade Bensilum - Judge
Jade is an instructor and performer who has been training in pole and aerial for around 7 years, she teaches across several different
studios aswell as performing internationally and teaching workshops throughout the UK.
She holds a number of national titles to her name with her most recent achievement being second
place at Miss Pole Dance UK Professional in 2018, this has given her the opportunity to represent the UK at the World Pole Dance
Championships in October last year!
Jade has judged a number of competitions including Miss Pole Dance UK, BPSC & Lincolnshire Pole Championships. With her
competition knowledge and expertise, she created the Pole Revolution UK Competition which has just completed its first successful year.
TITLES
Miss Pole Dance UK, Professional Second Place 2018
Miss Pole Dance UK, Professional Doubles Third Place 2017
JLN Pole Championships, Professional Second Place 2017
British Pole Superstar Championships, Professional Third Place 2017
Heir to the Chrome, Doubles Second Place 2016
International Pole & Aerial Tournament, Doubles Third Place & Best Costume 2016
British Pole Superstar Championships, Instructor Second Place 2016
Miss Pole Dance UK, Professional Doubles Second Place & Best Tricks 2015
Miss Pole Dance UK, Semi Pro Doubles Winners & Best Tricks 2015
Miss Pole Dance UK, Semi Pro Student Second Place & Best Tricks 2015
Kent Pole Championships, Advanced Winner 2015
British Pole Superstar Championships, Advanced Winner 2015
Pole Theatre UK, Advanced/Amateur DRAMA Winner 2015
Rachel Tolzman - Judge
Pole dancer and aerialist, Rachel has been dancing since the age of three, and has always had a passion for movement. Even though she comes from a strong balletic background, she has also explored many different forms of dance including tap, jazz, hip-hop, ballroom, salsa, tango and African dance. In addition, she trained as a rhythmic gymnast for many years and competed in the United States at a high level, even advancing to the US Junior Olympics.
Pole competitions include IPAAT Elite Division 2016 - first place and best tricks, PSO Zurich Women’s Professional Division 2017 -second place. She holds the title of Miss Pole Dance UK Pro Division 2017. She competed as a finalist and placed third at the World Pole Dance Championships in May 2018. In fall of 2018, she performed with Jenyne Butterfly in Las Vegas for her show “Rise” and placed third at Pole-a-Palooza. In November 2018, she took the winning title of the elite division at Pole Art UK. This year she placed second at IPAAT Champions Division and took fourth amongst 28 competitors in the elite division of Pole Art Italy 2019. During last summer she performed at the Bridge Theatre playing a fairy in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Nicholas Hytner.
Emma Simmonds - Judge
Emma Simmonds
Emma is the founder of Pole Performers Dance School Ltd Est. Since 2004. with over 20 years experience and knowledge in the pole dance industry, Emma was one of the very first professional pole dance schools to open in the UK. Emma started dance lessons from the age of 4, and started dance lessons from 10, with syllabus B.T.D.A 'British Theatre Dance Association' in many styles, Ballet, Tap, Modern, Acrobatics, and more, completing the highest level of achievement and gaining many certifications and scholarships. Emma knew her calling was to dance to life.
When Emma turned 18, she started to audition for dance contracts which enabled her to travel the world, as a Professional Cabaret Dancer and Professional Podium Dancer, in places like 5 star* casino park hotels and tops clubs in Ibiza, like Manumission, Eden, Es Paradise, Bar M and more, performing in front of 6,000 people at times with music from tops DJ;s around the world. She made lead dancer.
Emma has taught thousands and thousands of students and many pole instructors and performers in the world of pole dance over the years, Which she is very honoured to have help so many from beginners to top competitors achieve their pole goals.
Here are a few details of Emma's dance achievements:
Miss Pole Dance UK Championships Solo Finalist 5 times
Over 20 years experience and knowledge in the pole dance industry
Over 18 years teaching experience
Over 15 years as Founder of
Pole Performers Dance School Est.2004
A Professional dancer, performer, instructor, choreographer, qualified fitness instructor REPS
Hosted and holds many masters classes UK and Europe from Hot Heels to Pole Ballet Workshops
Miss Pole Dance 2019 Judge Semi Professionals
Create of Pole Performers Dance School Fitness DVDs
Emma has over the years had numerous TV work and appearances including,
Pole dancer for 'Britain's Got Talent' ITV
Pole dancer for entertainment 'Come Dine with Me' Channel 4
Pole dancer performing on 'Got to Dance' Sky One
Pole dancer 'Let Me Entertain You' Brian Connelly
'Trisha Goddard' Show Pole Dancing Chat Show
BBC1 Sports Relief Teaching and Performing there Presenter with her Daughter Lilygrace
Presenter for Television X London Studios
Professional Choreographer Pole Performers Showcase Performances, & Performers to complete in National Competitions
Featured in many magazines, newspapers, radio one, 'The Sun' 'Daily Mail' for various dance work and pole dancing
Emma is now a proud mum of 2 amazing daughthers, 'Lilygrace' who is 9 years old and baby 'Summer' 4 months old
Lilygrace is also a Pole Dancer and has competed at Miss Pole Dance UK Childerns Finals 2019.
Emma has the same passion and drive to teach, judge and perform as when she first started, and feels very honoured and privileged to be invited to Judge this years Miss Pole Dance UK Professionals!
Theo Robertson - Judge
Theo has been pole dancing since 2011 and started teaching in 2013. He has since taught workshops throughout the UK, Ireland and internationally, as well as having judged several national level competitions. Theo’s original background was bodybuilding and rock-climbing, but after being introduced to his good friend Shaun Stickland in 2013, he decided to ditch both of them in order to focus more on dance. Thanks to Shaun’s influence, he now attends the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance and is currently in the final year of his degree in Contemporary Dance Performance.Theo is also a co-owner and director of Inverted: Circus & Pole Fitness in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Previous accolades:
1st place – Mr Pole Fitness Professional UK 2019/2020
3rd place – Miss & Mr Pole Scotland Elite 2018
2nd place – Mr Pole Fitness Professional UK 2017
1st place – Mr Pole Scotland Professional 2017
1st place – Professional Pole Performance Competition 2017
2nd place – Mr Pole Fitness Professional UK 2016
Elite Male Finalist - Pole Art Greece 2016
1st place – Mr Pole Scotland Professional 2016
2nd place – Mr Pole Scotland Professional 2015
1st place – Mr Pole Scotland 2014
1st place – Edinburgh Pole Competition 2014
Sue Thompson - Adjudicator
Sue is a qualified advanced level pole and Pilates instructor running classes under Pole Passion in Bognor Regis and surrounding areas. She is also a Teacher Trainer and Assessor, delivering the Pole Passion REP’s accredited Instructor Training and assessing students at the quarterly gradings.
In 2010 Sue started to assist Pole Passion at their national and international pole dance and fitness competitions including Miss Pole Dance UK and World Pole Sport & Fitness Championships. She has taken on a number of roles at these events starting in areas such as sponsorship coordinator, backstage competitor coordinator and then taking on roles such as judge and adjudicator, overseeing the fair and consistent application of the rules. In 2014 Sue travelled to Beijing, China to deliver the first accredited Instructor Training and to adjudicate in the World Pole Dance Championships.
Sue is honoured at the opportunity to host the Amateur and Semi-Pro competition in one of her class venues for the third year running and looking forward to seeing the huge levels of passion and skill that are always evident at these competitions.
Angela Walker - Adjudicator
Angela is a qualified advanced level pole instructor. She is also Office Manager and Events Coordinator for Pole Passion.
Angela’s positive attitude and hard work have made her an asset at many Pole Passion classes, student gradings, Instructor Training courses, national and international events. Including at the annual Budapest Pole Camp Retreat, where she organises a busy schedule with over 60 students and many professional international trainers.
Her mature attitude, considerable organisational skills and experience of the pole industry make her a valuable asset in the adjudicator role where a high level of attention to detail is essential. Angela has adjudicated for Miss Pole Dance UK Amateur semi-pros, Miss Pole Dance UK Professional Championships and The All Ireland Pole Dance Championships for the last four years.
Stephen Penney - Adjudicator
Since starting with Pole Passion in 2003, Steve has been passionate about developing the pole industry as a sport, dance and art form. A very important member of the Pole Passion team, he is always happy to stay in the back ground and keep a low profile at events preferring to concentrate on organisation and health & Safety for everyones safety on and around a pole, using all the knowledge and experience he gained in the construction industry from running his own electrical business for over 20 years.
Steve is very entrepreneurial and believes you are either growing or dying! Steve has a degree in management and is a member of the Federation of Chartered Managers (FCMI). He is also trained as a life coach, is a Black belt Karate instructor with over 20 years experience and holds a black belt in 2 diciplines. Steve has a passion for fitness both mentally and physically. Steve is now also a retail trader having spent the last 5 years studying financial markets.
Inventor and creator of Rpole - the worlds first free standing portable pole Rpole is to date the lightest most portable pole in the world .
Through Rpole he has enabled thousands of polers to pole anywhere at any time.
Stephen is passionate about ensuring the fair and consistent application of the rules.
What makes a great Judge?
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Organisers and competitors require competent & loyal judges
So what makes a good pole competition judge?
• Integrity – honest, upright and committed to the positive image and rules of Pole Dance and Fitness
• Professional competence
• Ethical to fellow workers, audiences, contestants and sponsors
• A sound understanding of health & safety on and around the Pole
• Abiding by the Code of Pole Practice 2008
• Keen intellect
• Extensive pole knowledge
• Fair and constructive
• Clear & quick analyser & thinker
• Concise & clear writer
• Impartial
• Trustworthy
• Accountable
• Good understanding of English (written and spoken)
• Judicial temperament
• Decisive
• Respectful – including all social media ( no swearing)
• Composed
• Strong communicator
• 100% reliable
• Committed
• Team player
• Experience
• Strong record of professional sport, fitness, dance & pole excellence
• Knowledgeable and educated about Pole techniques and or choreography and or performing
• An Understanding of the pressures, mentally & physically of the competitors when performing &
competing
• Health and fitness back ground and a good understanding of the bio mechanics of the body around the pole and floor work
• Service
• Commitment to the pole community of none less than 2 years
• Passionate about promoting & representing pole competitions and the pole industry, how so ever
represented in a positive and professional manner at all times
• One who takes the position seriously and researches the competition rules they are representing
• Understanding the sacrifices of the contestant will make financially, professionally and personally
• Well respected by their peers and in their pole dance community
• It is inappropriate to comment on any issue which may be considered personal or political
Apply now if you would like to be considered as a National Miss Pole Dance UK judge
Email us on - events@passion-fitness.com