30 years ago this January, Butch Grier and Patricia Ripley opened their first studios at 131 west 72nd street! Happy anniversary to us!
January 2017


Happy 2017, everyone! Hope you're all enjoying scratching out the date on everything and re-writing sevens over sixes. And really, that's all it is, right? Totally arbitrary point in time. Although it does give one the impetus to make resolutions. I resolved to lose 10 pounds, and I've only got 12 more to go! 

We've got a great deal going on here at 520! Come grab a groovy little keyboard room for only 10 bucks! That's right, studio 10J is just $10 per hour for a limited time. And it's right by the bathrooms! Perfect for performers with IBS on a budget!

 
-John Norman
Director of Operations
Ripley-Grier Studios

Spotlight:
Simone Assboeck


Growing up in Germany, Simone Assboeck's parents insisted that she have a fallback plan, in case her dreams of being a dancer and dance teacher didn't pan out. She opted for a degree in Movement Therapy, which turned out to be a great asset, even when her original plan DID pan out. Simone approaches her instruction with an eye for interpersonal dynamics, a rich field to harvest when many of your clients are soon-to-be-married couples working on their wedding dance. "Dance is a microcosm of daily life", she says, "relationship dynamics always pop to the surface". Simone describes movement therapy as a way to "use movement as a platform to create new behaviors". When asked if she has ever seen new behaviors created through her work with couples, she laughs, and recalls one couple who were fighting and belittling each other from the first lesson. "I sat them down and said, 'Listen. You don't have to do this, but if you are going to do it, you have to pull it together.'" One gets the distinct impression that she was not only talking about the dance. They pulled it together. The dance anyway.

Simone teaches ballroom dance of all types, including latin and country line dancing. More information is available at DanceTogetherNYC.com
feng shui color chart
Patricia Ripley 
Feng Shui and Fitness
Well, Well, Well,  Happy New Year!  This happens to be the Year of the Yin, Fire, Rooster starting February 3rd. After leaving the precocious, rascally Monkey year we are starting a new beginning with the Rooster crowing early to wake us to a new day!  We really need this encouragement to get up and get moving! More on the Rooster next month.
  Ripley-Grier Studios is celebrating 30 years this month.  We began as Fitness Concepts for Life, Inc.in 1987, then New York Spaces, Inc and finally decided to use our names and became Ripley-Grier Studios in 1999.  It's been up, up, up since then. Thank you everyone for being so supportive over the years. (Check the history on our website for the story).  
 We all had a very interesting, somewhat turbulent, and, for many folks, disturbing year in 2016.  An emotionally challenging year and unfortunately a truly sad violent year around the world.  Most of us followed the US campaigns and the election and were somewhat surprised by the results.  That being said we are now struggling with acceptance and the constant controversy these days.  I, personally, am sad to see President Obama leave office; I have been inspired by his grace under pressure, courage and intelligence. Michelle Obama grew into an amazing First Lady, full of energy and committment. I am proud of them and the movement that created the atmosphere for his election and re-election.
Lately , I find myself finding credence in the reference to the "bubble" mentality whereby many of us may not relate to the problems and concerns of the "other folks", our fellow citizens.  Looking forward to leaps of faith and concerted efforts in uniting a truly amazing melting pot that is the great experiment of the United States.
 Fitness resolutions should be in your wheelhouse this time of year as well as vows of kind acts and increased self education in financial, social and intellectual pursuits.  We have some very lovely days interspersed with the cold, wet ones, so take advantage and get out and move.   If you go on vacations find ways to do physical activity.  Don't eat late at night.  Eat smaller, varietal meals with low calorie objectives.  If you drink wine or beer, go for the brands with lower alcholol and calori content.  Get up earlier with the sun and go to bed earlier so as to avoid the "cabin fever" emotions that dark days can invoke.
Again,   A Very Happy, Healthy, Prosperous and Empathetic New Year!!   Patricia





Farewell to a dear client...
It has been our great honor and privilege to host the master classes of composer and vocal coach Craig Carnelia for the past quarter century. Craig is re-locating this spring, and wrote us this lovely note of thanks...
 

Remember. Celebrate. 
Resist.

Happy MLK day to all our fellow humans. May we move forward in the clear knowledge that until all of us are free, none of us are.
Let's Make Stuff Up!

A fun, creative environment for students 
to discover the basics of Improv comedy while learning about stage presence, mime & movement, and how to create a character. There will be a STUDENT IMPROV SHOW on the last day of class for friends and family.

Ages 8 -12
Feb. 19th - May 7th
Sundays 11:00a - 12:30p

(12 WEEKS)
Instructed By 
Graham McCarty
$450

Visit
Grahammccarty.com/teaching
for more info!



Make a Wish! Make a Splash!

Between now and Feb. 5th, Ripley-Grier Studios will be accepting donations for the Long Beach Polar Bears. They are a (CRAZY) charitable organization who supports the Make-A-Wish foundation. We have already raised $350 for Make-A-Wish. Our goal of $500.
And if you happen to be in Long Beach on Feb. 5th (Superbowl Sunday), you can catch the LONG BEACH POLAR BEARS take part in their annual "Superbowl Splash"! 
Thanks for your support!!!
Sponsored Content

Click image for more info



Happy New Year!!
During Christmas break, I went to Tulsa, Oklahoma with my parents for our traditional holiday visit. While we were there, we went to my cousin Lee Ann's house in Broken Arrow for Christmas and played Dirty Santa.  Lee Ann and my aunts cooked a great Christmas meal.  That night and the next day we went to the movies.  We always try to binge movies when we are in Tulsa as our hotel is across the street from a huge movie complex.  We saw  Office Christmas Party (hilarious), Rogue One in Imax and 3D  ( exciting, great special effects), Passengers (cool story line,but some holes), Arrival (different than I expected),  and La La Land (breathtaking, left me speechless, now my favorite movie).  We were in Tulsa for 4 days, before heading to Santa Monica on the 27th to spend  a few days and to celebrate New Year's Eve.  We stayed at the Marriott near the Santa Monica Pier.   I went to Universal Studios Hollywood and Six Flags yet again.   I went with my friend, Rayleene  who I hadn't seen in a year. I really love the trip to Santa Monica, we have been there three times in the past year.  Wishing everyone a great year and see you next month.  Jeannie


 
Jeannie Ripley-Grier is the daughter of RG founders Butch Grier and Patricia Ripley.