We had the good fortune of connecting with Elisabeth Halfpapp and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elisabeth, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Our business model changed at the onset of the Pandemic in April, 2020. As classroom teachers in the fitness arena for 40 years, when gyms and studios shut down, the livestream barre class option became mainstream. Our pivot to interactive, on line fitness classes enabled us to birth our business, CoreBarreFit. We have been providing a sense of “normalcy” during a stressful time of uncertainty to our global community. Our clients can get into a routine because of our consistent class schedule that enables them to create a heathy lifestyle. We help them combat fear, stress and anxiety while keeping their spirits up with positive live screen interaction before, during and after class. Our goal was to stay connected and teach as similar as we could compared to our in person classes.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I began my barre fitness journey as an associate in Dance Education at the School of the Hartford Ballet
. From that moment I knew this would become my life’s work. Trained in classical ballet, I saw the future in barre training early on. I 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, I became one of the founding partners at Exhale, where I 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, I co-created the Exhale Barre Teacher Training certification and Yoga Teacher Training programs and have trained hundreds of teachers. I also created a series of 12 barre videos and co-authored the Barre Fitness Book which has quickly become the industry’s revered bible with my husband and business partner Fred DeVito. After helping to grow Exhale to more than 26 locations, the company was acquired by Hyatt, where I was promoted to Senior Director of Mind Body Fitness at their Miraval properties.
I have danced with the Mercer Ballet, Princeton Ballet, Hartford Ballet, and continue to perform as the “Dutch Mom” in Dances Patrelle The Yorkville Nutcracker. I am also an ABT certified ballet teacher in pre-primary through level 3. I love keeping my ballet background integrated in my barre fitness classes.

With my sights set on leading my own classes and training curriculum, I started CoreBarreFIt in 2019 with Fred. I truly also enjoy being an industry spokesperson on national media as well as an expert presenter at trade events to share my teaching and teacher training experience with as many people as possible. I am now excited to continue offering my expertise to loyal fans through my own venture.

My journey to where I am today, has been a lot of hard work and sweat equity—-but when you love what you do and want to share a gift of health to so many, it becomes a deep rooted passion to share what I believe in as the best exercise to help balance other’s mental and physical health..

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Where I live in Bridgehampton NY, I would take them to the beach just 5 minutes away and enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner at Duryea’s in Montauk, NY. Love Wolffer Vineyard Rose…also 5 minutes from my house!

The best place to hang out is my home here, where Fred, my husband/business partner, cooks fresh vegetables from his garden! Adding to that with local fish and my baking!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband of 39 years and CoreBarreFit co owner, Fred DeVito. We have worked together in the Barre Fitness industry for 38 years and continue to work together in own new business–CoreBarreFit!

Website: www.corebarrefit.com

Instagram: @elisabethhalfpapp

Linkedin: Elisabeth Halfpapp

Twitter: @EHalfpapp

Facebook: elisabeth halfpapp

Image Credits
Luciana Pampalone

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