Efrain Vivas (Venezuela): Efrain was born in Venezuela in 1953. He is an architect graduated from “Universidad Central de Venezuela” and holds a Master Degree from Yokohama National University, Japan. He lived  and worked in Japan from 1982 to 1995.  During his stay in Japan he mastered his other profession: photography. He has had several Solo and Group Exhibitions in Venezuela and worlwide, and his work has been awarded in some of the main Art Salons in Venezuela.
Five talented pole fitness instructors founded Vertical Dance Fitness studios in Caracas, Venezuela in 2010 and named Efrain as its General Director, and he has played a pivotal role in ensuring the right methods are taught to their students. He believes that it is very crucial to enhance the importance of "amplifying and supplementing" the sport with other disciplines that are directly related to pole fitness as an art and sport, such as choreography, body language, music perception, acrobatics, etc.
Efrain has been working very hard in getting more awareness to his country internationally to further help all the studios in Venezuela collectively. In October 2010, Efrain, Vivian and Ana of Vertical Dance Fitness, where in NYC to attend the first American Pole Fitness Championship organized by the APFA, an alliance member of IPFF. He is working hard to improve and increase the value of pole sport in a positive light in the mainstream, to earn it the respect it truly deserves.