It was a constant hustle, going back and forth to auditions. I auditioned for roles in London and looked for work in Toronto too, but the opportunities were slim. Over the course of a year, I performed regularly with the Salzburg Opera. All of my hard work was paying off-and I was living my dream. “It was thrilling to dance for such huge audiences. During the run of each season, we were based in Austria, and I would travel back to London in between seasons. in 2011, where I landed my big break-a role as a full-time lead dancer in a production of Carmen at the Salzburg Opera House. After I graduated from the Ailey School, I had short stints at dance companies in New York, Vancouver and Montreal. But school was so busy that I didn’t have enough hours in the day. “I continued to practise Pilates while I was at the Ailey School and earned numerous teaching certifications with the intent of teaching classes on the side for a little bit of extra cash. It was inspiring and overwhelming to study at an inclusive school and spend time with so many wonderful diverse movers and human beings from all over the world. It was founded in 1969 by Alvin Ailey, a Black man, at a time when Black dancers weren’t allowed in traditional ballet and contemporary dance spaces. The Ailey School is one of the biggest and most renowned ballet and contemporary dance schools in America. I was accepted into the Ailey School’s three-year dance certificate program. “After graduating high school in 2006, I packed my bags and moved to New York City to pursue my dream of becoming a professional dancer. I was used to being one of the only Black ballet dancers around-I just tried to get on with it, but I was constantly reminded that I was different and felt like I was continuously apologizing for just being me. “Back in North York after the summer, I was accepted into the dance program at the Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts. It was the perfect complement to the rigours of ballet. Pilates is all about tender, low-impact, high-rep exercises that allow you to focus on your body. As part of our curriculum, we took a Pilates class once or twice a week. The stress and physical demands on the body were extreme. We were dancing four to six hours a day, five days a week. “At 16, I was accepted into a prestigious summer program at the Juilliard School in New York City. It was a way for me to escape and be in my own little world. Dancing felt like a fairy tale to me–it was whimsical and magical. When I was six, my parents enrolled me in ballet class. “I grew up in North York, and as a kid I’d always put on performances in our home. But Winter was miserable sitting at a desk all day, so during the pandemic she quit and opened the doors to her Corktown Pilates studio, Have a Nice Day Pilates, in August of 2021. After retiring from the profession in 2016, she got a job working in admin at Soulpepper Theatre Company. We look forward to getting to know you and sharing the many benefits that Pilates can bring to your life.As a professional ballet dancer, Jennifer Winter began practising Pilates to help offset the rigours of dance. Whether you are new to Pilates or just new to finetune, our 4 session Introductory Special is the perfect way to get started. Your instructor will then serve as your primary contact person, scheduling your appointments, collecting payment, and designing an individualized Pilates program just for you.Īt finetune we work exclusively one-on-one, with weekly standing appointments that help you make working out a priority. Once Maeve knows a bit more about you she will match you with an instructor in the collective that best suits your needs. If you would like the benefit of a short phone consultation, tell us how and when to best reach you. Let her know what is bringing you to finetune, what you hope to gain from the experience, and any specific concerns that you have. To schedule your first appointment, just e-mail Finetune’s owner, Maeve Yore, using our easy contact form.
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