08 Apr 2019
Discobarre to open first stand-alone studio in London
BY Tom Walker
Independently-owned boutique fitness operator Discobarre, which "bridges the gap between fitness and dance", will launch its first stand-alone studio in London this month.
The venue in Dalston, east London, is based on the original Discobarre concept – combining a "hardcore ballet-barre workout" with house and disco music – founded by Sophie Ritchie.
It is marketed as the only studio in London offering the original Lotte Berk Technique, with additional classes including curated ballet, dance-related fitness and movement meditation.
"The studio has been designed to offer a safe space devoid of pretension and intimidation to help people gain confidence in their bodies, move with greater freedom and fluidity and help cope with the demands of the city," Ritchie said.
"It’s my mission to make people feel comfortable in their body and confident in the way they move.
"I wanted to create a fun and relaxed and supportive environment where people can come and dance like no one’s watching and get a seriously powerful workout but with a focus on how you feel not how you look."
The Lotte Berk Technique is a barre workout which grew popular in the 1960s, 70s and 80s with a regimen that promised to "sculpt a svelte physique and radically improve sexual pleasure" – and was popular with celebrities including Dame Joan Collins and Bond girl Britt Ekland.
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