Ballet-Fit Workout: Develop Strength, Control, Flexibility, and Grace with the Revolutionary Bodytorque Program [Paperback]

Megan Connelly (Author), Paula Baird-Colt (Author), David McAllister (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 2004

Not everyone can have the body of a dancer, but the program in Ballet-Fit Workout shows how to achieve many of dancers' desirable physical attributes: a strong, flexible spine; a toned, stable midsection; shapely, defined muscles; and sleek, graceful posture.

Written for people with no formal ballet training, this book uses clear, jargon-free explanations and detailed photos to teach the fitness techniques utilized by world-class dancers. Optimal health is the focus throughout Ballet-Fit Workout, and the author shows how classic dance training not only reshapes the body but also teaches mental focus and leads to a calm, refreshed mind.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Ulysses Press (December 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569754381
• ISBN-13: 978-1569754382
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,238,213 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not what you might expect, August 24, 2005

By 

Keturah Young "K.Young" (Colorada, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ballet-Fit Workout: Develop Strength, Control, Flexibility, and Grace with the Revolutionary Bodytorque Program (Paperback)

You will, no doubt, open this book and expect pages full of plies, grand battlement, ronde de jambe, etc. But you're not going to find that. What you will find is many movements based more-or-less on the Alexander Technique. Which is fine. Most of us need to relearn how to use our bodies so we are more efficient and graceful in our movements. That said, this is not a workout that's going to help you develop strength - except for the small section containing ab exercises. It's mainly based on stretching, rotating your joints, and the like. The exercises given will help you develop flexibility and grace, and relearn new habits of posture and movement.

I gave this book 4 stars because of it's misleading title and lack of strength-building exercises. But it's not a bad book. I think this would be a fine beginner's intro to Alex.Tech. for someone who can't find a practitioner. But don't expect this program by itself to produce a body that looks like any of the gorgeous ballet dancers that are photographed in this book. (and the dancers they chose do have beautiful bodies!)