Review of Lessons in Ballet for Figure Skaters DVD From Annette Thomas
About.com Rating
The Bottom Line:
"Ballet for Figure Skaters" was developed by Annette T. Thomas in 1999. The program uses Russian technique ballet combined with Pilates and Yoga. Thomas' Ballet for Figure Skaters DVD is designed to give figure skaters a complete beginning ballet course. Her DVD addresses the specific needs of figure skaters; the DVD is also educational and figure skating coaches will find the DVD helpful as they work to produce excellent skaters.
Pros
- Precise, detailed, and clearly explained exercises are included in Annette Thomas' DVD.
- This excellent DVD is useful for figure skating training purposes.
- Anyone who wants to learn the basics of ballet will learn something from the videos and demonstrations included in the Ballet for Figure Skaters DVD.
Cons
- The cost of the Ballet for Figure Skaters DVD may be high for some budgets, but is worth it.
Description
- The Ballet for Figure Skaters DVD is about two and a half hours long.
- The cost of the DVD is $59.95.
- Over forty exercises are shown.
- The DVD includes a detailed demonstration and tutorial on the basics of the Vaganova Method of ballet as it applies to figure skaters.
- Vaganova based warm-ups and strengthening floor exercises are shown on the DVD.
- A full length ballet lesson that includes barre exercises and center exercises is also shown.
- The DVD includes an off-ice "Skates On" ballet lesson.
- A sixteen page booklet that contains all of the exercises on the DVD with explanations is included.
About.com Expert Review - Lessons in Ballet for Figure Skaters Level 1:
"Ballet for Figure Skaters" was developed by Annette T. Thomas in 1999. The program uses Russian technique ballet combined with Pilates and Yoga. Now, Annette Thomas has created a DVD that teaches all the concepts and exercises used in her classes and in her book "Fundamentals of Alignment and Classical Movement for Figure Skaters."
The author's love for figure skating and ballet shows in everything Thomas does. Her ideas are meant to help make figure skaters the best figure skaters possible.
Everything is explained in great detail and all the information on Thomas' website, Ballet For Figure Skaters, comes to life. Figure skaters and ballet dancers demonstrate as Thomas explains each exercise and technique.
All figure skaters need to do ballet and stretch. This DVD, like Annette Thomas's book, "Fundamentals of Alignment and Classical Movement for Figure Skaters" will help a skater and coach understand what is accomplished in off-ice dance classes and will help to produce the best figure skaters possible.
The cost of the DVD may be considered high by some, but the detail and information included may be worth the cost since what Annette Thomas describes and teaches will add quality to a figure skater's skating, mind, and body.
More From Annette Thomas at About.com Figure Skating:
- Names of Ballet Moves That Are Similar to Figure Skating Moves
- Fundamentals of Alignment and Classical Movement for Figure Skaters
