Ballet – Page 25

Review: Caterina & Her Baby Ballerinas

April 12, 2010 by 4dancers

The DVD: Caterina & Her Baby Ballerinas

The Details: DVD for teaching children ballet. 30 minutes. Cost is $19.95 + $2.99 s&h

The Review: This is a cute DVD, featuring a “grown up” dancer dressed as a cat and two ballet students. I think it would be something that young children would find appealing, and you can tell that thought was put into how to capture their attention. “Caterina” has a cute demeanor and is very encouraging, and the use of creative dissolves where she speaks directly to the camera is sure to be a hit with little ones. (She says things such as “purrfect” and “cat-tastic”.)

Things covered include a warmup, stretching and the ballet positions as well as some barre work and center work. I appreciated the fact that safety was emphasized–things such as not forcing turnout, and proper plie technique.

I’m not sure about the difficulty level–the age group that this video is best for is a bit hard to determine. Most of the dance information is at a very basic level, but she also teaches pirouettes and combinations that are best left for older, more experienced dance students. (That said, it doesn’t mean that your child couldn’t sit those out and do the rest of the video, as it’s pretty obvious which exercises are more difficult.)

All in all I found this to be a cute video that kids would enjoy. Very clever concept–I’ve never seen anything quite like it before.

Ballet Class CD Review: Under The Palms

March 27, 2010 by 4dancers

CD Title: Under The Palms, Brazilian, Cuban, Creole and other Tropical Music For Ballet Class

By: Behind Barres Presents: Paul Lewis & Judy Rice

I have to confess that I was a little frightened to see what this CD was all about when I heard the title. If done poorly, it could have been a disaster.

Luckily, I had no need to worry.

Under the Palms is a terrific CD for ballet class. If you are ever having a day where you need a little bit of inspiration, use this album and you’ll be in a better mood in no time. Recorded with a single stereo microphone, it gives the music the sound of live piano in the studio. I doubt that it’s possible to feel anything other than energetic when you hear these tracks. So many ballet class CDs sound the same that it was very refreshing to hear something so different–and so good.

Peppy without being campy, I was very impressed that the CD was filled with such thoughtfully arranged tracks. Carefully metered out by Lewis without losing heart and soul, the flow here is palpable. Although most of the music is upbeat, the slower tracks are also quite pretty.

The class was designed by Judy Rice, a professional with over 20 years of experience as an instructor, including time on faculty at the Joffrey Ballet School, Steps and the Broadway Dance Center. Pianist, Paul Lewis has 29 years of experience playing–and it shows. He is the company pianist for the Joffrey Ballet.

Don’t be afraid to take a chance on this CD–it’s better than many of the “regular” ones out there, yet it is truly different. Adding it to your lineup will give you a sunny pick for those days that you need one.

Disclosure

Free E-Book: Ballet Apparel For Men

March 24, 2010 by 4dancers

David Hunter over at Ballet For Men is always up to something interesting…if you haven’t checked out his blog, I highly recommend it. Recently he launched a line of dance t-shirts.

This week it’s a free e-book on ballet apparel for men. Perfect for the beginning male student (or the parent of one), this e-book outlines everything you could possibly need in terms of attire–including information on the dance belt, how to sew and prepare your ballet shoes for class and what the “dress code” is for guys who want to dance. Be sure and pass the word–this is a valuable resource–and you can’t beat the price!

The Bun

March 18, 2010 by 4dancers

I remember many a day, sitting with my Mom behind me with her pulling and twisting my hair into a tight bun for class. As a young girl, I hated the ritual, but now I’m able to appreciate the beauty of this classic hairstyle. Often associated with ballet, the bun is not too hard to do, but here are some fun resources to check out for all the details–and a twist or two…

Basic bun 101 – YouTube video that shows how to do a basic bun, complete with hairpins and a hairnet.

Redken – This video tutorial gives some great tips for a good, braided bun.

French Twist – Of course, if you want something a bit more fancy, you can always try a French twist for variety.

Book Review: Gwendolyn, The Graceful Pig

March 10, 2010 by 4dancers

This charming kids book makes a great gift for a younger child (designed for ages 3 to 8). At 40 pages, there is plenty to look at, and the illustrations are darling.

The story is about Gwendolyn and her pig pal Omar and their pursuit of a dream. Gwendolyn longs to be a ballerina, while clumsy Omar is hoping to score a spot on the football team.

It’s a simple story, but one with an uplifting message of hope. Children have the chance to see that you can reach your dreams, and that hard work does indeed pay off.

I loved that the story appeals to both boys and girls–a surprise that made this book even more valuable. And since it’s a hardcover, it can stand the test of time when it comes to repeated readings.

This is a cute kids book that is great for little dancers, but the storyline is bigger than the dance classroom.

$15.95 / Picture Book / Hard Cover / 8.5 x 11
Author – David Ira Rottenberg
Illustrator – Lesley Anderson

Buy This Book

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