The New York City Ballet Workout

Rating:
Summary: A Delightful Return to a Much-Missed Love
Review: This workout is an absolute joy; it is one of the only exercise programs I have engaged in that I actually look forward to rather than dread.

I love ballet--I danced moderately (nowhere close to professionally) for nearly 15 years and then regrettably stopped--but I had lacked the nerve to return to class after my decade-long hiatus. I knew I could never return to my earlier abilities, I feared looking at myself in the mirror, and I anticipated frustration overall. In short, my fear of mediocrity kept me from revisiting an earlier love. This DVD changed everything for me. I am able to work on my technique and strength in my own living room at my own pace and have thus developed the confidence I needed to re-enroll in ballet classes. Along with my enjoyment of dancing, I have found my strength and flexibility improving markedly. Each morning before work, I do one of the twenty-minute long "sports options," and after only a few days I could feel a difference in my fitness level.

Some advice for non-dancers: pay attention to the dancers' forms. Do not arch your back, hold in your stomach, and tuck your buttocks under. If a position or move does not feel comfortable, modify the exercise so that you are not straining yourself. Neither your back nor your knees should bother you if you perform the exercises correctly. And, as Peter Martins repeatedly reminds you, always remember to breathe!

Rating:
Summary: WOW.
Review: This is by far the best exercise regime I have EVER done! I've done Tai Bo, Yoga, Aerobics, etc. and this is the PERFECT medium. It's not too slow like yoga, but not totally physically exhausting like Tai Bo. The cinematography is beautiful, and the movements are EASY to follow (which was a big one for me). Even if you have no ballet experience, you can easily do it (they explain what a lot of the terms mean as they go). But it is also fantastic for anyone who wants to also learn about ballet movements and terms, because they do concentrate on form. In the narration they talk about how these movements are exactly what the NYC Ballet does EVERY DAY.
I HIGHLY recommend this to anyone! QUALITY workout DVD!!

Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully made - Probably helps to know basic ballet
Review: I bought both of Melissa Lowe's Ballet Workout videos and love them - they helped me learn the basics, which is why I think I
have gotten so much out of the NYC Ballet Workout. Though this
video is wonderfully narrated and there is definitely time to figure out the moves they were doing - I probably found it easier
to follow because I had learned the basics already. One good thing about this was that the barre work is done on the floor, so you don't have to worry about finding a barre - it's a unique approach that works well for someone doing this at home. I also liked the approach to the ab workout. I really felt that my arms, legs, and abs all got a good stretching and strengthening.

A nice bonus is the half hour program on the 4 dancers that are in this video and their careers. It was very interesting. I highly recommend this!

Rating:
Summary: Boy, Am I Sore But Happy!
Review: As a dancer and yoga fanatic, I have tried many different work-out videos in the past couple of years, and this is by far one of the best and most challenging among them. The exercises, the demonstration, the music, and production quality is superb. And of course, the NYCB dancers are wonderful and inspiring to look at and try to emulate. However, I would suggest anyone trying this work-out have at least some ballet training under their belt. I could see it could be too difficult and perhaps daunting for those who have never studied ballet and wouldn't understand the basic concepts of ballet form, alignment, and vocabulary. The exercises require a certain amount of pre-existing muscular foundation to be done correctly, otherwise there may be potential for injury. I've done this tape three times this week and although sore, feel very strong, centered, and stretched. For dancers or former dancers, however, this is the perfect supplement to the fitness regimen.

Rating:
Summary: Beautifully done!
Review: It is a little difficult to "mirror" the steps the fist time through, but in no time even a beginner can follow the combinations. The music is wonderful, the dancers serve as great models and you will feel challenged and energized. It is long, but is broken down into individual moves so that you can choose to skip some. I have recommended this to several people.

Rating:
Summary: Gorgeous!
Review: I have been trying many workout videos lately, trying to find something inspiring and this goes beyond expectations! The production level is that of filmaking; it is simply gorgeous to look at. The DVD has many special feature options, even what type of music you want to workout to. Most of all, the dancers are inspiring and help fulfill that fantasy of being a ballerina.

Rating:
Summary: Decent supplemental workout
Review: This DVD won't take any pounds off, but if you use it in conjunction with your regular workout it's a good diversion. The dancers are great to look at, and the voiceover will remind you of those record player barre exercises when you were a kid. The workout is not taxing, but it certainly reminds me of muscles I don't work out regularly enough. I always feel my outer thighs the next day. This is worth adding to your collection.

Rating:
Summary: Perfect practice between ballet classes!
Review: I started taking ballet two months ago and when I'm not in class, I do the NYC ballet workout video to practice. I'm already in the intermediate class with women who've had three years of ballet experience compared to my two months! I think this video is easy to follow and great for conditioning.

Rating:
Summary: New York Sports Club version better
Review: I have taken the NEW YORK CITY BALLET WORKOUT as offered at NEW YORK SPORTS CLUBS in NYC with some incredible instructors and it is not as tame as the one depicted in this video.

This version gave me a healthy glow, but not the drenching sweat I get from an actual instructor. The cueing and lack of it makes it it more difficult to follow. The pace is a bit gentler than the repetitive high repetition version of an actual class. Only a "technique" class was depicted in this video.

The "movement" classes ( hard to do in one's living room)are very aerobic and once the warm up stretch is completed it is non-stop movement. The best instructors are Stas Kmec, Rebecca Mesker and Peter Frame. The others pale in comparison. Visit NYC and take the real NEW YORK CITY BALLET WORKOUT!

Rating:
Summary: Great strength and stretches for legs & bottom
Review: A good video that really emphasizes legs, abs and buttock! Arm work is light though.I took ballet as a child and was intrigued to try again as an adult. Not much dancing, but you will see plies,tendu,and balances! If you know any ballet-you will love this( re-live the dream of being a dancer).If you don't know any dance terms/steps, you can still do this video as the dancers provide a good model of the motions (there are both female and male dancers!). My son thought this was silly until he tried some of the exercises and exclaimed-"WOW, this was harder than I thought!".