Product Details

• Directors: Ziggie Bergman
• Format: Color, Live, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Sony
• VHS Release Date: May 20, 1997
• Run Time: 45 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304418809
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #241,954 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

How to Be a Ballerina helps budding ballerinas combine basic dance steps with graceful movement to create five simple yet effective solo dances for the ballet Sleeping Beauty. Following several brief warm-up exercises, ballet instructor Debra Bradnum and several young students demonstrate simple dances for "Enchanted Garden," "Woodland Glade Fairy," "Songbird Fairy," "Lilac Fairy," and "Carabosse--the Wicked Fairy." By combining dance steps like plié, spring point, walking, running, and chaseé with graceful arm movements and elements of mime, Bradnum creates solo dances appropriate for both novices and more proficient ballet students. Each dance is carefully demonstrated, then presented at speed with piano accompaniment. The program culminates with a fully staged and costumed performance featuring student soloists in each of the five aforementioned dances. Intended as an aid to imaginative play and crafted to be safe for untrained children, this 45-minute video is informative and practicable. (Ages 3 to 8) --Tami Horiuchi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Too much fun to miss..., November 18, 2002

By 

L. A. Case (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Be a Ballerina [VHS] (VHS Tape)

After seeing so many choices of ballet teaching videos on Amazon, I consulted my local library and was able to borrow this one. We found it charming and fun (our daughter takes a weekly hour long 5-6 yr old ballet/jazz combo class although ballet is her favorite). The instructor is pleasant and clearly describes the moves as she is doing them with the "class". I must note here that I have already purchased the "Learn Nutcracker Dances with Me" and although it's nice, it seemed more like a home movie done by someone who likes to ham it up with filming effects. This video (How to Be...) is very easy to follow and, while it is NOT a source for basic technique learning, it does a wonderful job at giving children some fun ballet skits to put together from rehersal to performance. We also enjoyed the final performance at the end. If in doubt about this choice- call your local library and try it for free. I plan to purchase this one and the Royal Ballet's Sleeping Beauty DVD for our collection.

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My daughter LOVES this video., October 12, 1999

By 

BONNIE "Bonnie Ward" (Exeter, New Hampshire USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Be a Ballerina [VHS] (VHS Tape)

My toddler started watching this video at 18 months ... now at 27 months I actually think I have to buy another one becuase it is getting so worn!! The Instructor is very nice, clear and obviously loves both dance and small children. What she teaches is truly good - and in a manner easy for small children to follow, although it certainly is not a replacement for formal instruction - but she doesn't mean it to be ... it is to get the children interested -- and IT SUCCEEDS!! My daughter's FAVORITE thing is to watch this video ... and I like it because not only is it good, it means I can sit for 20 minutes!

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My 3-year-old loved it!, December 5, 1999

By 

Tricia Concannon (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Be a Ballerina [VHS] (VHS Tape)

My three-year-old daughter started participating almost immediately. Sleeping Beauty is one of her favorite stories, and all the steps taught are easy for kids to imitate. Even the ones she couldn't do, she was able to copy to some degree so that she felt like she was really dancing like the girls on TV. The video held her attention the whole way through, and I'm sure we will play it over and over.