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	New Ballet Workout Melissa Lowe Kultur Video, 2002 average customer review:based on 10 reviews view larger image
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The box incorrectly states, "Prior ballet experience is helpful but not essential." Previous ballet experience is a must--Lowe assumes you know ballet terminology and how to perform the moves. The short centering routines are done totally without instruction--just follow along, or sit down and watch (it's lovely). You'll enjoy this video if you have ballet experience--and a barre in your living room. --Joan Price

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a beautiful, stretchy, manageable ballet class for home

This video has been criticized for being too dance-y and not aerobic enough. I have found the product to be an absolute joy... and very helpful to keep in shape during the holidays. If you don't have a lot of dance experience, the best thing to do is to learn the exercises and combinations slowly. Don't try and power your way through the entire hour class on the first day. The first section of stretches are sumptuous and highly enjoyable. They are easy to pick up. The second section, barrework, needs to be viewed and studied, then tried and perfected. If you learn one exercise a week and practice it, you will eventually know the entire routine. Same thing with the center combinations, which are a lovely adagio.

This is not a classical ballet class, but Ms. Lowe does "speak ballet." Don't let her language deter you if you are unfamiliar. Just watch the demo and then try it, one step at a time. You don't need a huge space or a barre, you can use part of the living room or dining room and hold on to a straight-backed chair for barre support.

Ms. Lowe's combinations are contemporary and fluid. Once you learn the routine in its entirety, you will experience the joy of movement and keep in shape while doing it!

I found this video to be perfect for my situation. I am a 40+ female who stopped taking ballet class (at the intermediate/advanced level) about five years ago after two knee surgeries. I don't have the strength anymore to keep up with even a moderately-paced class because I have to be careful with my movements due to various injuries. So this video is perfect, b/c I can pace my exercise and make modifications (demi-plies instead of grande, for example)to work around whatever body part happens to hurt at the moment.

The original musical compositions (piano) that accompany the class are excellent.

Anyway, this video is just fun--and cheaper than a 10-class card, that's for sure!

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Relaxed/fun class, better structure, poor camerawork, not helpful cuing

I've tried Melissa Lowe's first ballet workout which I was pleasantly surprised in liking it. Her second ballet dvd I felt was too serious & there was no telling you ahead of time what movements would be done & no voice over cues really at all either.

The place is all white stage w/colored lighting. There are 3 women & 1 male student.
Intro - 4 min *that you don't have to have ballet experience, etc.
Warm-up - 13 min - very good, many stretches for the torso, legs, etc. incorporates some pilates & yoga poses as well, mostly done reclined or some on the stomach like a locust style for strengthening the lower back/gluts, etc.
Barre Work - 28 min - w/1 min intro of Melisa talking to the camera & tells you what you'll be doing in quick ballet names & feet positions. During the movements she voice overs w/mainly ballet terms so if you don't know them, they are of no help. She talk throughout guiding you on the first side, but on the second, you have only the music.
Center Work - 5 min - No cuing during the movements, mostly quick stepping, some balance, only little hopping.
Cool Down - 2 min - standing like center work, slow/easy head rolls & arm movements, no cuing.

I like this one one better then her Ballet Workout 2. The idea is there, she almost has it, if only:
1)The camera didn't turn so much or fade in/out & on the dancer's upper torsos it would be much better. It does it only 1/4 of the time, but that's too much.
2) She could give layman's terms on how to move the body on the voice over & reminders about proper posture, it would be great.
3) She showed the movements the first time in 1/2 speed on the quicker movements & then normal speed for both sides, it would be easy to follow. She could even have the menu structure it so that you can do w/ or w/o the slow teaching.
I never took a ballet class, I can follow along the slower movements, but w/o reminders about posture like her first dvd & the NYC ballet does... my form is very sloppy. I can do the balance work easily in that sloppy form, but that's not the point.
This is good for those who already know how to keep proper form & basic ballet terms.

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