Dance Instructors/Staff
Rachel Bagnulo
Rachel Bagnulo began taking pole classes in 2006. At the time, she was a size 14, married, working at a desk job, and not feeling particularly great about herself. She found pole dancing was a great way to exercise and lose the weight she wanted to lose – today she is a size 6! Not only did she lose weight, but she feels more confident, has a stronger relationship with her husband and friends, and has a higher self esteem.
While she loved pole dancing, she began to explore other arenas of “sexy” dancing. She studied the intimate art of lap dancing, exotic dancing (striptease), burlesque, and fan dancing with professional dancers from across the country. She was then asked to develop an exotic and lap dance curriculum for another studio and successfully taught hundreds of “everyday women” how to find their sexy side for 2 years.
When the relationship with the other studio abruptly ended she found herself surrounded by wonderfully supportive students all encouraging her to open her own studio, with her own business philosophy. Many of those students offered to pick up a paint brush themselves to help bring the studio to fruition. Today she dedicates the opening of her studio to those that encouraged her, supported her, and believed in her…
Rachel believes that all women, no matter what their size or age, are entitled to feel sexy. She has found the exotic and pole dance has helped empower her and make her feel more confident and believes that it can help many women. She believes that all women possess the ability to learn this type of dance, as she herself was not a “classically trained” dancer. Her studio offers a private setting (free of men and spectators), with professional, courteous, attentive and supportive staff.
Sarah G.
Sarah G is thrilled to be teaching zumba at Inner Goddess! She has been involved in the performing arts since the age of 4 and has always had a special for dance and musical theatre in her heart. Whether practicing yoga or moving to Latin beats, she loves to stay fit. Zumba is one of her favorite ways to listen to awesome music, make friends, and burn tons of calories! Sarah loves to teach and hopes to inspire women to feel great about themselves inside & out. Join the Zumba revolution today, to help you reach your fitness goals!
Amanda L.
Amanda L. started teaching pole dance fitness classes in 2006 at DivaFit in Ashburn, VA and even had the opportunity to train with Fawnia Mondey in Las Vegas. A mutual friend connected her with Rachel and Inner Goddess when she moved to Charlottesville and she started out in their advanced pole class but was then asked to instruct pole again. She is so glad to have Inner Goddess in her life, and to be a part of such a supportive community women. She loves to fly around the pole; it’s such a release from daily stress!
She has trained in classical ballet for 19 years, along with jazz and modern dance. Pole dance has challenged her more than any form of dance, strengthening her upper body and core. She never thought she could ever become so strong! Embracing her “sexy side” changed everything about her attitude—from the way she walks to the confidence she has in her everyday interactions. She is grateful for the opportunity to share that feeling with her students.
Jessie Lynn
Jessie Lynn has been dancing for over 20 years with training in multiple styles of dance such as ballet, modern, lyrical, jazz, contemporary, tap, and hip hop. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance from Radford University where she danced in several of the college dance company's performances. She has taken several classes in New York City with the cast from Broadway's The Lion King, as well as classes from professional dancers who have been in music videos and commercials. She also is a certified group fitness instructor and loves to show people that you can have fun and exercise at the same time. She has a passion for dance and fitness and loves to share her passion with others. Jessie is now also a Zumba Certified Instructor!
Karen Rohrer
Karen Rohrer began dancing over three years ago with exotic dance classes, and quickly added pole dance. She had instruction from Rachel from the beginning, and followed Rachel to her new studio. Through dancing she has found aspects of herself that she had no idea existed. With exotic and pole dance her self-confidence exploded and she became much more comfortable with herself, as well as around others. She went from a very shy individual, to one who will talk to anyone about anything. She feels that Inner Goddess Studios has given her not only herself, but also a very close group of friends she wouldn’t trade for the world.
She went from being a student in early 2009 to joining the staff as an administrative assistant. She continued to take classes, and in August 2009, became certified as a Pole Instructor. She loves teaching, and sharing her love of pole and exotic with everyone she can. She continues her administrative duties, as well as teaching several classes. She can be found either bouncing around the lobby or in one of the studios encouraging her students to explore their inner SEXY side!
Kara Vance
Kara Vance has been enjoying exotic dancing going on 3 years and pole dancing for over 2 years. She is married and blessed with three wonderful children. She loves being both a wife and a mother, but feels even the best of us needs personal time. Kara feels class is HER time, where she can lose herself in the dance, explore her inner self, and really allow herself the freedom to love the woman she is. Add to that “girl” time, and that makes the whole experience even better! Not only does she get those personal benefits, but she says “I’m actually exercising!!” She has lost some weight, but the most noticeable change in her is her new self confidence. She’s helping take care of her body and her spirit, and having fun at the same time. She has studied both exotic, lap and pole dance, and continues to challenge herself with new goals in each of these areas. Each step forward has been rewarding for her, and she can’t wait to share that experience with other women!
Kara completed 16 hours of pole dance fitness training and is a certified pole instructor through Divafit’s pole instructor course.
Inner Goddess Studios, LLC
(540) 746-4115
innergoddess.dance@gmail.com