Artist Spotlight: A Postcard from Julia Erickson
Fresh from a 5-day trip to Istanbul, a few days in London, plus a pit stop in Philly, PBT Principal Julia Erickson shares this postcard from her post-season travels. Between tourist stops, Julia managed to visit with family and stop by Royal Albert Hall to meet up with choreographer Derek Deane and check out English National Ballet rehearsals for his Swan Lake in the round.
From ballerinas to businesswomen: Class of ’97 grads wear all hats
Julia, who is a principal dancer at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and who has worked toward a dual degree in business and political science at the University of Pittsburgh throughout her career, founded a nutrition-bar company in 2010 with her partner of 14 years, Aaron Ingley. Called Barre, their all-natural product is marketed toward the dance and performing arts community, as well as to the natural foods market.
From the Ballet Barre to Real Food Barre: Two Dancers’ Entrepreneurial Success
Ambitious, self-motivated, earnest work ethic – these are all attributes of a successful ballet dancer. These are also adjectives used to describe a successful entrepreneur. So, it’s not so surprising to hear of individuals who triumph in both professional realms.
Meet Julia Erickson and Aaron Ingley. Both have illustrious careers with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT), though Aaron no longer performs with the company. In 2010 they used their business know-how and gumption, gained from the University of Pittsburgh, to start their own venture. From a grassroots at-home project to a nationally sold product, Erickson and Ingley are making leaps and bounds in both the dance and business worlds.
Setting the Bar High: A Couple’s First Business Venture Aims To Satisfy Dancers
Ballet brought Julia Erickson and Aaron Ingley to Pittsburgh, where they have pursued careers as professional dancers with the world-renowned Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) and, simultaneously, Business /Arts and Sciences Dual Majors from the University of Pittsburgh. The pair, who met in Seattle, Wash., at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School and plan to marry, has also made Pittsburgh the base for their business venture, Barre, LLC.
Julia Erickson & Aaron Ingley – Barre on Dancepreneur TV
An interview with Julia Erickson & Aaron Ingley founders and directors of Barre – A real food bar developed by two professional dancers (made with real ingredients for athletes). Julia and Aaron are both from Pittsburgh USA and are both ballet dancers. Their secret to having long lasting energy to meet the demands of a dancer was eating the right food. Julia came up with a nutritional recipe in her kitchen and together with Aaron have now created a product available in many health stores worldwide that has launched them to dancepreneur success.
Get To Know: Barre, The Real Food Bar
Kona Kase: Tell us a little about the background of Barre.
Julia: I created Barre for myself while rehearsing for the lead role in Swan Lake. I was looking for a clean food solution that would keep me fueled through intense rehearsals while not weighing me down. Frustrated in my search, I took matters into my own hands, went to the kitchen, and created a concoction that contained balanced nutrition..
Barre
We LOVE these!!!!! They were developed by two dancers from Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Julia Erickson and Aaron Ingley. We met them last year at the Atlantic Dance Show in Baltimore and spent some time with Julia when she visited us in Saratoga this past July for the Dancer’s Health Day at the National Museum of Dance. They are great people, beautiful dancers and have developed a fantastic product!
Barre: The Energy Bar Created By Dancers
The creators of Barre have a simple reason for creating their healthy snack: “We traded our leotards for aprons and whipped up something of our own: a real food bar, made with wholesome, all-natural ingredients–stuff you can actually pronounce! Barre helps us maintain the peak level of performance necessary for ballet’s unique marriage of artistry and athleticism. ” (realfoodbarre.com) Like many others, the company’s founders had become fed up with confusing health bar labels and false advertising about energy benefits. What makes the Barres so healthy is the use of dates as the main ingredient, with things like agave nectar and walnuts added for texture and taste. Every ingredient in the energy bars is recognizable and nutritious.
Review and Giveaway: The Barre – a real food bar via Vegan Perks!
The Barre is a real food bar developed by two professional dancers (made with real ingredients for real athletes). I love that! Julia and her partner Aaron are Ballet dancers who were looking for a healthy and nutritious bar that would give them the energy they needed without weighing them down. They created – The Barre.
Barre Real Food Bar Review and Giveaway
I am always looking for something that taste good and is good for you. So many times things that taste good have ingredients you don’t even know what they are. I found some great real food bars from Barre. These real food bars were made by two dancers looking for something good tasting and good for you.
INTERVIEW: Julia: Creator of “Barre,” the real food bar.
Erickson and Ingley are much more than dancers: They are entrepreneurs. Both studied business at the University of Pittsburgh, but believe “ballet is the best education.” Not only are they the team behind healthy food in a convenient package, established dancers that meld artistry with athleticism, but they are also working to fund arts education programs throughout the nation.
Julia Erickson Sets the Barre High for Vegan Energy Bars
Ballet dancer, philanthropist, and entrepreneur… Julia Erickson created Barre vegan energy bars to achieve the perfect balance of fast and slow-burning carbohydrates, plant-based protein, fiber, and natural electrolyte replacement.
On the Road Again – Summer Study Must Haves
Heading off to a summer intensive? You’ll need to pack for a few weeks of work and fun! Save space with a dance bag that can also be used as a suitcase. Take extra clothing in case you don’t have easy access to laundry facilities, and don’t forget flip-flops for the shower.
Product Review – Barre Bars!
Julia and Aaron, both dancers in the Pittsburgh Ballet, created this bar out of necessity. They found themselves constantly needing energy and a snack during their dance rehersals. As professional dancers, they were not satisfied with the bars on the market and decided to experiment and create their own really food bar.
Editor’s Picks: Best New Bars
A professional ballerina developed Barre when she couldn’t find a bar that met her athletic needs and her desire to eat whole foods. Barre is vegan, free of soy and wheat, and has an easy-to-understand ingredients list.
Energy Bar Entrepreneurs
Looking for a better way to fuel her body in the studio and dissatisfied with the energy and health food bars that were on the market, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre principal dancer Julia Erickson decided to make her own. She found commercial bars to be lacking in flavor and made of “unpronounceable ingredients,” she says. “I wanted something that would give you quick energy, sustain you but not make you feel full, and help you recover…
Setting the Bar High: A Couple’s First Business Venture Aims To Satisfy Dancers.
“Ballet brought Julia Erickson and Aaron Ingley to Pittsburgh, where they have pursued careers as professional dancers with the world-renowned Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) and, simultaneously, Business /Arts and Sciences Dual Majors from the University of Pittsburgh. The pair, who met in Seattle, Wash., at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School and plan to marry, has also made Pittsburgh the base for their business venture, Barre, LLC.”
From barre to bar: Dancers Julia Erickson and Aaron Ingley create snack
While principal dancer Julia Erickson was rehearsing the dual role of Odette/Odile for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s spring 2010 production of “Swan Lake,” she wound up uncovering a third role for herself — food bar entrepreneur.
Hi Barre lovers! Welcome to the newest monthly feature on the Barre blog… Barre Talk! Each month we’ll interview a different professional dancer about their dance background, lifestyle, and what it’s like to dance professionally. In addition to answering … Continue reading
