Pole Dancing Studio Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary

Melissa Rose is celebrating her anniversary the way any woman would: With sky high heels, tight clothing and a few tricks up her sleeve. 

But this isn't a wedding anniversary, but rather, the 10th anniversary of the founding of Aradia Pole Fitness, a Canadian pole dancing studio company. 

Rose opened her own franchise of the studio earlier this year in Manassas, right above Gold's Gym. 

Read more about the opening of the Manassas Aradia Fitness here: Pole Dancing Classes Slide into Manassas. 

Rose said she decided to try pole dancing about six years ago, not long after the birth of her second child.  She was feeling frumpy and felt like she was doing everything for everyone else and had allowed herself to fall by the wayside, she said.

“As soon as I did my first spin, the gymnast in me came out,” Rose said. “I can’t even tell you how much I love pole dancing-it sounds a little cheesy, but it is life changing. I think every woman should have a pole dancing class.”

 Pole dancing allowed her to change the way she felt about herself, Rose said. She ended up dropping 25 pounds—not really because of the workout itself, but because it changed her mindset, she said. As a result, she began making better choices.

She worked with another pole dancing company before Aradia, but decided to open an Aradia franchise because it was established, tried and true, Rose said.

Aradia Fitness Founder Tracy Gray taught the first pole fitness class in 2003. 

Since then, interest in pole dancing has grown and the stigma around it is slowly sliding away. 

Rose is celebrating Aradia Fitness and the art of pole dancing on Friday, Nov. 15  at 7:30 p.m. at the Manassas studio, located at 9705 Liberia Ave., Suite 398. The anniversary party will feature showcase performances by students and instructors. 

Be sure to check out Melissa Rose's pole moves in our video attached to this story.