studio
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 judgments. We welcome and encourage everyone no matter where they are at 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!
Walk in unsure – leave empowered.
Our Instructors
Tara Faulkner-Catalina
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Director | InstructorTara 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, Cardio & Core, and is a certified POUND instructor. At Jo-Ann’s Dance Studio she teaches ballet, pointe, and moderne dance, and she is the Director for the the ballet and moderne productions. Tara has been teaching at the dance studio for over 30 years. She was the director of the “Dance and Movement” program at The Center School in Somerset, where she tailored a
program to teach students with special needs.In addition, Tara was the school’s choreographer for 11of their spring musicals. In 2018, she accepted the position of Advisor for the Watching Hills Regional High School’s Dance Ensemble, and spring musical choreographer. She began her journey into the “Aerial Arts” six years ago, and fell in love with pole. aerial yoga, and lyra. Tara is a certified Pilates Mat and Pilates Reformer instructor, and is also certified in Barre and Flexibility classes, as well as Aerial Yoga. She was a Group Training Instructor at Jersey Strong Gym in Edison, NJ, from 2012-2020, and she holds several Mossa certifications for classes such as Group Active, Group Centergy, and Group Power.
Donna Kaestner
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Pole & Aerial Instructor
Meet Donna, Donna’s fun and bubbly positive attitude is a wonderful addition to our studio here at Vertical Freedom. She has been pole dancing for 7 years. She fell in love with it in 2013, after having her surprise bachelorette party at a pole studio. In the beginning of 2018, she found her home at Vertical Freedom. By that fall, she was given the opportunity to teach Intro to Pole classes. She became certified in Aerial Yoga in February 2020. She is now teaching Intro to Pole, Pole Foundations, and Aerial Yoga. She is always excited to share her love of pole and aerial yoga with her students. Let Donna show you how to fall in love with what we do.
Ashlen Udell
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Aerial & Kids Aerial Instructor
Ashlen Udell has her New Jersey teacher certification in Dance Education from Montclair State University. She has studied at The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in NYC, the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan as a moderne dance major, and has completed master classes with many professional dance companies including Trisha Brown, Pilobolous, and Freespace Dance. Currently she is on staff at Jo-Ann’s Dance studio where she teaches ballet, moderne, and pointe. Ashlen is excited to bring her skills to Vertical Freedom where she has taught choreography, barre, pound, and our kids classes.
Shayne Judge
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Pole & Aerial Instructor
Shayne has been a pole and movement instructor for the past 3 years. Growing up, she was a dance student practicing various style, and in 2016, found that she as missing the joy and community that dance provided. After starting pole classes, she quickly fell in love and soon found a passion for teaching. She specializes in low flow and freestyle-based movement, which allows Shane to help students harness their own strengths and grow in their practice. In her classes she utilizes conditioning, activities, and movement prompts to facilitate the learning process. Shane’s classes are usually filled with lots of laughter, tons of support, low lights, and loud music!
Sonia Singer
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Aerial Arts Instructor
Sonia was a competitive gymnast throughout her early teens. While looking for new ways to revisit her childhood passion she stumbled upon some aerial Lyra and silks workshops at a local studio 9 years ago and has been hooked ever since. She became certified to teach in 2021 so she could share her love of aerial arts with others. Sonia specializes in aerial Lyra, aerial yoga, Ring Thing, and bungee.
Tierney Sherry
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Pole & Kids Aerial Instructor
Tierney Sherry started her pole fitness journey in 2012 and has been loving all things aerial ever since. She started taking classes at Vertical Freedom in 2018 and then in January 2020, she became a certified aerial yoga instructor. Tierney is also a certified meditation and mindfulness teacher through the School of Positive Transformation.
