This past June, New York City Ballet (NYCB) dancer Jenelle Manzi took her final bow during the company’s tour in Saratoga Springs. Throughout Manzi’s two-decade long career with the company, she struggled with a variety of health conditions including food intolerances, injuries and joint swelling. She later discovered these symptoms were all linked to Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that went undiagnosed for years. This experience led her down a path of research and ultimately to the creation of Get Golden, a wellness company rooted in whole foods and strength-supporting ingredients. As Manzi reflects on her decision to leave the company, she also embodies a deep sense of excitement for all that is to come as she focuses her time on Get Golden.
From a young age, Manzi dreamed of joining the NYCB and at a certain point felt like she had given her all to that specific dream. It was time to place her energy and strong work ethic toward her next endeavor. While dancing in the company, Manzi received both her Certificate in Nutrition from the IIN and completed a course in Nutritional Science from Stanford University. Both courses shaped the creation of Get Golden and her ongoing research in the field of women’s health and longevity. “It kind of became an obsession of mine to research the female body, the human body, and strength training,” Manzi shares. Her creativity as a dancer also assisted in the process of the company’s formation. “Everything about being a dancer has impacted my creativity,” Manzi adds. Spending a life on and off stages has influenced her sense of design, attention to detail and ongoing creative flow.
Manzi is eager to expand Get Golden, yet there are aspects of life as a ballerina she will miss. Company class is the first that comes to mind, which she feels “provides a sense of community you just can’t fully get elsewhere,” she says. Many of the company members have been dancing with her for 10 or more years, and there is a familial sense to the time spent dancing together. The second aspect is performing in front of a live audience, a key part of her time in the company. In Nutcracker season alone, Manzi performed in over 50 shows. “Performing in front of a live audience is just a high that is impossible to beat,” she adds. There is a beauty and a magic to performing that Manzi finds to be unlike anything else. Her time in the company has also taught her important skills in organization and time management that she will continue to use in this new chapter. “The structure I put in place while in the company is still there,” Manzi states. Her morning and evening routines which she refers to as “bookends of her day” add a moment to pause and step away from her busy workdays.
After a full year of testing, Manzi is excited to launch a new product this fall. Although yet to be announced, the product is aligned with the company’s mission of a “strength ritual brand.” Now that Manzi has greater freedom in her schedule, she is also eager to offer in-person events where individuals can gather to take a movement class together. The first events will be happening this fall at Boa Pilates and Goodside in NYC.
“One of my most favorite things is to get women moving and to share energy in a room to be their strongest selves,” Manzi explains. She hopes the events through Get Golden will be able to provide that kind of inspiration. “I have so many interests I wish there were more hours in a day. I have a tendency to be very intense with my work; it is my favorite thing to do.” The work that she does feels like “a long list of learnings, and sharing those learnings.” Her enthusiasm for her work is rare yet inspiring, an internal drive that thrives off of research and creation.
While the choice to leave the dance world can be scary, it also provides an opportunity to explore a new career path and a new line of work. “Stay curious, be open, and never settle,” Manzi remarks on her advice to fellow dancers interested in building a career beyond the studio and stage. She emphasizes the importance of trying a variety of career paths or hobbies until finding one that really clicks. Manzi has found that her confidence both in and outside of the studio has been positively impacted by her entrepreneurial endeavors. “I always struggled to learn choreography quickly and always felt discouraged that maybe I wasn’t smart,” Manzi adds. Through time and patience, she has come to discover that one must learn how their brain works and “how to use it for you,” she reflects. Staying committed to the process and finding a path that feels aligned is not easy, yet this curiosity and desire for growth has created a foundation of excitement in her life.
You can subscribe to Jenelle Manzi’s Substack here.
Dancers can also get 40% off of Get Golden products this month to celebrate the Founder Sale. Use code GGDANCE40 at getgolden.com.
By Rachel Marchica of Dance Informa.
Share this:
