#FFB: Mara Davi & Melody Davi
There is nothing quite like a sister bond! After being so inspired by Mara Davi's performance in Dames at Sea it was no surprise to find out this talented gal was sister to one of my favorite (kick-your-butt) fitness instructors in the city, Melody Davi! These two sisters are a power team and my favorite pairing, Fitness & Broadway! :) I love sharing stories of support on Fit for Broadway and these two couldn't be truer examples of the impact of supportive relationships. Mara and Melody prove it's never a solo journey to become Fit for Broadway!
NOTE FROM MARA: Hey FFB! This is Mara Davi, and I’m currently tapping my troubles away in “Dames at Sea” at the Helen Hayes theatre. I’m a DIY gal who loves to garden, cook, knit and make candles from recycled jars. My favorite roles are wife, daughter, oldest sibling (there’s 4 of us: Mara, Melody, Micaela and Morgan) and aunt to Maggie.
INTERVIEW:
Q: My mom can verify but I literally couldn’t stop talking about you after seeing Dames at Sea! I was so inspired by your performance! Where did it all start? What was your journey to Broadway?
A: Oh wow! Thank you so much! It all started watching Disney movies and movie musicals as a kid. I wanted to sing like Ariel and dance with Gene Kelly. And then I realized that the place to do that was on Broadway! My mom signed me up for acting, singing and dancing lessons, and I was hooked! I did community theatre all through high school. I was in my second year of college at Cal State Fullerton when I was cast in a tour of 42nd Street as Peggy Sawyer, so I took a leave of absence to tour for a year. That led to an extended leave when I was cast in White Christmas in Boston. When White Christmas closed I came to New York for three weeks to decide if I should move here or go back to school. The day before I was to fly back to California, I was cast as Maggie in the Broadway Revival of A Chorus Line. That answered my question!
Q: Your character in Dames at Sea is one of my favorites I’ve seen in a long time! So much confidence and gumption!! What’s your advice for finding those qualities offstage?
A: You know what? I’ve actually been thinking about this a lot lately. Thinking about how great it feels to be completely confident and self-assured as Joan every night, and how much less I feel those things in my everyday life. One of the most appealing things about being an actor is getting to transform into another person and experience life from a different point of view. The “mask” of that character allows us to be free, make bold choices, take risks.
So how does someone take the qualities they enjoy onstage and infuse them into offstage life? Affirmation and ownership.
Affirm yourself. Look in the mirror and tell yourself what you are good at and truly believe it. In the process of trying not to be conceited, we have gone too far the other direction and we don’t take pride in our strengths. Affirm your uniqueness!
Ownership: When auditioning, walk in the room like you are doing the job. It is your job and you are on the set doing your job. That way you get to spend your audition doing what you love, instead of hoping someone will give you the job so you can do what you love. In life, it’s the same thing. Own who you are and know (as the FFB shirt says) “you are enough.”
Q: Your sister is basically your FFB trainer, which is SO awesome. Has fitness always been an important part of your journey?
A: Seriously! It is amazing to have a kickass trainer for a sister (and she owes me free classes for “borrowing” my things when we were young!) I had always gotten my exercise from dancing, and I have practiced yoga for a long time. But when Melody became a trainer, she expanded my fitness horizons. I saw the changes happening in her body and it inspired me. She has introduced me to HIIT, kickboxing, rowing,and the megaformer, plus I continue to practice yoga. I love the variety!
Q: I loved hearing about your passion for natural, organic food, clothes, activities, etc! And you mentioned you’d be a farmer if you weren’t a Broadway performer. :) Do tell!...
Yes! Our world is getting further and further from nature. It’s scary! Give me things that are real, not processed and bathed in chemicals. I am crazy fortunate to have a backyard in NYC (I know!) so I learned how to garden and now I grow veggies and create compost right outside my backdoor. My hubby and I are also members of a CSA farm share to supplement what we grow at home. It’s really affordable and so worth it! The garden is where my interest in sustainability began, but now I’m trying to branch out and be more conscious about the sustainability of my clothing, energy usage, waste, etc. I’ve learned a lot from The Broadway Green Alliance. They have great resources on their website.
Q: You meditate! I’m a little bit obsessed with mediation, I think it’s the cure to pretty much everything. How has it influenced your life?
A: I love it so much! 20 minutes before breakfast and 20 before dinner. Meditating is like pushing the reset button. It’s a great way to refresh for the second half of a day. I highly recommend it for performers because sometimes napping between shows makes the voice drop too low and there’s not enough time to warm it back up. Meditating is just the right amount of rest to rejuvenate without shutting down completely.
Q: What’s your advice for performers pursuing a career on Broadway?
A: Balance. It is so important to have other things in life to keep you grounded and whole. For me, those things are my husband, my family (especially my niece, Mel’s daughter, Maggie, who makes every day brighter), my friends, my garden, good books and films, yoga, knitting, cooking. These things will only help make your work as an actor richer and more personal.
Q: Who or what inspires you?
A: My husband, Aaron. His intelligence, imagination, sense of humor and compassion are a constant source of inspiration.
CONNECT
Twitter @Mara_Davi | Instagram: MARADAVI | www.maradavi.com
“My Body is my Instrument” & "Mind Body Broadway" from Fit for Broadway Apparel
(click HERE or click the picture!)
NOTE FROM MELODY: Hi I'm Melody- a fitness fanatic, megaformer motivator, and water rower regulator. A lover of peanut butter and burpees, my truest passion is going on adventures with my daughter Maggie, puppy Skooter, and partner in crime Eli.
INTERVIEW:
Q: Your Body Conceptions class has always kicked my booty!! Your intensity is seriously motivating and you understand the body of a performer so well because that’s where your journey started! What was the transition like from performance to fitness?
A: I have always been extremely active, whether through dance classes at the age of 3 or my school basketball team. Movement brings me a sanity and sense of purpose like nothing else. Working as a performer, I discovered that organized, well-planned movement- be it a trip to the gym or a pilates class- increased not only my physical abilities on stage but also my mental outlook everywhere. There came a sort of “a-ha!” moment when I realized that the joy I derived from helping both myself and others realize their body’s capabilities took over, and what was once a part-time money maker became a full-time passion (and career!)
Q: Performers literally have to have it all- core strength, stability, flexibility, etc etc. & more! :) What are your Top 5 exercises to build a strong performance body?
PLANK! The perfect exercise- total body conditioning centered around the core- our powerhouse for every other single movement. Plus there are so many variations to keep it interesting!
On that note- Pushups (which are basically a moving plank) are fantastic especially for singers. I find that doing a set of 10-15 right before going on stage helps to open my chest, improve my posture, and even increase my vocal range. (Plus your arms will look fantastic!)
HIIT [High Intensity Interval Training]- One of my favorite training modalities for two different reasons: 1. Performers are always strapped for time, and these shorts bursts of activity give you the most bang for your buck in minimal time; 2. They are proven to be more effective at building both muscular and cardiovascular strength. No more wasting away on the elliptical!
Squats- yes, they will give you a killer booty, but even more so, they will help keep you grounded and create a strong, connected presence both on and off-stage.
Not really an exercise, but Foam Rolling (or “self myofascial release”) has been a godsend after one injury too many. Using this therapeutic tool, both pre/post workout, will help increase blood flow and overall muscle recovery.
Q: You pretty much cover the gamut of fitness as an instructor. What’s your advice for someone who is new to fitness and just starting their Fit for Broadway journey?
A: Try everything! NYC houses hundreds of fitness studios and gyms which cater to all sorts of needs and preferences. Services like Class Pass and Studio Reserve allow you to sample from this feast and find which modes are most delicious. Thanks to the variety available, I am able to teach dance cardio, rowing, and pilates megaformer at studios I may never have discovered had I not gone exploring. Go find what motivates and inspires you, talk to the people working where you would like employment, ask questions, and above all, never stop studying to become the best you can in your chosen specialty.
Q: Being a fitness instructor takes serious #foodFUEL! What are eating habits that help you feel your best? Any advice for performers who are fueling for workouts & shows?
A: Try to match your food intake to your daily activity quantity. On too many instances, I have seen clients/colleagues believe they needed to restrict their diet for whatever reasons, only to wind up lethargic and unable to perform at their best. You are in a city and industry that is always on the move, which means you need smart substance to support that lifestyle. Try to consume QUALITY ingredients, mostly plant-based, throughout the day. AND keep your happy foods- I have to have a piece of heart healthy dark chocolate every day!
Q: There is so much crossover in the performance and fitness world. What’s your advice for performers who also want to pursue a career as a fitness instructor?
A: The two careers pair so well together! Both involve a great deal of creativity, self-awareness, and desire to help impact others in some way. My best advice is to find a gym/studio/company that understands your performance career and is willing to help schedule around your needs, be it auditions or performances. If you have support on both ends of your professional spectrum, performing and fitness instruction can make for a wonderful, rewarding combination.
Q: Suggestions for pump up workout songs?! I love a good pop power playlist!
A: I go through phases of artists, where I will end up putting 3 of their songs in one playlist! Current obsessions: Ellie Goulding, Jack U, DJ Snake, and (guiltiest pleasure) Justin Bieber. Can’t stop playing his new album!
Q: Who or what inspires you?
A: My family: Parents who have never been anything but supportive no matter which path my life has taken. Siblings who could not be more different and yet all amazingly talented in their respective fields. And most importantly- my little girl Maggie: every day I get to see the world through her big, wondrous eyes and am reminded of how life is full of endless, undiscovered adventures!
CONNECT
Instagram @melodynyc
SISTER CHAT:
Q: I have an older sister and I think if we lived in the same city, all my dreams would come true! :) Yall mentioned moving here together and supporting each other every step of the way! How has your sister support impacted each of your journeys?
Mara: It’s just awesome. Moving to New York with Mel at my side made it instantly feel more like home. We’ve been able to share big life events in person. When I got engaged, she was the first person I showed the ring to. When Maggie was born, I was in that waiting room ready to meet my niece! And the small life events are just as great: a coffee date, a workout date, even taking these pictures together!
Mel: I moved to the city with Mara when I was fairly young, with absolutely no idea what I was doing. She has in turn kept me sane, grounded, and always given me a shoulder to cry on when I needed it. I help her practice audition sides, she is my fitness class guinea pig. The moments we get to spend together with Maggie make me grateful she will get to grow up with such a strong female role model near by.
Q: It seems like yall are the perfect compliment to support each other’s dreams! Words of wisdom for everyone following their dreams?
Mara: My acting coach always says “The little victories are the big ones.” A dream can seem so far away. Take time to acknowledge each step you take on the way to that dream. Each step is a victory.
Mel: Remember there is no “right” or “wrong” path to accomplishing your dreams, and along that path, you may find those dreams have changed. Embrace the change, know that you can have MULTIPLE dreams, and work to be your best self no matter what road you take.
Q: Quotes to live by…
Mara: “Our future will never be any better than how we are accustomed to creating the present.” -Simon Haas
“You’re doing it, Peter!” -Hook
Mel: “If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.” (In life AND in fitness!)
“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.”- e.e. cummings
