{"id":877,"date":"2012-10-23T07:05:05","date_gmt":"2012-10-23T04:05:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tasapisi.ee\/2012\/10\/23\/tasapisi-tasakaalu\/"},"modified":"2025-05-29T15:00:19","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T12:00:19","slug":"gently-into-balance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tasapisi.ee\/en\/2012\/10\/23\/gently-into-balance\/","title":{"rendered":"Gently into Balance"},"content":{"rendered":"

A few years ago,\u00a0Eesti Naine<\/em>\u00a0magazine published a story about the founders of Tasapisitasakaal.<\/p>\n

You now have the chance to look back at how the studio got started.
\nIt all came together thanks to the wonderful people working in our house \u2014 and thanks to you, who visit us.<\/p>\n

Thank you, and have a beautiful autumn!<\/p>\n

\n

Gently into Balance<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Published: 02.04.2010 \/ By Eda Allikmaa<\/em><\/p>\n

Three women brought together by ballet created a studio where women who had only danced ballet in dreams now take on complex poses \u2014 in pointe shoes.<\/p>\n

Studio Tasapisitasakaal was founded by former Vanemuine ballerinas\u00a0Mari Savitski (28)<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Katre Unt-Lidmets (40)<\/strong>. They invited\u00a0Jana J\u00e4rvik (40)<\/strong>\u00a0to join them \u2014 a friend and fellow graduate of Tallinn Choreography School.<\/p>\n

The story behind the studio, opened the previous autumn, is full of surprises that defy conventional logic. Ballerinas \u2014 often considered, much like top athletes, to be otherworldly fanatics \u2014 leave the theater to start something of their own.<\/p>\n

They rent a 19th-century three-story wooden house in Kalamaja. But instead of installing mirrors or buying exercise balls, their first tasks involve studying plumbing, electrical systems, and ventilation in order to adapt the building to their needs.<\/p>\n

They had ambitious dreams: their dream club would not be a generic place for body toning but a\u00a0real club in every sense of the word<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 a second home, a place for the whole family. Their goal: offer classes that support health, physical well-being, and the harmony of body and mind.<\/p>\n

The house immediately charms with its cozy and sensitive, yet slightly elevated theatrical atmosphere \u2014 a tribute to the golden era of Russian classical ballet in the early 20th century. Much of the ambiance was created by set designer\u00a0Liina Unt<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

After a workout, visitors can relax in the sauna or treat themselves to a massage. The house also hosts a homeopath, a reflexologist, and soon a cozy counseling room.<\/p>\n

Classes are also available for children \u2014 including language lessons, singing circles, and more. Tiny children can be looked after in a playroom while parents train.<\/p>\n

From the beginning, children were part of the vision. Katre and Jana both had baby daughters, born just two days apart. Now three years old, they eagerly await afternoons when they can play and sing while their mothers work.<\/p>\n

Katre openly dreams of her children continuing what their parents started \u2014\u00a0\u201cthe coolest club in Estonia\u201d<\/em>. That\u2019s the only mindset that makes it all worthwhile \u2014 to find strength, even in tough times, to push through the impossible.<\/p>\n

Two intense years of building the studio \u2014 including weekly commuting between Tartu and Tallinn \u2014 brought challenges and surprising self-discoveries for Katre and Mari. Here are some of the brightest moments, as the women remember them:<\/p>\n

Spring 2007<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Katre and Mari are on a ferry to Finland to see\u00a0Anna Karenina<\/em>. Also in the cabin is Katre\u2019s husband, Erik.
\nThey discuss theater life, frustrations performers face.<\/p>\n

Katre:<\/strong>
\n\u201cIf I leave the theater, how can I just put everything I\u2019ve learned \u2014 the one thing I\u2019ve dedicated my whole life to \u2014 in my pocket and walk away?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

She recalls:
\n\u201cI was watching\u00a0The Nutcracker<\/em>\u00a0with my son Ludvig-Erik. I was translating the steps: \u2018Come to me, you are dear to me…\u2019 I narrated the whole adagio. He looked at me with wide eyes: \u2018Mom, how do you know all this?\u2019
\nThat was a moment of recognition \u2014 I realized ballet is a language, and I speak it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mari<\/strong>\u00a0(pointing at a photo in the\u00a0Eesti Ekspress<\/em>\u00a0real estate listings):
\n“This is the house I want. This could be our studio.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Erik<\/strong>\u00a0(tired):
\n“Why do you talk so much? Why don\u2019t you just do it?”<\/em><\/p>\n

Katre:<\/strong>
\n“Yeah\u2026 why don\u2019t we, when we know exactly what we want?”<\/em><\/p>\n

Summer 2007<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Katre and Mari passionately discuss studio plans. When emotions peak, Katre grabs the phone and calls Jana.<\/p>\n

Katre:<\/strong>
\n“Jana, we\u2019re starting our own studio. Are you in?”<\/em><\/p>\n

Jana<\/strong>\u00a0(calmly):
\n“I need to have a talk with myself first.”<\/em><\/p>\n

August 2007<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

At Jana\u2019s kitchen table, the first planning meeting takes place.
\nThey define the studio\u2019s principles and decide all three will become equal partners and study for a year:<\/p>\n