Angels do exist.

New York New York. Did I ever? No I never. Out of a clear blue sky two new friends appeared. Jill and her good friend Dina. Jill is writing a thesis on my mother, Lotte Berk in search of the truth and clarify the amusing myths about my mother. She came to my studio to try out a couple of my classes and was amazed at how different they were compared to the Barre classes she attended in America, all claiming to have developed them from the original Lotte Berk Technique.

Jill spoke about the loss of the exquisite authentic technique my mother devised to her good friend Dina who happens to have a thriving PR company in New York. Whoosh, before I knew it I was on a plane with my friend and helper Bernie. ‘Time waits for no man’. Next day was full on New York style. A video interview for Self Magazine, Q+A master class for several women’s magazines. Photoshoot.  I pause a moment remembering the adorable young photographer, just because I’m nudging 83 hasn’t stopped my appreciation for adorable fit men - I know my place.

My experience working with these young fit women was a revelation. Their response to my work was pure delight but also shock at how very different the work was to Barre which they assumed would be more Lotte.

Barre now is big business, very commercial, a huge industry, extremely slick and very little Lotte. I am excited and thrilled that Jill has taken on the task of bringing Lotte’s work back into focus recognising Lotte’s philosophy and the pure essence of her technique not to be confused with the fitness world.

I have been working solo for a long time to bring Lotte’s technique back and have with great delight trained Kelly, who runs her own studio in California, Lisa in New York and Tina in Zurich, all keeping the Lotte technique authentic and genuine. I won’t give up on mother’s work. Einstein is still valued and so is my mother.  

My trip was enhanced by Bernie by my side, a constant help, ready to pop music on, fetch my whip, hold my hand when I was exhausted, call a cab and end the day with a gin and tonic and nuts.

My time in New York was fantastic and exhilarating. I loved every second and I met the most delightful people I wish they lived on my doorstep. 

Thank you to my two new best friends. Angels do exist.