Dance dance revolution
JENELLE MANZI, NYCB ballerina
WORK • Tuesday Routine
JENELLE MANZI • NYCB ballerina • founder, Get Golden
Neighborhood you work in: Upper West Side
It’s Tuesday morning, where are you working?
Various places, as both the founder of Get Golden, a small-batch organic snack brand, and a professional ballerina with New York City Ballet, the company where I began my ballet career at 16. On a Tuesday morning, you’ll typically find me working from home on all things Get Golden — developing new products, packaging design, social media, retail distribution — and then running downtown by subway to the David H. Koch Theater while NYCB is in season.
What’s the Tuesday morning scene at your workplace?
Trying to keep calm as I transition from one mode to the other, so as not to get swept up in the constant bustle of it all. At home, unless I’m on a Zoom call, I love to create a restorative, zen experience. This could be as simple as lighting palo santo, or using my LED mask (yes, while running through spreadsheets — multitasking!). Also, I’ll always make something delicious to sip on, like a matcha or protein smoothie.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Some days are more (or less) intense, depending on ballet rehearsals. On intense rehearsal days, I’m pretty much there all day rehearsing, training, getting PT, and then performing in the show from 8-10pm. On less intense rehearsal days, I either use extra time to work on Get Golden, see my Pilates trainer, or go to Remedy for a reboot (I love to cold plunge).
What’s for lunch?
I’m in a phase of life where I’m on the go throughout the day, so lunch is usually pretty simple — lean protein, good fat, some carbs. Lately, I love a piece of grilled chicken or salmon, half of or a whole avocado, and these Craize chips in the Sweet Corn flavor (I’m kind of obsessed with them at the moment). I may spice it up with spices from SOS Chefs NYC, the Avenue B haven for rare spices from around the world.
Any plans tonight?
I’ll be performing at Lincoln Center. Around 7pm, I’ll start officially getting ready for the show, as I’m in the last ballet in the program. Stage makeup and hair is a whole process, as we have to make sure our makeup translates to the audience under the bright lights. We’re talking two layers of foundation, contour, fake eyelashes, etc. It’s also super-fun because we have such an amazing dressing room that I use with some of my friends — we share really special moments together. Next up, I’ll do a quick core strengthening series to reset my body before a quick ballet warm-up barre before I go onstage. After I get offstage I have an entire reset evening routine that gets me feeling my best. And then sleep!