At the time of this original post (below, July 2007), I was anticipating meeting both Kathy Grant and Lolita San Miguel. The image below was taken that day, at a workshop hosted by Alycea Ungaro’s studio, Real Pilates, NYC. The Pilates community just learned that Kathy Grant has passed away.
She was frail that day, but a delight to experience and listen to her stories of the ambassador role she held in creating the Pilates Method we all love. I am glad I met her.
As a Pilates Teacher, a woman of color and now a member of the AARP card-carrying set (oh my god, I actually admitted that publicly in writing!!), I am delighted to share a bit of old news coupled with an upcoming event involving one of the Pilates Elders and Master Teachers. The facts about these two Pilates Masters is well known throughout the Pilates “insider” community but I will venture to guess far less a known fact by many of the students and bodies we touch and teach regularly in the art and science of Pilates.
Kathy Grant and Lolita San Miguel are among the Pilates Elders that help the newbies among us appreciate the work Joseph Pilates created for the world to enjoy. The distinction I am proudly pointing out is that these two notable elders are, the only women of color and the only two women certified personally by Joseph Pilates.
The United States Pilates Association sent out a mailing about a workshop with Ms. San Miguel, I knew many of my client/students – women of color in Hudson County, NJ – would appreciate hearing the details. (Of course, I have been wanting to tout the facts of these two senior teachers for some time and this was a great way to weave in the story! )
Kathy Grant is a faculty member in the Department of Dance at the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. Ms. Grant is a former dancer whose background includes Broadway, off Broadway, television, industrials, touring companies, and the concert stage in the U.S.A. and in Europe, South America, Africa, and the Middle East. Has been assistant choreographer to Donald McKayle, Walter Nicks, Arthur Mitchell, and Michael Smuin and co-director and partner with Claude Marchant Dance Company. Has performed with Mary Hinkson, Carmen DeLavallade, Mary Anthony, Donald McKayle, Paul Taylor, Geoffrey Holder, Arthur Mitchell, Bill Robinson, Honi Coles, Cab Calloway, Pearl Bailey, and others.
Has served as a dance panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, the Delacorte Theatre, and Dance Black America. A student and protÈgÈ of Joseph Pilates, she is one of the few who was certified by Mr. Pilates in a program sponsored by the University of the State of New York, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Has conducted workshops in the Pilates method in California, New York, Maine, New Mexico; in Tokyo, Japan; and in Montreal, Canada, for Les Grands Ballets Canadiens.
Lolita San Miguel (Update – Click this link to read Lolita’s memories of her 50 Year friendship with Kathy Grant)
First Generation Teacher of the Pilates Method, born in New York studied at the School of American Ballet and graduated from the Performing Arts High School and was for 10 years a soloist with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet. In 1958 she trained and was certified by Carola Trier and is especially proud of being one of two people in the world certified by Joseph H. Pilates. She is also certified by Polestar Pilates Education, Inc.
Ms San Miguel founded and directed, Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico, a renowned ballet company and is also the Founder and Director of Pilates y M·s. A popular international presenter, she is the author of a series of DVDís, titled ìLolita Shares her Pilatesî: Mat I, Reformer I, Reformer II and Lolitaís Pilates BodyWalk.
I still haven’t had the pleasure of meeting either but remain inspired by their work, living and teaching.
Pilates Elders: Kathy and Lolita Written by Georgina Jackson Friday, 27 July 2007
Gina Jackson, is a classically trained Pilates Teacher and has been teaching along the Gold Coast of Hudson and Bergen County, NJ for the past fifteen+ years.
Certified by Power Pilates of New York, Gina has trained with Master Teachers Bob Liekens, Susan Moran and Brett Howard; loved workshop training with Cary Regan and Blossom Leilani-Crawford and has particularly enjoyed listening to the personal stories as told by Pilates Elders, Kathy Grant and Lolita San Miguel.
An active teacher and blogger, Gina manages a private personal training business supporting a myriad of clients, teaching all to honor their health, strength and life with the principles of Pilates at its core.