The History of Barre

Barre comes from a technique created by Lotte Berk, a Jewish dancer who escaped Nazi Germany and re-located to England. It was in England that she created her movement technique that later became the foundation for the barre workout. Berk derived the method from her dance training and as a method to heal a lower back injury. She first introduced the pelvis tilt, which she invented after a doctor recommended that she curve her lower back during exercise. She called it the, “love-making position.” Witty and charming she was straightforward and seriously understood the body. (source).

The Lotte Berk workout includes the pelvic tilt and a series of exercises, mostly revolving around a ballet barre, and with light weights that help give a long and lean ballet dancer’s body. Berk’s classes were only open to women as she wanted to create a space where women could feel sexual in their workout, have fun, feel comfortable, and laugh. It was her hope that she could help them improve their sex life through her classes and exercises. (source)

The Lotte Berk Method transition to “Barre” when a woman in the United States bought the rights to the method. She then opened the first studio in NYC and added in more exercises such as planks and pushups. Two of her students and teachers were instrumental in continuing the education of barre, Fred DeVito and Elisabeth Halfpapp. They started the teacher trainer program and expanded the studios to the Hamptons and Los Angeles. (source)

Today there are many different formats of the barre exercise, all which have expanded and grown from the originial Lotte Berk Method. Balls, Straps, Blocks, etc. have been added and other fitness methods such as PIlates, yoga, and cardio have been integrated. However it all stems from the foundation. In Barre Vida you will learn the foundation of the Lotte Berk method and new exercises that have been added since it’s growth. Plus some Barre Vida specific exercises that Joanna added after working directly with clients who have back pain, sciatic, and shoulder injuries. Joanna expanded on the “healing the back” methodology to “healing the entire body” and preventing injuries when she created Barre Vida.

Photo Source: https://www.lotte-berk.com/