A Perspective From a Dancer's Toes...

Welcome to our Blog! I’m Devi and I am one of the bloggers for Pilates Apprentice. Ever since I can remember, dance and exercise have been a major part of my life. My love affair with dance began when I was 8 years old (thanks to my parents). I was literally “thrown” into tap, ballet, jazz and acrobatics (gymnastics) classes, with no prior dance background. I danced 4 to 5 times per week (4 to 5 hours a day), and took my practice very seriously. My little studio formed a dance troupe which I was part of. We performed locally (throughout Los Angeles), bringing smiles and love to others. The biggest thrill and honor came in 1972, when we auditioned and won the chance to perform with the fabulous Gene Kelly, during the annual Thalians Ball. We were billed as “The Little Dancers” and tapped and sang our little hearts out with Gene! Our dance troupe received a standing ovation from a star studded crowd. It was quite a night!

My favorite form of dance has always been ballet. Besides the grace and strength I developed from my many years of dancing, ballet taught me about the importance of discipline, consistency and stretching. I so wish Pilates for young dancers had been developed back then. As strong as I was, Pilates would have made a huge impact on my stretching and core strength. As an adult, I have discovered and embraced Pilates as a major force in my life. Not only do I feel absolutely zen after a class, but my Pilates practice has brought me right back to my roots as a ballerina. I am super excited to be a part of the Pilates AURA team and I look very forward to connecting with all of you!