Tag: ballet

Naturally Sassy Founder Sassy Gregson-Williams On Workouts, Eating Out, and Consistency

Post author By Sarah Strong
Post date March 6, 2019

Sassy Gregson-Williams is anything but sassy! This sweetheart is a ballerina, professional trainer, cookbook author, and founder of Naturally Sassy — an online workout studio, recipe platform and app. We chatted with Sassy about what life has been like since she decided to shift her focus from being a professional dancer to work on Naturally Sassy, what she’s learned in the process, and what foods she can’t live without.

Downtown: How has your life changed since you started Naturally Sassy?

Sassy Gregson-Williams: Before Naturally Sassy I was training as a professional ballerina for eight plus hours every day. I was struggling with a recurring ankle injury and eating very little in order to stay in shape. My heath suffered, and with an injury that was keeping me from improving, I was depressed and very self critical. I may have looked the part but I felt terrible, lethargic and weak.

In the attempt to change my diet and eat nourishing food, I started getting creative in the kitchen, which turned into an undeniable passion for cooking. I loved food, and in turn began to appreciate and love my body in a way I hadn’t ever experienced.

Naturally Sassy launched as a blog and recipe platform, and as I gave up ballet to focus on my business full time I expanded to launch Ballet Blast by Sassy, a culmination of all I had learnt as a dancer and personal trainer.

Since the launch of Naturally Sassy 5 years ago, I look after my mind and body in a very different way. I eat intuitively and intentionally to fuel my performance in the studio and in my day-to-day life. I don’t workout to lose weight or to seek perfection, I work towards goals, skill, and strength.

Downtown: Why is important to you to keep the ballet vocabulary in your workouts?

SGW: The ballet vocabulary is in French and translates to the exact motion you’re performing. For example the term Plié means ‘to bend’ which describes the action we take. I feel it’s important to keep the ballet language present in the method, as many of the moves have stood the test of time with these titles.

Downtown: What’s the ideal length of a workout using the Naturally Sassy app?

In the online studio we have workouts from 10-20 minutes and mixes between 30-60 minutes. The individual shorter workouts are the best possible place to start when you’re trying to create a daily ritual you feel you can maintain. 15 minutes in the morning is nothing, but those 15 minutes over a week, a month, a year have a huge impact on your life. It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. To create maximum impact it’s all about consistency.

If you’ve already created that daily habit, I suggest following our 45 minute monthly mixes. I’ve designed a workout program for every day of the week.

Downtown: What was the most eye opening thing you learned about nutrition?

SGW: The importance of variety. We’re creatures of habit and tend to use the same fruits and vegetables in the meals we make. Just switching out a red pepper for a green pepper in a stir-fry adds different nutrients to your diet. If you already eat a healthy, balanced diet, looking to diversify the ingredients you use is a great way to step up the game.

Downtown: What workout excites you the most?

SGW: The planking prima workout is one of my favorites. It’s challenging to the core, and is a great marker of my improvement as I get stronger. The swan lake leg sculpt is a fun coordination challenge, and our express blast II has an exciting cardio element that I love.

Downtown: What have you learned about yourself in creating Naturally Sassy?

SGW: That seeing other women succeed and find confidence and grace through movement was what I was called to do. It’s one of the most rewarding feelings knowing the trickle effect movement can have on their lives. I learn something about myself with every client I train.

Downtown: What foods could you never live without?

SGW: I love my greens: broccoli, peas, edamame, and kale are my favorites. I love to sauté them with a little tamari and add lemon or a little garlic salt. Blueberries and blackberries are always frozen in my freezer. I love organic eggs and am obsessed with beyond meat burgers and sausages for a plant based protein treat.

Downtown: What are your favorite things to do in NYC?

SGW: New York has some absolutely fantastic restaurants. I love Benny’s Burritos, Caravan of Dreams, Blossom, Spring Natural Kitchen, Peacefood Café…the list goes on! I love going to see my best friend Indiana perform at New York City Ballet. Living in LA, I miss having a theatre close by.

Tags app, ballerina, ballet, ballet blast, exercise, fitness, naturally sassy, nutrition, recipes, sassy gregson-williams, stretch, workout

Events

Trip.com’s TripPicks This Week: Monday, Jan. 23 – Monday, Jan 30

Post author By Trip by Skyscanner
Post date January 23, 2017

Trip.com is an innovative planning tool that tailors recommendations for places to stay, eat and play to your specific tastes. It also allows you to share your great experiences with people who have the same interests as you; people in your “tribes.”

Trip.com’s TripPicks This Week feature empowers you to discover and take advantage of great events, openings and exhibits throughout the city each week.

Here are some exciting events and sites to check out this week in Downtown New York, courtesy of Trip.com. Visit the Trip.com site or download the app for more upcoming events.

1. Restaurant Week
Check site for participating restaurants
Monday, Jan. 23 – Friday, Feb. 10

Restaurant Week gives New Yorkers and visitors a chance to dine at restaurants that would normally be reserved for very special occasions. With lunch and dinner deals this sweet, every day is going to be a celebration. Many new restaurants have come on board this year and we are making special trips to Freud NYC, Quality Eats and High Street on Hudson. 3 course lunch $29; dinner $42.

2. Lunar Year Cocktail Bash
The Bowery Hotel (East Village)
Friday, Jan. 27 at 9:30 PM

Celebrate the Year Of The Rooster with Luckyrice, munching on noodles and dumplings in an “Edible Wonderland” and then — limited to 888 guests — sipping on a elaborate cocktails inspired by Asian flavors for an Epicurean Cocktail Feast. $88.

3. A Ballet Tribute to David Bowie
The Joyce (Chelsea)
Tuesday, Jan. 24 – Sunday, Feb. 5 (check site for showtimes)

Contemporary ballet dance company, Complexions pays tribute to David Bowie with Star Dust. A sight to behold. Tickets start at $51.

4. Chinese New Year Firecracker Ceremony
Sara D Roosevelt Park (Chinatown)
Saturday, Jan. 28 from 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM

We hope year of the Rooster — a sign known for its resourcefulness, courage, loyalty, hard work and talent — promises to bring those same qualities to 2017. Join the festivities, drumming, lion dancers and firecrackers, at the 18th Annual New Year Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival. FREE.

5. Scotch and Poetry
Analogue (Greenwich Village)
Wednesday, Jan. 25 starting at 5:00 PM

January 25, 1759 marks the birthdate of 18th-century Scottish poet Robert Burns. To celebrate, Analogue is offering a special Scotch flight, which will feature a Highland single malt Dalmore 12 Year with rich coffee and spice notes; the complex, nutty sherry-cask-aged Balvenie 12 Year Doublewood from Speyside; and the heavily peated, smoky Ardbeg 10 Year from Islay. $40.

Business Events Living NYC

Jean Sharifoff on her new book “Successful Philanthropy,” working with New York charities, and more

Post author By Downtown Magazine
Post date October 13, 2016

Jean Shafiroff / Photo: Michael Paniccia

Originally from Long Island, Jean Shafiroff is a philanthropist, author and socialite who splits time between Manhattan and Southampton. She currently serves on the board of seven non-profit organizations, including the NYC Mission Society. In turn, it is not surprising that New York Magazine featured her in its “Who Runs New York?” article, while Gotham Magazine included Jean as one of its “100 Most Powerful New Yorkers.” With an M.B.A. from the Graduate School of Business at Columbia University and a B.S. in physical therapy from Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons, Jean’s strong educational background is also of note.

Earlier this year, Jean’s Successful Philanthropy: How To Make A Life By What You Give was released via Hatherleigh Press. Featuring an intro by Georgina Bloomberg, the book is available in both digital and hardcover formats. A unique guide to philanthrophy, Jean’s book both explains the philosophy behind philanthrophy and how a person can become a fulfilled philanthropist. In support of Successful Philanthrophy, she is currently very active on the speaking circuit, set to appear as the keynote speaker at the National Association of Professional Women’s event on Oct. 26 and as part of a New York Junior League event on Dec. 13.

Jean can be visited online at www.jeanshafiroff.com. She can also be followed via Twitter and Facebook.

What inspired you to write this book? Did a publisher approach you?

Jean Shafiroff: I was given a contract by a publisher a number of years ago, but because of my philanthropic obligations, I did not have the time to write the book. In early 2015 my time freed up and I sent the publisher an outline. They approved the outline and then a contract was signed. That year I sat down and wrote the book. Writing a book is a huge project.

How did you meet Georgina Bloomberg? Where did the idea come from to have her to write the book’s introduction?

JS: Georgina Bloomberg and I met in 2014 when we honored her at the Southampton Animal Shelter Gala in July of that year. I was the chair of the even and because of this she and I became friendly; I have chaired this event for the past 5 years.

Georgina and I are on the Honorary Board of the Shelter together. She and I both love animals. In August 2014 we were also both honorees at the Pet Philanthropy Gala in Water Mill. Georgina is a bright young philanthropist. She represents the millennials. She was perfect for the introduction.

In the book you mention being inspired to get into the world of philanthropy after working within the medical field and within finance. Was there a specific person that inspired you?

JS: A number of people influenced me. My father was a teacher who truly cared about his students. The nuns at the schools I attended taught the importance of taking care of those in need. Mother Theresa, for the work she did, was a great inspiration. My travels deep into places like Cambodia, Columbia, Nicaragua, China and Costa Rica gave me a firsthand view of those who live in enormous poverty. We have great poverty in the United States. It would be criminal to ignore it and do nothing to try to help out.

What was the first cause that you got involved with?

JS: I started by becoming involved with charities that had Junior groups rather than getting involved with a specific cause. As a very young person, I enjoyed being with people my own age. Now I am involved with several charities — all with different causes — I do not think it is necessary to limit yourself to one or two causes.

What do you feel is the best first step a person can take towards becoming a philanthropist?

JS: Start by being kind to others. If you are disrespectful and nasty you can never be a true philanthropist. Philanthropy is love of mankind. Next, volunteer for a cause you believe in. Get involved with a group you are comfortable with. My book, Successful Philanthropy: How To Make A Life By What You Give, guides the reader on how to become a philanthropist. It has chapters on such things as how to analyze a charity, what boards look for, how to be a good volunteer, and when and how to do volunteer fundraising. Anyone who wants to become a philanthropist will want to give his/her time, knowledge and resources to a charity that is well run and that manages its finances wisely.

How does one usually go about getting on the advisory board of a charity?

JS: In most cases you have to be asked. You could also volunteer to be on an advisory board and then you would have to be accepted. I have an entire chapter in the book about what boards look for. With any board membership comes the responsibility of making sure your help the charity in a number of ways.

Which board was first for you?

JS: I think the American Jewish Committee. As a Catholic, I thought it would be interesting to serve on their Diplomatic Outreach Committee. It was a great board — all professionals, lawyers, business people and a few doctors. We all respected one another for all of our differences. I was in my very early 30’s then.

What’s coming up for you, besides promoting this new book of yours?

JS: I serve on seven charity boards, chair many galas each year and host many charity parties. This takes up quite a bit of my time. Presently, I am being asked to speak on philanthropy by various groups and by different television networks. Public speaking comes naturally for me. I especially love television and would love to have my own show one day.

Do you hope to write another book?

JS: Yes, I am planning it now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnH9EjhWhVo

How do you like to spend your free time when not working?

JS: I love style and fashion, so this interest takes up a good deal of time. My family and husband are my top priority and I’d like to spend more time with them. I love to travel. This year we took several trips. The ones that were most interesting were the two trips to Costa Rica and then the two trips to Nicaragua. My daughter Elizabeth Shafiroff and her friend Lindsey Spielfogel planned them. We took these trip for animal rescue — and then to meet and support several animal rescue groups. We met and mingled with the very poor of both countries, too. Wherever we could, we gave our support.

What is your favorite restaurant in New York?

JS: Michael’s for lunch. For dinner I like Sant Ambroeus restaurant. Also Craft, for its farm fresh ingredients, and then the new Upland.

Are there any concerts or events that you have tickets to in the coming months?

JS: I love the opera, ballet and then fashion and art exhibits. Each year, I usually go to several openings including ones for the MEetOpera, NYC Ballet and ABT. I have had a subscription series for NYC Ballet forever. Ballet is another favorite of mine.

Finally, Jean, any last words for the kids?

JS: Children need to be taught to be philanthropists. This must occur both at home and at school. An entire section of Successful Philanthropy: How To Make A Life By What You Give is devoted to this topic.

Culture Movies

“Paul Taylor: Creative Domain” director Kate Geis talks film, dance and New York

Post author By Downtown Magazine
Post date September 8, 2015

Putting my ignorance out there in the forefront: I never dance by choice and have only seen ballet live once. But there are few things that I love more than a documentary about a true master of a craft. In turn, Paul Taylor: Creative Domain captured my attention as the legendary choreographer gave unprecedented access to filmmaker Kate Geis.

Kate kindly answered some questions for Downtown Magazine about both herself and the Creative Domain film. I was surprised to learn of her comedy-oriented past as many of her recent credits have been of a more serious and/or scholarly nature. Most of her education and early adult life was spent in New York, which remains home to the Paul Taylor Dance Company.

But I was further surprised to learn how Kate was able to maintain such a strong career while living in Northampton, Massachusetts, a town that produced President Calvin Coolidge, The Real World co-creator Mary-Ellis Bunim, MSNBC host Rachel Maddow, Hungry Caterpillar author Eric Carle, author Kurt Vonnegut, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and rock band NRBQ…which on second thought, maybe that’s not such a bad place to be as an artist.

Paul Taylor: Creative Domain opens at Manhattan’s Film Society of Lincoln Center on September 11th. Screenings and other information about the documentary can be found at http://www.paultaylorcreativedomain.com.

Where in New York City did you grow up?

Kate Geis: I moved to the New York area to Long Beach [on Long Island] when I was nine years old from the Soviet Union. I moved to Manhattan in 1983 and grew up on the Upper East Side, but I was always a Brooklyn kid at heart, I think. I moved there after college and lived above Queen restaurant on Court Street in Brooklyn Heights for 13 years. The homemade mozzarella is amazing there, by the way.

A lot of filmmakers must eventually leave New York in order to get more work. Did you ever consider doing that? Or do you have a comfortable niche here?

K: I started out working at Saturday Night Live, The Dana Carvey Show, MTV… I was on a comedy/entertainment track for a while and later started focusing on short form docs at Metro TV and then ultimately more long from documentaries for Channel Thirteen. I think I was always more interested in the TV buffet that New York had to offer than Los Angeles, where many of my friends in entertainment went.

I did eventually move, but just three hours away from New York to Northampton, Massachusetts when I met my husband. So I moved for love. My work life here is pretty interesting, and I travel for work. I document artists, activists, educators, and produce the Ask The Editor video series for Merriam-Webster.

How did you first find out about Paul Taylor?

K: My parents were in the foreign service, and their career brought us to the Soviet Union. My dad hosted American artists and performers, which included the Paul Taylor Dance Company, in the late ’70s. He impressed upon me how important an artist Paul was when I was nine years old. I only knew Russian ballet at that age, and Paul Taylor blew my little mind. His was American movement, it was athleticism, it was joy. I don’t recall what dance I saw first but I like to think it was Esplanade.

Creative Domain wasn’t your first project related to dance. What specifically drew you to Paul as a subject for this film?

K: If there was one artist I would have wanted to make a documentary about it was Paul Taylor, that’s not an overstatement. I’ve always felt an attachment to his style of movement. I think it has a lot to do with being introduced to him when I was young, and seeing dance was really important for my family.

Where the good fortune comes in is that I met Robert Aberlin, a long-time board member with Paul Taylor Dance Company, who is the Executive Producer of Creative Domain. He asked me to make a fundraising video with him for Taylor 2, and the success of that project was what paved the way for us making Creative Domain.

For someone unfamiliar with Paul, how would you describe Creative Domain?

K: I have a dear friend who owns a cafe in Northampton, who had never seen Paul’s work before this film, she was fascinated by him. She is all about craft, and doing something to the best of one’s abilities. Paul is cut from that cloth but has taken his craft to a level of mastery that is mesmerizing. His personality and his devilish sense of humor also draws the audience in.

What was the biggest challenge of making Creative Domain?

K: Our biggest challenge was getting Paul to agree, which was Robert’s job. Paul is really most comfortable being alone. Interviews and being watched by a camera are not comfortable, so we took a different approach to documenting him which was mostly staying out of sight, and just leaving the cinematographer Tom Hurwitz and the soundman Peter Miller in the room to create their art. Most of the time I spent with Paul was editing him.

How did you wind up in the non-fiction end of film? Were any particular documentaries inspiring to you when you were younger?

K: The Children Of Theater Street was the first documentary I ever saw. It was about the Kirov ballet school and the children in it were my age, so I was really taken by them and their experience. It’s quite a stylized documentary, not verite, you are told to what to think every step of the way, but I loved it. It’s also a love letter to Leningrad/St. Petersburg too. It’s a gorgeous film.

Once you’re done with promoting Creative Domain, what’s ahead for you? Do you have any projects in production now?

K: From a client standpoint, I’ll be filming our next batch of Ask The Editor videos with Merriam-Webster in October. In terms of documentaries, I have a couple of projects that I am in pre-production on, one is on making art and healing the brain.

When you’re not working, what do you like to do with yourself?

K: I have an amazing eight-year-old daughter and a really sweet husband, so spending time with them is what I like to do most. And if I can throw in some international travel on top of it, that’s the ultimate.

Finally, Kate, any last words for the kids?

K: I spend a lot of time working with young people who are just getting out of college, and I always tell them that they need to always have a project, something that keeps them engaged and excited with work, life, being human…something that really speaks to them so that they are expressing themselves. We all have something to say about this wild ride we are on. I think Paul Taylor has done that for 60 years through dance and I admire him immensely for it.

Paul Taylor Creative Domain (Trailer) from Kate Geis on Vimeo.

-by Darren Paltrowitz

Tags ballet, dancing, documentary films, kate geis, lincoln center, manhattan film society, paul taylor creative domain, Paul Taylor Dance Company