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Abby Bella Dance Studio Announces Body-Transforming Dance & Fitness Program, Bella Barre

"It's ballet barre on steroids," say instructors at Abby Bella Dance Studio, featuring the popular dance & fitness program they're calling Bella Barre. "We began teaching ballet barre, in 2008, adding our own style of weight-lifting, yoga, pilates and core exercises," says owner, Teresa Paul Daie. "The program reached a whole new level so it made sense to give it its own name, Bella Barre," she continues.

Bella Barre and Bella Barre Xtreme were designed by Abby Bella's own Teal Darkenwood, an accomplished dancer who holds a Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science and a Master's in Fine Arts. Darkenwood also trained Abby Bella's instructors and regularly returns to the studio to run the Bella Barre instructor-training program.

Students say it's a tough -- but fun -- class. Dance instructor and Center Stage principal dancer, Bradley Speck, says, "We've found a way to remove any feeling of 'work' and our students are bouncing into class with enthusiasm... they're seeing real results."

Ballet barre fitness originated in the 1950's when world-famous dancer, Lotte Berk, combined ballet, mainstream exercises and pilates as a way to build muscles in the feet and legs, giving dancers the ability to perform with greater strength, precision and height. Abby Bella's instructors introduced the concept to their students and it's now the studio's most popular program.

"I started taking Bella Barre and was shocked that I could fit into my 'skinny' jeans within the first six weeks," says Rochelle, an Abby Bella student. "I'm walking a lot straighter too and it's as though I've grown a couple of inches," she continues.

The results are fast, so it's no surprise that more celebrities and supermodels credit ballet barre fitness for keeping their trim dancer's bodies. Forerunning studios, with their own spins on ballet barre, like Cardio Barre in Los Angeles and Physique 57 in New York City are bustling with dedicated students sporting their own dancer's bodies.

"I recently visited my daughter in LA and we went to try Richard Giorla's Cardio Barre. They had a line around the building and barely any room for us on the barre," says Teresa of Abby Bella. "This reinforced our decision to encourage Bella Barre and it's only a matter of time before Arizona catches up to the trend."

Not just for looks, Bella Barre assists better health by easing stiff joints, sore backs and overall tension. Recently, Abby Bella designed a private Bella Barre class for a student who underwent hip-replacement surgery. This is the private class option offered to Abby Bella's students for specific needs.

What started as a warm up for ballet class has evolved to a total fitness program, also useful for cross-training for other sports like running, golf, tennis and basketball and is a great activity on its own.

For more information, visit http://abbybelladance.com