The Ballet Workout Vol. 2: Strength and Conditioning

The Ballet Workout Vol. 2: Strength and Conditioning
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Manufacturer: Standing Room Only
Starring: Melissa Lowe
Average Customer Rating: Average rating of 4.0/5Average rating of 4.0/5Average rating of 4.0/5Average rating of 4.0/5Average rating of 4.0/5

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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 9780769777115
Format: Color
ISBN: 0769777112
Label: Standing Room Only
Manufacturer: Standing Room Only
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Standing Room Only
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2004-11-23
Running Time: 70
Studio: Standing Room Only
Theatrical Release Date: 1991

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Editorial Reviews:

Discover the joy of movement and the beauty of dance with the second program in this series by Instructor Melissa Lowe. Melissa introduces two new workouts that will help you strengthen your muscles, get rid of cellulite, reshape, condition and tone your body. This workout will not only help you create the body you have always wanted, but will also help you gain an overall sense of well being. Previous ballet experience is helpful but not necessary. Success on both workouts lies in performing the exercises in the correct position and with the correct posture. Melissa Lowe received early training at the School of American Ballet and American Ballet Theatre where she was an apprentice to the company. She danced professionally with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, the Houston Ballet as a soloist and the Pacific Northwest Ballet as a principal dancer. She is currently a Professor of Ballet and the Director of Early Movement Education at the University of Arizona.


Spotlight customer reviews:

Customer Rating: Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5
Summary: My favorite out of her three DVD's.
Comment: I have all three Ballet Workout DVD's. This one is my favorite. It is faster paced than the first one, but still not too fast to be confusing. I took ballet for 10 years when I was younger, so I knew a lot of the terms. She doesn't spend a lot of time explaining the terms, like she does in the first DVD. I prefer that, but it would make it harder for a total beginner (at first. You can always rewind to see something again until you've learned it.)

The stage set and the costumes are a little dumb. I prefered the ballet studio staging of the first one.

The patterns are faster and a little harder than in the first one, but I feel like it gives you a better workout.

I can feel that this video is helping me improve my flexibility, which is part of the reason I bought it.

I think that this is a good DVD. I use it ALL THE TIME. I have fun doing it (well, as much fun as you can have working out...) I would reccomend it if you are looking for something a little different. If you are a beginner I would suggest getting the first one, and working your way up to this one.

Customer Rating: Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5
Summary: My wife said it's one of the best!
Comment: My wife exersises on these videos.
She says this training is one of the best!

Customer Rating: Average rating of 2/5Average rating of 2/5Average rating of 2/5Average rating of 2/5Average rating of 2/5
Summary: Too serious, almost no stretching or cuing
Comment: I was pleasantly surprised by Melissa Lowe's first Ballet Workout & enjoyed it almost as much as the NYC Ballet workout DVDs. Hers were done differently so it was a nice change of pace. She has great form, so watched her instead of the other students in that one & she would do a quick run-through alone so you know what moves to do. She didn't cue in that one much, but she did give reminders of posture, etc.

In this one, these are more intermediate students (2 guys as well) & more serious. The stage background & outfits... well, it wasn't a help, but it's not that important. The music was live w/basic upright & player, but found the music uninspiring. There was no fun involved unlike the first relaxed feeling one.
Before each movement, she only tells you the name of the movements you'll be practicing & what the French name/terms means in English. In the voice over during the movements, she only tells you, "this is great for strengthening the calves... these faster movements are great for slimming the legs..." There is no body posture help or telling you how to move your body at all.
LEVEL ONE
Floor Work - 5 min - warm-up had about 5 stretches: hand stretch feet, a wannabe yoga downward dog for calves, frog pose for groin/legs, yoga seated twisted spinal stretch & bent leg forward & bent backward stretch. Which is nowhere near enough & nowhere near as good as the great 10 minute stretching I got in her first one.
Barre Work - 16 min - the first 2 min on basic posture & keeping hips down on leg lifts.
Center Work - 7 min - A LOT of hopping/jumping
No cool down stretching
LEVEL TWO
Floor Work - 6 min - yoga seated straight leg fwd bend, reclined foot to hand stretch, seated russian & fwd split w/fwd & side torso stretch, yoga pyramid (standing head to fwd knee), yoga crescent, seated spinal twist again
Barre Work - 14 min - the first 10 min was exactly like the first level then some nice single leg in air balance work, also some standing & bringing one foot along side your shoulder
Center Work - 7 min - the first 3 min had some nice balance work & fast footwork, but then more jumping/hoping
No cool down stretching

I confess I only did up to the center work before I was bored silly. Even when up to the center work, my heart rate increased only once when they were all breathing heavy too & I did not feel any exertion. My balance is excellent from yoga so the balance work was easy for me.
I think this dvd is only for those who are serious about ballet & perfecting it rather then a simple relaxed toning workout & increasing body awareness like the first one or the NYC ballet workout.

Customer Rating: Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5
Summary: ballet 2
Comment: I loved the first dvd and got this one so I can alternate my workouts and not get bored and my kids like to join me as a bonus.

Customer Rating: Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5
Summary: Great substitution for class
Comment: As an intermediate-advanced dancer, I have looked for years for an excercise video that gives me the feeling, both physically and artistically, as an actual class. This is the closest I've found--for the first time I actually look forward to doing an "exercise" video, and feel stretched and energized when I'm done. The combinations are too short, so I usually do each one twice on each side, or do both floor sections, followed by both barres, etc.
I can't speak for beginners, but as an experienced dancer, this is a great opportunity to hear a live pianist and enjoy interesting combinations at home--and the centre work actually fits in my living room!


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