Our primary goal at Catalyst is to bring out your inner dancer and facilitate your belief in your own movement. All instructors are regarded and respected in the pole fitness and dance community.

David C. Owen​

Co-Founder & Instructor

David C Owen began pole dancing in 2009 and began to compete and showcase nationally within less than a year of his initial exposure to pole. He earned several competition medals in the early US competitive pole dancing circuit. Having had studio residencies in multiple cities and spent years touring to guest instruct at countless studios in the US and internationally, David has been instrumental industry-wide in improving the quality of flexibility training, creative combination construction, and explaining the applied physics of how specific pole skills work. He now enjoys teaching pole dancing ranging from introductory classes for persons with no exercise experience, to choreographing competitive routines for other dancers on national stages. He is pleased to be based in Chicago to share his experience at Catalyst Movement Arts, where he continues to grow as a technician and artist.

Rachele Ribera

Instructor

Rachele began pole dancing in 2011 and earned the title of Miss Pole Dance Oklahoma in 2013 and is a double Exotic Generation Russia winner. Noted by United Pole Artists for her "ethereally beautiful pirouettes, glides, twirls" and "unbeatable footwork" she is known for having refined and cultivated the art of dancing in heels. She continues taking part in competitions, performing, and has traveled the country, as well as internationally, sharing her knowledge and helping to lay the foundation for safe, elegant, and strong heel-based pole movement

Margot​

Instructor

Having a love of fitness and movement all her life Margot has continually participated in activities from gymnastics to karate to barre. In 2007, she took a pole dancing class and has been hooked ever since. Wanting to share her love of pole with students, she underwent an extensive (100+ hrs) local pole teacher training course in 2016 and went on to take Discoveries Dance pole training course in 2017. Her relaxed style will put you at ease as well as strengthen your abs. 

She is a NASM-Certified Personal Trainer and is CPR-AED Certified. 

Allegra Anise

Instructor

Elena

Instructor

Movement and sport has been an intrinsic part of Elena's life since a very young age. She did ballet and various disciplines of dance, and received her degree in fine arts in 2006. Soon after, Elena was introduced to pole dancing and started teaching in 2009. 
Elena has been teaching a variety of pole, flexibility, and dance classes for over 10 years and there hasn't been a day when she was not grateful to be a part of the Pole community! 

Andrea Marie

Co-founder/Instructor

Andrea specializes in exotic style movement and freestyle. She has performed in numerous shows in Chicago and around the country and loves melding vulnerability and raw sensuality in movement.