The Ballet Workout
starring: Melissa Lowe
List Price: $19.99
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The title is somewhat a misnomer: this 83-minute video isn't a "workout" so much as a ballet class. If you've taken ballet in the past--or if you've always wanted to--pull on your tights and leg warmers and enjoy this video. Melissa Lowe, a former soloist and principal dancer with several ballet companies, leads two levels of workout. Level 1 is for those with little or no ballet training; ballet experience is helpful for level 2. Each level has three segments: floor work (stretches to warm up the muscles), barre work (standing exercises and positions done holding onto a barre or chair), and center work (more intense conditioning with balance, traveling, and some jumping). If you're not already flexible, you'll find the stretches daunting, even at level 1. This is a 1984 video and doesn't have the production quality you find in more current videos, but ballet is timeless. The music is solo piano--just like in ballet class. The lithe, willowy instructor doesn't smile or try to engage the audience, but she sure knows ballet, and her flexibility and grace are awe inspiring. --Joan Price
Description:
Discover the joy of movement and the beauty of dance with the first program in this series by Instructor Melissa Lowe. The elegant way to achieve the body you want, attain the look and grace of a professional dancer and enjoy a healthier lifestyle. Perfect for all ages, this workout will help you condition, reshape and tone your body. This workout will not only help you create the body you have always wanted, but also will help you gain an overall sense of well being. This workout has been divided into two levels. Level I is designed for those with little or no previous ballet experience. Previous ballet experience is helpful but not necessary for level II. Success on both workout levels lies in performing the exercises in the correct position and with the correct posture. The same amount of time spent on ballet exercises as spent on more traditional forms of exercise will produce dramatically different results in shaping your body.
The title is somewhat a misnomer: this 83-minute video isn't a "workout" so much as a ballet class. If you've taken ballet in the past--or if you've always wanted to--pull on your tights and leg warmers and enjoy this video. Melissa Lowe, a former soloist and principal dancer with several ballet companies, leads two levels of workout. Level 1 is for those with little or no ballet training; ballet experience is helpful for level 2. Each level has three segments: floor work (stretches to warm up the muscles), barre work (standing exercises and positions done holding onto a barre or chair), and center work (more intense conditioning with balance, traveling, and some jumping). If you're not already flexible, you'll find the stretches daunting, even at level 1. This is a 1984 video and doesn't have the production quality you find in more current videos, but ballet is timeless. The music is solo piano--just like in ballet class. The lithe, willowy instructor doesn't smile or try to engage the audience, but she sure knows ballet, and her flexibility and grace are awe inspiring. --Joan Price
Description:
Discover the joy of movement and the beauty of dance with the first program in this series by Instructor Melissa Lowe. The elegant way to achieve the body you want, attain the look and grace of a professional dancer and enjoy a healthier lifestyle. Perfect for all ages, this workout will help you condition, reshape and tone your body. This workout will not only help you create the body you have always wanted, but also will help you gain an overall sense of well being. This workout has been divided into two levels. Level I is designed for those with little or no previous ballet experience. Previous ballet experience is helpful but not necessary for level II. Success on both workout levels lies in performing the exercises in the correct position and with the correct posture. The same amount of time spent on ballet exercises as spent on more traditional forms of exercise will produce dramatically different results in shaping your body.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Old, Old, Old...and time to be retired
I've done this tape/dvd about 120x from 1999-2006 -- only because there wasn't anything better at the time. It's what you'd call an 'old stand-by'. Nothing outstanding to recommend itself by todays standards in production or intellectual 'snap', but not the worst thing you will ever own as far as a ballet dvd goes.
It's stand-out points include: an overcrowded class, ancient hyper-extended stretches, ugly costumes, an akward piano score, uninspiring stressful undertones, and a forced ... Read More
Rating: 
- A good place to start.
I own all three of the Ballet Workout DVD's. This one is my second favorite out of the three, and the best place to start if you've never had ballet before. It's structured like a ballet class (floor work, barre work, and center work). You don't need a barre. I use a chair.
I took ballet for 10 years when I was younger, so I knew all of the terms used in this DVD. There is a lot of time spent demonstrating and explaining the terms, so people who don't know ballet should be able to stay ... Read More
Rating: - Best if you've had ballet
This DVD features two ballet classes.The first says it is for people with little or no ballet experience, but it is more geared toward the person who has a distant memory of ballet classes she took as a little girl.As a 36 year old who never took ballet as a child, I would have benefitted from a little more time devoted to the basic positions. Although I have watched hundreds of ballet classes, I have not participated before, and I found it difficult to maintain the positions during the simple combinations. ... Read More
Rating: - Good, solid, ballet exercises
Good ballet exercises. Sound and video quality not great, as it seems like it must have been a so-so quality VHS tape converted to a DVD.
Rating: 
- I have danced with Melissa
Melissa and her husband Jory danced with us when we were just a small midwest company. I was the very lucky one to dance with both of them up close and personal and what a thrill it was.
I now have my own studio and have sent this video to my adult students that want to work out at home. She and Joryknow their stuff and they are the finest/nicest dancers and teachers around.
Elizabeth C. Williams
Elizabeth Williams School of Dance
Williamston, Mich 48895
- Old, Old, Old...and time to be retiredI've done this tape/dvd about 120x from 1999-2006 -- only because there wasn't anything better at the time. It's what you'd call an 'old stand-by'. Nothing outstanding to recommend itself by todays standards in production or intellectual 'snap', but not the worst thing you will ever own as far as a ballet dvd goes.
It's stand-out points include: an overcrowded class, ancient hyper-extended stretches, ugly costumes, an akward piano score, uninspiring stressful undertones, and a forced ... Read More
- A good place to start. I own all three of the Ballet Workout DVD's. This one is my second favorite out of the three, and the best place to start if you've never had ballet before. It's structured like a ballet class (floor work, barre work, and center work). You don't need a barre. I use a chair.
I took ballet for 10 years when I was younger, so I knew all of the terms used in this DVD. There is a lot of time spent demonstrating and explaining the terms, so people who don't know ballet should be able to stay ... Read More
- Best if you've had balletThis DVD features two ballet classes.The first says it is for people with little or no ballet experience, but it is more geared toward the person who has a distant memory of ballet classes she took as a little girl.As a 36 year old who never took ballet as a child, I would have benefitted from a little more time devoted to the basic positions. Although I have watched hundreds of ballet classes, I have not participated before, and I found it difficult to maintain the positions during the simple combinations. ... Read More
- Good, solid, ballet exercisesGood ballet exercises. Sound and video quality not great, as it seems like it must have been a so-so quality VHS tape converted to a DVD.
- I have danced with MelissaMelissa and her husband Jory danced with us when we were just a small midwest company. I was the very lucky one to dance with both of them up close and personal and what a thrill it was.
I now have my own studio and have sent this video to my adult students that want to work out at home. She and Joryknow their stuff and they are the finest/nicest dancers and teachers around.
Elizabeth C. Williams
Elizabeth Williams School of Dance
Williamston, Mich 48895
