Product Details

• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Kultur Video
• VHS Release Date: January 29, 2002
• Run Time: 45 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005YURI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #393,812 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The New Ballet Workout presents a 45-minute classical and neoclassical ballet workout consisting of floor work, barre work, and center work. Melissa Lowe, former professional ballet dancer, begins with a warm-up of stretches, controlled abdominal curls, and back-flexibility exercises on the mat. Next she and her small ensemble do a series of barre routines, each different in focus and intensity. Lowe talks you through each routine the first time (you need to know ballet terminology to understand the instructions), then you repeat it uninstructed--which will be difficult until you've practiced it many times.

The box incorrectly states, "Prior ballet experience is helpful but not essential." Previous ballet experience is a must--Lowe assumes you know ballet terminology and how to perform the moves. The short centering routines are done totally without instruction--just follow along, or sit down and watch (it's lovely). You'll enjoy this video if you have ballet experience--and a barre in your living room. --Joan Price

From the Back Cover

Melissa Lowe's The New Ballet Workout addresses new fitness goals of wellness, renewal, and vitality. The program presents fundamental concepts of classical ballet with some neo-classical twists. It is designed to help the viewer find the joy of movement and the beauty of dance as a way of conditioning and to contribute to an overall sense of well-being. Prior ballet experience is helpful but not essential. Original piano compositions provide a unique sound to enhance each exercise. This 45-minute workout is a series of exercises that follow a gradual progression, consisting of floor work, barre work, and centre work.

The New Ballet Workout offers the following mind-body benefits:

• Increase in circulation
• Mobilization of the joints
• Decrease in muscle tightness, stress, and tension
• Improvement in posture, alignment, poise, and self-confidence
• Increased stamina and body core strengthening
• Improved concentration through use of mind-body integration (a dancer's form of mediation)
• Ease of movement (moving free of strain) through comprehension of techniques using breath, relaxation, joint and spine release.

Melissa Lowe received her early training at the School of American Ballet and American Ballet Theatre where she was an apprentice to the company. She danced professionally with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Houston Ballet as a soloist, then with Pacific Northwest Ballet as a principal dancer. At the University of Arizona she is a professor of ballet and director of early movement education. 45 minutes.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good video if you have had ballet experience, March 1, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: New Ballet Workout [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I agree with the other viewer that you must have had ballet experience to do this video. The exercises here are more comlpicated then her other videos. The only thing I did not like about the video is that it does not have a ton of center exercises. Unlike the other viewer, I like the fact she does not spend hours demonstrating things and explaining exercises. If you have had a couple years of ballet experience the video is easy to follow, and you do not have to wade through hours of explanation on how to do a plie.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The New Ballet Workout VHS Melissa Lowe, February 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: New Ballet Workout [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This ballet video is almost impossible to follow. The feet and legs of the dancers are shown fleetingly if at all, the combinations are hard to follow and narrated only one time through (extremely frustrating given that most of the time the viewer is watching the necks and faces of the dancers), if you do not have a background in ballet you will not understand the terminology used nor will you be able to do these exercises in such a way as to get a meaningful workout. I took adult ballet, at professional schools and with excellent teachers, and found this tape aggravating to say the least. The New York City Ballet Workout is a much better tape (even though it can become a little monotonous with repetition) for an "at home" workout. Don't waste your money on this one unless you want to spend 45 minutes looking at the hairdos of dancers.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Ballet Dancers will love it - anyone else will NOT, January 29, 2006

By 

Gail K. Spitzer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The New Ballet Workout: Wellness, Renewal and Vitality (DVD)

Yes, I agree with all other reviewers in saying that you MUST have ballet experience to do this "workout" - at least 5 years or so of ballet training. It really annoys me when former ballet dancers and ballet teachers think they can sell a video to the general public by calling it a "workout" instead of a ballet class...make no mistake, this IS an advanced ballet class. I've been dancing and teaching for almost 20 years and I, personally, like the video, but it should NOT be sold to the public as a workout that anyone can do. If you do not have ballet experience you could risk serious injury trying to follow along with this fast paced class. On the other hand...dancers will love it.