Even the most ardent proponents of exercise
will admit that working out can be boring. But you’ll never hear
that complaint from James Martinelli’s students.
Martinelli, who is a dancer and an actor (he is acting director
of theater at Long Island University and frequently performs
in community theater), teaches his own blend of aerobic dance
and weight training sprinkled with a heaping dose of his generous
personality. And his students find it delightful.
"He makes you feel as if you’re a performer when you’re
in his class," says Maxine Schulof, 53, a regular for six
years at Martinelli’s Move & Groove and Sculpt classes at
the Eastern Athletic Club in Brooklyn Heights. "I like his
energy and his fun personality. He makes an hour of exercise
go by quickly."
For Martinelli, who also teaches at the New York Sports Club
in Bay Ridge and has private students throughout the tri-state
area, "It’s not about building. It’s about strengthening
what you have. It’s about inspiring yourself."
It was in public school that Martinelli discovered his dancing
and acting talents. His English teacher at Grady High School
in Brighton Beach encouraged him to join the First All Children’s
Theatre, founded by Celeste Holmes, where, Martinelli says, "My
best friend was Ben Stiller." He also became involved in
dance.
"My cousin took me to her dance class every week and I watched
her. Finally, the teacher, Margaret Tapona, let me take her class
for free until I could pay for it by working for her," says
Martinelli. "She inspired me and she was my first love."
Over the next few years, Martinelli appeared on television in
"Kids Are People Too" and "We’re Dancing,"
in community theater and touring in shows such as "The Boyfriend,"
"Carousel" and "Oklahoma." Then he enrolled
in Brooklyn College.
"When I got to college and they asked me to pick a major,
I picked two – dance and health. I found a correlation between
the two," Martinelli recalls. "They both brought out
an inner joy that creates a domino effect bringing on health.
I started putting together a program for myself that included
dance and weight training and I’ve been doing it ever since.
I happen to be very lucky to have stumbled upon this combination."
Schulof says Martinelli’s classes are "different from all
other classes because of James’ knowledge of music and dance."
Martinelli explains, "Most aerobics teachers don’t have
a dance background. I use different styles of dance in my program.
I change direction to stimulate the brain, and I use light weights
to strengthen the body."
He is also aware of the body’s limitations, something that’s
become even clearer now that he’s turned 40 (although, with his
boyish good looks he appears younger, as he’ll be the first to
tell you).
"There is no injury in my classes. We use the natural alignment
of the body and the natural way of moving," he says. "My
classes are aimed at everybody. Even the more advanced people
have something to learn – primarily how to treat their bodies
with respect."
Carole Rapaci, 60, who has been with Martinelli for eight years,
says, "I know I’ll have fun at James’ class. I might get
a little sweaty, but I’m not going to be dying there. I like
his music [primarily show tunes and soft rock]. It doesn’t drum
in your ears like in a lot of other aerobic classes.
"I go to a lot of classes, but most of them are about the
same. He brings a lot of his experience to class. He dances to
his own beat. That’s why he has a following."
During class, Martinelli loves to joke and tell anecdotes about
his large Italian family. He has two older sisters and a mother
who doesn’t believe men should do housework. As a result, he
claims to be permanently unable to do his own laundry. Fortunately,
his wardrobe is so vast he never wears the same piece of clothing
twice – cargo jeans, sexy T-shirts and sweats of all stripes.
But Martinelli takes his work seriously. He is concerned about
people who put their egos before common sense.
"You must start small and stay small," he advises.
"People use heavy weights for their own egos. Women are
the worst offenders. In exercise it’s dangerous because you hurt
yourself. You build your body through time and your body will
last. If you build it too fast, it’s going to fall."
Martinelli takes dance classes at Luigi’s on the Upper West Side
where one of his fellow-dancers is Liza Minnelli, whom he finds
inspiring.
"She’s still dancing," he says of the 59-year-old star
of stage and screen. "And so am I."
"It’s all about the quality of life – being strong enough
physically and at the same time listening to the body’s wisdom,"
he advises.
But perhaps Martinelli’s biggest asset is his ability to put
people at ease. Perhaps that’s why his classes are always well-attended;
they average about two dozen people.
"I don’t make people feel uncomfortable," says Martinelli.
"I welcome people all the time. You have to start somewhere.
And it might as well be me."
James Martinelli teaches Move &
Groove and Sculpt classes at the Eastern Athletic Club at 43
Clark St. at Hicks Street in Brooklyn Heights on Sunday, Tuesday
and Thursday mornings and Saturday afternoons. For more information,
call (718) 625-0500.
