Sweden’s Pilates history begins with Annalena Bergström in 1974, when Balettakademien, in collaboration with Musikdramatiska skolan, now Operahögskolan, brought Alan Herdman from London to start Sweden’s first Pilates studio under the name Body Control Studio. The premises were located at Balettakademien on Brunnsgatan in Stockholm.
Lillemor Lundberg, then rector’s assistant, contacted her while she was studying physiotherapy and asked if she was interested in training in Pilates technique under Alan Herdman, in order to later take over the studio when he returned to London. The training was conducted by her “shadowing” him during two four-month periods and gradually beginning to teach. Annalena ran Balettakademien’s Pilates studio for seven years and then moved to Kulturama, where she operated their studio between 1982 and 1991. During that time she also started her own studio together with two naprapaths on Riddargatan. The studio at Balettakademien continued for a few years but was eventually closed.
In 1991 she left Kulturama to open her own full-time studio on Roslagsgatan, again together with naprapaths, three this time. Kulturama’s studio also closed after only a year. In 1996 she found — or rather Richard Thörn, one of the first naprapaths she collaborated with, found — the premises at Atlasgatan 12, which became her final location as an independent business owner. Elisabet (Davidsson) Prag, who had been employed by Annalena during the Atlasgatan years, took over the studio on January 1, 2001 at Annalena’s request, now under the name Davidsson Pilates-Scandinavia.
Over the years Annalena maintained continuous contact with Alan Herdman and visited him in London for further education. She worked outside the studio throughout this period. On three occasions she traveled to Copenhagen for their newly established modern dance program to teach and start a studio. She has also guest-taught at Cullbergbaletten, Norrdans, Kungliga musikhögskolan, Operahögskolan, and Kristinehamns folkhögskola.
After receiving her basic training from Alan in 1974 in Stockholm, a “commuting” period to London began that never really stopped. One summer she worked with Alan and his colleagues at The Place (London Contemporary Dance School). In 1980 she traveled to New York, partly to attend the first dance medicine conference that was organized and partly to train more Pilates. She trained there with Robert Fitzgerald, one of Pilates’ own students, and also visited Carola Trier, another of Pilates’ first disciples. These two in turn trained Alan Herdman. Other studios visited included the original studio where Joseph stood as a bronze bust in the middle of the room. Anderson and Kasakove was another place she trained, where among others Natalia Makarova trained. Annalena also worked in Houston, Texas, together with Alan, where he had a branch of his three London-based studios.
After more than 30 years in the profession, Annalena was employed at Danshögskolan and at Davidsson Pilates-Scandinavia. Today Annalena lives in Skåne close to her animals and nature.