Annika Winkler

At only 16 years old, Annika is THE up-and-coming star of the German pole dance scene. In the three years since her first pole lesson, she has already won three German championships as well as several international competitions, including two world championships. Her successes do not come out of anywhere, as she was already very active before her pole dance career, training artistic gymnastics, ballet, and sports acrobatics for six years. Ever since day one, home of her pole activities was and is Polexperience Leipzig, where she gets coached and supported by trainer and owner Steffi Klemm.

Although in Germany Annika is mostly known for her successes in pole sports, she actually prefers training the artistic variant of pole dance. At “The Art of Pole #7” she shows us a sample of this, performing once more her multi-medalled choreography with the title “Dancing on My Own”. 

What directed you to pole sport? 

“Three years ago I watched a talent show on TV where I saw a Polerina coming from my hometown. It was a time when I looked for a new kind of sports. I was so impressed by this woman, that I instantly looked for a pole studio where I lived. After I had found a good studio, I took part in a trial lesson and I was immediately on fire. That was the start of my pole sports career. “