Rating: 
Summary: Challenging but beautiful workout
Review: Though many reviewers would not describe this as a workout video, it is definitely exactly that...you truly need to WORK to get the most OUT of it.For everyone that is not familiar with ballet terms, you will be somewhat lost with the lingo. It will not explain fully or sometimes at all what the ballet terms mean so you will have to guess as you watch the dancers. For some, it will not be too difficult to learn what a plie or tendu is. The narrator mentions proper form during the workout, however, the viewer will not learn what the proper form is by this video. You will probably need additional instruction elsewhere to learn the form if you have no ballet training. But, there are times when the narrator will remind you to tuck in your tailbone or do not stick out your buttocks (which I find hilarious every time I hear it). Overall, the vocal cues and instructions are very poor and minimal. For example, he often does not cue you as to which side or what movement is next. For some routines, I had to watch it first, and then I was able to follow the sequence. There is an option on the DVD that allows you to turn off the voice over if that is helpful. If you have some background in ballet, then this video would be a good accompaniment to your ballet training. You can strengthen your muscles, improve your posture and line, and increase flexibility. Inexperienced dancers can learn basic ballet skills and grace along with what I just mentioned by following the dancers. For the slightly experienced dancers, the majority of video would seem too simple but the abs and leg darts exercise would give you a good burn...I found it to be very challenging for me. The music and the flow of this video are very slow and relaxing. You will sweat but you won't be dripping with it afterwards. It has a very different style and tempo than other workouts you might be used to, but I think that is appropriate because it is based on the ballet theme. There is only one exercise or segment I consider that works your cardiovascular system, and that is the little jumps. Each segment is about 3-6 min long. Short but very effective...wouldn't want a burnout. There are warm-ups and a cool-down (aka reverence). I recommend the DVD so you may choose which exercise you want to do or skip without delay. There is also a section where they offer combinations of exercises that are good for a particular type of sport like racquetball. The video is not very amateur friendly production-wise if you are not familiar with dance or dance classes. For example, all exercises are done without supports (i.e. chairs or barre). Stressing and encouraging balance I suppose. However, if you need the extra help, I recommend doing some of the exercises with a support next to you that will not hinder the purpose of the exercise. The exercises don't require a large amount of space so you do not need to clear the room. The video also does not offer alternatives for novices. It is basically "watch and do" except for one of the stretches and the push up, where they offer a modified version. And do not be confused with their narration when referring to lefts and rights. Many reviewers found this to be a problem. The narrator refers to the movements according to the dancers' point of view. This should not be a problem if you have the narrator's voice off or if you are familiar with this type of instructional training. I would have given this a 5 star if not for the production flaws. Overall, the workout fulfilled its purpose--it tones your arms, back, abs, sides, buttocks, legs, chests, etc. A note, though there isn't a specific exercise that targets the arms, you will feel a burn in your shoulders and triceps from holding your arms out at second position during most of the exercises.
Rating:
Summary: New York City Ballet--Serious Workout!
Review: I purchased the video because I have always admired the bodies of my dancer friends. Having studied A LITTLE ballet previously, I did not, like other reviewers, find it hard to "look and follow" the dancers movements. I also think that its possible to lose weight with this video. There are a few segments dedicated to jumping and quick flowing movements to get the heart pumping and the toning segments are fairly intense. When you tone your muscels you automatically burn caleries which, over time,burns fat. The upside to toning and any form of weight training is that your muscles continue to burn calories long after the workout! I enjoy this video and I always feel a LITTLE more graceful after its over. The only complaint I have is that the commentary [stunk]. The narrator's instructions NEVER matched the movements of the dancers. But all in all I think that this is a wise investiment if you want to improve your strength and flexibility while shaping your body. Oh, one more thing: DO NOT buy this workout because of the involvment of Sarah Jessica Parker--she's in it 30 seconds, tops!
Rating:
Summary: A good workout for people with ballet background
Review: This video will give you a good workout if you stick with it and try to improve each time. You will see results in stregth, posture and flexibility. I have some background in ballet so I didn't have the problem that i think the average viewer would, which is that he uses ballet terms without describing them. It's basically a "watch and do" video, but is inconsistent in that it takes greater time with some things and less at others. I find it helpful because I need a class or tape to follow along to or I just won't finish my workout. It won't make you sweat, necessarily, however you get out of it what you put in. If you take the time to stretch a little bit further each time, and push yourself then it's a great video. I'm trying to get back into shape for dance and for me it really serves my purpose. I thought it was a little too "Presentational" for my taste, showing off the dancer's moves and bodies (in smoke backgrounds) more than actually helping you to achieve proper form. The narrator's cues are often way off from the movements that the dancers are doing, which I find pretty annoying, but I still think you can get a lot out of this DVD. I recommend the DVD over the video because you can skip the introduction easily or skip to any part of the workout, in case you decide to only do certain parts each day or want more conditioning in one area. For ballet dancers: It is comprised of basic exercises, from a basic warmup, to some stretching, then tendu, degage, grand battement, plie, passe, etc. For non ballet dancers, it's a chance to learn (by watching) what all of those things I just mentioned are.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful for ballet lovers
Review: I used to take ballet when i was younger and i still love it alot! When my sister got the book i was like oh id like to try that but i hate working out to books. So when i saw the video i was so happy and bought it. I remember alot of the moves and it was very fun for me. But also ballet is wonderful for strength excerises and gets you super toned. It is a wonderful workout even for people who never took ballet. It introduces you to all the positions. But i would like to say one thing i wish this video would deminstrate the moves more. The ballet dancers just do it the excersies like they are in a class not like they are demstrating a class. But they go slow enough that if you are paying attention you can do it with them at their pace. So get it if you are interested.
Rating: 
Summary: Depends on what you are looking for
Review: I am a 26-year-old runner with an ongoing acheilles injury who is starting to vary my workouts alot so thought I would try ballet. Although I like this tape, I would have to agree with other reviewers-- it is too slow between exercises (has a screen introducing the next exercise), the warm-up is too fast (and the stretches are not very thorough), there are not enough repetitions of each exercise, the cuing is the worse I have ever heard, and there is no description of what the ballet terms are (until after you start doing them) and very little on proper form. That said, the production is quite nice and ballet is challenging (I have a new respect for how athletic ballet is) so I do do the video for a change of pace (and continue the exercises over the breaks between screens to make it more challenging). You will have to watch the video at least 2 times to get the form and take it upon yourself to tuck your pelvic bone in (it is very easy to slip into sticking your [behind] out with ballet!) Overall I would say this is a good video to practice form and control (the exercises can be hard if you push yourself for greater flexibility while maintaining proper control). It is not a video to lose weight (you may not break a sweat after the first few times) or significantly shape your body -- try pilates or yoga for that. The video also includes a little documentary at the end about the ballerinas -- very interesting and a nice addition.
Rating: 
Summary: overrated... skip it!
Review: I bought this video when enrolled in weekly exercise-ballet classes the the local club. i found this video to move way too slowly between the exercises, and too "markety" in how it presents them all. i was constantly fast forwarding to get to the next one. and each exercise itself it not repeated enough to be useful... far too many moves with too much time between them. overall, just not very useful or helpful.
Rating:
Summary: This is what I've been looking for
Review: For the past year and a half, I've been doing yoga and Pilates workouts (as well as more "traditional" aerobics and weight training). I've gravitated to yoga because of the emphasis on the breathing, flexibility and overall thorough workout and to Pilates because of the emphasis on core strength. I've achieved a lot of my fitness goals, but I still have the nagging feeling that I'm not "going anywhere" with my routines- exercise just for the sake of exercise doesn't quite sit right with me. To that end, I started using Jennifer Kries' New Method series. The addition of dance training does feel more functional, but I've found myself wishing that there was more dance in her series. Enter this video. I love it! The leg work is some of the best I've done. When we plie or tendu, I feel not only like I'm getting a good leg workout but also like I'm dancing. While the floor barre is closer to traditional strength work, the moves here are executed with grace- not because it looks better, but because it requires more control (the fact that it does look better, though, does add to the enjoyment). Don't let anyone tell you that this doesn't work your arms as well. My arms- particularly my shoulders and triceps- were burning by the end. My favorite parts of all were the warmups and Reverence- we were dancing! As someone who's been practicing yoga and Pilates for a while, I can definitely see the influences in this workout (e.g., the Leg Darts on this video are otherwise known as Single Leg Pulls in Pilates, and there are some child's pose and cobras on this video that comes from yoga). And I must agree with other reviewers, one could get lost without some familiarity with dance terms. Most of my knowledge comes from the New Method series, and I was fine. However, since they had the time to include Sarah Jessica Parker and the segment about the dancers, three minutes of dance terminology wouldn't have hurt. The video lost a star because of the lack of cueing. I'm willing to let that go for most sections, but when I'm prone or bending to my shins as in Reverence, I need a little more guidance than "move your body to the music". Also, the dark lighting in some of the sections didn't enhance my experience for the floor barre. It was difficult to see the position of the right foot for one of the exercises because of the lighting, but it was clear for the next foot.
Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your $ on this one...
Review: I was disappointed with this DVD and am posting it eBay today! As others noticed the narration is very poor. Some moves are explained and others are not, leaving a novice guessing and watching the pros. The packaging doesn't tell you need to have a background in ballet to do many of the steps as the narration makes no attempt to explain many of the positions. As one other person noted, why didn't the DVD offer accomodations for beginners like, use a chair for balance, etc?? Even the pros had some trouble balancing in some sections! I liked the interviews and extras the DVD offered, but I also wanted to skip excerises by using the forward button, which didn't work!
Rating:
Summary: Relaxing and Effective
Review: I love Ballet. I took Ballet when I was younger, and got away from it, and now that I'm in college, I wanted to get back into it. I took a class at school, and I bought this DVD to supplement it. The DVD is quite effective and would help anyone be more balanced, more fit and more flexible. It is helpful to have previous dance experience, but it's not necessary at all. I found it to be more helpful to turn off the narration on the DVD and watch the dancers. Maybe if you're starting out, it would be best to watch the DVD all the way through, to learn some of the movements before attempting them yourself. I recommend it!
Rating:
Summary: A challenge but, worth it!
Review: I have no formal dance training (except when I was 5 years old!). I really enjoy this workout. It is a challenge to learn the ballet "form". I have the DVD version and I love it because I can choose which excerises I want to do each day... or, if I'm motivated I'll do the entire workout. It takes time to get through the whole workout if you are not in shape... but, stick with it! Some workout videos can get a little repitious,but this one is great... the music and narrator are soothing and encouraging (not annoying). I definitely recommend this workout for those who enjoy dancing, getting in shape, and love a challenge!
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