About Rise Above

Welcome to
Rise Above Dance!

At Rise Above Dance, we believe that dance is more than just movement — it’s a powerful way to express yourself, build confidence, and connect with others. Located in the Columbia, MD, our studio is a welcoming space where dancers of all skill levels come to thrive. Whether you’re just starting your dance journey or you’re ready to elevate your skills, we’re here to inspire, support, and challenge you every step of the way.

Why Rise Above?

Our studio is built on the belief that every dancer deserves to feel seen, celebrated, and empowered. From high-energy fitness classes to professional-level training, our diverse range of programs offers something for everyone. With a team of passionate instructors and a community that feels like family, Rise Above Dance is where artistry meets empowerment.
Join the Movement!

Whether you’re looking to master a new style, prepare for a performance, or simply dance for joy, Rise Above Dance is your destination for growth, fun, and creativity. Come discover your strength, celebrate your individuality, and experience the magic of movement.

Rise above the ordinary — and dance with us today!

Our Classes

Rise Above Aerial Arts is relatively new to Columbia, but we are certainly not new to aerial arts. Our founder, Kathleen Hayes, has spent the last 12 years competing in pole fitness and teaching other women the beauty of this amazing fitness genre.

After 2020 and seeing how difficult it became to gather with friends and loved ones, Kathleen opened Rise Above to help women find a healthy outlet for life’s stresses and to help them individually realize their own potential, strength, and beauty. We know how difficult life can be and the demands of being a woman--finding that balance between career, family, and individuality. So we created a space where women can be women: beautiful, strong, focused, and encouragers for each other!

If you already know you love aerial arts, we are so excited to hear from you! If you are new to aerial arts, then welcome! We are committed to helping you learn to love this exercise genre and artistic outlet as much as we do. Check out our classes or call your friends and family and book a Rise Above pole party now! We hope you enjoy an amazing aerial experience with Rise Above Aerial Arts!

Classes

Meet Our Instructors

Anne

Anne attended a drop in class in 2019 which jump started her love for pole dancing. After taking a plethora of classes across Jersey and the DMV, Anne found Rise Above and has been a part of the family ever since! As she puts it, pole dancing provides her with an escape from work and everything even when she feels short on time
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“there was one class during our Winter series where I had been working until 7:30pm and all the days prior I had extremely long days. I had accepted that I would have to miss our evening class, but maybe 30min before class I thought ‘this is the thing I do for me and when I get there I’ll have fun, so let’s stop everything and just go.’ That’s exactly what I did and it was the right decision!”
When Anne isn’t dancing, she is busy working as a strategy consultant and training for a bodybuilding competition.
Bethany

Bethany has been dancing since she was 5 years old. She has taken tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, modern and acro classes. In college, she was the dance captain for the theater group.
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Post-college Bethany was looking for a dance and fitness opportunity. Luckily, she was introduced to pole dancing by her sister in 2009 and was excited to try aerial dancing. Bethany began teaching pole in 2015 in Philadelphia. Since then, she has taught a variety of pole and dance classes. She loves sharing her passion for dance and performing with students.
When Bethany isn't dancing, she likes spending time with her 2 young children and enjoying the outdoors.
Yana

Yana came to pole practice with an acrobatic background, first as a competitive gymnast in her teens and then as an avid practitioner of partner acrobatics as an adult. After attending that first Rise Above pole class in early 2022, she knew she was hooked: the combination of strength and grace required for pole arts quickly bumped it to the top of her planning calendar.
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In terms of style, Yana likes to say ‘I don’t pole dance, I pole acrobat!’ -- so she’s always up for spinny inversions, flips, and dramatic transitions that make gravity seem like a halfhearted suggestion.
Defying gravity’ is a common theme in Yana’s other hobbies also, which include headstands, handstands, aerial yoga, and paddleboard yoga. Right-side-up hobbies include hiking and camping with her rowdy Australian Shepherd mix puppy, who has way too much energy but is going to be a very good boy someday (maybe!).
Crystal

Crystal took her first pole class in 2017, and instantly fell in love with the way the rest of the world seems to disappear during pole classes. She began teaching in 2021, shortly after moving to Maryland. Her teaching focus is on technique and progressive skill building because she believes these are the key to advancement and individual artistic expression.
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Crystal enjoys spin flow, combination building, pole conditioning, and floorwork. Outside the studio, she loves spending time with her husband and two very silly cats.