Pilates and ballet. A history that still shapes dancers’ futures today
Pilates training and classical dance have been joining forces for a hundred years now. What Joseph Pilates started in New York back in the 1920s is being carried on today not only by Pilates studios, but also by leading cultural institutions. A perfect example of this synergy is the collaboration between Balanced Body and the Grand Theatre in Łódź, as well as the Łódź Ballet Encounters.
How does a method created in the last century support today’s performing artists? Discover the details of a collaboration that is slowly becoming a global trend and reshaping the standards of dancers’ motor preparation.
A historic bond: Joseph Pilates and dancers
The history of the Pilates method has been tied to dance from the very beginning. When Joseph Pilates opened his first studio in New York, it was dancers – including icons such as Martha Graham and George Balanchine – who became his most important clients.
Ballet artists found in the Pilates technique:
- Support in everyday body work – strengthening the deep muscles without excessive hypertrophy
- Precise rehabilitation – a safe return to full fitness after musculoskeletal injuries
- Increased range of motion – the joint stabilization essential for demanding choreography
Today, professional ballet companies around the world increasingly treat Pilates as an integral part of their training routine. Łódź now belongs to that group as well.
The Rialto reformer in the ballet studio of the Grand Theatre in Łódź
The Grand Theatre in Łódź has a deep understanding of its artists’ biomechanical needs. Ballet director Gintautas Potockas has shown strong commitment to developing the company’s training facilities. Among other things, thanks to his initiative, the ballet company’s training room was equipped with a professional Rialto reformer from Balanced Body.
Why was Rialto chosen specifically? It’s a perfectly balanced piece of equipment. It combines classic functionality with a modern construction made of maple wood and aluminum frame elements. It allows for advanced training programs that address the strain dancers face during daily rehearsals and performances.
Additional accessories, such as the jumpboard, Sitting Box Lite, or Pilates Arc, add great variety to precise training sessions and allow even more to be drawn out of every movement. And for dancers, it’s precisely this precision, along with the ability to refine their craft and prevent injuries, that provides the main motivation for including Pilates in their daily training routine.
An expert at the intersection of science, dance, and physiotherapy
The equipment alone isn’t everything, though – what matters most are the right people in the right place. Patrycja Brodek, MA, oversees the proper running of training sessions for the Grand Theatre in Łódź’s dancers. Her unique set of skills perfectly bridges the worlds of medicine and art:
- Education and academic background: a graduate of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Medical University of Łódź, in Physiotherapy (her master’s thesis focused on pain conditions and hip joint function in professional ballet dancers).
- Academic work: lecturer in Functional Anatomy of the Musculoskeletal System with Elements of Biomechanics, Rehabilitation After Musculoskeletal Injuries, and Kinesiology with Elements of Physioprophylaxis at the Faculty of Dance of the University of Humanities and Economics in Łódź.
- Balanced Body School: a certified Balanced Body educator in Movement Principles, Mat, and Reformer, and the first Balanced Body Konnector® Educator in Poland.
At the theatre, Patrycja’s remarkable expertise has a direct impact on the ballet company’s training. It allows her to precisely tailor reformer exercises to the needs of the soloists – who, especially after their first contact with the machine, step off it thoroughly surprised and fascinated. Patrycja told us more about this in an interview, which you can find here.
Official partnership: Łódź Ballet Encounters
Balanced Body’s collaboration with the Łódź ballet scene keeps growing. In April 2026, the brand became the official partner of the prestigious Łódź Ballet Encounters. This is an internationally renowned event that brings together the best dance companies from around the world. Balanced Body’s presence as a partner is a natural step toward promoting a healthy, mindful approach to movement within the artistic community.
Behind the scenes of the photo shoot inside the Theatre
May brought another chapter in this collaboration. The Grand Theatre in Łódź opened up its impressive spaces to the Balanced Body team. Standing in front of the camera were outstanding dancers from the Łódź Ballet Company:
The result of that photo shoot day is a set of mesmerizing shots. The theatre’s architecture, the geometry of Balanced Body’s machines, and the perfection of the human body in motion. The footage flawlessly captures the fluidity, control, and lightness that form the foundation of both classical dance and the Pilates method itself. Here’s what things looked like backstage:
View this post on Instagram
A short video showing the beauty, precision, and rationale behind combining ballet with Pilates:
View this post on Instagram
Footage focused on our Allegro 2 reformer:
View this post on Instagram
Choose a reformer for your studio
The collaboration with the Grand Theatre in Łódź proves that Balanced Body equipment holds up under the demands of top-level professional sport and art. You don’t need to open a Pilates studio to make use of a reformer. It’s a great addition for a gym, fitness club, professional dance school, or physiotherapy practice. Certified equipment and staff education are the most essential elements on the path to your business’s success.
Want to equip your studio with the same machines used by professional ballet dancers? Visit our website and check out our range of machines and instructor training courses: https://balanced-body.pl/.
I am a graduate in Managerial Economics as well as Finance and Accounting, with a specialization in Marketing. Since 2018, I have been working as a Copywriter at Balanced Body, where I create marketing content for the fitness and Pilates industries. One of my particular strengths is translating complex topics into accessible language and accurately analyzing the needs of target audiences. Outside of work, I am passionate about fire shows and volleyball, which helps me better understand the needs of physically active people.