Former ballet star brings something new to gym work

Talking Sport with Stephen Glennon

When you hear of a new gym opening – or a new personal trainer on the scene – it is always interesting to hear what the background has been in terms of previous sporting endeavours. In this regard, Jessica Keniston has one of the more fascinating stories to tell.

Originally from Maryland in the United States, Keniston was an extremely talented ballet dancer who was once offered a scholarship to the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance in London when she was only 14.

To put this into context, the Academy – also known as RAD – is one of the world’s most influential dance education organisations which was founded in 1920 and has a presence in 85 countries, boasting approximately 14,000 members worldwide.

“I started [ballet] when I was four and I danced all the way up until I was 18. Ballet is tough. It takes a massive commitment. A big, big commitment,” begins Jessica, who sits in her new premises – FITT Steps Training – which is located in the unit behind Craughwell Pharmacy.

“I danced with the Washington School of Ballet so that was with the company school. I did the ‘Nutcracker’ a couple of times in the Kennedy Centre and various summer workshops and things with them. It was quite a high level I got to.”

Indeed, in her early teens, she got the opportunity to train with the very best in London, but it was not to be.

“I was only 14 at the time and my mother didn’t want me in London on my own. So, she put heed to that. Of course, 14-years-old me didn’t speak to her for months,” she laughs, “but we got over that.”

She continued on with her ballet for another four years – dancing five or six days a week – before putting it on the backburner when she turned 18. Life took over. She moved from the States to England, and then to Ireland having fallen in love and married a Dubliner.

She subsequently spent 12 years in fashion retail, handling such brands as A-Wear, Monsoon, Oasis and Top Shop.

“Most of my time was spent on the road and I didn’t want to do it anymore,” she remarks.

“About five years ago I decided to re-train myself. I had spent 15 years doing ballet before I had children, and I always liked fitness and movement. So, I got back into it with dance fitness and Piloxing. I started with that before I qualified in personal training and nutrition therapy as well,” outlines Jessica, who is also certified to tutor in Pre and Post Natal Exercise, Barre and TRX.

Read Stephen’s column in full in this week’s Galway City Tribune.