Xtend Barre Arlington

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Studio Owner

Kelly has worked in retail and commercial construction, and when she found Xtend Barre, she had an epiphany. Her professional bent was helping clients find the perfect look or the right space to enhance their personal brand — but what she really cared about was motivating others to be their best selves. That’s Xtend: enhancing lifestyles by building healthier, more energetic bodies. What’s more, the elements of ballet made her feel nostalgic for her childhood dance classes. As an Xtend client, Kelly counted on the fun music and the intensive toning and cardio to help her start every morning on a positive note. Now that she has her own studio, she plans to show other clients how investing in fitness pays off in a major way in all aspects of their lives. She looks forward to meeting you at the barre!

Studio Manager

Lara is a professional musical theatre performer who has been singing, dancing and acting since the age of 3. Growing up in Pennsylvania, she was an athlete who played multiple sports, but ultimately decided to make performing a career. Lara moved to DC to study musical theatre at the Catholic University of America. Immediately after earning her Bachelor of Music, she spent two years as a principal mainstage performer with The Walt Disney Company on Disney Cruise Line. Since then, she has performed in musicals at multiple regional Equity theatres in the DC area. Lara discovered Xtend Barre through a fellow cast member and Xtend instructor. Lara can’t wait to have fun, bring out everyone’s inner performer and help others discover their full Xtend potential!

Arina began exploring the art of dance at the age of four, and has been a professional dancer and choreographer for ten years. After only a few sessions of Xtend Barre, she fell in love with this vigorous workout and decided to share this love with others. She enjoys providing an exciting, well-balanced, and effective Xtend Barre workout using her experience in dance, choreography, and fitness. She looks forward to helping clients find their joy of movement and wellbeing.

Dana grew up in the New Jersey suburbs and although she will always be a Jersey girl at heart, attending Virginia Tech guided her to Arlington where she began her professional career after graduation.  Her dancing career started at the age of six and continued on through college where she was a member of the Virginia Tech HighTechs Dance Team.  During her tenure, she performed at games and national competitions throughout the country. After making the move to Arlington, she discovered Xtend Barre and was quickly hooked on the unique, challenging workouts.  Dana loves sharing her passion for dance and always looks forward to helping her clients Xtend their limits in class!

Dana’s love of song and dance started almost before she could walk and talk. After graduating with a bachelor’s in finance from the College of William & Mary, Dana continued performing professionally with cruise ships and regional theaters, and even toured with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. She recently relocated to the DC area from NYC and was introduced to Xtend Barre by some of her closest friends, who also happen to be Xtend instructors. She fell in love with the experience and can’t wait to share that love with the XBA community!

Bio coming soon…

Jackie has been dancing and cheering for more than 16 years. Most recently, Jackie was a member of the NBA Washington Wizard Girls. After three years of dancing with the Wizard Girls, she retired and began looking for a new way to incorporate her love of dance into her life. With Xtend Barre, Jackie found an experience that merged all her favorite aspects of dance with a challenging workout. She can’t wait to share this experience with her clients, and hopes they love being at the barre as much as she does!

Jennifer is a professional dancer, who has spent over ten years sharing her passion for the arts and fitness teaching nationwide. Professionally she has performed as a Radio City Rockette, sang and danced in three Broadway National Tours, and at numerous regional theatres across the country. Additionally, Jen has appeared and danced on television in “Gossip Girl” and “PBS’s Live from Lincoln Center”. When not on stage, Jen shares her love with students, teaching and judging national dance conventions and competitions. Upon relocating to Arlington with her husband, she discovered Xtend Barre and immediately fell in love! Jen looks forward to sharing her passion for Xtend Barre and experience as a professional dancer with her fellow barre-bies!

Lauren developed a deep love of fitness at an early age growing up in the gorgeous Adirondack Mountains of NY and participating in every outdoor sport possible! A Yoga Alliance RYT-200, Lauren discovered Xtend Barre and found the benefits of the style, particularly the core and balance work, immediately enhanced her personal yoga practice. She is passionate about helping others achieve their goals and is excited to challenge clients through every class!

Macey began dancing at the age of three and has since been involved in many other sports and fitness activities. After graduating and moving to the DC area to start her career, she jumped around from various workout studios and gyms trying to find a good fitness routine. Once she took her first Xtend Barre class, her search was over – she was hooked! The nostalgic ballet aspect, with weights and cardio mixed in, was exactly what she was looking for. Macey is dedicated to helping her clients improve, sweat, and have fun in each and every class.

Maria is a critically acclaimed actor and dancer in the DC area. She has been nominated for two Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical, and was voted Broadway.com’s “Best of DC” in 2013 and 2015. Her love of dance and performance was fostered in the suburbs of Philadelphia, where she lived until moving to DC to train and study. Upon being introduced to Xtend Barre, Maria felt she had finally discovered a challenge that could combine the flow of dance with the strengthening and sculpting of an effective workout. She is committed to making her clients feel as passionate and energized by the Xtend experience as she is!

A professional dancer with a 13-year career, Melinda has toured nationally with Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular, CATS, West Side Story, and Contact, in addition to numerous regional credits. Melinda has taught dance for over sixteen years and has led group fitness classes, as well as, training clients privately for the past eight years, working for several high-profile boutique fitness studios including; Tracy Anderson Studios and The Bari Studio in NYC. Most recently, Melinda was recognized in the Jan 2017 Washingtonian as one of the “Top 8 Trainers To Whip You Into Shape.” She holds numerous certifications with NASM as a Certified Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist, Yoga Alliance RYT-200, AFFA, TRX, Xtend Barre, Pilates Basic Mat, as well as, an American Heart Association Heartsaver AED certification. Melinda’s delighted to be a part of the Xtend Barre Arlington family and extremely thrilled to share her passion for dance, fitness, and health with this beautiful community.

A former member of the Baltimore Blast Cheerleaders and NBA Washington Wizard girls, Michelle Poling has over 20 years’ experience competing in various styles of dance.  Michelle took her first Xtend Barre class in 2012, leaving immediately sore and instantly hooked.  Michelle loves that Xtend classes are always unique, combining dance technique and cardio elements to sculpt, strengthen, and lengthen her muscles, while simultaneously keeping her heart rate pumping.  As a Registered Dietitian, she is excited to share her passion for health and fitness as an Xtend Barre instructor, using every minute of her classes to challenge clients to achieve their goals and Xtend beyond their limits.

Molly grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs, but after graduating from Virginia Tech in 2011 she now calls Northern Virginia home. She works full time in corporate event planning, but has always been a health and fitness junky at heart. She grew up playing soccer, ran her first half marathon in 2014, and has tried every new workout she could get her hands on! Molly secretly dreamed of being a fitness instructor one day, but couldn’t find the workout she was passionate enough about to teach. Enter Xtend Barre! Molly was introduced to Xtend through a friend while she was training for her half marathon and was hooked after her very first class. The combination of dance, cardio, sculpting and strengthening sequences all packed into 55 minutes led to instant results and she knew she has finally found her addiction! Molly started teaching in 2015 and her goal for each class is to inspire, energize and challenge clients while also reminding them not to take themselves too seriously and have fun while they’re at it!

Tess holds a 200hr RYT certification from Yoga Alliance, and has been practicing yoga for six years. She has taught at Lifetime Athletic, and been a private yoga coach for a competitive boys basketball team. She loves providing a positive and encouraging atmosphere in class where you can have freedom to explore the movements in whatever way feels best. As a professional theatre performer in the DC area, Tess found yoga and meditation to be a great way to prepare herself both mentally and physically for performing. She can’t wait to see you on your mat–get ready to follow your breath, listen to your body, and challenge yourself!

Bio coming soon…

Jeanine feels that staying physically active is important for not only a healthy life, but a happy one! Growing up as a soccer player, gymnast and competitive cheerleader, she always loved the athletic, long, lean muscles she got from these very diverse activities. After trying many different group fitness classes, bikram, and even (gasp) crossfit, a friend recommended that she try barre classes. On a trip to Virginia, she discovered Xtend Barre and was instantly hooked! She loves the results and is drawn to the energy and positive support from this amazing group of women. As an instructor, she hopes to help others reach their fitness goals and provide them with strength, grace, and confidence in their everyday life!