For over 29 years, Jane Paris has led the Pilates studio at the Royal Ballet, housed within the prestigious Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London. As a Pilates and Conditioning Coach, Jane has played a pivotal role in maintaining the physical excellence of some of the world’s finest dancers. With her background in professional dance and Pilates training, she expertly addresses the unique challenges ballet places on the body.

Ballet is one of the most demanding forms of dance, requiring exceptional strength, flexibility, and endurance. These physical demands can lead to significant strain on the body. At the Royal Opera House studio, Jane works closely with dancers, utilising Pilates — specifically Reformer Pilates — to enhance strength, alignment, balance, flexibility and stamina.

“Pilates is critical not only for injury recovery but also for prevention, ensuring dancers spend as much time as possible training and performing,” Jane explains. “Many dancers visit the studio multiple times per week, whether for injury rehabilitation or ongoing conditioning. Each session is tailored specifically to the needs of the individual dancer, ensuring their unique physical demands are met.

“Pilates has helped many dancers return to the stage, often after career-threatening injuries. These success stories underline the importance of a dedicated, carefully structured Pilates regimen in the world of elite ballet.”

The Royal Opera House Pilates studio is equipped with Balanced Body® products, a global leader in Pilates education and equipment. “I first encountered the Balanced Body equipment while running my own studio in Edinburgh and have worked with them ever since.” Jane adds. “The quality of their products, exceptional customer service and continuous innovation in Pilates equipment and education are unmatched.”

The studio is fully equipped with Reformers, Cadillacs, the CoreAlign, and various chairs and barrels. These versatile tools meet the evolving needs of the dancers, with specialised equipment like the Clinical Reformer and the Cadillac frequently used for rehabilitation and technical work. The precision and reliability of Balanced Body products are essential to delivering effective Pilates sessions that meet the rigorous demands of professional ballet dancers.

Ken Endelman, Founder and CEO of Balanced Body, echoes her sentiments: “Jane demonstrates how premium Pilates equipment can support not just everyday fitness, but also the extreme physical requirements of professional athletes.”

Endelman also reflects on Pilates' roots in the dance world: “When Joseph Pilates brought his method to the U.S. in the 1960s, his studio shared an address with the New York City Ballet. It wasn’t long before he was training many of its dancers. It’s remarkable that decades later, professional dancers continue to benefit from his innovative approach.”

Balanced Body® is a registerd trademark of Balanced Body