Customer Reviews

I'm a Ballerina Now: A Complete Ballet Class For Young Beginners [VHS]

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

 

 

If you are looking for a good beginner video that really goes over the basic positions and steps, then find a different video. If you want something that gives a quick overview with real ballerinas dancing through after each little section this is what you want. Also, if you don't mind the music and words that teach the child what to do ("I open my toes and close my toes, standing very straight....") My daughter really likes it because of the "real" ballerinas and tends to follow them instead of learning the basics, which is fine. But for the cost, I was really looking for something that would give her a good base, such as first through fifth position first, arm positions, then movements, then dance steps or choreography. This seems to be a rather old looking video as well.

My daughter, who is too shy to face a class of peers just yet, adores this video and wants to "do her class" at least once a day, much to her twin brother's chagrin. I've really seen her picking up on the technique and form over the months, and her flexability has increased dramatically. The lyrics beautifully ingrain the moves and methods in her mind as she relaxes and enjoys feeling so pretty. After the girls practice a step, a profesional ballerina is shown performing the move, often with a partner. My daughter calls her brother over at that time to lift her and he obliges, heaving her an inch of the floor with a heavy grunt.

I have used this video for nearly two years, requiring practice twice a week. I have seen great progress with my daughter, although I did it with her the first six-12 months until I saw that she had the technique down correctly. The only problem I have seen with the video and her regular dance class, is that sometimes at class, her teacher will teach the step a little differently, and this will make my daughter feel that it is not the same step. However, since she is now the best dancer in her class (according to her teacher) I do feel that the video has really given her the edge. My daughters thoughts on the video? She liked it best when mom practiced with her. She is sometimes likely to be lazy in practice when doing it alone. She is now ready to move on to something more difficult. She has just completed her 3rd year in ballet.

I wanted to buy a ballet video for my daughter's 2nd birthday. She loves dancing and singing and her favorite movie is Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (a lot of ballet-like dancing). Since I have Netflix I tried several videos before I decided which one to buy. Before watching the movies this video wasn't high on my list, but after watching them it was prefect! I do think that older children might do better with different videos (such as the Visual Dictionary of Ballet for Children) that are more technical, but the singing and music in this video is prefect to hold my 2 year old daughter's attention. Infact, she is watching it right now! (Great way to help your toddler wear off some of that "extra" energy!)

This DVD is an excellent practice aid to a beginning ballerina. The words in the music tell the dancer what to do and the child demonstrator shows the movement along with the rhythm. Each practice move is titled and the DVD moves in segments, practicing each movement - tondue, relevay, pase, pas de chat, chase, etc. Each segment has a real ballerina dancing through for about 5seconds giving inspiration. The demonstrating child dancer uses a bar for some movements. The middle stretch has them doing the movements of real dancers lying on their backs, thereby keeping the child safe and still getting the movement - high kicks, knee raises, etc. What I like about this video is that it's not expensive, it's primarily one demonstrator, the words for the movement are not from an instructor but rather are the words above the lovely piano music. My four year old loves to dance with it and it moves at just the right pace. I highly recommend this for anyone introducing ballet to their kiddo.

I bought this DVD as a birthday gift for my six year old daughter in order to encourage her with her dream to become a ballerina. The jacket described the DVD as "a complete ballet class for young beginners". I expected the DVD to be an instructional-type product. This was not a DVD that could be followed, like a typical exercise DVD. Instead, there was a very high pitched singer who sang every exercise while the child in the video executed the steps. The steps were never repeated, nor was there an instructor to encourage the viewer to attempt the step. Also, the film quality was lacking. It seemed to have been filmed with a consumer's handheld camcorder. The resulting video output was grainy. Also the video's speed was way too slow, which gave the video an odd, "slient film" feel to it. My daughter seemed disappointed and said to me, "I thought it was going to be a real class, with a teacher." "I'm a Ballerina Now" may be appropriate for very young children, maybe three or four but older children will probably become bored. My six year old did.

I got this DVD for my 3 year old granddaughter. She took her first ballet classes and I was looking for a movie she could practice to. She loves it and enjoys it constantly. Good product.

This is a very thorough review on beginning ballet. My daughter loves watching both the little girls and adults perform. I just wish they gave more time for each segment, but then again, this video covers so much that the video might be too long in the end. The singing is nice too because now my daughter can memorize the rules having the song in her head. I just don't like that there's much of a break in the singing, which can prove to be annoying for the adult ears.

My daughter who is 7 absolutely loves this video. Another lower review mentioned that this DVD did not give enough instruction, that it was low quality, etc...I couldn't disagree more. The instructor sings little songs set to beautiful classical-sounding music for your child to remember the different positions. I find myself singing them throughout the day after my daughter has done her ballet for the day :) If there were more things added to this video, I would almost venture to say that, for a beginner, it would be too much, too overwhelming, or too frustrating to do. My daughter finds it just challenging enough as she learns to stand in the right positions while keeping her back straight, her hands poised just so, and her feet pointed. I believe it is JUST ENOUGH of a good thing, to start ballet for the first time! Also, when your child is ready for more, you can go to kultur.com and find sequels to this DVD, for more instruction.

My 5 year old girl likes it and I like it. She plays it and dance. She likes the music and she enjoys it.