It’s all about feeling stronger and standing taller
Our journey began with a passion for dance and the transformative power of artistic expression. Since our establishment in 2020, we have been committed to providing an unmatched space for movement, growth, creation, and community.
About the founder:
Shelbi Aiona
With over 15 years as an independent artist and 14 years as a pole dancer and performer, I’ve built a life rooted in creativity, resilience, and expression. Raised in West Texas and shaped by my mixed-race background and beautiful mixed family, I carry with me a deep respect for identity, culture, and community.
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I’ve taught at studios across the region, performed in countless local productions, and taken the stage at PoleCon multiple times — even sharing space with icons like Snoop Dogg. But my proudest work has always been in building spaces that uplift artists, not just showcase them.
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I believe that success isn’t just about being seen — it’s about creating a life that feels good to live. To me, that means art, community, and the freedom to show up fully, every day. My mission is to offer a blank canvas where others can do the same.
Our Team
Meet Our Instructors
Veteran Instructor
Raven
Raven is a long time pole dance instructor and physiology enthusiast! Teaching level 1 pole is her absolute joy because she believes a solid foundation makes a strong lifelong pole dancer. Not to mention she enjoys watching the friendships her students make with each other as they join the poll scene. You can catch her Tuesdays for class or occasionally performing burlesque around town.
Instructor
Anastasia
When you dive into something like pole dancing as an adult, what’s one thing that keeps you going? That’s right: pure passion! Anastasia has spent many years training with the best in New York City, bruising, slipping and sliding, and wondering, "When are those splits going to happen?!". She is heavily influenced by Russian style pole and it brings her such joy to share this style with others!
Instructor
Elle
Elle is a queer artist, community builder, and pole dance instructor in Austin. With three years of pole dancing experience and a BA in Theater and Dance, Elle brings a rich blend of artistic insight and technical expertise to their teaching. Elle is passionate about empowering students to discover their own unique movement styles, broaden their creative scope, and hone performance skills through character exploration and a damn good time.
Veteran Instructor
Raven
Raven is a long time pole dance instructor and physiology enthusiast! Teaching level 1 pole is her absolute joy because she believes a solid foundation makes a strong lifelong pole dancer. Not to mention she enjoys watching the friendships her students make with each other as they join the poll scene. You can catch her Tuesdays for class or occasionally performing burlesque around town.
Instructor
Anastasia
When you dive into something like pole dancing as an adult, what’s one thing that keeps you going? That’s right: pure passion! Anastasia has spent many years training with the best in New York City, bruising, slipping and sliding, and wondering, "When are those splits going to happen?!". She is heavily influenced by Russian style pole and it brings her such joy to share this style with others!
Instructor
Elle
Elle is a queer artist, community builder, and pole dance instructor in Austin. With three years of pole dancing experience and a BA in Theater and Dance, Elle brings a rich blend of artistic insight and technical expertise to their teaching. Elle is passionate about empowering students to discover their own unique movement styles, broaden their creative scope, and hone performance skills through character exploration and a damn good time.
Instructor
Maria
MarÃa has been teaching movement classes in Austin since 2021 with the goal of making dance accessible, inclusive, and fun AF. She’s always had a passion for radical self love, building confidence, and body acceptance. From heels, hip-hop, floorwork, to shaking ass and everything in between, she aims to show that dance is for anyone and everyone because all bodies are beautiful, capable, and powerful.
Instructor
Bex
Hi, I'm Bex, a neurospicy queer-ass menace who hates writing bios almost as much as I hate Ted Cruz. Emotions live in our bodies, and we have all grown up in a culture that has disconnected us from both. I teach movement classes to facilitate a space where a connection to your body, and eventually your emotions, can be safely re-established. Not for the new-age wellness purpose of "self-care" or "enlightenment" but so that we can collectively rebuild the skills to engage in the ongoing radical politics of community care, the foundation of which must be built on emotional awareness and non-violent communication. The primary tool for harnessing those skills is knowing what is going on in your body, what you feel, and what you want to do about it. That's why I teach. Joy is also essential for the revolution, so ass shakin', dad jokes, twerk applause and a gay-ass good time will always be had in my classes 😈🌈!! I love teaching, I love connecting with people and I love building solidarity. Come for the fun, stay for the soul 🖤.
Manager
Ersa
Ersa has been with the Black Box team as a student and Manager for years now and we would be lost without them. They have the amazing ability to run the show and maintain the highest quality experience for you! They'll greet you with a warm smile and be sure you've got the answers you need!
Lead Instructor
Jacki Moon
Jacki Moon is a queer Austin-based pole and yoga instructor.She loves the bendy and flexy shapes of pole, and encourages her students to stretch regularly! When Jacki is not stretching or on the pole, she is writing or teaching writing.
Lead Instructor
Villanelle
Villanelle is a pole dance instructor and pole performer with a teaching philosophy focused on inclusivity, body positivity, and using movement to help realize one's personal power. If you want to get strong as hell while giving the middle finger to patriarchal beauty standards, Villanelle is your girl.
Veteran Instructor
Deanna
Deanna holds a Dance degree from ACC and has been pole dancing for 3 years. She choreographs for her classes as well as for film and music videos. She prefers flowy, sensual movement, especially in 8 inch heels. When Deanna is not dancing professionally, she’s dancing recreationally with friends or reading by the pool with her beloved cat.