2 - Classical Ballet Performances on DVD Video
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Baby Ballet ~ Rosemary Boross (DVD - 2004) * ++++ A wonderful introduction for children to the world of ballet, especially designed for ages four through six. It contains all the aspects of a formal ballet class including a barre warm-up, stretches, center practice and across the floor combinations. All of the movements are explained step-by-step, followed by a performance of the steps by renowned dance teacher Rosemary Boross and her beginning pre-school students. ++++
Baby Ballet ~ Rosemary Boross (DVD - 2004)
Ballet 101 - A Beginner's Class, DVD ~ Jennifer Nunes (DVD - 2004) * ++++ Join a School of Dance with a Little Class! Bring a beginning ballet class right into the privacy of your living room with "Ballet 101, A Beginner's Class". "Ballet 101" is a simple, stress free and informative session that challenges both adults and children who wish to be introduced to the world of the arts. Dancers are taken on a step-by-step journey that begins with preparation and warm-up, and paces them through easy ballet moves that focus on the barre. The instruction is presented will soft piano accompaniment, and the class ends with a grand dance finale to music, all incorporating what's been taught. It's a learning experience that's as exciting as it is fun, and is specifically designed for beginners. ++++
Ballet 101 - A Beginner's Class, DVD ~ Jennifer Nunes (DVD - 2004)
The Video Dictionary of Classical Ballet ~ Kevin McKenzie, et al. (DVD) * ++++ This is the essential visual reference of all classical ballet movements performed by some of the greatest names in American Ballet. This program includes over 800 variations in Russian, French, and Cecchetti styles. Many of the movements are shown in slow motion with multiple camera angles and voice-over narrative description. This engaging program demonstrates the complete language of ballet: Positions and Directions, Barre, Linking Steps, Center Practice, Pirouettes, Adage, Allegro, Batterie, Pointe, Musical Enchainements. This comprehensive guide features four of the most outstanding figures in American Ballet: Kevin McKenzie, Georgina Parkinson, Merrill Ashley and Denise Jackson. ++++
The Video Dictionary of Classical Ballet ~ Kevin McKenzie, et al. (DVD)
New York City Ballet Workout, Vol. 2 ~ New York City Ballet (DVD - 2003) * ++++ Peter Martins, Ballet Master in Chief of the New York City Ballet, and four graceful dancers--two men, two women--offer a beautifully produced, challenging, 90-minute strength and flexibility workout. The moving warm-up readies your muscles and makes you feel like a dancer. Most of the workout focuses on the abdominals and lower body (thighs, calves, buttocks), with exercises that ballet dancers use to strengthen and lengthen their muscles and condition their core. At the end, you learn patterns for a ballet routine which becomes a short cardiovascular workout. New York City Ballet Workout, Vol. 2 builds on what was best about the popular New York City Ballet Workout--the graceful moves and gorgeous dancers--and includes the much-needed instruction and technique that was missing in the original. If you love watching or dancing ballet, New York City Ballet Workout, Vol. 2 is your workout. Highly recommended. ++++
New York City Ballet Workout, Vol. 2 ~ New York City Ballet (DVD - 2003)
The Nutcracker/ Cojocaru, Dowell, Royal Ballet ~ Anthony Dowell, Alina Cojocaru, Ivan Putrov, and Miyako Yoshida (DVD - 2001) * ++++ This Royal Ballet production of "The Nutcracker" (staged by Peter Wright) is a mix of the "Balanchine" and "Vainonen" schools of the Nutcracker. The Balanchine version of the Nutcracker emphasizes the child's fantasy -- a land of sweets, with comic relief. The Vainonen Nutcracker emphasizes the romantic dreams of an adolescent. The Russian-influenced Nutcrackers veer towards the Vainonen school, while in the U.S. Balanchine-based Nutcrackers are the norm.
The Royal Ballet attempts to have it both ways. Clara in this case is an adolescent girl, played by an adult ballerina. The storyline is that Herr Drosselmeyer once had a nephew, Hans-Peter, who was transformed into a Nutcracker. It is this Nutcracker who is transformed into Clara's Prince, and the Prince and Clara go off to the Kingdom of the Sweets, where the Sugar Plum Fairy reigns supreme. At the end of the ballet, Drosselmeyer's nephew is transformed back into a boy, and all ends happily. ++++
The Nutcracker/ Cojocaru, Dowell, Royal Ballet ~ Anthony Dowell, Alina Cojocaru, Ivan Putrov, and Miyako Yoshida (DVD - 2001)
Ballet Class for Beginners ~ David Howard (DVD - 2004) * ++++ David Howard's Ballet Class for Beginners is an excellent learning and teaching tool especially designed by America's foremost ballet master to introduce the beginning dance student to the technique and vocabulary of classical ballet with the emphasis on posture, placement, and movement potential. Featuring Allison Potter with music by Whit Kellog. ++++
Ballet Class for Beginners ~ David Howard (DVD - 2004)
Dancing for Kids (Baby Ballet / Tot Tap / Junior Jazz) ~ Dancing for Kids (DVD - 2003) * ++++ This unique DVD is a fun-filled introduction to the world of dance for kids! Specially designed for ages 4 through 6, children will learn the basics of ballet, tap, and jazz. The dances are demonstrated and explained step-by-step followed by a performance, so it's easy to dance along. The delightful music will help children remember and execute the dances. Includes three full programs: Baby Ballet, Tot Tap, and Junior Jazz. ++++
Dancing for Kids (Baby Ballet / Tot Tap / Junior Jazz) ~ Dancing for Kids (DVD - 2003)
Great Pas De Deux - Fonteyn, Nureyev, Makarova, Dowell, Baryshnikov, Bessmertova, and more ~ Margot Fonteyn, Royal Ballet, Rudolf Nureyev, and Mikhail Baryshnikov (DVD - 2004) * ++++ Stunning performances by the greatest ballet partnerships of recent times. Includes pieces from Le Corsaire, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, and more, danced by such luminous pairings as Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev, Cynthia Harvey and Mikhail Baryshnikov, Darcey Bussell and Jonathan Cope, and many more. ++++
Great Pas De Deux - Fonteyn, Nureyev, Makarova, Dowell, Baryshnikov, Bessmertova, and more ~ Margot Fonteyn, Royal Ballet, Rudolf Nureyev, and Mikhail Baryshnikov (DVD - 2004)
Tchaikovsky - The Sleeping Beauty / Aurelie Dupont, Manuel Legris, Vincent Cordier, Nathalie Quernet, Laurent Queval, Paris Opera Ballet ~ Tchaikovsky, Opera Bastille, Rudolph Nureyev, and Petipa (DVD - 2006) * ++++ Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Choreographed and staged by Rudolf Nureyev after Marius Petipa. Restaged by Patricia Ruanne. The Sleeping Beauty remains, as Rudolf Nureyev often called it, the ‘ballet of ballets’. It is the most accomplished and the most brilliant, as well as one of the most spectacular of the 19th century, and the most representative of the ‘noble’ style of classical dancing. Rudolf Nureyev's version, which he created for the Opera Ballet in 1989, was recorded at the Opéra Bastille in 1999, in a new production (sets and costumes) created by his faithful collaborators, Ezio Frigerio and Franca Squarciapino, who had already produced Swan Lake, Romeo And Juliet And La Bayadère. ++++
Tchaikovsky - The Sleeping Beauty / Aurelie Dupont, Manuel Legris, Vincent Cordier, Nathalie Quernet, Laurent Queval, Paris Opera Ballet ~ Tchaikovsky, Opera Bastille, Rudolph Nureyev, and Petipa (DVD - 2006)
New York City Ballet Workout ~ Barbara Adolph (DVD - 2001) * ++++ Do you envy ballet dancers their long, lean bodies and graceful, elegant movements? This beautifully produced exercise video was developed by Peter Martins and the New York City Ballet with the New York Sports Club. First you watch the rippling muscles of four gorgeous ballet dancers (two men and two women) performing warm-up moves to classical ballet music. Martins uses ballet terminology in his cuing and no technique is taught, so it's look-and-follow if you have no previous ballet training. Next you get down on a mat for slow lower-body stretches. A difficult abdominal series is next, followed by "floor barre" exercises to tone the thighs and buttocks while still using the abdominals. After introducing moves to strengthen the back and upper body, Martins runs through a series of standing exercise segments using various ballet movements to strengthen the legs and postural muscles. The workout is divided into 17 short sections, which may give it a disjointed feeling if you're used to more continuity. At the end is a bonus sequence with profiles of the four performers, all dancers with the New York City Ballet. We get to watch them performing, practicing, and eating. One dancer makes the point that ballet is very athletic, but because it's supposed to look ethereal, the hard work stays hidden from the audience. If you love ballet (even just watching it), you'll enjoy this workout. ++++
New York City Ballet Workout ~ Barbara Adolph (DVD - 2001)
Yoga Booty Ballet Complete Workout System ~ Gillian Marloth, et al. (DVD - 2006) * ++++ Dance, Slim, and Tone with Hollywood's Fut Fitness Secret! See a Dramatic Difference in Your Body in JUST 2 WEEKS! Thousands have seen visible results fast - and so can you! Yoga Booty Ballet is a combination of yoga, booty sculpting and dance that will make you feel strong, confident and beautiful. The workouts are so fun, you won't believe you're also loosing weight and sculpting long, lean muscles. This unique program was created by two of the nation's top fitness experts Gillian Marloth and Teigh Mcdonough, to help women become the best they can be. This program includes 5 WORKOUTS AND EATING PLANS ++++
Yoga Booty Ballet Complete Workout System ~ Gillian Marloth, et al. (DVD - 2006)
Ballets Russes ~ Irina Baronova, Tamara Tchinarova Finch, and Rochelle Zide (DVD - 2006) * ++++ Part history, part love letter, Ballets Russes may be the most purely delightful documentary in years. The movie follows the birth of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in the early 1930s, an event that eventually led--after years of exhilarating experiments, bitter artistic battles, and exhausting tours--to the establishment of modern ballet around the world. Ballet Russes combines astonishing film footage of fantastical ballets (featuring extravagant sets designed by Salvador Dali and costumes by Henri Matisse) and interviews with surviving dancers in their 70s, 80s, and 90s (ranging from Dame Alicia Markova, who was a prima ballerina with the original Ballet Russe under impresario Sergei Diaghilev, to Yvonne Craig, who went on to become Batgirl in the '60s tv show Batman); the result is a breathtaking range of scholarship and depth of feeling. The heart of the film is the dancers themselves, who are sly, thoughtful, gossipy, and amazingly youthful in spirit--even the most difficult times are discussed with humor and honesty. Ballet fans will find this an essential document, while anyone who's never even thought of going to ballet will be completely caught up in these dancers' passion and wonder. A beautiful, entrancing movie. ++++
Ballets Russes ~ Irina Baronova, Tamara Tchinarova Finch, and Rochelle Zide (DVD - 2006)
New York City Ballet: The Complete Workout, Vol. 1 and 2 ~ New York City Ballet: Complete Workout (DVD - 2006) * +++++ A deluxe edition DVD set comprised of the best-selling fitness videos New York City Ballet Workout Volume 1 and 2. The videos are designed to help you develop the strength, grace and poise of a dancer. An excellent alternative to fast paced, high-energy workout routines, this unique exercise program balances art, life and fitness into the perfect workout for any age or fitness level. Whether you love ballet or are simply searching for an alternative workout regimen designed to produce a strong, graceful body, this program will deliver exceptional results. ++++
New York City Ballet: The Complete Workout, Vol. 1 and 2 ~ New York City Ballet: Complete Workout (DVD - 2006)
Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake / American Ballet Theatre, Murphy, Corella ~ Marcelo Gomes, Gillian Murphy, and Angel Corella (DVD - 2005) * ++++ Like all the best tales of enchantment, Swan Lake involves a beautiful princess, a passionate prince and a really major obstacle to their happiness. That obstacle is the wicked sorcerer von Rothbart (a dual role, danced by Marcelo Gomes and Isaac Stappas), who, in the prologue to Kevin McKenzie's adaptation, captures the Princess Odette and turns her into a swan by night. Only if a young man pledges his love and marries her, can the evil spell be broken. But should he betray her, she will remain a swan forever. Beloved by audiences for its exquisite performances and striking visuals, Kevin McKenzie's lavish new rendition of the timeless classic starring the exquisite young ballerina, Gillian Murphy, and the extraordinary Angel Corella now comes to DVD in all its enchanting glory. ++++
Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake / American Ballet Theatre, Murphy, Corella ~ Marcelo Gomes, Gillian Murphy, and Angel Corella (DVD - 2005)
The Ballet Workout ~ Melissa Lowe (DVD - 2004) * ++++ Discover the joy of movement and the beauty of dance with the first program in this series by Instructor Melissa Lowe. The Ballet Workout will help you condition, shape and tone your body. Melissa will not only help you create the body you have always wanted, but will also help you gain an overall sense of well being. The workout has been divided into two levels. Level 1 is designed for those with little or not ballet experience. For Level II previous ballet experience is helpful but not necessary. Success on both workout levels lies in performing the exercises in the correct position and with the correct posture. ++++
The Ballet Workout ~ Melissa Lowe (DVD - 2004)
$39.95
Balanchine - Jewels / Aurelie Dupont, Alessio Carbone, Marie-Agnes Gillot, Agnes Letestu, Jean-Guillaume Bart, Clairemarie Osta, Kader Belarbi, Paris Opera Ballet ~ Mathieu Ganio Laetitia Pujol and Eleonora Abbagnato, Emmanuel Thibault Nolwenn Daniel (DVD - 2006) * ++++ Balanchine's three-part, evening-long ballet, Jewels, is one of the jewels of his output. Created in 1967, Jewels revisits the central pillars of his glorious career. Thus, the first of the trio, Emeralds, to music by Fauré, is an homage to the French school of ballet; a Romantic episode in which soft-core lyricism comes to the fore. The second ballet, set to Stravinsky, Rubies, celebrates American dance virtues, filled with sexy Broadway and jazz references. Finally, Diamonds, with music from Tchaikovsky, takes us to Mr. B's roots in St. Petersburg with a dazzling tribute to Russian ballet tradition. Each of the works is pure Balanchine, full of the abstract stage patterns, novel arm and feet movements, and virtuoso fireworks typical of his style. Jewels is superb in this video taken from live 2005 performances of the National Opera Ballet in its home playing field, the jewel box of Paris' Palais Garnier. The French company excels in meeting Balanchine's demands. All the featured principals turn in breathtaking performances and the highlight may be the way they turn Diamonds, which often goes flat in performance, into a thrilling experience. ++++
Balanchine - Jewels / Aurelie Dupont, Alessio Carbone, Marie-Agnes Gillot, Agnes Letestu, Jean-Guillaume Bart, Clairemarie Osta, Kader Belarbi, Paris Opera Ballet ~ Mathieu Ganio Laetitia Pujol and Eleonora Abbagnato, Emmanuel Thibault Nolwenn Daniel (DVD - 2006)
Ballet Boot Camp 2 ~ Jessica Sherwood (DVD - 2003) * ++++ A challenging and fun sequence of dancers' toning exercises followed by fluid dance patterns. Motivated by the classical orchestral soundtrack, you'll feel like you're an aspiring dancer in a "real" ballet training session. To help you focus, Jessica Sherwood breaks the toning into specific section(e.g. "balance," "abs," "center barre-work"). Then, she carefully - but quickly - demos each move one-on-one before moving into the full class workout. The ending cardio segment features a non-stop series of graceful, flowing ballet movements. Throughout, the terminology and attitude is pure ballet ("now we'll add a weight transfer..."). Music by Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and Bach. ++++
Ballet Boot Camp 2 ~ Jessica Sherwood (DVD - 2003)
Yoga Booty Ballet 2-Disc Set: Light & Easy / Latin Flavor ~ Gillian Marloth, et al. (DVD - 2006) * ++++ Listed as the #1 workout celebrities do by SHAPE magazine, Yoga Booty Ballet is a dynamic fusion of dance, booty sculpting, and yoga that will make you feel strong, confident, and beautiful! Created by top fitness experts Gillian Marloth and Teigh McDonough, it’s so much fun, you won’t believe you’re also losing weight and sculpting long, lean muscles. Workouts include: Latin Flavor and Light & Easy. ++++
Yoga Booty Ballet 2-Disc Set: Light & Easy / Latin Flavor ~ Gillian Marloth, et al. (DVD - 2006)
Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Baryshnikov, Kirkland, Charmoli ~ Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gelsey Kirkland, Alexander Minz, and Nanette Glushak (DVD - 2004) * ++++ The American Ballet Theater version of the Tchaikovsky classic, a 1977 studio rendition directed by Tony Charmoli, has become a holiday perennial on PBS stations and home video. It's a favorite of parents who want to give their kids the gift of culture--and with good reason. There's a loose fairy tale plot to keep dance neophytes interested, and Boris Aronson's eye-candy production design is a series of lavish dioramas. From an imperial-era Russian Christmas party out of Tolstoy, a young girl named Clara (Gelsey Kirkland) is whisked in dreams to an imaginary world populated by the animated creations of the wizard toy maker Drosselmeier (Alexander Minz), who prances on his stick-thin limbs like a Dickens illustration come to life. The main attraction is, of course, Mikhail Baryshnikov, one of the greatest classical dancers of the century, at his absolute peak of athleticism and precision. An opening slow-motion montage diagrams his fabled smoothness of execution, elegant airborne trajectories that have a feather-light perfection. Music lovers who know only "The Nutcracker Suite" will relish the chance to hear this great score all the way through, conducted with lilt and vigor by Kenneth Schermerhorn. ++++
Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Baryshnikov, Kirkland, Charmoli ~ Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gelsey Kirkland, Alexander Minz, and Nanette Glushak (DVD - 2004)
Romeo and Juliet (Royal Ballet)- Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn ~ Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, David Blair (VI), and Desmond Doyle (DVD - 1999) * ++++ It's not a stretch to call Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn the most sublime of all dance partners and Sergei Prokofiev the most gifted 20th-century ballet composer. And so it goes without saying that the 1966 film version of the Royal Ballet production of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet featuring Nureyev and Fonteyn as the star-crossed lovers is an absolute must-have for anyone who cares a whit about the art. Director Paul Czinner has made all the right moves, alternating between full shots of the performers with long shots that accentuate how Kenneth MacMillan's fastidious choreography is inexorably linked to the characters, their story, the elaborate sets, and the viewer. Nicholas Georgiadis's costumes are sumptuous without being overdone, the supporting dancers and ensemble are as exquisite as the leads, and John Lanchbery conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House with just the right mixture of joviality and tragedy that Prokofiev's classic score needs but doesn't always receive. ++++
Romeo and Juliet (Royal Ballet)- Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn ~ Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, David Blair (VI), and Desmond Doyle (DVD - 1999)
Yoga Booty Ballet 2 Discs: A.M. Latte/Goddess Abs ~ Yoga Booty Ballet: Masters Series (DVD - 2007) * ++++ Great way to wake up or energize during the day when feeling sluggish.. This is set with just Teigh & Gillian alone which I like best. Their great energy & body awareness isn't distracted by other student's energy that is usually lower and don't want to exercise as much. ++++
Yoga Booty Ballet 2 Discs: A.M. Latte/Goddess Abs ~ Yoga Booty Ballet: Masters Series (DVD - 2007)
Visual Dictionary of Ballet For Children / Rosemary Boross ~ Rosemary Boross (DVD - 2005) * ++++ This 2 ½ hr. DVD contains a complete visual dictionary and class for the beginner ballet student. It is an invaluable training tool for the student just beginning ballet and reference guide that can be used for years to come. It includes the definitions of terminology, basic technique, movements and steps the beginner student will need to know. With detailed visual instruction on how to execute all of the movements, positions and steps. The class is performed at 2 levelsfor beginner and advanced beginner student. As the class is taught, the terminology of the movements and steps are recited to help familiarize and reinforce the use of terminology in the ballet class. This 2 ½ hr. DVD contains a complete visual dictionary and class for the beginner ballet student. It is an invaluable training tool for the student just beginning ballet and reference guide that can be used for years to come. It includes the definitions of terminology, basic technique, movements and steps the beginner student will need to know. With detailed visual instruction on how to execute all of the movements, positions and steps. The class is performed at 2 levelsfor beginner and advanced beginner student. As the class is taught, the terminology of the movements and steps are recited to help familiarize and reinforce the use of terminology in the ballet class. The Visual Dictionary of Ballet for Children is broken down into 4 chapters: Chapter 1 - The Dictionary of Ballet Technique ( Positions, of the arms feet and body, including the basic techniques of ballet). Chapter 2 - The Dictionary of Barre Work (Visual instruction on the execution of barre movement and steps). Chapter 3 - The Dictionary of Center Work (Visual instruction on the execution of steps done center floor). Chapter 4 - The Class ( Includes all of the steps movements and techniques from Chapters 1,2 and 3 assembled into a class) Program creator Rosemary Boross’ dance career includes performance with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Radio City Ballet, and the American Dance Machine. Visual demonstrations by Rosemary Boross’ students from The Ballet Pacifica Conservatory.Inspiring ballet class music by Rory Foster ++++
Visual Dictionary of Ballet For Children / Rosemary Boross ~ Rosemary Boross (DVD - 2005)
George Balanchine's The Nutcracker ~ Darci Kistler, Damian Woetzel, Bart Robinson Cook, and Kyra Nichols (DVD - 1997) * ++++ Angels and sugarplums. Candy canes and ice. A magic prince, a dreamy young girl, a mysterious old man and a Christmas tree that grows sky high. Enter the world of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker, featuring the New York City Ballet, and let this all-new movie version of a timeless Yuletide fantasy, narrated ny Academy Award(R) winner Kevin Kline, draw you under its spell. Starring Macaulay Caulkin, Darci Kistler and Bart Robinson Cook. Year: 1993 Director: Emile Ardolino Starring: Bart Robinson Cook, Macaulay Caulkin, Darci Kistler, Damian Woetzel ++++
George Balanchine's The Nutcracker ~ Darci Kistler, Damian Woetzel, Bart Robinson Cook, and Kyra Nichols (DVD - 1997)
Ballet Shoes ~ Angela Thorne, Barbara Lott, Jane Slaughter, and Elizabeth Morgan (DVD - 2000) * ++++ Ballet Shoes, the movie adaptation of Noel Streatfield's classic story, traces the travails of a refreshingly functional if hardly traditional English family. There's Sylvia, the financially strapped lady of the house; her three benevolent boarders; Nana, the housekeeper; and, most important, the three orphaned girls in Sylvia's charge. When the household pulls together to secure the penniless but loaded-with-potential girls (Paulina, Petrova, and Posy) a scholarship at a rigorous, no-wimps-allowed arts academy, the girls' natural proclivities fast emerge: Posy's a gifted dancer, Paulina's a precocious actress, and Petrova has a way with engines. All three share boundless ambition and, early on, vow "to get our names in the history books without the help of relatives." Close to two hours of triumphs, tough knocks, and tantrums follow; Petrova gets discouraged, Paulina gets too big for her britches, and Posy gets the rug pulled out from under her when her masterful teacher is hospitalized. Through it all, Sylvia, Nana, and the others unselfishly cheerlead, but then the girls' road to greatness comes dangerously close to unraveling. Sylvia, no longer able to afford school necessities, may need to sell the house. Naturally, she doesn't--just in time, a plum deal plops in the girls' laps. This tidy, overlong movie ought to be sewn up then, but instead, true to the tale, it tacks on a happy, hopeful ending for all. Ballet Shoes is best suited to starry-eyed 9-year-olds and parents who wish to keep their kids' pulses low. ++++
Ballet Shoes ~ Angela Thorne, Barbara Lott, Jane Slaughter, and Elizabeth Morgan (DVD - 2000)
An Evening with the Royal Ballet / Nureyev, Fonteyn ~ Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, David Blair (VI), and Antoinette Sibley (DVD - 2001) * ++++ This program immortalizes a gala evening of classical ballet featuring the legendary team of Rudolf Nureyev and Dame Margot Fonteyn. Britain's Royal Ballet is one of the world's most celebrated dance companies, thrilling us for over 30 years with a legacy of stunning performances. This video has been critically acclaimed as "a chance to view the pinnacle of ballet achievement." This program features excerpts from immortal favorites including Le Corsaire, Les Sylphides, Sleeping Beauty and La Valse. Frederick Ashton's choreography is brilliantly executed throughout. This is one evening ballet lovers will enjoy over and over again. 85 minutes, color, 1963. ++++
An Evening with the Royal Ballet / Nureyev, Fonteyn ~ Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, David Blair (VI), and Antoinette Sibley (DVD - 2001)
The Kirov Celebrates Nijinsky / Sheherazade, La Spectre de la Rose, The Polovtsian Dances, The Firebird ~ Paris Opera Ballet, The Polovtsian Dances, and The Firebird (DVD - 2005) * ++++ From the Theatre Musical de Paris - Chatelet; the Kirov Ballet salutes Nijinsky. Sheherazade with Svetlana Zakharova, Faruk Ruzimatov, Vladimir Ponomarev. Music by Rimsky-Korsakov, Libretto by Leon Bakst, Choreography by Mikhail Fokine. Le Spectre de la Rose with Zhana Ayupova and Igor Kolb, Music by Carl von Weber, Orchestration by Hector Berlioz, Choreography by Mikhail Fokine. The Polovtsian Dances with Islom Baimuradov and Polina Rassadina, Music by Alexander Borodin, Choreography by Mikhail Fokine. Firebird with Diana Vishneva and Andrei Yakovlev, Music by Igor Stravinsky, Choreography and Libretto by Mikhail Fokine. ++++
The Kirov Celebrates Nijinsky / Sheherazade, La Spectre de la Rose, The Polovtsian Dances, The Firebird ~ Paris Opera Ballet, The Polovtsian Dances, and The Firebird (DVD - 2005)
Don Quixote / Baryshnikov, Harvey, American Ballet Theatre ~ Mikhail Baryshnikov, Cynthia Harvey, Richard Schafer, and Brian Adams (VII) (DVD - 2003) * ++++ Mikhail Baryshnikov’s sparkling full-length production of Don Quixote captures all the excitement, Spanish color, and humor of Cervantes’ original masterpiece. It is one of the most popular and joyful ballets surviving from the imperial Russian ballet’s repertory. The famous virtuosic pas de deux is danced in this performance by Baryshnikov "like a dream," according to the New York Post, "a madcap bravado which combined with his pure classicism gives his dancing an edge of genius." His partner, Cynthia Harvey, who takes the part of Kitri, was reviewed in the New York press as possessing "a clear line and splendid grace that grow more wonderful on each viewing." American Ballet Theatre was ecstatically received by the New York press for this performance. The New York Times described how "the dancers had the audience gasping," while the New York Post felt that the company had "never looked better. Dancing flows out of the Ballet with a boisterous beauty." ++++
Don Quixote / Baryshnikov, Harvey, American Ballet Theatre ~ Mikhail Baryshnikov, Cynthia Harvey, Richard Schafer, and Brian Adams (VII) (DVD - 2003)
Yoga Booty Ballet: Master Series - Goddess Booty/Yoga Core ~ Yoga Booty Ballet: Masters Series (DVD - 2007) * ++++ Listed as the #1 workout celebrities do by SHAPE magazine, Yoga Booty Ballet is a dynamic fusion of dance, booty sculpting, and yoga that will make you feel strong, confident, and beautiful! Created by top fitness experts Gillian Marloth and Teigh McDonough, it’s so much fun, you won’t believe you’re also losing weight and sculpting long, lean muscles. Workouts include: Goddess Booty and Yoga Core. ++++
Yoga Booty Ballet: Master Series - Goddess Booty/Yoga Core ~ Yoga Booty Ballet: Masters Series (DVD - 2007)
3 Ballets By P.I. Tchaikovsky ~ Tchaikovsky, et al. (DVD - 2007) * ++++ 1. Swan Lake featuring The Kirov Ballet St. Petersburg 2. Sleeping Beauty featuring The Australian Ballet Company 3. The Nutcracker featuring The Australian Ballet Company ++++
3 Ballets By P.I. Tchaikovsky ~ Tchaikovsky, et al. (DVD - 2007)
Born to Be Wild - The Leading Men of American Ballet Theatre (DVD - 2004) * ++++ This DANCE IN AMERICA performance/documentary explores the lives of the ABT's four lead male dancers: Cuba's Jose Manual Carreno, Spain's Angel Corella, Ukraine's Vladimir Malakhov, and the U.S.'s Ethan Stiefel. Concludes with the four dancers performing. ++++
Born to Be Wild - The Leading Men of American Ballet Theatre (DVD - 2004)
Vaganova Ballet Classes ~ Vaganova Ballet Academy (DVD - 2006) * ++++ Vladimir Issaev, Choreographer and Ballet Master proudly presents this first DVD of The Vaganova Ballet Academy, featuring an authentic Vaganova Ballet Class at the prestigious Vaganova Ballet Academy of Saint Petersburg, Russia. Artistic Director, Mme. Altynay Asylmuratova, formerly prima ballerina of the Mariinsky Ballet (Kirov) introduces the class by highlighting the strong influence that Ballet Mistress Agrippina Vaganova produced in the Dance Method by the greatest dancers in Ballet History. The class is performed in the classroom where Agrippina Vaganova taught and Marius Petipa created his most magnificent ballets. ++++
Vaganova Ballet Classes ~ Vaganova Ballet Academy (DVD - 2006)
Tchaikovsky, Petipa - Swan Lake / Kirov Ballet, Yulia Makhalina, Igor Zelensky ~ Kirov Ballet, Yulia Makhalina, and Igor Zelensky (DVD - 2006) * ++++ This classic Kirov production of Swan Lake by Oleg Vinogradov includes the familiar happy ending in the final act, where Siegfried fights and ultimately defeats the evil magician, von Rothbart, and at dawn is reunited with Odette. Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Choreography by Marius Petipa And Lev Ivanov, in A Version By Konstantin Sergeyev.
Odette/Odile: Yulia Makhalina; Prince Siegfried: Igor Zelensky; Rothbart: Eldar Aliyev; Court Jester:: Yuri Fateyev; The Princess Regent: Angelina Kashirina. Kirov Theatre Orchestra, conducted by Viktor Fedotov. ++++
Tchaikovsky, Petipa - Swan Lake / Kirov Ballet, Yulia Makhalina, Igor Zelensky ~ Kirov Ballet, Yulia Makhalina, and Igor Zelensky (DVD - 2006)
Cesare Pugni - La Fille du Pharaon (The Pharoah's Daughter) / Zakharova, Filin, Alexandrova, Yanin, Lacotte, Bolshoi Ballet ~ Svetlana Zakharova, Pierre Lacotte, and Bolshoi Opera Ballet (DVD - 2005) * ++++ By 1903 "The Pharaoh's Daughter" had been performed 204 times on the Tsarist stage since its 1862 premiere, as by then it was the most popular ballet in the repertory (by 1904 "The Sleeping Beauty" was in second place), and a 'piece de resistance' of the great Ballerinas of the late 19th century, right on up into the 20th. The most celebrated of course being the Prima Ballerina Assoluta Mathilde Felixovna Kschessinkskaya, who, at least around the beginning of the 1900s allowed no other Ballerina to dance the coveted role of Aspicia. She called the ballet her "personal property", (as well as "La Esmeralda", "La Fille Mal Gardee"). The glamorous Ballerina was famous for dancing the role of the Egyptian Princess wearing her sensational jewelery, the most famous piece being her Febrege choker encrusted with millions of Roubles worth of diamonds! Even little George Balanchine performed in the ballet as the monkey when he was a young boy. ++++
Cesare Pugni - La Fille du Pharaon (The Pharoah's Daughter) / Zakharova, Filin, Alexandrova, Yanin, Lacotte, Bolshoi Ballet ~ Svetlana Zakharova, Pierre Lacotte, and Bolshoi Opera Ballet (DVD - 2005)
Mendelssohn - A Midsummer Night's Dream ~ Alessandra Ferri, Roberto Bolle, Massimo Murru, and Riccardo Massimi (DVD - 2007) * ++++ Mendelssohn - A Midsummer Night's Dream ~ Alessandra Ferri, Roberto Bolle, Massimo Murru, and Riccardo Massimi (DVD - 2007) ++++
Mendelssohn - A Midsummer Night's Dream ~ Alessandra Ferri, Roberto Bolle, Massimo Murru, and Riccardo Massimi (DVD - 2007)
A Fantasy Garden Ballet Class ~ Rosemary Boross (DVD - 2003) * ++++ Ballet instructor Rosemary Boross combines imagination and ballet in this innovative dance program for preschoolers. Boross and a class of preschoolers warm up, perform stretching and strengthening exercises, progress to center work, and end with révérence. Boross does not give specific instruction or attempt to include viewers in her class. She does associate many fundamental ballet steps like plié, tendu, and bourreé with garden flowers and animals by utilizing original compositions by Bruce Foster. While the video's cover art suggests animated segments, there is no animation in the presentation, just crayon drawings and studio dancing set to music with clever lyrics. Convincing young students dance with Boross throughout the video, then improvise with scarves in a brief creative-movement segment. The instruction is minimal in this 38-minute video, but young viewers will learn many ballet fundamentals by imitating Boross and may even remember some ballet terms thanks to the garden imagery. (Ages 3 to 5) ++++
A Fantasy Garden Ballet Class ~ Rosemary Boross (DVD - 2003)
Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake ~ Valery Gergiev, Uliana Lopatkina, Danila Korsuntsev, and Ilya Kuznetsov (DVD - 2007) * ++++ This Swan Lake is the third full video version of Sergeyev's Swan Lake from the Mariinsky in twenty years. I think that, all things considered, it is also the best, although the film with Yulia Makhalina and Zelensky is also very fine. The reason I give this film the slight edge is that it was filmed in front of a live audience, and thus has a frission and excitement missing from the Makhalina/Zelensky video, which was a "canned" performance. Also, Makhalina in 1990 was a lovely dancer, but very young, and her O/O in my opinion was beautiful but not a fully developed portrayal. Lopatkina also handles the technical challenges of the ballet better than Makhalina. ++++
Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake ~ Valery Gergiev, Uliana Lopatkina, Danila Korsuntsev, and Ilya Kuznetsov (DVD - 2007)
Tchaikovsky - The Sleeping Beauty / Durante, Solymosi, Dowell, Royal Ballet ~ Viviana Durante, Zoltan Solymosi, Anthony Dowell, and Benazir Hussein (DVD - 1997) * ++++ This ballet may be Tchaikovsky's grandest achievement, The Nutcracker's eternal popularity notwithstanding. And when in the hands (and feet!) of the Royal Ballet, whose superlative 1994 production has been taped for posterity, the composer's singular genius for dance becomes palpable to even the most casual viewers. With choreography by Marius Petipa (who updates Kenneth Macmillan's and Anthony Dowell's work from earlier stagings) and with Dowell's lovely production, the Royal Ballet demonstrates yet again its preeminence in the world of ballet. Viviana Durante dances the princess with otherworldly grace and fluidity, and her partner Zoltan Solymosi's prince is impossibly agile and equally graceful. Dowell even contributes wonderful comic relief as the evil fairy. Barry Wordsworth and the Royal Orchestra do Tchaikovsky's beautiful score, and the remarkable dancers, justice. A ballet company at its considerable performing peak has been preserved for all. ++++
Tchaikovsky - The Sleeping Beauty / Durante, Solymosi, Dowell, Royal Ballet ~ Viviana Durante, Zoltan Solymosi, Anthony Dowell, and Benazir Hussein (DVD - 1997)
Three Ballets by Jiri Kylian ~ Jiri Kylian (DVD - 2007) * ++++ Three Ballets by Jiri Kylian ~ Jiri Kylian (DVD - 2007) ++++
Three Ballets by Jiri Kylian ~ Jiri Kylian (DVD - 2007)
Sleeping Beauty: The Classic Motion Picture With The Kirov Ballet / Alla Sizova, Natalia Dudinskaya, Natalia Makarova (DVD - 2007) * ++++ The Kirov Ballet performs Tchaikovsky s beautiful ballet, Sleeping Beauty, in this classic color motion picture from 1965, based on the original choreography by Marius Petipa, which the New York Times called some of the finest classical choreography ever created. Kirov ballerina Alla Sizova stars as Princess Aurora, the role which made her a legend among dancers. In his review of the film, Clive Barnes called Sizova radiant and delicate, a great ballerina in the first flush of her powers. Yuri Solovyov co-stars as the Prince, Natalia Dudinskaya portrays Carabosse and a young Natalia Makarova has a featured role as Princess Florina. ++++
Sleeping Beauty: The Classic Motion Picture With The Kirov Ballet / Alla Sizova, Natalia Dudinskaya, Natalia Makarova (DVD - 2007)
La Bayadere - The Royal Ballet ~ Altyani Asylmuratova, Darcey Bussell, Anthony Dowell, and Irek Mukhamedov (DVD - 2006) * ++++ This Royal Ballet La Bayadere features Natalia Makarova's reconstruction of Petipa's ballet. Much of the choreography has been lost, including the entire final act. Makarova has thus chosen to streamline the extant choreography, and through some recreation and reshuffling, reconstruct a final act. Other versions (such as the Paris version by Nureyev) choose to work with the extant choreography and end the ballet with the last known Petipa choreography (the Shades act). There are plusses and minusses to both approaches. Makarova's version gives the ballet some closure. On the other hand, she severely streamlined many of the dances in the Solor/Gamzatti Betrothal Act (including the delightful 'pot' dance), and redid the orchestration. ++++
La Bayadere - The Royal Ballet ~ Altyani Asylmuratova, Darcey Bussell, Anthony Dowell, and Irek Mukhamedov (DVD - 2006)
Element: Ballet Conditioning ~ Elise Gulan (DVD - 2007) * ++++ Yoga is one of the best ways to cultivate a connection between your mind and body. It tones muscles, increases flexibility, calms the mind and can improve overall health. Filmed on a lush, tranquil location overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this unique beginner yoga sequence will teach you yoga breathing, and take you step by step through a full range of yoga poses that will strengthen, stretch, and revitalize your body. You will notice results from your very first practice, and as you become familiar with the postures, both your yoga practice and your body will evolve in an uplifting and truly empowering way ++++
Element: Ballet Conditioning ~ Elise Gulan (DVD - 2007)
Ballet for Boys with Richard Glasstone ~ Richard Glasstone (DVD - 2007) * ++++ This informative program is the perfect introduction to ballet for boys and young men. Specially devised and presented by world-renowned ballet teacher Richard Glasstone, this program is demonstrated by young beginners, late starters and a professional dancer. It presents in a clear and understandable style how to coordinate the basic building blocks of ballet in a unique series of exercises that include: BENDING EXTENDING RISING JUMPING TURNING DARTING. Richard Glasstone is the former Senior Teacher for Boys at The Royal Ballet Lower School. He has auditioned and taught many of the dance world’s most talented male dancers. He is the Director of Ballet at Laine Theatre Arts and Director of the Cecchetti Centre in London. Richard Glasstone is also the author of Better Ballet and Male Dancing as a Career ++++
Ballet for Boys with Richard Glasstone ~ Richard Glasstone (DVD - 2007)
Adam - Giselle / Kirov, Petipa, Mezentseva ~ Altyani Asylmuratova, Kirov Ballet, Galina Mezentseva, and Gennady Selyutsky (DVD - 2006) * ++++ Adam’s romantic ballet, Giselle, first seen in 1841, was the finest of the ballets staged in Paris during the age of Romanticism. Over the years Giselle disappeared from the repertory outside Russia, and has only survived through the recognition of its quality and the preservation of its traditions by the Kirov Ballet. The role of Giselle has been compared to that of Hamlet. She is a simple peasant girl, driven from joy to madness and death through an unhappy love. She is transformed into a ghost and ordered to help destroy the man who betrayed her, while still seeking to sustain him because of her undying love. Giselle: Galina Mezentseva. Albrecht: Konstantin Zaklinsky. Bertha: Angelina Kabarova. Bathilde: Anelina Kasherina. Hilarion: Gennadi Selyutski. Wilfred: Valentin Onoshko. Orchestra of the Kirov Theatre of Opera and Ballet; Conductor Viktor Fedotov. Music: Adolphe Adam. Choreography: Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot, revised by Marius Petipa. ++++
Adam - Giselle / Kirov, Petipa, Mezentseva ~ Altyani Asylmuratova, Kirov Ballet, Galina Mezentseva, and Gennady Selyutsky (DVD - 2006)
Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Collier, Dowell, Royal Ballet Covent Garden ~ Anthony Dowell, Guy Niblett, Lesley Collier, and Jonathan Cope (DVD - 2003) * ++++ Fantasy and magic are the essential ingredients of The Nutcracker, and Tchaikovsky’s imaginative score helps bring to life the fantasy world of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s enchanting story of "The Nutcracker and The Mouse King." Gennady Rozhdestvensky is the guest conductor who "drew ravishing playing from this most ravishing of Tchaikovsky’s ballet scores." (Guardian) Though the original scenario for The Nutcracker was considered to be fatally flawed, this magical work has survived to become one of the firmest favorites in the ballet repertory. This production by the Artistic Director of Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet, Peter Wright, with the help of Tchaikovsky ballet expert Roland John Wiley, attempts to rescue from far-flung archives surviving evidence of the original Ivanov/Sergueyev staging, combined with some captivating modern stage effects. ++++
Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Collier, Dowell, Royal Ballet Covent Garden ~ Anthony Dowell, Guy Niblett, Lesley Collier, and Jonathan Cope (DVD - 2003)
Les Ballets Trockadero, Vol. 1 ~ Czech Philharmonic Orchestra (DVD - 2002) * ++++ If you are looking for something a little different in ballet, you should try this. the Trockadero troupe offers comedy, men dancing on pointe as women, and men dancing as men.(unfortunately, they do not offer men dancing on pointe as men, which has been explored by others, nor do they explore women dancing as men.) They are very entertaining and dance quite well, showing a serious side in addition to the comedy. The company director points out that they also make it a point ( a pointe? ) to do unusual pieces, not done much by other companies, such as "Raymonda's Wedding" in volume one and "Yes Virginia, Another Piano Ballet" in volume two (volume two is also available through amazon.com ). As a male ballet dancer myself, the differences in what makes movement masculine or feminine is something I and all serious dancers explore; perhaps this troupe helps shed some light on this. The overall emphasis here is comedy, not any heavy message, so this dvd should appeal to a wide audience. ++++
Les Ballets Trockadero, Vol. 1 ~ Czech Philharmonic Orchestra (DVD - 2002)
Les Ballets Trockadero. Vol. 2 ~ Ballets Trockadero (DVD - 2002) * ++++ Great photography and points of view-Vol One was equally entertaining. The possibility of freezing the action increases the pleasure of the very accomplished dancers by admiting their positions and , especially, their facial responses. ++++
Les Ballets Trockadero. Vol. 2 ~ Ballets Trockadero (DVD - 2002)
Adam - Giselle / Svetlana Zakharova, Roberto Bolle, Vittorio d'Amato, La Scala Ballet ~ David Coleman, Marta Romagna, Antonino Sutera, and Sophie Sarrote (DVD - 2006) * ++++ It has been quite a long time since the ballet world has been blessed with a ballet duo the likes of Zakharova and Bolle. Their ability to perform with technical excellence and emotional intensity is very rare--and breathtaking! We are blessed with some nice releases on dvd by them(Swan Lake and La Bayadere). Perhaps it is in Giselle that we can experience the most realistic portrayal of human emotion in ballet, and Zakharova and Bolle do not disappoint us! This version has the most sizzling emotional intensity of any I have seen, both in act one and act two. In act one Zakharova displays youthful warmth and innocence and in act two, intense love, pain, and grief. Bolle also gives a very appropriate portrayal, showing real intensity throughout. All the scenes are equally magnificent, as is the supporting cast. It is a complete Giselle with the peasant pas de deux and all the group dances, as well as extensive choreography for Myrtha and the other wilis. Finally, the music, costumes, and scenery are also of the highest standard. The image quality and sound are likewise superb. It is packaged with a booklet. Unfortunately, there is no bonus material on the dvd. This is definitely one of the finest Giselle performances on dvd. ++++
Adam - Giselle / Svetlana Zakharova, Roberto Bolle, Vittorio d'Amato, La Scala Ballet ~ David Coleman, Marta Romagna, Antonino Sutera, and Sophie Sarrote (DVD - 2006)
Minkus - La Bayadere / Guerin, Hilaire, Platel, Paris Ballet ~ Minkus, Isabelle Guerin, Laurent Hilaire, and Elisabeth Platel (DVD - 2004) * ++++ Exotic and mysterious India serves as the backdrop to this story of doomed love between the warrior Solor and the bayadère, Nikiya, who is killed by her jealous rival, Gamzatti. Breathtaking sets and costumes are designed by Ezio Frigerio and Franca Squarciapino in this exceptional production, recorded at the Palais Garnier in Paris. Direction and choreography in this fully restored version of Petipa's original ballet are by Rudolf Nureyev. Stars Isabelle Guérin, Laurent Hilaire, and Élisabeth Platel. ++++
Minkus - La Bayadere / Guerin, Hilaire, Platel, Paris Ballet ~ Minkus, Isabelle Guerin, Laurent Hilaire, and Elisabeth Platel (DVD - 2004)
Gayane Ballet ~ Alexander Rumyantsev, Larisa Tuisova, and Gennady Gorbanev (DVD - 2007) * ++++ DESCRIPTION ++++
Gayane Ballet ~ Alexander Rumyantsev, Larisa Tuisova, and Gennady Gorbanev (DVD - 2007)
Stravinsky - The Firebird & Les Noces / Royal Ballet ~ Jonathan Cope, The Royal Ballet, Leanne Benjamin, and Genesia Rosato (DVD - 2002) * ++++ The Royal Ballet's glorious Stravinsky Double Bill unleashes the spectacular production of "The Firebird" with the stark beauty of "Les Noces," magically choreographed by the legendary Nijinska. The all-star cast includes Zenaida Yanowsky and David Pickering as the Bride and Bridegroom in "Les Noces," Leanne Benjamin as The Firebird, Jonathan Cope as Ivan Tsarevich, Genesia Rosato as The Beautiful Tsarevna and as The Immortal Kostchei, David Drew, who recalls in an absorbing interview his role in Nijinska's original production of "Les Noces." As an added bonus, this unmissable DVD also includes exclusive behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage of the two ballets. ++++
Stravinsky - The Firebird & Les Noces / Royal Ballet ~ Jonathan Cope, The Royal Ballet, Leanne Benjamin, and Genesia Rosato (DVD - 2002)
The Ballet Workout Vol. 2: Strength and Conditioning ~ Melissa Lowe (DVD - 2004) * ++++ 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. ++++
The Ballet Workout Vol. 2: Strength and Conditioning ~ Melissa Lowe (DVD - 2004)
Ballet Boot Camp Stretch ~ Jessica Sherwood (DVD - 2007) * ++++ This unique workout offers a varied, flowing mixture of stretches created to lengthen muscles, increase flexibility and release tight joints. This energising and strengthening workout will help you to build your center of power and develop your body's core muscle groups. You will elongate and strengthen your entire body, in particular your abdominal and back muscles, which are the foundation for enhanced fitness and athletic performance. For challenging ballet-based workouts check out Ballet Boot Camp 1 and 2. ++++
Ballet Boot Camp Stretch ~ Jessica Sherwood (DVD - 2007)
Prokofiev - Romeo and Juliet / Ferri, Eagling, Jefferies, Drew, Hosking, Macmillan, Lawrence, Royal Ballet ~ Alessandra Ferri, et al. (DVD - 2005) * ++++ Sir Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet has long been one of the greatest successes in The Royal Ballet repertoire, winning worldwide acclaim as an impassioned and thrilling view of Shakespeare's tragedy and of Prokofiev's glorious score. His sensual choreography poignantly captures the conflict between blossoming love and cankerous revenge. Romeo and Juliet calls upon the full forces of a great company of dance-actors to present the street fights of the feuding Capulets and Montagues in renaissance Verona, and also to convey the splendour of such scenes as the Capulet ball. It also requires a ballerina and a premier danseur able to express the raptures and despair that mark the young lovers' tragedy. In Alessandra Ferri and Wayne Eagling the roles are lived with tremendous intensity, whether soaring during the balcony pas de deux or caught in the last agonizing moments in the Capulet vault. ++++
Prokofiev - Romeo and Juliet / Ferri, Eagling, Jefferies, Drew, Hosking, Macmillan, Lawrence, Royal Ballet ~ Alessandra Ferri, et al. (DVD - 2005)
Lacotte - La Sylphide / Aurelie Dupont, Mathieu Ganio, Melanie Hurel, Jean-Marie Didiere, Ermanna Floria, Paris Opera Ballet ~ Pierre Lacotte, Dupont, Ganio, and Hurel (DVD - 2005) * ++++ When La Sylphide first premiered on March 12, 1832, Marie Taglioni made ballet history by dancing in the first white tutu and dancing the whole performance en pointe. It is considered the first Romantic ballet (not the court dances or court-inspired dances of the time of Louix the Fourteenth). For the first time, a world of whimsy and poetic imagery was staged. La Sylphide tells the story of a Scotsman who is married but falls for a mysterious aerial creature- La Sylphide. There is much plotless dancing and beautiful forest scenery. A villain- Madge, bent on ruining the lovers. This production from 2004 is performed by the Paris Opera Ballet company. It's beautifully re-created from the original choreography by Taglioni. The music is masterfully orchestrated and the bonus feature recounting the history is a fine addition. Own this DVD today if you love classic ballet. ++++
Lacotte - La Sylphide / Aurelie Dupont, Mathieu Ganio, Melanie Hurel, Jean-Marie Didiere, Ermanna Floria, Paris Opera Ballet ~ Pierre Lacotte, Dupont, Ganio, and Hurel (DVD - 2005)
