Ballet dancers are as religious about caring for their bodies as they are about which type of ribbons they sew onto their pointe shoes. If your full-time job relies on your body to perform night after night, caring for it is top priority—especially when it’s required to arch and turn at impossible angles. Between morning class, back-to-back rehearsals, and performances, the dancers at American Ballet Theater—whose spring season kicks off March 6—each have their own way of staying in shape outside the studio. But even if the rest of us aren’t on quite so grueling a physical regimen, the remaining months of a bitterly cold winter loom ahead, and everyone could benefit from some much needed TLC. Below, CULTURED chatted with the soloists and corps members of the company to get their inside tips on scheduling an unparalleled rest day.
You have a day off, what’s the first thing you do in the morning? Are you sleeping in or waking up early?
“I let myself sleep in. On a normal day, I’m up at 7 a.m., so a day off usually means waking somewhere between 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. I start the morning with a long stretch, focusing on my neck, lower back, and hamstrings mostly, while gently waking up the rest of my body.” — MELVIN LAWOVI (corps de ballet)
“I am most definitely sleeping in, but once I am awake I make coffee in my French press, which is heavenly.” — ZIMMI COKER (corps de ballet)
“Definitely no alarm, that’s for sure. What time I get up is entirely up to the body. Usually start with coffee and a big breakfast, then I’ll call mom to catch up.” — PATRICK FRENETTE (soloist)
“I’m on a pretty good routine of waking up early during the week, so my body is used to getting up at a certain time. I do enjoy those extra 30 minutes to an hour on our days off, though. Once I’m up, I start my morning routine, which consists of skincare, hot lemon water, supplements, red light therapy, and my vibration plate for lymphatic drainage.” — OLIVIA TWEEDY (corps de ballet)
“I try and sleep as much as possible and have a slow morning, ideally with a coffee and a bath.” — HANNAH MARSHALL (corps de ballet)
“Lazy days are important, but my days off are usually still pretty full. I’m up early. Coffee comes first, always. Then it’s usually a series of appointments—a ballet private with my coach, cross-training with my trainer, physical therapy, and any other tune-ups I can squeeze into the day.” — JOSE SEBASTIAN (soloist)
What’s your favorite TV show/podcast to binge/rewatch when you have 24 hours to yourself?
“My taste really depends on my mood. I move very easily between period dramas, reality TV, and anime, so there isn’t just one go-to. It’s about whatever feels right that day.” — LAWOVI
“I’ve found myself listening to Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast. It’s informative, motivating and every topic varies around wellness—whether it’s mental health or intentional living. He hosts interviews with an assortment of people who have a lot of inspiring stories to share. I feel so pumped every time I listen to it!” — COKER
“I recently started Ted Lasso, and I’m absolutely loving it. It’s very inspiring to watch an endearing display of radical optimism in such a competitive sport. I try very hard to practice this myself as a dancer.” — FRENETTE
“I have so many favorite TV shows that it’s hard to choose just one. Right now, I’m rewatching Daisy Jones & The Six—it’s an incredible show. I also love listening to podcasts, primarily wellness-focused. My go-to listens are Move With Heart by Melissa Wood-Tepperberg and The Wellness Process by Elizabeth Endres-Orrigo.” — TWEEDY
“The Pitt. Give me a good doctor drama any day of the week.” — MARSHALL
“Right now I’m rewatching Schitt’s Creek. It’s a favorite, but it’s definitely hitting differently in light of the recent news.” — SEBASTIAN
Best massage?
“My good friend and massage therapist Brent Whitney is the BEST. A true healer, one could say! He used to be a dancer so he understands the body.” — COKER
“I’m not a big massage person, but I do get chiropractor appointments on occasion. I’ve gotten so many life-saving adjustments at Integrative Sports on 73rd Street on the Upper West Side.” — FRENETTE
“I’m very particular when it comes to massages. As an athlete, I both need and prefer deep tissue work, which is surprisingly hard to find done well. I’m a big fan of Ohm Spa—they don’t mess around. I also enjoy lymphatic drainage massages occasionally; my go-to spots are The Tox and IMD Beauty Spa.” — TWEEDY
“I love Rescue Spa.” — MARSHALL
“Barbara Payne and her associate Derek Wong. They’re incredible. Ask for the fascial claw.” — SEBASTIAN
Best spa/sauna/bathhouse?
“King Spa and SoJo Spa in New Jersey are favorites, as well as QC Spa on Governors Island.” — LAWOVI
“I LOVE Bathhouse in Flatiron! I feel like I am transported to a different world whenever I go.” — COKER
“Probably the one at Equinox Sports Club, close to Lincoln Center. It’s the perfect reset spot post-workout or rehearsal/show when ABT is working in Lincoln Center.” — FRENETTE
“Othership and Remedy Place! I also have a Heat Healer infrared sauna blanket at home that I use almost every night.” — TWEEDY
Best acupuncturist?
“ORA is fantastic for a little acupuncture and cupping. Needles stress me out so having a full spa experience helps keep me relaxed.” — MARSHALL
“Dr. Li Ting Lin in Koreatown. She’s helped me through some serious injuries.” — SEBASTIAN
Best place around New York to take your mind off things?
“The New York Philharmonic. I love silencing my phone, sitting in the hall, and being fully present with the music. For the duration of the concert, your only job is to listen, and that kind of focus is incredibly grounding.” — LAWOVI
“Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City. The sunsets are epic and it’s rarely ever crowded.” — COKER
“Kinokuniya. It’s a fantastic Japanese bookstore by Bryant Park where I can grab a coffee, pick up a manga, or browse some unique goods for the home.” — FRENETTE
“For me, it’s anywhere in nature. I love Central Park for long walks or sitting in the Elizabeth Street Garden to journal. I also enjoy spending time at Caffè Paradiso, my favorite coffee shop in New York.” — TWEEDY
“Outside anywhere and everywhere in the city. I love to take a walk to take my mind off things. I grew up in New York, and nothing makes me feel more grounded than taking a walk and listening to music.” — MARSHALL
“Central Park has always been my go-to. In the summer, the Hudson River piers at sunset are hard to beat.” — SEBASTIAN
Go-to comfort food to pick up, order in, or cook?
“Ordering in, always. Indian or Korean is always my go-to comfort food.” — LAWOVI
“I LOVE sushi! I don’t think I could ever get enough of it.” — COKER
“I love making burritos. I use seasoned Beyond Meat for the base, shredded tofu to make sofritas with black beans, shredded Mexican cheese, lots of guac, and Valentina’s hot sauce on a flour tortilla. It’s probably my speciality.” — FRENETTE
“My comfort food is either Thai cuisine—there are so many great spots in the city—or a grass-fed steak with sweet potatoes and vegetables that I cook at home. I’m also a sucker for a ‘fun’ drink, usually a Poppi or an Olipop.” — TWEEDY
“A Thai curry. In particular, I love the restaurant Little Tiffin in Greenpoint.” — MARSHALL
“Indian food—I love both cooking it and ordering it.” — SEBASTIAN
Go-to loungewear?
“Very oversized sweatpants paired with an equally oversized T-shirt or hoodie. Comfort comes first at home.” — LAWOVI
“A warm sweatshirt and shorts. Even in the winter I love to have my legs free, haha. I love a Bloch sweat set!” — COKER
“I wear a lot of Uniqlo. They have so many stylish, high-quality goods for affordable dancer-friendly prices. Their graphic tee collection is unparalleled. I have hoarded all the pieces from their Chainsaw Man, Berserk, Mobile Suit Gundam, and Jujutsu Kaisen collections.” — FRENETTE
“You can almost always find me in my ALO Yoga sweat sets. A few other brands I love are Skims, Set Active, Parke, and Dairy Boy.” — TWEEDY
“My all-time favorite sweatpants are my Patagonia sweats. I also love the Elder Statesman for cashmere sweaters and my Irish Yoko Wool slippers.” — MARSHALL
“A plush bathrobe.” — SEBASTIAN
Go-to bar/coffee shop for a low-key catch up with your friends?
“For coffee, Seoul Sweets in Koreatown. It has a calm atmosphere and a beautiful aesthetic. For a relaxed drink, Musaek or George Bang Bang. I love the service there and the workers are very friendly.” — LAWOVI
“If I had to choose, I’d pick Employees Only because it has that dim lighting and a fantastic cocktail selection. Always love to catch up with the girlies here!” — COKER
“On a trip to Toronto I discovered % Arabica and now it’s my favorite place for coffee in the city. I get a large iced Kyoto Latte and a pain au chocolat, and I always stop there if I visit MoMA.” — FRENETTE
“Merriweather Coffee in the West Village.” — MARSHALL
“Elmo’s in Chelsea has long been a favorite.” — SEBASTIAN
The products you swear by to unwind at home?
“All I need is my Theragun, some cooling eye gels, and eucalyptus epsom salts for recovery.” — COKER
“Is it weird to say my PlayStation 5? I’m a big gamer, so time spent delving into a big open world to explore or clear dungeons with friends online—including some from work!—is a great way to unwind and has always been lots of fun for me.” — FRENETTE
“Jo Malone red roses bath oil, bath salts by Mirror Water, and Dr. Hauschka arnica oil.” — MARSHALL
“I’m more of a small rituals person—a hot shower, a glass of wine, watching an episode of something, or finally finishing a task I’ve been putting off. Ending the day (or week) having completed something is always deeply satisfying.” — SEBASTIAN
The app you spend the most time on during your days off?
“A combination of Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.” — LAWOVI
“NYTimes.” — COKER
“It’s cliché, but probably Instagram. I run two different social media pages—my own and that of Boys Ballet Summer Intensive, the program I started with my family to facilitate high-quality classical training for young men looking to hone their craft.” — FRENETTE
“I hate to admit it, but TikTok or Instagram. I also love FaceTime—talking with loved ones.” — TWEEDY
“Audible. I love to listen to audiobooks while tidying.” — MARSHALL
“Instagram. I can easily get lost in a thread of Reels. Every now and then I stumble onto a run of genuinely funny ones and the laughter that follows feels worth it.” — SEBASTIAN
What’s the most “dancer” thing about your days off?
“There’s almost always classical music playing. I spend a lot of time searching for lesser-known or unexpected pieces that spark choreographic ideas. Even on my days off, I’m collecting musical inspiration for future movement.” — MELVIN LAWOVI
“I stretch and roll out on a roller for half an hour, and then gently go over choreography in my mind to make sure that it is in my memory bank for the week ahead.” — COKER
“I gotta say my foot stretcher. I’ve used one religiously since I was a student and still do. It only takes 30 minutes each foot to do the trick, followed by a deep calf stretch.” — FRENETTE
“I sew a few pairs of pointe shoes in preparation for the rehearsal week ahead.” — TWEEDY
“I never really stop dancing. Whether it’s a lazy day or a more intense one, I’m always moving.” — SEBASTIAN
in your life?
