(Palm Pictures)
2000
What is it?
A 50-minute ballet workout featuring dancers from the New York City Ballet.
Who is it for?
Intermediate exercisers who are looking for a change from the usual toning routine. Those who have prior dance experience - especially with ballet - will appreciate this workout the most. Beginners may not have the muscle awareness to make the most of the moves.
What to expect:
If you love the graceful moves of ballet and prefer the delicate refinement of classical music to the persistent, throbbing beats of most aerobic dance you'll want to add this toning workout to your collection. This is not an easy routine to master, however, unless you are already experienced in dance and its terminology. Moves with names such as demi-plié and tendu are defined only by watching the dancers. And while you will become more graceful with practice, you really do need a certain amount of grace to start out. The workout is divided into 17 segments, which include warm-ups, abdominal and "floor barre" work, pli&eactue;s, tendus, attitudes and the like, and an ending cool down and stretch. If the exercises in this beautifully photographed video are done properly, your muscles will get a good workout. The secret is in developing impeccable form - you can't just barrel through these moves and expect results. Immediately following the exercises is a documentary profile of each of the four featured dancers. If you take the time to watch it, you'll realize that all the effort you just put in was next to nothing for them. It certainly gives you a new respect for what dancers go through!