Akila Cristiano is the founder and lead instructor at Akila Pole Studio, professional pole dancer, and active campaigner for inclusivity across the arts and better equality, understanding, and safety within the pole industry. She is also a young woman on the mission to dismantle pole’s stigma whilst still respecting the origins of the dance, an art form that sex workers pioneered.
Born and raised in South West London, Akila’s heritage is part Italian Catholic, and part Indian Muslim, and it’s her culturally rich family experience that has profoundly influenced her approach to life and work – passion, resilience, and being true to herself. It is being immersed within these two distinct cultural identities that has deeply enthralled her values surrounding diversity, acceptance, and creating an environment where everyone feels welcome and celebrated.
Diagnosed with ADHD, Akila’s journey has been led by her love for movement and understanding of neurodivergent needs. She received a full scholarship for the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts where she focused on Laban, stage combat, and creative movement and touched on a career of acting where her confidence stretched. It was only in 2019, Akila tried pole dancing for the first time and has since honed her strength and skills to a professional level. Akila is a self-taught pole dancer and now five years later, a certified pole instructor paving new paths for so many people who have assumed pole dancing was an exclusive and inaccessible activity.
After years of training and teaching pole in her own home, in 2021 Akila opened her first official space, Akila Pole Studio – a natural progression for an authentic business gaining speed fast. Today, Akila notes her studio as a “home away from home” in a sweet reflection of how it all started and a warm welcoming note to everyone who visits.
Akila’s unique journey is led by her own mental and physical wellbeing needs and a strive for empowering herself and her community in time with so much adversity. Pole has authentically harnessed this strong energy and Akila’s students walk away with this spirit and self-acceptance.
Akila is campaigning for pole to be recognised within the art sector as it combines both high level fitness and is intensely creative, however, due to it’s origin from BPOC sex workers, it is overlooked.
ABOUT AKILA POLE STUDIO
Akila Pole Studio is a leading pole dance studio in the heart of Brixton, welcoming all of London’s vibrant community to a safe space where they can express themselves, grow and connect with others through dance.
The studio dispels the myth that pole dancing is scary, cliquey and exclusive by uniquely offering a wide breadth of classes and workshops for all experiences. From ‘absolute beginner’ to ‘splits and tricks’, to ‘heels and choreo’, Akila Pole Studio also has regular guest workshops from the biggest international pole dancers in the world – Peter Holoda, Kheanna Walker, Lola Grace, as well as special pop ups such as ‘pole doubles’ – a class offered nowhere else in London.
Committed to inclusivity and diversity, it is a priority that all members are made to feel respected and supported. The studio welcomes and champions everyone, hosting instructors and dancers who identify as neurodiverse, BIPOC, queer, and/or have been sex workers – an honest reflection of the world we live and love in.
Akila Pole Studio has two stunning studio spaces and holds classes 7 days a week.
IN NUMBERS
-
on average 30 classes per week
-
100s of students per week
-
over 5000 students since opening in 2021
-
currently 13 certified pole instructors
Akila Pole Studio’s Founder, Akila, lives with ADHD and has specially created a studio environment that supports and acknowledges mental health needs – this advocacy is a core part of our studio’s mission. Committed to inclusivity and diversity, it is a priority that all members are made to feel respected and supported. Akila Pole Studio also has policies in place to ensure everyone feels welcome and and their instructors reflect a wide range of identities, including neurodiverse, BIPOC, queer, and sex workers.
Unique classes Akila Pole Studio offers:
-
absolute beginners
-
old school pole
-
sensual freestyle
-
chairography
-
doubles pair work
Akila Pole Studio Founder, Akila Cristiano, says, “At Akila Pole Studio I want to create a lasting impact that transcends beyond my time and build a community where inclusivity, empowerment, and self-expression is at the forefront. My goal is for Akila Pole Studios to be remembered not just as a place where people came to learn pole dancing, but as a sanctuary where they found strength, confidence, and a supportive community. I want the values of diversity, mental health awareness, and solidarity with sex workers to be integral parts of our legacy, inspiring future generations to continue fostering these principles in their own journeys.
We also aim to dispel the myth that pole dancing is a scary, cliquey activity. Instead, it’s an amazing way to learn about yourself, grow, and feel safe and supported. Our studio offers a welcoming environment where everyone no matter your experience or background can have an amazing time while learning and connecting with others.
What sets us apart is our community and the home-away-from-home feeling”
Please visit the website here for more studio information or follow them on @akilapolestudio
