The New York City Ballet Workout

Rating:
Summary: great workout
Review: this is a great video esp for when u don't have too much time...it destresses u and makes u completely focus on your body and be so aware of its movements...i love ballet and i thought this was a great workout except for the sjp givin an intro...that was useless and u cant avoid it

Rating:
Summary: a fantastic workout
Review: I just got this dvd and its wonderful. It is definitly a workout lol. You should have a basic knowledge of ballet(positions and stuff)though, if not you will be really lost. I have never had formal ballet training but I have learned a lot through books and I knew what the positions and ballet terms meant(the terms they use are in french)because of that. The abdominal part is really difficult, something you may have to build up to doing the whole set of. All together it is a really fun, and challenging work out. If you are tired of the same traditional work outs and are looking for something to whip you into shape that is fun then you should go ahead and buy this, I love it and I know you will too!

Rating:
Summary: a nice overall taste of what ballet is......nothing more.
Review: If you want to learn ballet as a dance form, you should go take a class.

While not a "bad" video, this is, however, simply a series of short clips of some of the different ballet moves. The voiceover is ignorable, the camera work & lighting is lovely. But this is *not* a cumulative type of workout tape.

If you've never ever done ballet, and just want a tiny taste of it before taking a class, then you may like this.

Rating:
Summary: Great workout for retired ballet dancers
Review: This is an excellent video that verbally and visually explains very simply the movements of these ballet related exercises. The exercises are extremely beneficial as this is a combined series that works the entire body. Peter Martins does such a good job of commentating. As a retired ballet dancer, this video has helped me keep in shape as I am no longer able to complete a usual ballet program.

Rating:
Summary: Great Workout for non-dancers too!
Review: I was introduced to this video when one of my college roommates, a ballerina, purchased this video and vol. 2. I borrowed hers, then wanted my own copy!

It's more of a workout than you might think, especially if you're not a dancer, like me, and excellent for toning, grace and balance.

I highly reccomend it to people who enjoy more non-traditional workouts like pilates and yoga and complimentary to those styles of excercise.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Relaxing Workout
Review: This video is WONDERFUL. I have been borrowing this video from our public library for the past year and finally broke down and bought it. If you enjoy classical music and the slower paced workout this is for you. You get to tone all your muscles and break a good sweat without even realizing it. I like to use this video on days when I just don't want to do the heavy aerobic jumping around or light weight lifting.... it's a nice break but still works your body. If you enjoy working out at home I recommend this highly to your video library.

Rating:
Summary: AWESOME
Review: As someone who quit dancing 5 years ago, I found this DVD beneficial with very good instruction. Performing this ballet workout has toned my legs and abs incredibly and I feel relaxed during and after the workout. I recommend this DVD to beginners as well as experienced dancers who may have taken a break from ballet and want to recondition.

Rating:
Summary: Work Out Like a Dancer, Whether You're Actually One or Not
Review: Workout Description: 38 minutes of toning (starting with floor work, then standing; focuses primarily on lower body with some ab and minimal upper body work) with 6 minute warm-up and 7 minute cool-down / stretch for a total of 51 minutes
Workout Level: mid- to high-intermediate
Instructor: Peter Martins (NYC Ballet Master in Chief) in a voice-over. His detached tone of voice and British accent might come across as almost snobby. You'll have to rely on watching the dancers to pick up the exact number of repetitions, the exact moment they begin a new movement, etc., as Peter Martins simply names the exercise and offers a few pointers. You'll need to be familiar with or else quickly pick up ballet terms, as there is little explanation. You will have to choose whether to follow the direction cues (their "right" is your "left") or mirror the dancers.
Class: 1-4 dancers from the NYC Ballet (2 women, 2 men)
Music / Set: You can choose between a gorgeous classical music soundtrack or a more modern jazz-inspired soundtrack, both with or without narration. The interior set is minimal, as the focus is on the dancers.
Equipment Needed: optional mat for floor segment. The workout can be done barefoot, with ballet slippers, or you can use the special split sneakers (from Bloch or Capezio) the dancers use in some segments.
Caveats: Familiarity with ballet is extremely helpful; familiarity with Pilates and/or yoga is also helpful. You don't have to be a dancer, though.
Additional Comments: You need some space for this workout. You should be able to take two big steps to each side and be able to kick front and back. I have to do the Passe series perpendicular to my TV since I don't have enough space to do it front to back, but other than that I haven't had any trouble fitting the movements in.
This, along with NYC Ballet Workout 2, is one of the few workout videos in letterbox. The choreography and production are beautiful. There is an introduction by Sarah Jessica Parker that seems a bit out of place; you can't skip it, but you can fast forward through it.
The workout consists of 17 sections, with a slight pause between each. This means that you can't rush through the program. Some people may like the little sections; others may find this aggravating. Exercises 1-3 are the standing moving warm-up, Exercise 4 is stretching, Exercises 5-6 work the abs, Exercises 7-9 are the "floor barre" (leg exercises traditionally done standing at the barre, but here done on the floor so you don't have to worry about falling over as you concentrate on your legs, butt, and abs), Exercises 10-15 are the standing leg work, Exercise 16 consists of little jumps, and Exercise 17 is the Reverence (cool-down / stretch). If you have difficulty with balance, consider doing Exercises 10-15 next to a wall or chair. I generally do the workout barefoot, but I often pause for shoes before attempting the jumps because of past knee and ankle problems.
In comparison to the New York City Ballet Workout 2 or even Jessica Sherwood's Ballet Boot Camp (1 or 2), this has less explanation and more basic moves. There is no "movement combination," so it feels more like a class at the barre than practicing a routine for a recital. Personally, I have both NYC Ballet Workouts and use them equally. I'm so excited to live out my childhood dream of being a ballerina (although just in private-there's a reason why this is just a dream) that I can't help but enjoy these workouts. Are they perfect? No. Are they as fun as a real class? No. Do they make you sweat buckets? No. Do they help you increase your flexibility, strengthen your muscles, improve your balance and posture, and make you feel like you're a graceful dancer when you're done? Absolutely.
The DVD comes with a booklet offering workout tips and a summary of the program. (Don't let the photos of the super-flexible dancers intimidate you; you won't have to do any of those stretches in the workout.) You have the option to select chapters, so if you only want to do part of the exercises, you can. (For example, you can do the warm up, floorwork, and stretch one day and the warm up, standing work, and reverence another day.) In addition, there are pre-programmed routines for racquet sports, football, and skiing. The DVD extras include biographies of each of the dancers, a behind the scenes look at making the workout, and a brief "Dance and the City" documentary. If you have access to a DVD-ROM, you will also get to see a video glossary, a photo gallery, a trailer, music listings, and weblinks. You may find the book version of the exercise program helpful, particularly if you have little ballet experience, but it is not necessary.