A conversation about the history of barre

When I set out to talk about the history of barre, I wanted to include a quote about the importance of history in general.  I found one that resonates:

“History is who we are and why we are the way we are.”
David McCullough, American historian (1933- )

Sadly, this next quote shows today’s trend:

“A generation which ignores history has no past and no future.”
Robert Heinlein, American author (1907-1988)

We have a generation of barre instructors and enthusiasts who not only don’t know the history of barre, but sadly, maybe don’t even care.  But here’s the deal:

“If you want to understand today you have to search yesterday.”
Pearl S. Buck, American novelist (1892-1973)

History has always been something that I am passionate about.  In 1985, I took AP American History and thought I was going to major in history of some kind when I left for college in the Fall.  When I wrote my first teacher trainer manual in 2020, I included the history of yoga, ballet, Pilates, and barre. 

“If we don’t know where we came from, we don’t know where to go.”
Lara Foldvari, barre nerd (1967-)

The importance of the history of barre has been part of the Barre Fitness Alliance mission statement since the very beginning.  Our Education Partners must include the history of barre in their teacher trainings.  It is one part of what separates them from many other barre certifications where Lotte Berk isn’t mentioned at all.  Can you imagine?  It would be like a Pilates training without knowing who Joseph was.

History is sometimes like a game of telephone.  The details can get skewed as they travel down the line. 

Yet it is still so important. Why?  I can continue to share a bunch of quotes, or I can give a parallel example. 

Like Lotte Berk, my father was affected by World War II.  He was recently interviewed about his experience as a young boy in Hungary during the 1940s.  A local high school contacted him about sharing this story with students.  When he asked me if he should, I told him that he must.  This horrific time in history is being forgotten, and even twisted, oftentimes for nefarious reasons; the people who lived it and remembered it are now tasked with keeping the reality of it alive.  There are fewer and fewer of them remaining, which will only get fewer as time passes.

The same for barre.  We lost Lotte in 2003 and are left with but a handful of teachers who trained directly with her.  Her daughter Esther Fairfax carried on her work, but she passed in 2024. 

What can we do to ensure that the legacy of Lotte Berk and early barre pioneers stays alive- and doesn’t get so garbled that the authenticity is lost?

We need to keep open lines of communication and share as much as we can.  Gatekeeping won’t work here.

#collaborationovercompetition

Our Got Barre campaign literally goes hand-in-hand with Kelly Wackerman of theLONDONmethod.  We have a What is Barre? page on our website, and she has been conducting a series of What is Barre? webinars.  These are free educational workshops “on the origins, technique, and legacy of the ORIGINAL true barre.”  While we do plan on dedicating more time and space to the history of barre, this is a terrific place for all of us to start.

November 1st is the next date in this series.  Reserve your spot here: https://www.thelondonmethod.net/whatisbarre