Last night, The Extension Room, a ballet-inspired fitness studio, had their grand opening party to celebrate their new location on the east end. The celebration was filled with music, dance and delicious food and drinks.

Studio director and professional dancer, Jennifer Nichols, is thrilled about the new space and the opportunities that the east end holds for her fitness studio.

“There’s so much space in that studio for rehearsals for my ballet company (Hit and Run Dance Productions), and there’s so much room for us to play with choreography. Bringing a big population to the classes and having lots of bodies around gets everyone charged and feeling all the energy. I live in the east and I think that this area is really developing and it’s just going to take off in the next few years with the Pan American games and the Don Lands development. There’s a definite energy in the east end that will feed into the studio.”

The Extension Room is not your average fitness studio. The Extension Method is based on the techniques of classical ballet and adapted for fitness purposes.

 “We strip away the artistry and all the elements that are geared towards a performance and pare it down to its physiological foundations. It gives people the opportunity to dance if they’ve never taken a dance class in their life. They don’t have to have the skill set or the background, they just have to be willing to try something new and it gives them a really unique workout.”

 Jennifer really wants the studio to be a multidisciplinary space where fitness meets art. She rents her space to artists to showcase their work; to the fashion industry to host fashion shows; and plans to have an indie music night every month. 

On behalf of their grand opening, the Extension Room is offering 15% off class memberships. The special is on until January 26, 2012. The studio is located at 30 Eastern Avenue and is open 7 days a week. Please check their website for class schedules.

(Photos taken by Irina Grozavescu)