I’m standing at the counter in my basement trying to take a virtual barre taught by the director of the New York City Ballet Indiana Woodward. But her gorgeous flowing port de bras completely distract me. I decided to take a quick break and just enjoy watching her for a few minutes before rewinding and actually doing the plié myself.
This ability to simultaneously enjoy dancing at the highest level and enter class is one of the most fun parts of: Grace and forma new online ballet and fitness platform created by Woodward and a dancer turned trainer Saskia Gregson-Williams. Despite their elite pedigree, these two dancers (who grew up training together at the Yuri Grigoriev School of Ballet in California) launched a platform that strikes Goldilocks’s balance of challenge and hospitality. The videos include everything from ballet to pilates to yoga—there’s even sound bath meditation if that’s your thing—and range from beginner-friendly to advanced. Modifications are almost always offered to keep things accessible to those of us who don’t play Lincoln Center regularly.
Woodward says that since the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, dancers have become accustomed to participating in a barre or cross-training session wherever they find space. But she didn’t see many high-quality online ballet lessons taught by top professionals. “I wish there was a way to get all the amazing dancers I love and admire to teach online so that everyone can access it,” she says. Enter Grace & Form.
Gregson-Williams and Woodward filmed the first installment of classes last fall. The app’s offerings now include ballet barre and some choreographer-taught beginner lessons Lauren Lovett and several pilates videos with a NYCB soloist Sarah Adams. These are enhanced by previous content from Gregson-Williams’ earlier fitness platform, Naturally Sassy. Woodward says they will soon be launching additional classes taught by: Devon Teuscher, Unity Phelan, Chun Wai Chanand other dancers.
As I attend some of the gym classes, I realize how nice it is to see exercises demonstrated not only with proper training form, but also with pointed dancers’ legs and sturdy port de bras. Many of the newer workout videos feature both Gregson-Williams and Woodward, one teaching and the other taking the class while asking intelligent questions in the form or commiserating about the “burnout” that helps me feel less alone from other side of the screen.
While the couple hopes to attract casual gym-goers who might want to pick up a beginner’s barre (their most popular video) every now and then, Woodward says the main target audience is serious ballet dancers and students looking to supplement their training, and former dancers interested in starting again. She hopes they will benefit not only from the ballet videos taught by world-class dancers, but also from the chance to effectively cross-train.
“Incorporating Pilates and yoga into your practice is so important,” she says. “It’s been one of the biggest helps in my life, personally, to strengthen.”
Woodward adds that he hopes the fact that these videos are online — so you can shoot them without a mirror or other people nearby — will make them a deeper mind-body experience. “I feel like it’s a great way to go inward and see what you really feel in your body and what makes you feel the best.”