Our Instructors
Jenni Waters, Owner/Instructor
Pole-ology Certified
Jenni Waters has been pole dancing since 2010. As the owner of Arete Pole Fitness in Salem, VA, she has helped more than 100 students achieve their fitness and artistic goals through dance. She has been competing nationwide since 2011, and is now also a proud PSO unicorn helping to coach new pole dance competitors.
Shealynn S., Instructor/Lyra
CirqFIT Certified
Poling since Aug 2012, Shealynn also manages many of the behind-the-scenes pieces of the studio. She is a professional photographer, artist, and gamer, and has a degree in Illustration and Photography from Mary Baldwin College. In 2019 Shealynn began teaching aerial hoop at Arete and now runs Arete’s hoop program.
Michelle Derrico, Instructor
XPERT Certified
Poundfit Certified
Michelle has been poling since 2014. She has a BSA in microbiology and animal science and a JD, both from the University of Georgia. A former marathon runner, she likes fluffy animals and well-behaved children.
Amanda Woods, Instructor/Silks
Amanda has been an aerial dance lover for almost 20 years. She studied all forms of dance and was a dancer with City Modern Ensemble in Roanoke. She has studied 5 aerial apparatuses but her favorites are silks and pole.
Bailey HD, Instructor/Lyra
CirqFIT Certified
Bailey has been poling since 2018 and doing lyra since 2019. She has a BA in Geography and East Asian Studies and an MA in Urban Planning. Bailey loves obstacle course racing, outdoor adventures and exploring new places.
Brenda Calderon, Instructor
XPERT Certified
Brenda has been poling since 2018 and has competed twice. She is currently enjoying all aspects of fitness, including silks, lyra, and pole. She enjoys cross-training with Spartan races and marathon training. Brenda hopes to be able to teach doubles classes at the studio some day.