How Mad Collection’s Jasmine Han and Sharon Seah built a pole dance studio that uplifts women

In Singapore, more are taking to the pole to express themselves, challenge stereotypes, and build a supportive community where strength and sensuality go hand in hand. Here’s how they are reshaping the narrative.

Ask anyone in Singapore’s pole dancing scene, and chances are they’ll name Jasmine Han as one of its most recognisable figures. The 46-year-old co-owner of Mad Collection, which launched in 2015, has been involved in the sport for almost two decades.

“A friend of mine wanted to lose weight after having a baby, so I asked, ‘What do you want to try?’ We googled pole dancing lessons in Singapore – and that’s how it all began,” she recalls.

Jasmine met her business partner Sharon Seah, 50, at an event in 2010, and soon after, Sharon joined the Robinson Road studio as a co-owner.

Unlike Jasmine, Sharon has never taken a single pole class, which she candidly chalks up to “just being lazy”.

“I come from a slightly different background – I was in the medical field before,” says Sharon, who was the former head of Occupational Therapy at a restructured hospital. “I’ve known Jasmine for quite a while as a friend, and I came on board to help with the business side of running a pole studio.”

It’s not just their fitness backgrounds that set them apart. While Jasmine is often described as a “force of nature” and “a little chaotic” – bold, unbothered and uninhibited – Sharon serves as the duo’s grounding force, bringing balance and structure to their partnership.

She refines and organises the studio’s administrative systems – something their team of 30-plus instructors and eight staff members appreciates.

“Sharon is someone who’s very organised and structured. She’s been a huge help in sorting out all the administrative tasks, like managing schedules and keeping things running smoothly. She helps keep all of us on track and heading in the right direction,” says Charmaine Lee, 28, a senior dance instructor at Mad.

Charmaine first joined the studio as a student during the pandemic and, over time, was invited by Jasmine to step into a teaching role.

While Sharon serves as the operational anchor of the business, managing the day-to-day in Singapore, Jasmine – who is based in the UK and travels back every other month – takes on the role of mentor, guiding and supporting many of the instructors in their growth.

“Jasmine was my first teacher-trainer. I didn’t know how to teach at all – I was still a student with no prior experience – so she guided me over Zoom, going through everything from the basics to foundational concepts,” Charmaine shares.

“When she eventually came to Singapore, she began teaching me in person, showing me how to apply what I’d learnt. That combination – understanding the theory first, then the practical side – really helped me become a better teacher.”

Today, Charmaine and Chia Wei Teo, 30, are two of the studio’s most popular instructors, teaching some of the 60-plus classes per term at the studio, across a range of styles and apparatus, from Lyrical Pole to Heels to Aerials. Like Charmaine, Wei Teo was also a student who was invited by Jasmine to become a teacher.

“In pole, there isn’t a formal dance academy with a set curriculum for how to teach – there’s no official path to becoming an instructor,” explains Wei Teo.

“But Jasmine has always been very reassuring. I think she sees the potential in you, and she’ll point out your strengths and help you build on them.”

Adds Charmaine: “Jasmine’s positive attitude – even if it can be a little chaotic at times – brings a sense of lightness to the classroom. She doesn’t take things too seriously; she just wants everyone to have fun.”

Jasmine’s approach to her team and students is shaped by her experience surviving Stage I breast cancer, undergoing chemotherapy, and having a double mastectomy in 2018.

“Sometimes, students come in with scars or wounds and ask me, ‘Am I still a normal woman?’ And I always say – absolutely. In fact, you come back stronger. You’re more aware, more courageous, and more open. When you come to this studio, you’re here to have fun – and you have a village ready to catch you,” says the mother of two.

That “village” extends to how Jasmine and Sharon support their team’s growth at Mad.

“Growth is always important – our team gets the chance to learn from international pole stars we bring in as guest instructors. They often jam together, and we facilitate team-building along the way. There’s a strong sense of community here,” says Sharon.

PHOTOGRAPHY Angela Guo
ART DIRECTION Adeline Eng
COORDINATION Chelsia Tan
HAIR & MAKEUP Angel Gwee, using Chanel Beauty & Davines; Benedict Choo, using Cle De Peau Beaute; Mandy Yeo / PaletteInc, using Shiseido & Revlon Professional