Keely Baker Is Raising the Barre in Great Falls

If you’ve ever taken a barre class in Great Falls — the low-impact workout blending Pilates, yoga, and strength training — there’s a good chance you’ve met Keely Baker.

She’s the longtime owner of Studio Barre, the boutique fitness studio that brought barre workouts — equal parts strength, stability, and sweat — to town in 2017. But this summer, Studio Barre is becoming something new: barre3.

We caught up with Keely in the middle of the studio’s transition to learn more about her journey from college runner to teacher to studio owner — and what’s ahead for her clients in this next chapter.

“It was kind of a leap of faith,” Keely says, thinking back to opening Studio Barre in 2017. “There was nothing like it in Great Falls.” She’d discovered barre in college while recovering from a running injury and was instantly hooked:

“It felt like physical therapy to music. It was exactly what my body needed.”

That instinct never left her. Even while teaching school and offering classes at the Peak, she kept circling back to the dream of opening her own space. “I told my husband for five years that I wanted to open a barre studio,” she laughs. “Eventually he just said, ‘You keep saying it — do it.’” And she did.

Keely’s background as an athlete runs deep. A standout distance runner, she competed for Montana State University in both cross country and track. She notched a lifetime best of 17:58 in the 5,000 meters and was named MSU’s Most Improved athlete during the 2011 cross country season, where she placed 7th overall at the Big Sky Championships. Injuries sidelined parts of her collegiate career, but she rebounded to win the Missoula Marathon in 2018 — a 26.2-mile reminder of her grit.

From Studio Barre to barre3: A Bold New Chapter

Now, Baker is leading the charge of another swift movement — this time it’s as an entrepreneur. When her Studio Barre franchise was acquired by barre3 in January she knew it was time to dig deep, something she has practiced as an athlete her whole life. 

“At first, it was a shock. We didn’t see it coming,” she said. “But it’s truly elevated what we offer.” 

Not delaying the hard work ahead, Baker and her team flew to Portland, Oregon to visit barre3 headquarters, take classes, and meet the much larger support team behind the brand. “Their resources are incredible. They’ve got choreographers, physical therapists, a full marketing and accounting team. It’s next level.”

The transition will be complete by the end of July, and Keely is already certified in barre3’s Signature class — one of four class formats that include strength, cardio, and mindfulness. “I’m especially excited about the strength format,” she said. “It’s designed around lifting heavier weights in a safe, controlled way. Women need that as we age — for bone density, for injury prevention, for overall strength.”

Clients are already noticing the difference. “It still feels like barre, but it’s barre, elevated,” Baker explained. “People tell me it’s like getting your butt kicked in a spa. You sweat, you shake, and then you breathe and reset. It’s more than a workout, it’s restorative.”

As for the boutique, expect it to keep its local favorites — Beyond Yoga, Vuori, Lululemon — but the new brand will introduce new, high-quality barre3 logo gear. “It’s studio to street,” Keely says. “You’ll want to wear it everywhere.”

“I’m excited to see our community grow—not just in numbers, but in how people feel in their bodies,” Baker said. “After seven years, it’s easy to hit a rut. This feels like a reset. And I can honestly say, just like I did with Studio Barre, I believe in this. I believe it’s what our bodies need.”

💡 Tips to Try It

Thinking about trying a barre3 class but feeling a little nervous? Here’s what to know before you go:

• The first class is the hardest. Baker says it’s totally normal to feel unsure at first — but once you walk through the door, the welcoming energy takes over.

• Come as you are. Whether you're pregnant, recovering from an injury, or new to fitness, the class is designed to meet you exactly where you are.

• You do you. Every movement includes multiple modifications. You’re not being pushed into someone else’s version of fitness — you’re supported in finding what feels right for your body.

• No pressure, just presence. The vibe is more “mindful movement” than “bootcamp.” Yes, you’ll sweat — but you’ll also breathe, reset, and leave feeling better than when you came in.