Meet the Owners
Rachel Jarosz
Co-Owner & Instructor
“Keep your head, heels, and standards high”
Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, Rachael has always been passionate about fitness and living an active lifestyle. She grew up playing several sports and dancing competitively at David de Marie. While completing her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Spanish minor at The Ohio State University, she was a member and captain of The Ohio State Dance Team (GO Buckeyes!) Always interested in new cutting-edge fitness regimens, Rachael wanted to bring a new, effective, and fun workout to the Western New York area and the Barre Centric technique was soon born. Rachael is an AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor and Barre Intensity Certified and has taught over 4,000 class at Barre Centric! She has also hosted international fitness retreats in Bahamas, Costa Rica, and Belize. Voted ClassPass Best Fitness Instructor in Buffalo 2019.
FAVORITE BARRE MOVE: Foldover & Flatback Abs
OUTSIDE OF BARRE YOU CAN FIND HER: Spending time with her husband, 2 boys Carson & Wesley and her daughter Chloe.
Giavana de Zitter
Co-Owner & Instructor
“All creativity begins with movement”
Giavana de Zitter is originally from Buffalo, New York where she grew up dancing at David de Marie and American Academy of Ballet. She later graduated from Point Park University in Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Dance and a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports, Arts and Entertainment Management. Giavana danced professionally with Royal Caribbean Cruise lines traveling the world for two years. In between contracts she was certified to teach Pilates with Body One studios Inc. and started studying and training in different Barre Fitness methods. Moving back to Buffalo, Giavana began personal training in Pilates while planning to combine her passion for dance and education in business into a boutique studio setting that offers a healthy, fit and fun lifestyle for women of all ages to help them feel like the best version of themselves. This was when the Barre Centric technique was formed with co-owner Rachael Jarosz over two years’ time before they opened their first Clarence, New York location in 2012. There are now three locations and Gia has taught nearly 7,000 classes at the studios to date!
Since opening the studio, Gia has continued her Barre education taking Barre classes everywhere she travels, attending The World Barre Summit annually studying under various Barre Fitness legends, and she has also completed a Barre certification with Barre Intensity. Her Barre motto is you can never know enough about this amazing life-long form of fitness called Barre. There’s always more room to learn, create and evolve as time goes on. It has become more than an exercise to her, Barre has become a lifestyle.
FAVORITE BARRE MOVE: Diamond
OUTSIDE OF BARRE YOU CAN FIND HER: With her husband Calvin and 3 children, Zaiden, Zeferina and Zavier on a local adventure usually involving good food!
book a class with giaMeet our Instructors
Elle Anderson
Instructor/Manager, SOUTHTOWNS LOCATION
“Dig a little deeper”
Elle was born and raised in Lancaster, NY where she grew up locally & competitively cheerleading for 10 years. Always having a passion for health & wellness, she graduated from the University of Buffalo State with a B.A. in Exercise Science, and a minor in Psychology. Elle started as a client when Barre Centric first opened and fell in love with the results. Continually studying and furthering her education Elle believes Barre is a lifestyle and so much more than just a fitness class. It is moving the Mindy, Body & Soul in a positive safe way for strength, functionality and longevity. Elle is an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer and Barre Intensity Certified and has taught over 2,600 classes at Barre Centric to date! Always looking to help people see & become their best versions of themselves, she highly believes in barre classes and their effectiveness. Her class style pushes you to dig deeper and find it within yourself to break through the mental & physical barriers. Creating a deeper mind to body connection she is supportive & kind but reminds you that your growth happens outside of your comfort zone.
Mandy Kellner
Instructor
“The higher the heel the thinner the thigh”
Mandy Kellner from Buffalo, NY grew up dancing competitively at David DeMarie Dance Studio as well as dancing at the advanced level at Royal Academy of Ballet. She graduated from the State University of New York Fredonia with a BFA for Dance as well as a BS in Communication. After college, Mandy directed, coached, and danced for the Buffalo Bandits as a Bandette for the 2013-2017 seasons. She continues to dance professionally for various shows, festivals, and companies here in Buffalo. During the day, Mandy is a Dance Teacher at a Title 1 Buffalo Charter School, Persistence Preparatory Academy, teaching dance to elementary-aged students. Along with her passion for dance is her love of fitness, and Mandy is a certified Pilates, Barre, and Buti Yoga instructor. Before work, after work, and on the weekends, Mandy teaches at Raw Renewal and Barre Centric and brings her sassiness to the next generation, teaching ballet, hip-hop, jazz, acro at Royal Academy of Ballet and Fusion Dance Studio. A jack of all trades, Mandy thrives on bringing her passion, for fitness, dance, Pilates, and the Buffalo community into every class she teaches and she has taught over 2,000 classes at Barre Centric! and hosted international retreats in Bahamas and Costa Rica.
Anna Fitzpatrick
Instructor
Anna Fitzpatrick is a locally based dancer from Buffalo, New York. The majority of her training was obtained from SUNY Fredonia, where she received a BFA in Dance. Growing up, Anna studied at Walh Performing Arts Studio where she now serves as a faculty member, primarily teaching ballet, tap, and lyrical. Anna began as a client at Barre Centric and was immediately drawn to the technique. She loved how it was a perfect blend of ballet, pilates, yoga, and functional fitness. It sparked her passion for a healthy and active lifestyle, making it essential that she fit barre into her weekly schedule. Now, Anna can proudly say that she is so honored to turn this hobby into a career. Her goal for class is to inspire clients as her fellow staff members inspired her!
book a class with Anna
Jessica Fancher
Instructor
“Barre is my soul-mate exercise!”
Jessica, a Buffalo native, began her barre journey the same year Barre Centric opened its doors in 2012. Upon starting classes, she was instantly hooked and began attending 5 times a week, quickly becoming a member of the Centric Centennials club. “Barre fitness became a passion of mine, and I knew I had to do more with it.” Jessica trained to become an instructor and has now been teaching at Barre Centric for more than 4 years. Jessica is also an AFAA certified group fitness instructor. She loves to introduce people to this form of exercise and encourages others to develop the same passion for improving their own health and fitness.
EMILY LENNARTZ
Instructor
Emily Lennartz is originally from Corfu, NY and began her dance career at age three. While teaching dance throughout high school and college at Center Stage Dance Company in Batavia, NY, Emily graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a degree in Adolescent Education/ History and earned her Master’s degree in Literacy from the University at Buffalo. Fitness has always been an important part of Emily’s life. Being able to combine her passion for dance with an effective workout is what drew her to try classes at Barre Centric. She immediately fell in love with Barre and is excited to have to the opportunity to teach and share such an amazing fitness experience with others!
Jacquie Maitner
Instructor
“Eat. Sleep. Tuck. Repeat.”
Colleen Walsh
Instructor
“Shake it til ya make it!”
Colleen Walsh is from Buffalo, NY and began her training at Steppin’ Out Dance Academy (SODA) at the age of 4. There she trained in all styles of dance and grew up competing at both regional and national level competitions and conventions. In 2010, Colleen received her BFA in Dance from the University at Buffalo. While at UB, she was a member of the Zodiaque Dance Company for three consecutive years, beginning her freshman year in the Zodiaque Studio Dance Ensemble. Upon graduating, Colleen signed her first professional contract with the former local company, Lehrer Dance. During her eight year career she travelled nationally, as well as internationally to both Europe and Russia, performing and teaching the innovative style Lehrer had developed. Now retired from performing, you can find her teaching at Steppin’ Out in West Seneca, setting choreography at Hoffman’s School of Dance, in East Aurora and teaching master classes at other local dance studios. Colleen found Barre Centric during her years as a professional dancer and instantly connected with the technique behind the classes. She is elated to be one of the BC “barre-tenders” and enjoys sharing her love of dance and fitness at the southtowns location!
Favorite move: Clam
Outside of barre you can find me: Enjoying being a mama to my daughter Harper with my fiancé, Mark.
Rachael Leonard
Instructor
“Shake that laffy taffy”
Rachael Humphrey-Leonard is originally from Buffalo, NY, where she studied dance at the American Academy of Ballet with Maris Battaglia. Rachael is a 2010 graduate of SUNY Potsdam and has performed pieces by many professional companies including Bridgman/Packer Dance, Configurations Dance Theater and Danny Grossman Dance Company. In 2010 Rachael began her professional dance career with former dance company Lehrer Dance. She served as a consent dance performer as well as teacher for Lehrer dance from 2010-2017. During this time Rachael held the title as Education and Outreach Director and taught countless classes across Buffalos school system. Rachael is currently teaching dance at America Academy of Ballet as well as Hoffman’s school for Dance. Rachael is extremely excited to begin her first year on the Barre Centric team, and looking forward to bringing her enthusiasm for health and wellness to the studio.
sarah dentico
Instructor
“Barre all excuses“
Sarah was raised in Lancaster, NY and currently resides in Elma, NY with her husband Enzo their 3 children and currently pregnant with her 4th due December 2018. Sarah stayed local at Buff State and graduated with a degree in Business while teaching group fitness and a former NFL cheerleader for the Buffalo Bills. Her focus was always on health and fitness and continued her career in pharmaceuticals sales all while still encaging in her passion for instructing group fitness.
Sarah thrives from the energy she receives from her healthy lifestyle and engaging others to reach their fitness goals all while still having fun. When introduced to the low impact, highly effective practice of barre she knew she wanted to help assist others in the amazing barre technique.
Sarah is excited to start her journey with Barre Centric and continue to spread her love of life and fitness always with a smile.