Meet The Fam!
Krystle Montalvo
Krystle is a pole dance instructor and the owner of our beloved Fit Factory! Krystle started teaching here in 2010 and became the owner in 2016. This studio was the first place she had ever taken a pole class and the way the studio came into her life was pure fate in her eyes. While Krystle was waitressing at 22, the previous owners had sat at her table for a meal. Till this day, they probably still have no idea how much the invitation to their studio to take a class would change her life. She always had an affinity for movement and, having never been able to take dance classes as a kid, when she found the studio, it felt like it filled a void she didn’t even know was missing. Through her practice she discovered herself, made peace with her body and appreciated all it could do, found a community of people she loved, and above all found her purpose. Krystle's main goal is for you to leave your classes feeling capable and empowered, for you to know that showing up for yourself and allowing yourself to be vulnerable and dive into something new is a huge accomplishment within itself. In this studio, she wants you to know you are in a space that celebrates your uniqueness and that your individual way of expression is perfection. She wants you to walk through these doors like you are walking into your own home and know that here, we will always be rooting for you. When you are here, you are family.
Dona Dovie
Dona is a fierce, powerful, and incredible human being with a vast knowledge of explorative movement. Having been with us since the beginning, she is an integral part of our studio. Dona teaches hammock yoga, low flow pole, aerial sling, acroyoga, and even hosts regular shibari rope tying workshops at the studio.
Tiffany Payne
Tiffany began her career in the entertainment industry as a professional dancer. During her career, she had been featured in television, commercials, music videos and international tours. After maintaining her career in the dance industry for almost 10 years, Tiffany found the aerial arts. She began training aerial hoop while living in Los Angeles, and then soon after expanded her repertoire into other apparatuses such as cube, pyramid, and hammock. Some of her career highlights have been performing for Tiger Woods at the World Hero Foundation in the Bahamas, Coors Lite Burlesque show in Honduras, Sekonic video commercial, Prorituals Hair Care Products (model aerialist) and numerous corporate & nightlife events. Tiffany teaches lyra and aerial sling/hammock!
Janiya Johnson
With the stresses that come with being an Elementary Teacher, Janiya needed to find a creative outlet to distract herself from the daily craziness. Luckily, she found The Fit Factory! Janiya took her first class 5 years ago and hasn’t she left since. The art of Pole Dancing has helped shaped her into the confident, powerful woman she is today. Janiya is now an XPERT Certified Level 1 & 2 Pole Instructor and would love to, one day, inspire future aerialists to find the inner confidence within them and fall in love with this life-changing journey.
Leah Knightner
Leah is an instructor at The Fit Factory and she can’t wait to meet you all! Just a little bit of info about her: she can be awkward at times, extremely camera shy, and pretty goofy with just about anyone. But with that being said, from pole she has learned how to find my flow, how to get in touch with her inner sexy and overall, she’s learned how to share her passion with so many others.
What Leah loves about pole is that you can tailor your experience however you want! She started her journey 4 years ago while still in college, lacking confidence and really trying to find herself. Fast forward to now and she’s come such long way! Pole has taught her how catch her flow. There have been tough times because of body injuries, but she has met some of the greatest friends/family she could ever have. She wouldn’t change her journey, even if she could. Leah encourages all students to come in and just take a class…you’ll never regret the experience. She hopes to see you soon!
“To create is to live.”
Katie found pole dancing through youtube and instagram, and began as a self taught pole dancer training in her college basement. Fast foward 5 years and many hours of training later, Katie is now a pole/lyra instructor and performer based in Long Island NY, XPERT certified with 5 years experience in the aerial arts industry. Katie teaches lyra, Pole dance, and her signature pole choreo class, Aerotic Flow here at the Fit Factory. She has performed with Snoop Dogg at his “I wanna thank me tour“ , has performed in multiple burlesque shows in NYC, as well as commissioned venues and showcases with entertainment companies. Katie has a passion for creation and connection - and wishes to live a life where she can find connections through creation.
Katie’s greatest passions and aspirations are to perform regularly in live shows and productions, to create art, and teach to any and all beautiful souls willing to receive her.
“Just as a bird needs to sing it’s song in the mornings; I need to dance, create, and connect. You don’t know what you’re capable of until you try.”
Katie Torres
Hi my name is Emily! If I could tell you the most important thing you need to know, it’s this: the minute I stepped through Fit Factory’s door when I was 19-years-old, my life changed. I know that sounds dramatic, but bear with me because I mean it. I always struggled with my confidence or with “putting myself out there.” Aerial was the first and only thing that gave me the space to break out of my shell. Every week since starting, I could see myself progress and I could finally start to see myself as strong, powerful, and beautiful. It was like magic. It still feels like magic. Aerial is more than a hobby or a passion for me, it’s an integral part of my life.
But, maybe you’re still wondering: who am I outside of aerial? I’m a graduate student with an unyielding love for literary heartthrobs (Whitman, Yeats, Plath, Kerouac, Joyce, just to name a few). If you’re ever in a rush, don’t let me talk about Yeats because I will go on a lengthy ramble that I can’t seem to stop myself from. Besides being a literature nerd, I’m also obsessed with Halloween, and I spend weeks planning and crafting elaborate costumes every year. I love anything artistic, whether that means painting, writing, taking photos, or editing videos. And, I think that’s just about all you need to know for now!
Aerial has played an integral role in transforming me for the better. It’s something I can’t fully put into words (and maybe can’t fully understand either). What I want, more than anything else, is to help others transform the way I did or to fall in love with aerial the way that I did. It’s not as much about learning tricks or getting the perfect video for me; it’s about learning to see yourself in a way you never imagined.
Emily Dunlop
Marisa Oliveri
Marisa recently started instructing at the Fit Factory after training in most disciplines there over the last 8 years. She’s always laughing or goofing around. It’s hard to be serious!
Marisa teaches poleOgraphy currently and subs for lyra and stretch classes. Pole and aerial has helped develop her confidence and has given her the ability to dance sensually and without judgment at the Fit Factory. As an instructor, she always wants you to have that uninhibited feeling. Her addiction is getting lost in the flow of the music and exploring new paths of movement! She hopes to see you there!
Sheauwei Kattermann
Sheauwei Kattermann is a highly driven creative performance artist with a passion for dance fitness and over 10 years of experience in both teaching and performing.
A Cirq-FIT Certified Aerial Instructor, she began her teaching career over a decade ago with a 200-hour yoga certification, where she developed her understanding of the body and heart to help others achieve their ambitions. As a performer, she has been a vital figure at many hot-spots all around NYC, as well as headliner music festivals and large scale private events.
Shews teaches open level Aerial silks here at the fit factory every Wednesday!