Lotte Berk
Encyclopedia
Lotte Berk was a dancer and teacher.
She was born Liselotte Heymansohn in Cologne
, Germany, to a German mother and Russian-born father, both of whom were Jewish. Her father owned a chain of quality menswear shops. Lotte as a child was chauffeured around a six seated Mercedes
and would wear a Russian cape. She became a modern ballet dancer which was regarded in the 1920s and '30s as a profession almost like prostitution. In the '30s she fled Germany because of the Nazis with her dancer husband and daughter. Her husband Ernst had a British passport
so they were able to live in England. She started in England working as a model at Heatherley School of Fine Art
, danced at Covent Garden
for Marie Rambert
. Her style of dancing did not appeal to the British and she knew she would have to change careers to make a living. In the 1950s, with the help of an osteopath, she developed a series of exercises that were based on her experience with dancing. Similar to pilates
and yoga
, the Lotte Berk method concentrates on targeting specific areas for strength and flexibility training. Working from the "core" provides an intensive workout and promotes the growth of muscle tissue, which burns calories at a faster rate than fatty tissue.
When she was 46, she opened the Manchester Street studio for exercise, which only women could attend. Some of the names she used for her exercises were unusual such as "the Prostitute", "the Peeing Dog" and the "French Lavatory".
Lotte's personal life was also unusual because she would flirt with men. She moved in with a painter with her husband's permission, who told her that she could move in with the painter for two years and then Ernst would take her back. When Lotte was 50, her marriage came to an end after 30 years. She married again, the second marriage only lasting three weeks.
Lotte continued to teach her method of exercise well into her 80s. She had some famous people at her studio, like Joan Collins
, Britt Ekland
, Barbra Streisand
, Siân Phillips
, Edna O'Brien
and Yasmin Le Bon
.
She died at the age of 90. She is survived by her daughter, Esther Fairfax, who continues to teach her mother's method from a studio at Hungerford
, in Berkshire
.
Modern day exercise studios based on the Lotte Berk Method include Barre Fitness, Physique 57
, The Bar Method and Pure Barre
to name a few.
She was born Liselotte Heymansohn in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, Germany, to a German mother and Russian-born father, both of whom were Jewish. Her father owned a chain of quality menswear shops. Lotte as a child was chauffeured around a six seated Mercedes
Mercedes (car)
Mercedes was a brand of the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft . DMG which began to develop in 1900, after the death of its co-founder, Gottlieb Daimler...
and would wear a Russian cape. She became a modern ballet dancer which was regarded in the 1920s and '30s as a profession almost like prostitution. In the '30s she fled Germany because of the Nazis with her dancer husband and daughter. Her husband Ernst had a British passport
Passport
A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
so they were able to live in England. She started in England working as a model at Heatherley School of Fine Art
Heatherley School of Fine Art
The Heatherley School of Fine Art was named after Thomas Heatherley who took over as principal from James Mathews Leigh . Founded in 1845, the school is affectionately known as Heatherley's...
, danced at Covent Garden
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
for Marie Rambert
Marie Rambert
Dame Marie Rambert DBE was a Polish-Jewish dancer and dance pedagogue who exerted a great influence on British ballet, both as a dancer and teacher.- Early years and background :...
. Her style of dancing did not appeal to the British and she knew she would have to change careers to make a living. In the 1950s, with the help of an osteopath, she developed a series of exercises that were based on her experience with dancing. Similar to pilates
Pilates
Pilates is a physical fitness system developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates in Germany, the UK and the USA. As of 2005, there were 11 million people practicing the discipline regularly and 14,000 instructors in the United States....
and yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
, the Lotte Berk method concentrates on targeting specific areas for strength and flexibility training. Working from the "core" provides an intensive workout and promotes the growth of muscle tissue, which burns calories at a faster rate than fatty tissue.
When she was 46, she opened the Manchester Street studio for exercise, which only women could attend. Some of the names she used for her exercises were unusual such as "the Prostitute", "the Peeing Dog" and the "French Lavatory".
Lotte's personal life was also unusual because she would flirt with men. She moved in with a painter with her husband's permission, who told her that she could move in with the painter for two years and then Ernst would take her back. When Lotte was 50, her marriage came to an end after 30 years. She married again, the second marriage only lasting three weeks.
Lotte continued to teach her method of exercise well into her 80s. She had some famous people at her studio, like Joan Collins
Joan Collins
Joan Henrietta Collins, OBE , is an English actress, author, and columnist. Born in Paddington and raised in Maida Vale, Collins grew up during the Second World War. At the age of nine, she made her stage debut in A Doll's House and after attending school, she was classically trained as an actress...
, Britt Ekland
Britt Ekland
Britt-Marie Ekland is a Swedish actress and singer, and a long time resident of the United Kingdom. She is best known for her roles as a Bond girl in The Man with the Golden Gun, and in the British cult horror film The Wicker Man, as well as her marriage to actor Peter Sellers, and her...
, Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
, Siân Phillips
Siân Phillips
Jane Elizabeth Ailwên "Siân" Phillips, CBE, is a Welsh actress.-Early life:Phillips was born in Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Neath Port Talbot, Wales, the daughter of Sally , a teacher, and David Phillips, a steelworker-turned-policeman...
, Edna O'Brien
Edna O'Brien
Edna O'Brien is an Irish novelist and short story writer whose works often revolve around the inner feelings of women, and their problems in relating to men and to society as a whole.-Life and career:...
and Yasmin Le Bon
Yasmin Le Bon
Yasmin Le Bon is a British Iranian fashion model. She was born to an Iranian father and an English mother...
.
She died at the age of 90. She is survived by her daughter, Esther Fairfax, who continues to teach her mother's method from a studio at Hungerford
Hungerford
Hungerford is a market town and civil parish in Berkshire, England, 9 miles west of Newbury. It covers an area of and, according to the 2001 census, has a population of 5,559 .- Geography :...
, in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
.
Modern day exercise studios based on the Lotte Berk Method include Barre Fitness, Physique 57
Physique 57
Physique 57 is a fitness company founded in 2006 and headquartered in New York City. The company operates five exercise studios and retails its own line of fitness DVDs through its website and in retailers including Lululemon Athletica and Norma Kamali...
, The Bar Method and Pure Barre
Pure Barre
Pure Barre is a total body work out that burns fat and tones the body. Pure Barre's is work out that was created around ballet, Pilates and weights. It was adapted from the Lotte Berk method by choreographer Carrie Rezabeck in 2006.-Founder:...
to name a few.
External resources
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- Esther Fairfax official website
- Guardian Unlimited Obituaries
- Telegraph