Try something new at this eastern Idaho pole fitness and dance studio

RIGBY — A local studio invites people to elevate their workout routine and have fun trying pole fitness.

Studio Verto, at 243 East Fremont Avenue in Rigby, is owned by Chelsea Barnes. She is the studio’s head instructor. It opened in February 2025. Two other instructors, Kylee and Caralee, also bring their own style to the studio floor.

It’s an inclusive pole fitness and dance studio offering a range of classes for all skill levels. 

“We just want to be able to provide a confidence-building place. Most of the classes are based around pole dancing or pole fitness,” Barnes said. “Then you get the extra perk of getting strength and flexibility.”

According to her biography, her vision was simple: “create a space where everyone — regardless of age, background, or fitness level — feels welcome, empowered and celebrated.”

Barnes was born and raised in Ririe. She was introduced to pole when she moved to New York for a couple of years right out of high school in 2011. She was 18 years old at the time.

“My friend and I drove past a studio one day. As kind of a joke, we were like, ‘Oh, let’s go check that out. We can be cool,'” she said. “We went, and we realized that it was an intense workout. The studio I started at was much more acrobatic. So learning climbing, being upside down, different twists and flips and things like that.”

That was her introduction to pole. She never did gymnastics or dance growing up, so she was outside her comfort zone. When she started, she saw it as more of an enjoyable workout because the gym bored her.

When Barnes moved back home to Idaho, she wanted to do it again, but there was nothing nearby.

“When I moved back to Idaho, I had a pole in my house for a few years,” she said. “Doing pole was not something that I ever thought as a teenager that I would ever get into, so it was fun to try it out.”

Barnes traveled to different studios in Salt Lake City, Utah, Boise, and Nevada to explore the varieties and teaching techniques of pole.

“I kind of waited for somewhere to open closer, and it just never happened. So I was like, ‘You know what? I’m just going to do it,'” she said.

Pole is still very much stigmatized.

“You’ve got your more sensual side of it with pole dancing that you see, like online and in movies. People around here aren’t quite as familiar with a lot of that,” Barnes said. “We still get weird little comments or messages, but most people that come and actually try it realize it requires a lot mentally and physically. There are many aspects of it, such as the sensual side, the acrobatic side, and the workout side.”

Barnes has enjoyed the Rigby studio space and said the word “verto” actually means “to turn” or “to change.”

“It was something different that sounded classy but had a fun meaning behind it,” Barnes said.

According to the website, “At Studio Verto, we believe in empowerment through movement. Our mission is to provide a welcoming space where individuals can discover their strength and confidence through pole fitness and dance.”

New students can try the “Intro to Verto” class for free or get 14 days of unlimited beginner classes with the Verto Explorer Pass. Click here to learn more. Beginner classes focus on grip strength, conditioning on and off the pole to help with arm, leg, and core strength and flexibility for tricks and spins.

“Most people realize when they come in for one of our free intro classes, ‘Oh my gosh, that was so much fun, but that was a workout!'” she said.

There are youth classes too, but they’re strictly acrobatic, and they’re focused on tumbling skills.

Barnes’ favorite part is the community the studio creates. It’s basically just a big hype family, she said.

“You come into class, and students that have been there for a little bit are hyping up the brand new students, and instructors are hyping everybody up,” Barnes said.

Not only are there pole classes, but there are workshops like twerkout, burlesque and postpartum, private parties, along with a stage pole rental. With the rental, Studio Verto brings the pole, equipment and professional supervision directly to you.

As for a party, Studio Verto offers an instructor-led pole experience exclusively for you and your group. “Expect laughter, empowerment, and moves you didn’t know you had,” the website said. It can be for a bachelorette or bachelor party, birthday celebrations, girls’ night out, team building, divorce parties, or for anything.

“Parties are always fun because you get people in there that would have probably never thought to come to a class and then they realize, this is actually pretty cool,” Barnes said.

In the near future, Barnes hopes to open more studio locations with a variety of aerial classes, starting with a studio in Idaho Falls.

“We have quite a few men that come into the studio. It’s a good place for literally anybody,” she added. “We’ve got a little bit of everything for everybody.”

Biz Bits:

Community supports The Idaho Foodbank at ‘A Seat at the Table’ event in Idaho Falls

The following is a news release from The Idaho Foodbank.

POCATELLO — In September, The Idaho Foodbank hosted its third annual A Seat at the Table event at The Waterfront in Idaho Falls. It was a night full of incredible food, great conversations, as well as raffles and games – all in support of The Idaho Foodbank’s vision of a hunger-free Idaho.   

Over 50 people were in attendance and raised enough funds to provide food for over 50,000 meals for neighbors in need in eastern Idaho. The Idaho Foodbank relies almost exclusively on donations and support from the community, so events like this are critical in helping our neighbors who are food insecure.  

Smokin Fins, Rib & Chop House, Himalayan Flavor, and A Street Soup Market all brought their talents to put together a delicious experience for attendees. The food, along with drinks from Top Shelf Catering and desserts from A Street Soup Market, rounded out the whole night.   

The Idaho Foodbank wants to thank the incredible sponsors whose support during this event and throughout the rest of the year is truly invaluable. AgWest Farm Credit is our Statewide Presenting Sponsor for each of our three A Seat at the Table events across the state. In eastern Idaho, we want to recognize Citizens Community Bank as our Gold Sponsor and Potandon and AgriBeef as our Silver sponsors.  

“We are grateful for everyone who attended and supported this year’s A Seat at the Table event,” said Cassey Leatham, eastern Idaho regional director of The Idaho Foodbank. “This support is vital to our work to help interrupt the cycle of food insecurity.”

Visit The Idaho Foodbank’s website at idahofoodbank.org if you are in need of food or if you would like to make a donation to help our neighbors in need.     

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