All instructors at Cherry Blossom Studio are certified in CPR, First Aid, AED and all adhere by the guidelines of their profession.
Andrea Harper
Owner/Pole Dancing Instructor
Andrea learned pole dancing while living in New York City and has taken advanced workshops with some of the industry’s top professionals such as Jenyne Butterfly, Alethea Austin(US Pole Dance Federation Champion 2010) , Karol Helms (USPDF Miss Sexy 2010), Marlo Fisken, Emil Valentino, Bendy Kate and Josiah “Bad Azz” Grant. She has been pole dancing for fitness, for over 6 years and Instructing since 2008. In September 2010 Andrea competed in Miss Pole Dance Canada and is one of Canada’s top 16 pole dancers! She has also judged the Just For Laughs (JFL) Pole Fitness Competition in Montreal for the prestigious festival. Andrea previously hosted and planned the Ontario Pole Fitness Championship 2012, bringing pole fitness competitions to Eastern Canada by hosting this first annual event. Andrea is a Certified Personal Trainer Specialist since 2008, Certified Nutrition and Wellness Specialist since 2009 with Can-Fit-Pro and is a Certified Pole Fitness Instructor with PFIC and is also on the Board of Directors for PFIC. Andrea’s Pole Dancing experience and Personal Training experience helped her realize her dream of opening Cherry Blossom Pole Dancing Studio. She received her Creative Arts Degree from Ottawa School of Art. Her inspirations for creative pole performances are evident through her artistic personality and professional background. Andrea has designed Cherry Blossom Pole Dancing Studio as a place for women to let their bodies bloom!
Jennifer Renaud
Pole Dancing Instructor
Jennifer is a 30 year old single mother to a wonderful little boy. Jennifer started doing pole fitness at home as a form of exercise as she had no time to go to the gym. She immediately fell in love with this sport and wanted more out of it so she ventured out to find a studio that met all of her needs such as class, style , professionalism and most of all a great class of new friends and family, which she found at Cherry Blossom Pole Studio. Three years in to her pole journey she now has the body and health to strive to become a role model to Pole Virgins. Jen is excited to teach this wonderful sport, connect with people and help them discover the fun of Pole Fitness. Jen also has a background in Figure skating, Ballet,Tap Dance and gymnastics and is currently in school for Holistic Nutrition.
Natalie Rivier
Yoga and Pole Fitness Instructor
Natalie is certified group fitness instructor, certified personal trainer, certified aqua fitness instructor, hip hop dance instructor, certified yoga teacher, and aerial yoga instructor. In 2002/2003 Natalie attended the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition where she obtained a diploma in Natural Nutrition, as well as the “Registered Holistic Nutritionist” designation. The program was so life altering that she bought the school. She is currently the Branch Manager, and owner, of the Ottawa Branch of the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition and a regular contributor/writer for http://www.myyogaonline.
Her latest passion and pole fitness and aerial arts.
Natalie specializes in motivational workshops on health and wellness, and has presented to numerous organizations, corporations, and schools. She has worked in wellness clinics, schools, chiropractic clinics, and within the corporate sector as a fitness instructor, nutritional consultant and yoga teacher r for over fifteen years.
Melissa Landry
Aerial Silks Instructor
Melissa has been dabbling in dance and yoga since 2001 because of her love of movement and as a form of relaxation and physical expression. As a busy mom with a daily desk job, she sought time for herself that would also offer a fun and dynamic way to exercise. She was introduced to aerial silks, and has been training ever since under the guidance of Livia Tais Pellerin at Cherry Blossom. In part, it is the concentration required to do the wraps, drops, twists and dives that drivesMelissa but mainly it is the satisfaction in achieving the unexpected. Aerial silks lead Melissa to certification in aerial yoga and she considers both aerial activities the perfect fusion of expression, strength training and flexibility through the use of one’s own body. In her teaching, Melissa wants to share her love of silks and show how they can be used to achieve fitness with your feet off the ground.
Leila McKie
Pole Fitness Instructor
Leila is the newest member to the Cherry Blossom family. She is an exercise enthusiast and enjoys all forms of fitness. Leila grew up playing competitive soccer and taking dance classes and therefore developed an understanding of the importance of health in fitness early on in life. She is always looking for new ways to challenge herself and try new forms of fitness. After years of wanting to break into pole fitness she took her first class at Cherry Blossom last year and instantly fell in love with it!
When she is not working, or working out she loves being in the kitchen creating healthy meals or writing about health and fitness on her blog. Leila is a certified Fitness Instructor Specialist through Canfit Pro and is looking forward to spreading her passion for pole through teaching.
Randi Rouge
Burlesque Instructor
Randi Rouge is a burlesque and PFIC certified pole instructor. She has performed at Nature Nocturne, Sexapalooza and Burlesque Idol. She will be in the Ottawa Burlesque Festival in Sept and you can catch her at the bi-monthly show, An Evening of Sin at the Rainbow Bistro.
