NYC: Our Second Act

Act 1: 2018

The first time we travelled to New York City, it was for the FRC — Functional Range Conditioning certification. There, we met the cramp monster — commonly known as a charley horse, and familiarized ourselves with the feels of the big city. We stayed in Brooklyn, walked the bridge, took in a baseball game, and Lauryn even caught a ball to take home. 

At the time, our experiences training in the ballet were just over one year old, but with sights to see, and pliés to perform — another day, early one morning, we headed out to Bethesda Fountain in Central Park to experience the iconic landmark — almost entirely alone.

After a long weekend spent learning, and looking at the many unique features of the city, we brought home with us memories and training modalities that continue to influence our practice. We explored the ways our core and muscles of the body need to stiffen for strength, and the complimentary ways it needs to maintain suppleness for movement, and to promote the longevity of the body’s most important component — the spine. To learn more about how we turned cats into kittens, and cows into calves — follow the link here.

In the years leading up to March 2022 — the onset of the Covid era, movements from the FRC repertoire reigned supreme in our practice. However, since our first foray into the city, our appreciation for the movement qualities found within the ballet continued to grow. The covid era seemed like interminable times, and in late February of 2022, we decided we were due for another train-cation.

Act 2: 2022

A few years ago, I asked our first ballet instructor, if she could dance with any professional company, which one would she choose. The answer matched the t-shirt she wore often to class — the New York City Ballet. Before that, knowing my emerging interest in this classical art form, one of our clients suggested watching Ballet 422 on Netflix which followed a dancer from the NYCB corps de ballet transition to being a celebrated choreographer in the company. Flash forward a few years, to the need for happiness that only Disney could fulfill, Lauryn and I were amazed by the scenes and the skills of the children dancing with the American School of Ballet — a feeder school for the NYCB.

So, if repetition is one of the keys to success, earlier this year we searched the internet for places to rep, and sweat our way to new training techniques on our vacation. At the intensive, Lauryn and I were the only married couple, and only one of a few from places other than the mainland United States. “How did you sign up for this? Did you know there was a fifty person waiting list?” We were very fortunate to spend time with other ballet enthusiasts, and immersed ourselves as students in the NYCB full day training regiment.

Our second time to the city was filled with long lists of do’s and don’ts and a few #shorts videos we hope to post on our YouTube channel later this week. Most importantly, we enjoyed spending time together away from home, on the barre and cheered each other on at the rehearsal and recital.

As usual, it is great to get away, but the best feels are often at home. On your next trip, link your unique passions with planes or trains, and wether we are here — or there, we look forward to sharing movements for strength, suppleness with you in the studio, and online.

May you travel soon, train often, and always — take care,

Lauryn and Ian