Board of Directors
Lara Foldvari
Founding President & Executive Director
-
Lara has been dancing for almost 55 years. At the age of four, she began her training in classical ballet at the Boston Ballet, then the New Haven Ballet. She is a Certified Group Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer through ACE (American Council on Exercise), with additional certificates in yoga (RYT200), mat Pilates, senior & aqua fitness.
The need for a Barre Fitness Alliance and support for the industry came as Lara trained and was certified in multiple barre certifications, including those from Barre & Soul Academy, Physique 57 Barre Academy, The Dailey Method, Barre Intensity, BarreAmped, the International Ballet Barre Fitness Association, and The London Method, where Esther Fairfax, the daughter of Lotte Berk, gave Lara her stamp of approval.
Lara has been teaching barre fitness classes since 2009 (the first barre class to be offered in Cheshire, Connecticut) and holds barre classes at her private studio, The BOG (Barre On the Go), as well as livestream classes. The BOG also offers videos on demand. She loves being able to virtually guest teach for friends and colleagues around the world.
Andrea Isabelle Lucas
Founding Vice President
Jennifer Maanavi
Founding Treasurer & Chairperson
Former Board Members
We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of our past board members, who helped shape the foundation of the Barre Fitness Alliance and furthered our mission to strengthen and unite the barre community.
Betsy Royster
Founding Secretary
-
Grandmother of Barre
Cindy Sites is proof that the purest form of barre is the secret to a forever-fabulous physique. She has dedicated more than three decades to helping women, particularly those in their 40s, 50s and 60s, achieve the best shape of their lives. Now, Cindy is excited to expand access to the benefits of ageless agility with the launch of Greenwich Barre Online. While most online fitness platforms cater to women in their 20s and 30s, Cindy aims to inspire women of all ages to reach higher, stretch further and become stronger every day. Whether you work out with Cindy and her expert instructors online, or in her studio on Greenwich Avenue, you’ll discover her method has the power to transform the human body in every stage of life and to transcend every area of life. Because where there is challenge, there is change. Where there is stability, there is confidence. And, where there is balance, there is harmony.
Jill Dailey Founding Director
Stephanie Bradley Secretary & Chairperson
Andrea Lincoln
Director
-
Founder of Barre Studio and passionate advocate for vibrant living, Andrea brings career alchemy to life through her multidisciplinary approach to holistic wellness.
With a deep-rooted love for movement and nourishment, she’s a Master Teacher in the Authentic Barre method, trained in its original London lineage.
Andrea also holds credentials as a Certified Holistic Nutritionist (CHN), allowing her to fuse fitness and nutrition into powerful, personalized wellness programs.
Her mission? To help people move better, feel stronger, and thrive longer.
Ellie Mann
Director
-
London-based instructor personally trained by the legendary Lotte Berk, representing a direct lineage to the method’s origins and preserving its authentic foundations, since 1991. Latterly with the approval of Lotte's daughter, Esther Fairfax to keep sharing this work.
I discovered Lotte as a child! Seeing recognisably ballet related exercises. I started taking classes as a young mother and then spent a year with Lotte at her Manchester St Studio, before being certified to teach in my own Greenwich based studio in London, where 35 years later I'm still at the barre.
I teach privately both group and masterclasses - to those with some knowledge of barre. I'm very hands on, mm (inches) make a difference. I prefer to use a musical beat rather than BPM. Music was crucial to both Lotte and Esther. Lotte had to decide between music or dance so allowing moves to flow was part of our training. Feminist and sexuality were part of the raison d'etre, this work was the first to incorporate pelvic floor exercises as a regular part of class. Celebrate your body!
whilst we have moved on from some of the original ethos (body shape etc) anyone can benefit. We worked without props but I believe in some instances they are a genuine aide.
As I go further down the path of life I am aware there are fewer first generation Lotte Berk certified teachers out there. I was lucky to know and work with both Lotte and Esther and to share my knowledge of their work.
I have a broad and deep historical interest in dance and exercise particularly the European cultural and wellness roots.
I am delighted to work with this group of informed and aware practitioners.
Cindy Sites
Director
Our Mentors
-
Elisabeth Halfpapp
CoreBarreFit
-
Lara Foldvari
Barre On the Go/Bare Barre
-
Andrea Lincoln
Barre Studio
-
Whitney Fortmueller
Rise Barre + Pilates
Advisory Board
The Advisory Board of the Barre Fitness Alliance is composed of respected leaders in barre and complementary disciplines that support it — including movement science, health, education, and wellness. These experienced professionals provide guidance on standards, ethics, and long-term industry integrity, ensuring that BFA initiatives reflect depth, collaboration, and evidence-informed practice.
Elisabeth Halfpap
-
Elisabeth began her barre fitness journey as an associate in Dance Education at the School of the Hartford Ballet. From that moment she knew this would become her life’s work. Trained in classical ballet, Elisabeth saw the future in barre training early on. She became a pioneer leading the Lotte Berk Method (LBM) in New York City, the Hamptons, and Los Angeles, attracting an eager audience looking to adopt a new fitness regimen. Following more than two decades growing the LBM business, Elisabeth became one of the founding partners at Exhale, where she developed the proprietary barre class as well as the cardio and yoga programs. With the barre industry’s growing admiration for the Exhale brand as the industry leader, Elisabeth co-created the Exhale Barre Teacher Training certification and Yoga Teacher Training programs and has trained hundreds of teachers. She also created a series of 12 barre videos and co-authored the Barre Fitness Book which has quickly become the industry’s revered bible. After helping to grow Exhale to more than 26 locations, the company was acquired by Hyatt, where Elisabeth was promoted to Senior Director of Mind Body Fitness at their Miraval properties.
Elisabeth has danced with the Mercer Ballet, Princeton Ballet, Hartford Ballet, and continues to perform as the “Dutch Mom” in Dances Patrelle The Yorkville Nutcracker. She is also an ABT certified ballet teacher in pre-primary through level 3.
With her sights set on leading her own classes and training curriculum, Elisabeth started CoreBarreFIt in 2019. She is a sought after authority and expert in the field, frequently appearing as an industry spokesperson on national media as well as an expert presenter at trade events. Elisabeth is excited to continue offering her unparalleled expertise to loyal fans through her own venture.
Fred DeVito
-
Fred grew up as an active participant in all sports and could always be found on the athletic field. Armed with a BS in Physical Education and Health, Fred embarked on a career teaching phys ed in public school and offering personal training & group fitness instruction at local health clubs. Shortly thereafter, he joined his wife and partner, Elisabeth, and the Lotte Berk Method (LBM) team, as the world’s first male barre teacher. Fred continued on this journey for nearly two decades with LBM which eventually led him, along with Elisabeth, to a new opportunity with Exhale, as one of the founding partners.
Fred co-created the Exhale Barre Teacher Training certification and has been instrumental in training hundreds of teachers. He has created a curriculum to certify a growing legion of barre fitness professionals around the world. He is a regularly featured fitness expert on the national scene where he has written for numerous journals, magazines and publications on topics ranging from Stress Management and Benefits of Movement, to Tips for Living a Longer & Healthier Life. Fred also co-created a series of 12 barre videos and co-authored the Barre Fitness Book, the industry’s go to manual, which provides 100 at-home barre exercises from the fundamentals to more complex moves with a focus on building strength and improving technique. Fred offers sessions in Thai stretch, a dynamic bodywork therapy based upon yoga and Ayurveda practices, receiving his certification from the world renowned Lotus Palm in Montreal. With his tremendous interest in music, Fred has created a side profession as an accomplished jazz double bass player and parlays this talent to inspire the incredible playlists used in all CoreBarreFit classes.
