Celebrate Womanhood and learn the benefits of Barre: Interview with ex-Moulin Rouge dancer turned actor Richard Rennie
By Isabella Logue
Arnold Schwarzenneger doing ballet
When most people think of the barre workout method, a picture of women lifting small weights and stretching typically comes to mind. While this isn’t untrue, there are so many more benefits to this fitness form than those that meet the eye. Don’t let the stereotype fool you—barre is anything but easy.
In the spirit of Women’s History Month and celebrating all that women have overcome and accomplished throughout history, it is only fitting to talk about Lotte Berk, the creater and founder of the barre fitness method. German-born, Lotte fled to England during World War II. There, after suffering a back injury, she developed her own fitness method in the 1950s that infused elements of ballet, yoga, and physiotherapy to create a workout that was both low-impact and effective. Her unique blend became mainstream in the 1960s when celebrities like Jane Fonda and Shirley MacLaine popularized the method. Fonda loved the fitness method so much that she even went on to write a book about it, titled “Jane Fonda’s Workout Book”!
As women, honoring womanhood is something we should do everyday. It is seen through daily self love and female communities built on trust and vulnerability. This month should celebrate those relationships, but also be a reminder for men to intentionally appreciate the women in their life.
Kalon is a feminine brand that was built and founded by women who knew from experience how barre could appeal to both sexes. Richard Rennie—a former Moulin Rouge dancer turned actor, comedian, and producer—knows well what it means to celebrate women. A close friend and colleague to many members of Team K, Richard is also an avid Kalon class attendee. At the studio, he sees first-hand the community of women built and fostered within the Kalon walls.
I spoke with Richard to better understand what it means to celebrate women as a man, both inside and outside the studio. This starts with deconstructing women’s fitness stereotypes and uncovering the lesser-known benefits of the barre method.
Before retiring six years ago from the glamorous world of dance, Richard performed in the Moulin Rouge, the Broadway show Chicago, and various commercial projects in London and Los Angeles. As a professional dancer, he trained at the ballet barre for years. Surrounded by strong women, he learned the full scope of what it means to be a male dancer.
“Whether or not ballet is a sport has been a debate for as long as I can remember. I think this is because it is dominated by women, therefore it’s not taken as seriously. During the late 90s and early 2000s, when I was doing ballet, there was this mindset that if you were a male dancer, you were seen as gay or feminine. My ballet teacher believed the complete opposite: male dancers were extremely strong. The muscles they had to have in order to lift the girls and do big jumps or huge turns—they’re athletes.”
As a long time friend to the founders of Kalon, Emma and Sophie, Richard has seen the business evolve from the very beginning. The community built at Kalon is one of support and encouragement, which he has seen grow since day one.
“I love going to the Kalon studio because the energy there is infectious. It’s filled with positivity and genuine compassion, both between clients and coaches. It's also so wonderful to see my friends who I’ve known for so many years to excel in their field.”
Barre implements ballet and pilates techniques, so it’s usually thought of as a “women’s workout”, as opposed to the heavy-weight focus of men’s fitness.
What isn’t as widely known, however, are the benefits that men who primarily focus on weightlifting can gain from the barre method.
“Working the little muscles that you do when you're at the barre, especially in your legs, can make your overall performance as any type of athlete better, regardless of your gender. A lot of guys come in here thinking it's going to be easy, and then they kind of realize that, ‘oh, wow, this is actually very challenging!"
Invite the men in your lives to celebrate women.
To celebrate International Women’s Day on Saturday, March 8th, Team K is hosting two classes at 10h15 and 11h30 that allow you to share a class credit with whomever you choose to bring, whether it be a spouse, sibling, or friend. Let him show his appreciation while also introducing him to the power, grace, and techniques of the Kalon community.
“Kalon could help a lot with stretching as a male, which we probably don't do as much as we should. I don’t see lots of men at the gym stretching afterward, but they really should. Stretching helps you recover for the next time you go to the gym and helps you avoid injuries. Kalon Barre, specifically, is fantastic for that. It's great for posture as well, which I think is nice to be able to walk into places looking confident and well put together. Those are the main benefits of Kalon that you wouldn't likely gain from simply going to the gym and lifting weights.”
You can purchase a single class for your partner to join you or use one of the classes from your Kalon studio pack.
Finally, celebrate Women’s History Month by celebrating yourself. Dedicate time to recognizing all the things you accomplish, both big milestones and the daily routines. In the wise words of American author Elaine Welteroth, “Friends. Sisters. Mothers. Professors. When women affirm women, it unlocks our power. It gives us permission to shine brighter.”
Comments