Our Instructors
Jennifer Gianni
Jennifer grew up in Columbia, South Carolina, where she was active in dance and athletics. At the age of thirteen, she began working out with her mother at The Firm's™ headquarters in Columbia. Jennifer was lucky enough to have witnessed the filming of The Firm's™ very first video, and it was here that she first fell in love with the exercise field and began to see it as a lifestyle and career for herself.
Jennifer (then Peluso) kept working out at The Firm™ and became a teacher there at the age of eighteen. She soon became involved with the making of their videos and took part as a cast member, choreographer and lead in several of their very best workout tapes.
In time, Jennifer began to feel that her overall exercise plan was too narrow in scope. She spent the next seven years getting the highest quality training available in Pilates, Yoga and Gyrotonic® from the most respected names in the business, including Romana Kryzanowska, Juliu Horvath and Bryan Kest.
Once she had the building blocks from all of these different disciplines, Jennifer began formulating her own method by infusing the most effective components from each discipline and adding her own original content. This Body/Mind approach became her passion, and the outcome is Jennifer Gianni's Fusion Pilates Method.
For a complete biography, click here.
Kelly Robinson
Kelly Robinson was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina and has been involved with the Pilates method for the past six years. She instantly fell in love with the concepts of the method, so much in fact that she re-directed her career path so she could share the method with others. She has completed an intense and highly respected 600 plus hour Pilates Certification taught by second generation classical Pilates masters Marianne Adams and Rebecca Quin at Appalachian State University.
Kelly is constantly refining her work and is involved in many continuing education programs. She completed her Fusion Pre and Post Natal teacher training in 2007 and the Smart Spine Professional workshop in 2008. She assisted Jennifer Gianni in the recent Balanced Body University Comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training and has recently completed her Gyrotonic® Certification with Master Trainer Juergen Bamberger.
Since starting at Fusion Pilates in 2007, Kelly has built upon her classical foundation and has worked to expand and adapt her understanding of the Pilates Method to include systems tought to her by Jennifer and by Balanced Body University. The result is a highly trained instructor on the cutting edge of the discipline with a dedication to a constant honing of her considerable skills.
Angie Tesauro
Growing up in Michigan, Angie participated in many sports and athletic activities. Always looking for something new and challenging she took a pilates class several years ago and was immediately hooked! Pilates made her feel stronger in every area of her life. She loved the mind and body connection of Pilates so much that she wanted to learn to share the movement with others.
Angie has been a student of Jennifer Gianni for the past few years. She has taken several of Jennifer's Balanced Body courses such as Reformer, Cadillac, Chair and Barrel, and also the Smart Spine Workshop. She also received her Pilates mat certification from Precision Pilates in 2007. The study of the pilates method has been a great learning adventure for Angie and she is excited to continue her education so she can continue to grow as an instructor and student of the method.
Daniela Pallares
Daniela was born and raised in Ecuador where she was active in various sports. She became very interested in Rhythmic Gymnastics; this led her to win the title of National Champion of Ecuador in her category and to become part of the Ecuadorian Rhythmic Gymnastics team. Throughout her 10year carrier as a gymnast, she competed in various Latin and South American championships.
Daniela moved to the US to attend college in 2001. She first became involved with Pilates for her own physical conditioning and soon realized she could have a positive impact on others lives by becoming an instructor. Daniela is a STOTT PILATES Certified instructor, experienced in working with clients interested in both fitness and post-rehab Pilates. She has been teaching Pilates since 2004 and enjoys creating individualized programs to help improve body awareness and posture. She is available to teach classes in English and Spanish.
Daniela holds a BFA in furniture design from Rhode Island School of Design. Currently, she is attending UNCA to pursue a degree in Physical Therapy. In her free time, Daniela enjoys rock climbing throughout the southeast.
Taft Draper
Taft Draper RD, LDN grew up in Asheville participating in athletics. He had a strong desire for soccer, which eventually landed him a scholarship at the University of Charleston, WVA. After playing soccer for more than 20 years he transitioned into bicycling. Growing up in Bent Creek made riding bikes a given. As the desire for cycling grew, so did the interest in fitness.
Taft has worked in many different fitness centers in the area as a personal trainer, nutritionist, cycling, and Pilates instructor. In 2003 he went back to school to get a degree in Nutrition/Dietetics from Western North Carolina. After graduating and becoming a Registered Dietitian, Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist (RD/LDN), he started a nutrition business, which eventually led him to the Biltmore Forest Country Club (BFCC). As a NESTA certified personal trainer and RD/LDN he has continued his learning by working towards becoming a certified Pilates instructor through Balanced Body University. This past year Taft became the Fitness and Wellness Director at BFCC.