Former Ballet Dancer Lauren Arps Brings Graceful Strength Method to Milan

MILAN – There’s an American transplanted in Italy behind Milan’s newest fitness address, which adds to the city’s recent resurgence of wellness destinations.

Former ballet dancer Lauren Arps has just opened Graceful Strength Studio at Via Panfilo Castaldi 20, nestled in the trendy Porta Venezia area and not far from the busy shopping avenue Corso Buenos Aires.

Spanning two levels, the 667-square-foot boutique studio is the physical extension of the Graceful Strength Method Arps created and officially launched in 2018 during her stay in Los Angeles, right before moving to Italy in 2022. Her take on ballet barre classes blend the discipline with Pilates and yoga principles, and is designed to develop a strong, muscular physique while strengthening the core with balance, grounding and breathing techniques. To this end, in addition to choreographies, Arps uses dumbbell, ankle and wrist weights as well as yoga blocks, straps and mats in her practice, depending on the different classes. 

Her studio launched with four 50-minute-long classes available to small groups of 10 to 12 people. These include the Foundation format offering easy-to-follow ballet- and yoga-inspired choreography tailored as a starting point for beginners and refresher for those with more experience; the more complex and faster alternative Ballet Sculpt, replete with weights and designed to test endurance; the adrenaline-fueled Ballet Burn class combining low-impact strength and toning exercises in a slightly shorter but intense session, and the Flow option, a slow, deep flexibility and mobility class conceived to relieve pain and soreness. 

Arps included chromotherapy principles in her method, as sections of each class come with different color codes to improve performance and mood, from reducing stress to increasing concentration. For example, orange lights mark the warm-up segment to activate body’s core, red lights are used for the toning and strength sections, while blue ones define the more relaxing cool-down and stretching bits. The lighting system complements the simple and intimate interior concept of the studio, which features essential furniture in wood and is dominated by neutral shades.

Prices range from first-timer single class at 30 euros or a four-class pack to test all the different formats at 120 euros, up to 10-class packages at 240 euros. Long-term memberships go from three to six months at roughly 660 euros and 1,250 euros, respectively.

Originally from Connecticut, Arps created Graceful Strength Method out of her love for ballet and fitness. She started training in ballet at age 12 and decided to become a professional instructor in 2015, finding a vocation in sharing her knowledge and skills with others rather than pursuing a career as part of a dance troupe. After living in India for a month — where she earned a yoga certification — she committed to putting together a workout that would awaken one’s inner dancer, while leaving a feeling of strength and motivation, both mentally and physically. 

“As a NASM-certified ballet instructor, dancer and 200 RYT-certified yoga teacher, I respect and appreciate all forms of movement,” said Arps, whose mission is to “convey strength through grace, in a space where there is no judgment, just empowerment.”

Originally relocated to Italy for love, Arps decided to stay in the country because she ended up falling in love with the culture, as well.

“I was living in a small but beautiful seaside town that offered little opportunity for me to flourish. After visiting Milan, I decided to make it my home,” she said. “For me, Milan offers the perfect balance between life and work. A city that I describe as ‘buzzy,’ not busy, and effortlessly cool. There is always something going on but it is not overly chaotic.”

Arps initially tested her method as pop-up events classes to understand the local fitness culture and see how her workouts could resonate with an entirely new crowd. “The response was overwhelmingly positive, so my next step was evolving my method to my studio,” she said.