Customer Reviews

A Fantasy Garden Ballet Class [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is an incredible, fun class for young children. We've rented this video from our library more than 20 times and still want to own it. This teacher is every parent and child's dream.

I must admit that at first I wasn't overly impressed with this video. It is a dance class video, no real "frills." My 5 year old daughter on the other hand takes it very seriously. Today she even asked me, "Mommy next year when I take dance, can I have this teacher if she's available?" I have even found myself on more than one occasion reliving my ballerina dreams with my daughter, focusing on the instructor, trying desperately to get my 30 something old feet to do the moves! At least twice a week we push back the coffee table and roll up the rug. This one is a winner in our home.

The instruction? Excellent! Technique? Perfect level for a young child!

To an experienced professional it may appear to be lacking, however it is important to remember what the audience is for this tape. It's fun and educational without being overwhelming... helping to prepare young children for formal dance lessons in the future years.

As for the person who reviewed Ms. Boross' teaching to be "turned in," it makes me wonder what they were watching because it certainly was not this video. I'm glad I did not let the opinion of that particular view disuade my purchase.

My children love the video, and to echo someone else, my daughters all want "Miss Rosemary" to teach them in real life!

When we put this video in all 4 of my kids (5,4 and 3 year old twins)stopped what they were doing and began following along! They even clapped for themselves between songs and begged me to let them watch it all the way through to the end! That's proof enough if a good video for me!

I was very disappointed in this DVD. Aside from being lit and directed poorly, there was little to no variation in the camera angles, the sound was mastered poorly, the teacher was nearly impossible to hear over the mildly-grating music, and the moves were not well-taught. The little routines were cute enough, but they weren't really something that could be followed and imitated easily. It just wasn't very engaging.

My daughter really enjoyed Yoga Kids (by Gaiam/Living Arts), which I thought was a far better example of a well-made educational/exercise kids' video.

It is a bit disappointing. I am looking for a more technically oriented video. The exercise being done in the video is fun and interesting and my 2 year old like it a lot. However, the "models" are not quite up to standard. My daughter asked me "why don't they point their toes and jump properly?" Kids like to copy, a good model is very important.

As a ballet teacher looking for a method that would teach 3 and 4 yr olds technique, but still keep their attention, the songs on this were perfect and I wanted to adjust movements. I had adapted some exercises from the dvd a few years ago and used my own music, but I just discovered that she now has a book and CDs that come with it which I purchased, and have just begun to use. A mom of a three year old was so impressed that her daughter knew what plies and tendus were after the second week, was able to show her, and I'll admit I was surprised too. The repetition of the songs helps for sure!

I purchased A Fantasy Garden Ballet Class and its sequel A Fantasy Garden Ballet class II for my 2 year old daughter who is not quite old enough for a dance class. She absolutely loves watching it and loves Miss Rosemary, she sings along with the songs and participates as if she's part of the class on the tv. I have used it with my preschool class in the winter when we can't get out to exercise and even the boys like it. It has great little songs to do along with ballet stretches. The children love that there are small children (aged 4-6) showing the stretches. I love that the music is quiet and soft flowing so that it keeps the kids calm instead of getting them too hyped up. I give this movie 5 stars.

This is great practice for those once-a-week ballet classes, to keep the kids limber and continue improving knowledge of terminology, strength, flexibility and grace throughout the week. And the best part is, they all enjoy it! I have two boys and two girls, ages 5 to 9, and we all do it in our small living room together. It gets a little crowded, but we figure it out. As a home educator, I love being able to be active indoors without tearing down the house.

If you are a home educator, you know it can be difficult to keep the kids active when the weather is bad...which around here in the Northwest is a majority of the year. I first tried this video when I checked it out at the library in a different town. My kids were between 2 and 6 at that time. Three years have passed and I STILL remembered how much they loved doing it then. When I couldn't find it at the library in our new town, I had to find another way. As someone who does not shop online, for me to take the time to seek it out and buy it means it is very good for our family!

I got this disc as a hand me down and my 3 year old daughter loves it. I used it to see if she was "ready" for real ballet classes, to see if it would hold her attention. She completely imitates the entire 40 minute class, and really loved it. Now she's in "real" preschooler classes and I think the video actually taught her more than class does - and the DVD is only the cost of 2 classes! If the dance class teacher used the DVD i think the class would go better! What makes it work so well is that the songs reinforce the movements, and introduce ballet terms, so everything just goes together naturally and practice of the movements just happens rather than feeling boring.

I agree the production quality is kind of uninspiring for an adult - but that's not who this is geared for. And all of us now get the songs stuck in our heads - for better or worse!