About Fawnia

Pole Dance Instructor and Judge,
Fitness Model and Competitor, Writer and Actress.

I was born in 1975, in the small town of Kamloops, BC Canada. In 1983 I made the move by camper trailer to the beautiful city of Victoria, BC. My interests growing up included running, art (drawing), theatre, and dancing. Growing up I always knew I loved to dance however I never took formal training.

In Oct, 1994 at the age of 19 I began my training and career as an exotic dancer. Learning as I went, live in front of the world I fell in love with the pole. Seeing the women on stage doing the most amazing moves on the poles inspired me to learn and create as much as I possibly could. Where was the school?

I asked the club staff where were the Exotic Dance School was located, to learn pole work. Their reply to me was "There is no school, you just learn while you are on stage." I couldn't believe there wasn't a place to go, and learn how to do pole work, walk, dance, and crawl; do everything that makes someone a great exotic dancer. Just two months after I learned my first move, "The Fire Man", I purchased a brass pole from a metal store, and started teaching. The date was Dec, 1994. While the rest of the world was going about their business, I opened the world's first Exotic Dance School and produced the instructional video: Pole Work, volume 1. The first of its kind, making me a pioneer of what's now America's latest fitness craze, pole dancing for fitness!

I love pole dancing. Pole dancing gave me a unique way to express myself which felt more natural than anything, the first time I set foot on stage. Though I was nervous and my jaw was shaking, I found my home. How could their not be a school? How can women just walk up there and pole dance? Where is the guidance? I had to start teaching! I never wanted anyone to go through what I did my first time. Being an amateur is frightening and for some lucky reason, I realized it was my purpose to stand behind the pole and support and guide every person who wanted to try.

My professional career as an exotic dancer was surprisingly short. In March, 1996 I retired from dancing and began studying acting for film and television at the Screen Actors Studio with David Simmonds. My passion for performing soon lead to work on The X-Files, Millennium, and in movies such as Profile For Murder, My Fathers Angel, Nationals Lampoons Strip Poker, and the lead in both Dakota Bound and Cries of Innocence.
   
The stage has always been my home as I have competed in over 20 dance and physique competitions. My most memorable titles are all my exotic dance competitions in 1995 - 96, 1st Place 2007 Canadian Fitness and Figure Nationals, 2nd in Fitness America (for figure) and placing top 20 in Spy on Vegas HOT100 contest in 2011.

I have appeared on the cover of Las Vegas Life, Muscle Magazine International, Body of Science, Canadian Health & Fitness, Body Talk and in Muscle & Fitness, Oxygen, Flex, American Curves, Planet Muscle, Ironman, Natural Bodybuilding & Fitness, Ms. Fitness, Las Vegas Weekly and many others including Playboy's special editions 4 times, and Playboy's Best of Canadian Girls calendar. Since 2002 I have been writing for BodyBuilding.com and proudly represent them at health and fitness trade shows.
 
In March, 2005 while at the Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio I met my husband Damon Dietrich. With Damon living in Maryland, over 3000 miles away, we decided to marry in July and in October, 2005 we relocated to Las Vegas, NV. What a crazy, fast year it was!

My certifications include weight training, iKick, Zumba, and PiYo. I created the Pole Dance Instructor Certification (PDIC) which is a complete training program for running a safe, informative and successful pole dancing school. I also wrote the forward for The Complete Idiot's Guide to Exotic and Pole Dancing. With my time and dedication in the pole fitness industry, I have a keen eye for star entertainers and talent. I have worked as a respected judge for the Vertical Pole Challenge (reality television show), East Meets West Pole Events, and Ms. Georgia Pole, and since 2010 I judged the World Pole Dance contest annually. In 2011 I was voted The United Pole Artists Pro-Poler of the year; their first yearly award. In addition to teaching at Pole Fitness Studio, I also offer pole dancing workshops at the University of Las Vegas (UNLV) and also offer education lectures at UNLV's "Dance 103: Sex, Dance and Entertainment" class. I am on the board of directors for the Pole Fitness Association (PFA) and on the Olympic committee for the International Pole Sports Federation (IPSF) as an Elite Athlete with efforts towards the 2016 / 2020 Olympic games. September 2012 I will be hosting the Pole Expo, in Las Vegas. You are invited!

Where would we be without The Pole? Thank you "The Vertical Pole" for you gave us a unique way to express ourselves as we discover how strong, beautiful and talented we really are!