I'm a Ballerina Now

Rating:
Summary: Video helpful to my 4-7 year old
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Not the best but not awful.
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Dance class in a box!
Review: 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.