About Vertical Freedom
Jo-Ann’s Dance Studio-The Performing Arts Centre is a full-service dance center in South Plainfield, New Jersey. We are the oldest, most successful dance studio/performing arts centre in the region. We are proud to now offer our vertical pole dance fitness program: Vertical Freedom.
Vertical Freedom prides itself on a warm and welcoming atmosphere. ANYONE can pole dance, regardless of age, shape, size, gender or fitness level. This is a supportive environment devoid of judgment. We welcome and encourage everyone no matter where they are in their pole journey. Don’t let fear of the unknown stop you from this life changing experience!
We have talented instructors that have been serving the people in Middlesex and Union Counties since 1977. Our instructors will help, encourage and empower you every step of the way. There are no excuses, so sign up today and let your journey begin!
Our Founder
Tara Faulkner-Catalina is the Director at Vertical Freedom, as well as the Artistic Director at Jo-Ann’s Dance Studio. At Vertical Freedom, Tara teaches Pole Fitness, Pole-Ates, Flexibility, Vertical Barre, Aerial Yoga, Bungee Fitness, Lyra, and is a certified POUND instructor. At Jo-Ann’s Dance Studio she teaches ballet, pointe, jazz and moderne dance, and she is the Director for the ballet and moderne and jazz productions. Tara has been teaching at the dance studio for over 30 years.
Meet the Team
Don’t let fear of the unknown stop you from this life changing experience! We have talented instructors that have been serving the people in Middlesex and Union and Somerset Counties since 1977. Our instructors will help, encourage and empower you every step of the way.
Tara Faulkner-Catalina
Donna Kaestner
Ashlen Udell
Kelly Baron
Tiffany Nguyen
Melissa Tambone
Alexander Catalina
Susan Zandomenego
Reviews
Vertical Freedom is not your ordinary “workout” experience. The instructors are extremely knowledgeable and each has their own style, which creates a wide variety of classes. They also take the time to get to know you, creating a family feel in the studio.
Heather Pedersen
My favorite class, Aerial Yoga, quickly became a passion, and now I look forward to attending classes with Tara every week. The environment she and the entire staff work endlessly to facilitate is warm and inviting, as if they’ve known everyone for years. My mom was even encouraged to join me by the staff, and now we take Core and Cardio together. I quickly learned that Vertical Freedom is more than a fitness studio; it’s a community, or even better, a family.
Katie Penrose
Walking into Vertical Freedom’s Aerial Yoga class just a few short months ago, I was unsure of myself. Not just in my aerial yoga skills, but in myself as a person; my confidence, strength, and relationships all felt like they didn’t exist within me. By the first month in, all of that had gone away. My confidence came back, I found out I was so strong, and the people who were friends have become family.
Christina Rusk
Vertical freedom has brought so much fun into my life. Over the last few years, I have taken almost all of the classes and enjoyed every one. There are so many to choose from, moves can always be modified ,so it’s all inclusive. No drama, no judgement, just building each other up while having an awesome workout.
Melissa
Mission
Vertical Freedom was born out of the need to provide the community with an all-inclusive, welcoming studio. No one is turned away, regardless of age or physical fitness level. We have classes that fit everyone’s needs…whether you prefer more classical classes like barre (one of the studio’s best kept secrets), Pilates, or Flexibility…to all of our Aerial classes from Pole, to Aerial Yoga, to Bungee Fitness, to Lyra!
Our mission is to always have our clients leave feeling accomplished and with a sense of self-worth!
Space
Our studio is a relatively small space, so we pride ourselves on smaller class sizes, which in turn, allows more one on one instruction. Our pole classes max out at 9, Lyra at 6, Barre at 4, Aerial Yoga at 4, Bungee at 4, Pilates at 8 and Flexibility at 8.
The studio has 5 chrome Lupit Poles, 4 Aerial Hammocks, 4 Bungees/Harnesses and 3 Lyra (Hoops).
There is a waiting/dressing room around the corner from the actual studio where clients can rest, change, or wait for their class to begin. The studio is cleaned weekly and kept impeccably clean throughout the week.
