Saltie Instructors

• Mel Heins

• Ann Crowther

• Katie Petersen

• Courtney Stevens

• Justin Vass

• Madazon Can-Can

• Ky Scheid

• Nikkita Nouveau

• Jess LeChance

• Meg McNulty

• Morgan Chapman

• Megan Wilson

Mel has been a Pole Fitness Instructor since 2008. With no dance or gymnastics or any fitness background, Mel fell in love with pole dancing the moment she started. It has changed the trajectory of her life in the best way possible. She is one of the founding partners of The Salt Mine and loves to bring in Pole Stars and Master Trainers to share with all the students and studios Utah. Mel went from having zero fitness certifications to holding about 10 different certifications - she is an education and anatomy junkie! Mel loves to teach brand new pole babies and watch them grow. She loves to create quality instructors and wants to help everyone become the best versions of themselves! She also enjoys shoes and has many platform stilettos in her collection. When she isn't at the studio she is most likely doing something super fun.

Available for Private Lessons, Private Training, and Private Parties.

Certifications

• AFAA Group Exercise Certified

• PFA Pole Fitness Certified in Levels 1 - 4,

• XPERT levels 1-2 Trained

• Liquid Motion Licensed Instructor Level 1.0, 2.0, Liquid Heels, and Liquid Pole

• TRX certified

• STOTT Pilates Mat and Reformer - Essential and Intermediate levels trained

Dance has always been a passion for Katie with the classes she took growing up. In 2010, inspired after watching Felix Cane’s Miss Pole Dance Australia 2008 performance she signed up for her first pole dancing class. She had no idea this class would sett the stage for a unique adventure.

Her desire to teach emerged when The Salt Mine began. Katie earned her XPERT certification in 2015. As an instructor, she loves those moments when students find their inner sexy, creating a dance vibe that's pure joy.

Ready to dance? Join Katie in the "Find Your Sexy" class for a self-discovery journey through dance. Feeling a bit bold? Dive into the world of Intermediate Combos. At The Salt Mine, it's not just about moves; it's about finding your groove and dancing authentically. Let's move, groove, and maybe even crack a joke or two – because dance is best enjoyed with a side of genuine fun!

Available for Private Classes, Private Training and Private Parties.

Ann started dancing with ballroom dance with her papa in the kitchen. It was love at first step. She was on the ballroom team in college, then became passionately involved with pole fitness and sensual movement in 2009, eventually becoming a teacher. Fascinated with the world of upside down thought, she then ventured to an Antigravity class, and discovered a new hidden movement technique which fed her body, heart, and mind in a new way. She taught AGY for several years before venturing out on a traveling extravaganza, and now that the Saltiest of Cities is her home again, she is ready to help others to learn the movement techniques which have made a difference for her. Ann loves to celebrate her students’ victories, and believes that victories in class, lead to successes in life. She is currently certified in Antigravity Fundamentals, Restorative, and Aerial Yoga techniques. Come fly with her!

Courtney Stevens is a professional aerialist located in Salt Lake City, UT. Her background consists of 8 years of gymnastics, 10 years of ballroom dance, 5 years of aerial arts, as well as experience in basic ballet, burlesque, chair dance, and contortion. She is a performer for multiple local production companies including Voodoo Productions, Cirque Orenda, Prohibition Utah, and more.

Over the years, she has developed her stylistic approach focusing on flexibility, fluidity, and power moves. Her specialty is Aerial Silks and flexibility, but also has experience in Lyra, Duo, Specialty, and more. Her passion resides in performing and teaching, and thrives on opportunities to introduce people to circus arts. She has been an instructor since 2015. She is a Certified Personal Trainer, and also owns a circus themed apparel company, The Cirque Boutique.

Justin has had an affinity for dance ever since he was a kid. At 8 years old he started training in Latin and Standard ballroom dance and went on to compete 3 years in a row at the Gem State Classic competition in Rexburg, Idaho. Eventually he branched out and experimented in ballet, hip-hop, and tap dance but nothing stuck out to him. After a few years without dance, he ended up rekindling his love through pole and sensual movement. A couple months into taking classes at the Salt Mine, he was hooked on pole. Now he is extremely excited to dive into his first teaching position and share his love for movement with the world!

Madazon Can-Can, M.Ed. is a working Burlesquer, Drag Thing, Performance Artist, Producer, Film Maker, Puppeteer, BDSM Practitioner, Shame Anarchist, Them-cee, Generalized sHE-naniganizer and of course…Clown. They specialize in comedic burlesque with a political twist and travel the US by taking their top off and always going bottoms up. They facilitate empowerment workshops for every BODY through writing, embodiment practices and stomping on shame (Heels required). They can also be seen facilitating body positive and sex positive classes throughout the Salt Lake Valley because if any BODY can…Madazon Can-Can.

Certified in Liquid Motion I and II and Heels, Certified in Queer Competency from Embody Emerge, Certified in Mindfulness from Mindfulness Schools, Mooseburger Clown Academy Graduate, Certified in Foundations of Somatic Sex Education.

Upcoming Certifications: Certified Cuddlist, Certified Wheel of Consent Instructor, Certified Surrogate Partner Therapist.

Visit www.madazoncancan.com for a list of offerings and to schedule a class or private session today.

Ky started her journey in pole in December 2019 and never could have imagined how one class would change her life. It reminded her of her individual power and helped her to find herself once again. After taking her first pole class she was addicted and took over 130 classes in her first year. She began teaching in November of 2021 and has gotten Certifications in Beginner and Intermediate Pole as well as floor work. With a background in education Ky loves to provide her students with options that target different learning styles. With her favorite thing being students finding new sides to themselves.

Certifications:

• Spin City: Beginner Pole

• Spin City: Intermediate Pole

• Ecole De Pole: Beginner Pole

• Ecole De Pole: Intermediate

• Liquid Motion 1.0

• Floor Flow Teacher Training

Nikkita is a non-binary, XPERT Aerial Hoop Certified Instructor who started their Aerial Hoop and Pole training in November of 2014. Through Aerial Hoop and Pole Dance, Nikkita found a wealth of creativity, self-love, bodily autonomy/awareness, and community that they wanted to share with everyone!

In 2017, they became an Aerial Hoop instructor and have taught classes and hosted workshops at The Salt Mine SLC, The Moxy Movement in Draper UT, and Onyx Pole and Aerial Fitness in Sandy, UT, as well as perform professionally all over Utah. 

Their goal as an instructor is to give their students a safe and encouraging space to explore their strength, their creativity, and their 'movement magic'.

"I am here to celebrate your every victory and here to lift you up (sometimes literally) when you need the extra push. Most importantly, I am here to grow and learn with you."

When Nikkita is not teaching or performing, they are creating magical and unique works of art using photography and digital composition under the moniker 'Nikkita Nouveau'. Their work features many local Pole, Aerial, Burlesque, and Belly Dance performers.

XPERT Aerial Hoop Certified

Jess began her journey into dancing and performing in the spring of 2017. Starting with monthly twerk classes, before she knew it she was taking multiple classes per week and performing with a team of professional booty shakers called Salty Peaches. It wasn't until last summer, when she began taking classes at the newest Salt Mine location, that she realized teaching was the next best step in her journey. As an instructor, she hopes to share all of what dance has given her, to help others find joy and embodiment through sensual movement. 

Megan McNulty is a professional dancer and choreographer in Salt Lake City, UT. She started ballet and jazz classes at three years old and has continued her training for 23 years. 

She specializes in heels dancing where her style draws from ballet and jazz technique fundamentals and power floorwork. She regularly trains with and attends workshops with some of the biggest heels creators in the industry like Marissa Heart, Cisco 007, Melissa Barlow, and more. She has a huge passion for technique, flow, and how to execute skills correctly in a heel.

She co-founded a dance collective called The Queens Collective, a heels group focused on community, diversity, and inclusion. She is a performer and has been included in performances with Temptaxxxions Productions, Utah Pride, Utah Arts Festival, and more. She also was recently featured on HEELING the podcast with ballroom dancer Ashlyn Tori Johnson and opened for metal burlesque show Little Miss Nasty.

Available for private lessons, private training, private parties, and performances!

Bio Coming Soon!

Bio Coming Soon!