About

Sculpere, both method and studio is the love and magic of its owner, Cristina Espaillat. A Philadelphia-area native, Cristina began her study of dance at the Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet, at five years of age. She continued her study there for the next fourteen years, concentrating on classical ballet. During this time, Cristina had the great privilege of performing with the company at the esteemed Academy of Music. Upon graduation she was accepted to the Performing Arts program at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana where she majored in dance and continued her training in classical ballet, modern dance and jazz.

Eighteen years of disciplined dance study paved the way for Cristina to realize her lifelong dream of becoming a professional dancer, when she was accepted to the City Ballet of San Diego in 2003. Rigorous training and performing was the single priority in Cristina's life until she broke her foot during rehearsals in 2005.

During rehabilitation from her injury, Cristina found herself drawn to yoga. Initially, she (and her body) yearned for the physical workout that was now missing since she had left dance. She found yoga to be a challenging workout that also brought great mental rewards. Being a professional dancer was extremely competitive and had created deep insecurities that yoga was beginning to reveal and simultaneously "strip away."

Cristina's passion for dance was slowly being replaced with a passion for yoga and the new balanced way she was feeling about herself and her life. Through her continued yoga practice and training, Cristina found a love and acceptance for herself that wasn't formerly present. Her views of health and beauty also began to transform into something far more encompassing than the idealized and discriminating standards in the ballet world.

The culmination of Cristina's experience of these two very diverse worlds led her to developing and opening "Sculpere." From the Latin-Sculpere, means literally to "sculpt." Ballet practice, a rigorous and disciplined study, creates a great sense of fitness, body awareness and artistry. Yoga is a deep and spiritual study that teaches one to fuse mental health into a physical practice, with no pressure to conform to any ideals. Through "braiding" both of these timeless practices, students can "sculpt" both body and mind.

Although primarily a physical workout, Sculpere is designed as an all-encompassing approach to health and well-being. Cristina's philosophy centers around the ideals of self love and acceptance and include Ayurveda and nutritional counseling. Unique in its approach, students are encouraged to see beyond the obvious physical transformation of the workouts and to simultaneously experience mental growth.