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195 of 195 found the following review helpful:
Grace and poise -- but some experience helpsOct 01, 2002
By M. Smith
"cenmad"
This DVD is excellent for toning and lengthening your muscles, and will definitely work up a sweat. The workout is divided into 17 segments, which can be viewed all at once, one at a time, or as part of four sections. Exercises 1-4 are warm ups, includes some dance steps that get your blood pumping and some nice stretching. 5 & 6 work your abdominals. 7-9 are "floor barre," which means you lie on your back and keep everything stable except the moving leg -- very effective. 10-16 are leg work, such as degagees, tendus, and grand battements. Finally, 17 is a cooldown with some stretching. Note that there is no instructor-led dance segment after all that barre/center work, as there is in a dance class.There is one main thing I don't like about this DVD -- the verbal cuing is terrible. At the very end, the narrator says, "Rather than follow my instructions, follow the dancers, the music, and listen to your body." Yeah, well, tell me how to follow the dancers with my face in my knees. A few viewings should make this much less of a problem, but the first times through may be frustrating, especially during the (almost silent) cooldown, when your neck is craned around to see what's going on. I don't know if someone with no ballet experience would find this DVD very rewarding. Although no special equipment is required, there is no explanation of technique, and the narrator makes frequent use of ballet terminology. Perhaps in conjunction with one of the ballet instruction videos or books, this would be better for beginners, but I think a semester of ballet classes would be more reward for the money in that case. Given those caveats, this is a great workout to intersperse with your other strength and aerobics workouts.
311 of 317 found the following review helpful:
A wonderful change of pace!Apr 18, 2001
By rebecca_r
After experiencing a serious exercise burnout in the last year, I began looking for workouts to supplement my usual step aerobics/weight training regimen. I added yoga several months ago, and then a friend mentioned the NYC Ballet Workout book. Since I'm not one for exercising out of a book, discovering that a video would soon be released was very exciting. I have not been disappointed. I have never studied ballet formally, but was familiar with the five basic positions and many of the other common ballet exercises. As a result, I fell in step quite easily and was able to concern myself more with proper form than might otherwise have been the case. The three warm-up segments had me laughing at my own clumsiness the first time around, but were much easier the second time I did the tape. This workout won't be especially difficult for anyone who's either studied ballet or is in fairly good shape. I found certain things challenging (like holding the arms in second position for the whole of the tendu segment), but overall, I think this tape is aimed more at helping the viewer develop flexibility and strength without taxing the cardiovascular system to any great degree. I have found that I can do this tape at 9:00 in the evening and fall easily asleep at 10:45. You will be perspiring but have an overall feeling of tranquility at the end. Even though I love this tape, I gave it only four stars because of what I perceive to be some minor problems. There is one bad edit in the stretching segment that threw me off at first. Peter Martins's cueing leaves a bit to be desired, and his instructions of "right" and "left" are from the dancers' point of view -- not from the perspective of the person following along. (I'm used to simply mirroring the people in workout videos and disregarding the narrator, so this is not a problem for me -- but could be confusing for others not experienced in doing that.) And finally, the dancers aren't always shown full-length, which makes it harder to know what the parts of their bodies that aren't being shown are doing at that particular moment. But, as I say, these are minor matters in an otherwise terrific video. They certainly do not keep me from recommending the New York City Ballet Workout!
80 of 82 found the following review helpful:
Inspiring and challengingApr 19, 2001
I've wanted to buy a workout video for some time now, but I was put off by the blonde, perky, caffinated aerobics instructors that seem to saturate the market. I bought this DVD with the hopes that it would be sophisticated, relaxing, challenging, and inspiring. It did NOT disappoint. The dancers are beautiful, the music soothing--not that you're listening when you're trying to hold an arabesque or do the dreaded abdominal segment. Like other reviewers, I have to agree that this workout doesn't live up to its claim that everyone can do it. Not only are the movements not explained, I don't feel that the video reminded you enough to straighten your back, tuck your tummy in, not stick out your rear, keep your arms held up, head straight etc. etc...all fundamental elements in ballet form (and really important for building strength, balance, etc.) I'd recommend that anyone using this video have had some basic ballet training in the reasonably recent past. (I took four years of ballet while in college...I stopped about four years ago, when I graduated.) Also, I consider myself as having above-average coordination, and the second warm-up movement taxed it a bit. (On the other hand, it's nice to know that I'll have something to grow into.) That aside, the DVD was wonderful. The options to turn off the audio commentary and change the music are terrific, and the interviews with the dancers are fun. I hope that any other workout video that I buy is as entertaining as this one!
41 of 41 found the following review helpful:
Beautiful video, amazing workoutApr 04, 2001
Some of the reviewers are saying this is too hard to follow. I disagree. I have never studied ballet in my life and I found this very simple to follow. The exercises are broken down by name (DVD) so its easy to learn what the fancy names mean. The moves are clearly shown and are very easy to follow. Proper form takes a while, but I am starting to notice how my body is moving and how it should be moving compared to the dancers on my TV. And I am noticing results already. I only wish the there were MORE excercises on the DVD because I love it so much, even though there is about an hour already. ...The cinematography is gorgeous, and the dancers are amazing. The DVD version is amazing. I love the interviews, diaries and behind the scenes footage. For someone who studies ballet or wants to dance professionally, this is is a must have over the VHS version. The reason I am giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is because the 2nd and 3rd warm up sections are like intermediate or advanced ballet dance routines. I try to follow as best I can for someone who never took ballet. But, its just the warm-up so it does not ruin the workout at all. And the hype about Sarah Jessica Parker is aweful. She talks for just over a minute and it does not have anything to do with the workout at all. I was hoping for a bit more with her on the DVD. But I do LOVE this workout!
44 of 45 found the following review helpful:
A good workout for people with ballet backgroundApr 02, 2002
By Jennifer A. Kern
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.
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