About Us

The Pole Dancing Academy, started out in 2001 originally known as FYEO Pole and Table Dancing Academy, and more recently changing its name to Pole Dancing Academy.

It was founded by Uthania Jackson, or UJ as she likes to be known. UJ set it up believing there was a gap in the marketplace. Pole dancing was getting a lot of press and women were starting to say “I would like to give it a go” or “Could I do that” but not necessarily wanting to become professional. Women genuinely were interested in how other women trained to become pole dancers.

UJ, raised single handedly by her Jamaican mother, brings many years experience to the club. She is a professionally trained dancer and model who since she was a child has always enjoyed performing. Sports have always been her strength which she has carried through to her dancing and choreography.

On leaving school she began her modelling career at 16 with the highly successful modelling agency MMA in Manchester. In 1992 she intensified her dancing training and started semi-professionally, when she was approached by a producer to audition for a role in a show in Monte Carlo and was consequently offered a 6 month contract to sing and dance in a very high profile Cabaret show. It was so successful that she ended up staying in Monte Carlo for 6 years and made lifetime friendships with Prince Albert of Monaco with the late Barry White as a mentor and inspiration.

UJ returned to the UK in 1997 to work with choreographer Alan Ardin producing and dancing in a heavy schedule of cabaret shows, though unfortunately had retire early from professional dancing due to a serious injury.

Despite the setback, UJ still had plenty of enthusiasm and wanted to pass this and her knowledge of pole dancing into training and apply it to the industry in London. She has a passionate self-belief instilled in her from her mentor, Barry White, who said “Patience is not a virtue…it is a power”.

FYEO announced the opening of their flagship club at 11 Whitehorse Street (the former Iceni nightclub and originally Penthouse club in the 1960’s/70’s) and UJ saw a serious opportunity as support manageress and licensee, bringing her experience and knowledge from every side of the industry.

UJ founded the Pole Dancing Academy in 2001, passing on her knowledge to professional dancers. Then she started to notice the interest she was getting from women of all ages who showed interest in learning the discipline and about themselves, their bodies and their self expression. UJ now focuses on developing a new style of integrated fitness based around a pole and table dancing techniques which she has been working on over the past 18 months.

The school continues to go from strength to strength enjoying a high media profile and numerous celebrity students. The late Barry White’s words paid off and UJ is indeed in a powerful position as she patiently works towards the next step in the development of the Pole Dancing Academy.

Email: rhinoacademy@btinternet.com