Barre Teacher training 2026 - Q & A with Elizabeth April
A question came through recently from someone inquiring about our upcoming BTT. They asked '“How did our training come to be what it is today?”. No one has asked us that before but it is an important question… what are the theories and intentions of our training and the PYP Method?
Read below for a quick Q &A, with co-owner/co-founder of PYP, Elizabeth April.
What inspired you to create a barre teacher training program?
In 2017, I was asked to create a program and lead a training for a new studio opening here in Portland, ME. I was excited to take on the challenge and started pulling together all the information I felt was important to include in a barre teacher training. Eventually, this original training was reimagined and fine-tuned to become PYP’s Barre Training.
What makes this training different than others?
One of the main things is the amount of hours required to complete the training. A lot of barre trainings are held in 1 weekend or even a single day. Secondly, we center informed movement, not choreography. In our trainings movement science, applied anatomy, & function is at our center. Believe me, we love a fun, energetic barre class and you get that at PYP, but we also believe that barre classes can be these things AND effective and functional.
How has PYP’s training changed over the years?
Our faculty has grown! Before this training became PYP’s, I led this training on my own. Since then, I have been so lucky to work with other incredible teachers to help build a more robust & comprehensive training.
I now co-lead this training with my business partner, co-owner/co-founder of PYP, Jess Emilfarb, who brings a decade + of experience in movement.
Brooke Fleurent, Doctor of Physical Therapy, presents anatomy, perinatal barre, & how to work with injuries and modifications. Over the years, I’ve personally have learned so much from Brooke, she brings so much depth to this training.
And last but certainly not least, Stephen Kirsch, who also brings a decade + of teaching experience, helps support Jess and I in observing practice teaching, presenting applied anatomy, & more!
What excites you the most about leading this training every year?
I love teaching movement and even more so, I love teaching people how to teach movement. In this training, we have the time to dive deep into the why and purpose of the movement. “What muscles are working when we are in back-dancing?” “What muscles lift our arms overhead?” Once we understand what moves our body, we can pull together sequences that are well-balanced, effective, AND fun - all set to a killer playlist, of course.
