JUDGES

YVONNE SMINK

Yvonne was introduced to pole dance in 2011 and not a single day has gone by without her training (or thinking about training) on the pole! Originating from the wall climbing scene, she immediately fell in love with the physical challenge poledance gives her. Her unique style shows influences from chinese pole and breakdance among others. Every performance is detailed and filled with movement that takes the audience's breath away.

Yvonne is a multiple Dutch Pole Champion and was a finalist on the Dutch TV Show ‘Everybody Dance Now’. Other titles she achieved are overall Winner Pole Theatre Paris 2016 and Pole Art winner Pole Theatre UK 2018.

ALLIE KAMIKAZE

Allie Kamikaze is a Japanese street-born performer with club-grown groove and authentic erotic vibe. Their undeniable stage presence won them many titles at international competitions. Allie first touched a pole in a dusty bar in 2006 and finally entered the competition scene in 2019. Allie has been teaching since 2016, focusing on heel technique and presence. They encourage their students to enjoy the experience of dancing and performing. Allie has also starred in an independent film as well as multiple music videos. They also love to travel internationally with their son to perform, judge competitions, teach workshops and camps.

ESTEF JIMENEZ

Este is a choreographer and a true reference of the old school pole dance with 11 years of experience in the industry, Estefania has been traveling all around the globe sharing her knowledge in pole, floorwork and flexibility. Devoted teacher, performer and a rockstar soul she advocates for a fun, empathetic, and progressive teaching methodology.

TRACY MAK

Tracy is the co-owner of Milan Pole Dance Studio in Singapore and well-respected for her contributions in the Pole & Aerial industry internationally. She was the first in Asia to become a certified Head Judge under the International Pole Sports Federation (IPSF) in 2017. She was also the Head of Ethics Committee within the IPSF and has contributed to the development of its Code of Points & Rules and Regulations from 2015 to 2019. IPSF has been recognised by the International Olympics Committee (IOC) as the offical governing body of pole and aerial sports in the world. Tracy firmly believes in the importance of objective, fair judging in competitions and is dedicated to help organisers around the world achieve this goal over the years. She has judged in various national and international Pole & Aerial Championships around the world. She hopes to grow the recognition of pole & aerial as a sport and art form, as well as provide opportunities for Asian talents on the international stage. In 2018 she was nominated under the International Pole Dance Fitness Association for Industry Person of the Year for her contributions.

NIC TANG

Originally from Malaysia, Nicholas specializes in pole, aerial and choreography.Formerly Master Instructor of Aerial Arts Academy, Hong Kong. He has been victorious in pole and aerial competitions, winning numerous championships in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China and the USA. Though too many to list here, his notable titles include Pole Fit Champion, Aerial Hoop Champion and Overall Champion in China Intl Pole and Aerial Championship 2013, and Aerial Hoop Men’s Champion in Philippines Aerial Cup 2018. What next after multiple championships under his belt? Nicholas has applied his ability in this art form to judging various national and international competitions around the globe which includes the prestigious International Aerial Cup in the Philippines. He is the first Malaysian to be certified in the prestigious judging panel of Pole Theatre. In 2017, Nicholas was appointed as the head judge of Airstars championship till today.

JIANG LEI JEREMY

Jiang Lei (Jeremy) is the founder of the Unique Pole Star Championships (UPSC). He has an illustrious career, including winning the Japan Pole Sports Open Category Champion in April 2016 and ranking 13th at the 2016 London World Pipe Championship. He has judged major competitions such as the Seoul International Pole Dance Championship and the PCS. Jiang Lei was the runner-up in the 2017 World Pole Sports Federation Ultra Pole and the 2018 IPC Pole Fit Champion. He has also won multiple championships at the Beijing CPSC in 2019 and the KPSC in 2023.

KELLY BAE

Kelly is the Director of the Korea Newage Dance Association Gwanan Branch and the owner of Kelly Pole Academy. She plays a significant role in the pole sports community as the co-organizer and Head Judge of the Busan International Pole Championship (BIPC). An IPSF certified Head Judge, Kelly has served as Head Judge at prestigious events such as the World Pole & Aerial Championship in 2019, 2022, and 2023, and The Crown on the Pole (TCOP) in 2021 and 2022. She has also judged the Japan Pole Sports Championship in 2021 and 2023, the Unique Pole Star Championship (UPSC) in 2019, and various other national and international competitions. In addition to her judging roles, she was the 2014 Korea Pole Sports Championship Women Single 2nd Place winner.

MASAYO OKAMOTO

Masayo is the Founder of the Japan Pole Sports Association and the owner of Studio Sweetpi-A. As a dedicated mother of two, she balances her family life with her illustrious career in pole sports. She has achieved remarkable success as a champion, winning the International Pole Championship in both 2012 and 2018, the Pole Art Spain competition in 2016, and the PPC in 2011. Her passion and dedication to the sport have made her a leading figure in the pole sports community.

VIVEKA MA

Viveka, based in China, has an impressive career in aerial arts and pole dancing. She won the Talent Show in Institutions of Higher Learning in 2010 and was named Popular Talent of the Chinese Talent Show in 2011. In 2013, she became the Champion of CCTV Golden 100 Seconds. As the first certified intermediate and senior coach of X-Pert in China in 2014, Viveka's influence continued to grow. She won the South Korean Pole Dancing Championship in 2015 and founded the Asian Aerial Dance Association the same year. By 2016, she was the Chairman and Head Organizer of the Airstars Competition.