Customer Reviews

Classical Art of Ballet: Basic Positions and Movements

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is an excellant DVD for an absolute beginner. As an adult who has just begun ballet training, I had no knowledge of the basic ballet positions. This DVD helps you to get familiar with the basic positions in ballet.
My only gripe is that the movements aren't put into combinations or practiced continously so that you can practice along. An extensive history of ballet is given in between each teaching segment, but there is an interactive menu so you can skip those parts.
If you need to know the basic ballet positions, then this is a good DVD (and the price isn't bad either). They also review arms, eyes, and body alignment. Plies, releves, and arabesques are also reviewed. NO combinations at all.

If you have kids that fancy taking ballet classes, then this dvd is perfect. However, if you are over the age of 13 and want a dance video for yourself, you might want to pick out something else. Perhaps something that doesn't have references to "dancing like a fairy princess" like this one does.

As the other reviewer says, this is solely for the very beginners. Even so, not all first beginners are interested. Not only there are no combinations, most of the basic movements and positions are done by rather amateurish ballerinas. Even for the professional ones, which are scarce anyway, don't expect anything anywhere near the Kirov, De L'opera de Paris or Royal Ballet... The overall production is so and so. It takes quite an effort to finish this 50 min long DVD. I'm afraid few including the beginners will return to it, if at all.

I thought I would be getting an instruction DVD, not one made like an after-school-special!
It's made like a little story, not a regular how-to DVD

I don't think the child who wrote the review has any concept of ballet whatsoever. If she did, she would know there is a crossed fourth, open fourth, a fifth and open fifth positions of the arms. And for her information, it is not an elementary DVD, so they have good reason to leave battements tendu out as a solo movement exercise as it is too simplistic for the target audience of the DVD.

Both DVD's are educational, motivational, and exciting. I was looking for an exercise program that not only challenged me in my senior years when muscle strength and flexibility are ebbing, but also would put me touch with my body. In the beginning, the workout is tough but, with practice, its is getting easier. For me, NYC Ballet Workouts are "the grand poo-paa". Thank you NYC Ballet.

The review doesen't have any combonation. They for got battment tendu. It is suppose to be in the very first class you take in ballet. There is no such thing as fourth and fifth position of arms. Arabeques and Releves were taught near the end of level one. I don't want to think about turns or point work until later on. And the poses are all worng. Don't waste your money. I woul give it 0 stars if I could.