(Posted 8:30 a.m., Oct. 11)
Elite 'sculpt and fit' program a real life changer
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

After enjoying a couple of weeks off at home, Steffi Didomenicantonio is about to rejoin the cast of 'Spring Awakening' for the resumption of the Broadway touring production in Milwaukee. Fred Sherwin/Photo

It's been 2 years since Elite Martial arts and fitness owner Guy Ouellette held his first sculpt and fitness class.

He came up with the idea after his kickboxing class bacame too mundaine and broing.

He started the class out of necessity when he found that the people taking his cardio kickboxing class were getting too stagnent "The cardio kickboxing class was fine, people were getting results, but it was getting overley repetitive. I wanted to do something that was more challasnging both as an instructer ind as a student and included other aspects like nutrituion," says Ouellette

When you jouin the sculpt and fit class you are given a book which acts as a sort of daily journal in which you must post a picture of yuorself before you start working out. the book aldo contains tips in nurtitional food choices, a table to chart your progress, and a meal chart.

One of the problems many people have with the more traditional boutique fitness clubs is that they often feel as if they are just a number.

when people first join a gym they are motivated, but it only lasts so long, until the duldrums set in and it becomes harder to find or make the time to go. At Elite martial arts and fitness motivation never seems to be an issue. for one thing everyclass is different. ouellette spends a great deal of time and effort coming up with imaginative new excercises using different apparatus. "I liketo keep them guessing. they never know what i'm going to hit them with next. it makes things interesting," Says Ouellette, who provides class members with plenty of additional inspirtation during each class."One of the reasons I joined the club is Guy" Says Julie. "He's always pushing you to do more than you think you're capable of doing."

If so, then you don't know Steffi D. very well. While most people would be happy kicking back and taking it easy for awhile, Steffi spent her break filming the popular French language television show "Metier, Metier".

The past 15 months have been extremely busy for the 20-year-old Chapel Hill resident. It began with the opening of "Spring Awakening" in San Diego, California last August. For the next 13 months, Steffi and the rest of the cast of the critically acclaimed musical performed more than 350 shows in seven differnent cities including a four week stint in Toronto last spring.

The show was put on hiatus in June to to give the cast members a chance to go back to their hometowns and recharge their batteries. Steffi decided to spend the first two weeks of her break in New York City where she went to see as many Broadway shows as she could.

She then returned to Orleans to begin production of "Motié Motié", which was coincidetally being shot in Ottawa. Shooting wrapped up three weeks ago which gave Steffi a couple of weeks to prepare for the reopening of 'Spring Awakening' in Milwaukee this past week.

"I love working and being busy. It's great," says Steffi who became a household name duing Season 4 of Canadian Idol where she made it all the way to the Top 4.

After Canadian Idol Steffi went to George Brown College in Toronto for a year where she took theatre. While at George Brown she auditioned for a part in "Spring Awakening" which led to her being offered the role of Ilsa.

The rest, as they say, is history. The schedule for the first 10 months was relentless and involved eight shows a week with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday. The only day they didn't perform was on Mondays and a couple of days between enagements.

Even with the crazy schedule and the strain of having to live out of a suitcase, Steffi says it's been the greatest experience of her life so far and she can hardly wait to get back on the road.

"Yeah, I miss it. It's exhilerating and it does take a toll on your body, but I love it. Live theatre is amazing. Every night is a different experience and every new city brings a whole new vibe to it. I remember in Houston they hardly applauded at all. There's one scene that usually get a lot of laughs and I think one person might have chuckled when we did it. It was very strange," says Steffi.

The biggest challenge Steffi faces when the tour resumes will be in getting used to her fellow cast members. At least half of the original cast has moved on and have been replaced including Steffi's scene partner.

"It's sad, in a way. It's like losing a member of your family. When you spend so much time together and you're so close you become like a family," says Steffi. "We've been working togather developing the scene to the point where we were really happy with it and now I have to start all over again with someone new, but that comes with working on a Broadway tour."

Filming a television show is a different matter entirely. While there is an immediacy and intimacy with live theatre, being involved in a television production involves a lot of repitition and having to be patient.

"It's different. Live theatre is all about performing in the moment, while filming a television show is all about working towards a moment and having that moment captured forever and set in stone. In live theatre nothing is ever set in stone," says Streffi.

"I really love doing both, but for different reasons. I love doing live theatre because it so wonderful to be a member of a cast that's constantly evolving and to perform in front of an audience aand I love the technical aspect of working in front of a camera with a director and the challenge of trying to make the perfect scene."

For now Steffi is committed to working on "Spring Awakening". Although her contract runs out in February, there's a good chance she will be offered an extension until the end of the tour next spring. After that it's anybody's guess.

While she's willing to look at any project that comes her way, her ultimate goal is to land a role on a Broadway production in New York, where she'll be able to walk to work every day from her apartment, assuming she gets one.

"Wouldn't that be great. I'd like that very much," says Steffi with a smile as bright as the noon day sun.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)

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