SARITA ALLEN HAS TWO SUCCESSFUL CAREERS AS BOTH A DANCER AND A PILATES TEACHER. PHOTO BY BILL WESTMORELAND FOR THE SERUCELL CAMPAIGN
PILATES STYLE Tell us about your childhood.
SARITA ALLEN As a child growing up in Seattle, I fell in love with dance at the age of 4. I attended the acclaimed Cornish School of the Arts and began my dance training with the incomparable Dorothy Fisher. When I was first invited to Dance Theater of Harlem, it was on a scholarship for a Summer Intensive while I was still in high school. After I graduated, they invited me to come to New York City as an apprentice with the Main Company.
One particular day after class, a friend who was interested in studying at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center downtown asked me if I’d accompany her to a scholarship audition; I went with her for moral support, but I also ended up auditioning myself. At the time, I wasn’t thinking about joining Alvin Ailey because my dream since I began dancing was to become a ballerina. I guess the universe thought differently. Alvin saw the potential for me to become a well-rounded artist, mastering many techniques, not only classical ballet; The Ailey Style was a combination of the Horton Technique, the Graham Technique, classical ballet and a bit of Dunham Technique.
I ended up receiving a scholarship to Alvin Ailey, which meant I was at DTH doing ballet in the morning, then I’d sneak downtown in the afternoon to study at Ailey. Alvin then stepped out in faith and offered me a position in his company.
I was a principal dancer with Ailey from 1975 through 1994, performing many of his works, including his masterpiece Revelations, when I joined Complexions Contemporary Ballet. I left for the silver screen in 1984 to work on The Cotton Club and on The Last Dragon in 1985 before returning to dance in 1988 with The Jamison Project. I then rejoined Ailey from 1989 till 1994. I’ve continued to perform with Ailey as a guest artist as recently as this past winter season at City Center before the pandemic.
PS Wow, what an incredible career!
SARITA Yes, dance has taken me all over the world, performing at some of the most mystical and prestigious venues like the Pyramids of Giza, the legendary Bolshoi, the divine La Scala and the majestic Paris Opera. And yes, I even danced at the White House of the United States, twice—once for President Bill Clinton, and another time, much earlier in my career, for President Jimmy Carter.
It’s quite an honor to represent your country through dance: It was like the Dance Olympics and we’d won the gold! Each performance not only left an indelible mark on my soul, but it created memories that I cherish and always reach into to share with my students, clients, family and friends. Of course you don’t realize you’re making history while you’re in the process, but one of the glories of performance is reaching people deeply and sometimes those people are our leaders. I’m grateful for all of my experiences.
PS How did you meet Kathleen Stanford Grant?
SARITA The alignment of our connection is actually quite fateful. When I first arrived at the Dance Theater of Harlem, Kathy was the director of the school and taught Pilates in a curriculum she called Special Exercise. As a dancer, I was greatly influenced by the work of Kathy, one of only two people Mr. Pilates certified himself.
I became her protégée. She took me under her wing and taught me firsthand her unique way of interpreting the work. I believe that the Pilates training I did with Kathy is one of the reasons I had such an illustrious career in dance; Kathy kept me from getting injured. Later on in my career when I was full-out dancing for one of the most dynamic companies in the world with a very demanding schedule, she said to me “I’m going to make you strong enough to withstand any tour!” and she did. I also shared the work that I was learning with my fellow Company members during the dance season; they were very receptive and we achieved great results. Both Kathy and her work were clearly an invaluable influence in my personal and professional life.
I believe that the Pilates training I did with Kathy Grant is one of the reasons I had such an illustrious career in dance; Kathy kept me from getting injured. Later on in my career when I was full out dancing for one of the most dynamic companies in the world with a very demanding schedule, she said to me “I’m going to make you strong enough to withstand any tour!” and she did.
PS What was your teacher training like?
SARITA I trained with Kathy from the time she had her studio at the Henri Bendel department store in the 70s through the period when she had her studio at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, till her parting in 2010. After my teacher training, I was still performing and developing the work as Kathy did with me from her time as director of the school at the Dance Theater of Harlem.
I mastered the Reformer, Cadillac, mat, etc. as part of the training; however, as any instructor would agree, experience is essential in developing your teaching style. As a mentor and a teacher to many, I have come to understand that information is only as valuable as it can be used, which is why I still consider myself a teacher in training. And I still take class regularly from many of the amazing teachers in our network.
Continue reading your story on the app
Continue reading your story in the magazine
Finding New Momentum
Overcoming obstacles caused by the pandemic, the virtual version of this popular festival still achieved its goals.
Carola Trier's Extraordinary Journey
In his authoritative biography of the first woman to open a studio, Reiner Grootenhuis delved into her personal papers to tell the harrowing story of her time in a prison camp during World War II.
Racism in the Pilates Industry
Incidents of police brutality and the ensuing Black Lives Matter protests have shed a bright light on systemic racism in the U.S., including in the Pilates industry. Here, Black instructors share their experiences.
For Self-defense
Moves of the Month
Comfort Food Made Healthy
This fall, cozy up to tantalizing comfort food that’s also healthy. A new cookbook from Kristin Cavallari shows you how.
Pilates Postcard
A Pilates teacher shares how the method is making waves abroad.
The Ultimate Gift
One year ago, Kahley Schiller’s life was completely upended by an extreme health crisis. But thanks to her 20-year Pilates practice, the 40-year-old was able to recover quickly.
Revelations
For Sarita Allen, a star of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and a protégée of Kathleen Stanford Grant, Pilates was key to her decades-long career.
Meaning WITHIN THE Movement
The Five Elements of Chinese Medicine help you go deeper into your practice, promising plenty of play along the way.
PILATES IN THE HOOD
Though she’s trained many top stars, Kim Carruthers says she’s most proud of her work as the founder and director of a nonprofit bringing the method to underserved communities.
Calling All Blood Donors!
BLOOD DRIVES at schools and colleges—which make up a large portion of the American Red Cross's collection sites-have dropped 62 percent.
SPACEX LAUNCHES 4 ASTRONAUTS FOR NASA AFTER PRIVATE FLIGHT
SpaceX launched four astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA on Wednesday, less than two days after completing a flight chartered by millionaires.
Musk's Big Makeover
One of the most popular ingredients in a perfumer's palette has also been one of the most problematic. But musk is finally cleaning up its act.
The Green Knight
The Green Knight, director David Lowery's film adaptation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, an anonymous 14th century poem, is a fantastical, visually intoxicating take on Arthurian legend.
Harry & Meghan: NY
MAKING THEIR FIRST U.S. PUBLIC APPEARANCE OUTSIDE OF CALIFORNIA, THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF SUSSEX PAY THEIR RESPECTS.
5 WAYS TO REIN IN IMPULSE SPENDING
Since the COVID-19 vaccine started becoming available in the U.S., there have been more opportunities to impulse spend on items and experiences that you didn’t get to enjoy early in the pandemic.
Race for a Cure
How Flint closed the gap between Black and white suffering under covid
KATHY GRIFFIN: I WANT TO LIVE
AFTER A SHOCK CANCER DIAGNOSIS, KATHY GRIFFIN REVEALS HOW CLOSE SHE CAME TO ENDING IT ALL.
Everyone In San Francisco Has Something To Say About Chesa
Chesa Boudin, the son of Weathermen radicals, is the nation’s most progressive prosecutor in one of the country’s most liberal cities. And now, 18 months into his term, many residents are trying to throw him out.
Supermodel Turned Super-Mogul
Kathy Ireland Brings Fashion and Functionality into the Home Furniture Arena