Customer Reviews

The Ballet Workout

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I started dance classes three years ago at the age of 38, and bought The Ballet Workout to help develop more muscle control in my hips and legs. I've done yoga, Pilates, belly dance, aerobic dance, but really, nothing compares to ballet for gaining the strength and muscle control I'm looking for.
Melissa Lowe is a good teacher. Her voice is pleasant, and her descriptions of movements were very precise, complete, and not at all redundant. As a beginner-level adult, I needed that level of explanation so I could execute movements correctly without injury.
Some things, like Ms. Lowe's stage makeup and poker face may seem jarring to the 21st century viewer, but keep in mind that this tape was produced in 1983, one of the very first dance instruction videos, before teachers had much collective experience before a video camera.
For me, the moves are difficult to execute, even at the tape's "beginner level", perhaps because of my age and inherent lack of flexibility. I would have appreciated being able to see what the exercises look like when executed correctly, although the dancer cannot yet achieve complete turnout or raise the leg fully. Melissa Lowe's verbal description was a great help for me to be able to make a good guess, but a demo would have worked even better.
I look forward to seeing more of Melissa Lowe's video instruction, as in these last twenty years, she will have become a prodigious teacher.

I love the workouts on this tape. I've been using this tape for a year now - which is proof that it works, it's easy to stick with, and the workout is as challenging as you make it (there's always a technique or position to improve). You see and feel results right away. Whenever I see that I'm gaining a couple of pounds or my legs are losing their shape, I just follow this workout for a week or two, and I fit into my jeans again. I can't wait to try the second video by Melissa Lowe!

This video is for anyone who is trying to tighten things up. In only a few weeks I noticed a difference. After the first workout I felt great! It shows some really good stretching exercises. It also makes you more aware of your posture so you stand taller and look thinner. The moves are so easy that my two and three year old children love to do "ballet" with me.

This videotape gives a fairly good introduction to the basic exercises in classical ballet. Beginners will have to rewind it frequently to understand the exercises; advanced students may find it helpful for teaching purposes. The narrators are pretty good at explaining things, and someone who just wants to get a workout but with a ballet flavor should buy it. The exercises in the tape are not aerobic, but the precision required in performing them will definitely be a good workout, for the body and the mind.

As with other workout videos, I found the ballet workout much more talk and explanation than actual workout. For once, I wish someone would put out an exercise video where one could just DO the exercises without all the chatter.

It might help to know that I have taken ballet class for several years, am familiar with all of the positions, etc. and therefore am not interested in all of the "stopping" the action to assure correct placement of arms, feet, etc.

Please someone out there put out a video without all the talk!

I am an x dancer and ballet teacher...over 60..I take jazzercise 4 days a week, but come back to this video because I would like to regain the "long" dancer look....that nothing but ballet gives you...the video allows you to work slowly with help

This is a wonderful workout, especially for those of us who used to take ballet but can no longer make it to classes. Segments are only 30 minutes, but don't let that deter you-- there is a lot of workout in that half hour! Beginners or out of practice dancers may find this video a bit too fast-paced at first, but after a few times of doing it, it does not seem as fast (and there is always the pause button). This is great for toning (or re-forming) all of your leg muscles!

I've done this tape/dvd about 120x from 1999-2006 -- only because there wasn't anything better at the time. It's what you'd call an 'old stand-by'. Nothing outstanding to recommend itself by todays standards in production or intellectual 'snap', but not the worst thing you will ever own as far as a ballet dvd goes.

It's stand-out points include: an overcrowded class, ancient hyper-extended stretches, ugly costumes, an akward piano score, uninspiring stressful undertones, and a forced and failed attempt at grace - but all that said, it IS a ballet class! There is no getting away from that. It might be a ballet class from 1981, and you'd probably assume there'd be some redeeming nostalgia about that, but, no, it must have been a bad filming day.

Back when I used to first do it, I never liked it but, it was the best there was, and I was bloody grateful and probably would have given it a much more glowing review 8 years ago. Now, tho? It's not worth the money in my opinion. Get Dmitri Roudnev's Ballet Class with Dmitri Roudnev (Demonstration of exercises for music of Best of Ballet Class Vol V) and be truly inspired by a worthy ballet class. (see my unabashed, miles-long, glowing review of Dmitri's DVD.)

I've seen a lot, a lot, a lot of good reviews for this tape/dvd, The Ballet Workout. I believe they stem from the same gratitude my only positive feelings about it do, as well. Honestly, back in the day, there was this ballet class to buy - and that's it. And because it covers 'basic ballet' the gratitude for this even existing for home use was, understandably, overwhelming when it was reviewed in the past. But it doesn't hold up any more for that singular reason, and thankfully, others have come along to replace this stiff class that always made me feel like the tention in it would make it blow apart at the seams.

Is it the worst ballet dvd you could by? Is it a waste of money? No. It really isn't. You do ballet exercises in it. It's a hard class. If it was the only ballet class left in the world, I'd again, be thrilled to have it. It takes itself very seriously. It's akward, stiff, static, and tense. There's almost zero joy in it. It reminds me of what taking ballet in prison would be like, except that's an insult to anyone studying ballet in prision.

Is the Ballet Workout a treasure? Beautiful? Uplifting? Inspiring? No. It's just an old tired, ballet class now, and not wonderfully 'old' in that you can learn marvellous timeless things from it. Just old. Tired. Done. And not what my ballet class dreams are made of.

The Ballet Workout, Level I, is approx. a 40 minute workout which includes the floor warmup, barre work and some center work. There is also a Level II on the tape that is also approx. 40 minutes and the ballet steps are a little more advanced. For me, the 40 minute workout is a perfect length of time since I, as we all do, have a full schedule. The most exciting thing about the tape for me is that I am basically taking a ballet class again, but in the privacy of my own home. I studied classical ballet for 15 years, but it has been 20 years since then. The instructor executes her movements perfectly. The 4 other women students are intermediate level, which doesn't intimidate me. Since I am familiar with the terminology & timing of steps, it is easy to follow. I also like that the tape doesn't waste too much time with explanations or corrections, so I wouldn't recommend it to someone who has had little to no ballet training. There is always a chance of injury if someone is not correcting body positioning.

I took ballet for several years growing up and even got on toe. I stopped and came back to ballet when I was in my 20's. I have loved this video b/c it feels like my old ballet classes, is the right length of time, leaves me feeling like I worked out (and have improved my posture), and is a literal "class." I was looking so forward to receiving the New York City Ballet DVD and was sorely disappointed with the lack of "class" feel (even though it is very well shot) b/c I love barre work. (Also, if you want to look at a bunch of naked bodies . . . well, I prefer the "good, old fashioned" tights and leotard in Miss Lowe's workout way better -- way better)!

The only drawback I see (and I agree with other reviewers) is that I wish she had explained more of the moves as you do them. She never really explains them and then expects you to figure them out as you dance (while your eyes are down at the floor or following your hand)?!! You have to watch and memorize the tape before you can do the moves, frankly -- which if you have prior ballet experience is somewhat easy to pick up on, but frustrating, none the less, at least at first! I love the music she chooses, but the exercises are a bit short. I wish she had done them twice on each leg or made them a bit longer like many of the classes that I have taken. Still, I am happy and look forward to my "class" every day I do them. I recommend the second workout in her series for a more advanced dancer. Personally, I am still working on the first (even though I have enough "knowledge" to keep up with the second) simply b/c I need to get back in shape again. Enjoy your workout!

Oh, and Miss Lowe is a typical "dancer," so I didn't expect to be "entertained" during her explanations. Her dancing makes up plenty for others' comments about her "dryness" of personality in reaching out to the video audience. I thought she was splendid, and is a beautiful dancer and example to follow! My understanding of dancing, and what I need to do to be a good dancer, is enhanced and strengthened by simply watching her . . .