Ballet Workout Recommendation

F

Fembot2

Cathlete
My daughter has requested a ballet workout to help her with flexibility. She takes dance four days a week and she would like something "not dorky" that will help her with her goal of doing a split by the end of April. I viewed a few over at Collage, but it's too hard to tell if they'll pass the "dorky" test. Does anyone have a recommendation?

Thanks,

Tina
 
She could try David Howard's Ballet Class for Beginners. I have not done this tape but I did take live classes many years ago and he is very good. I still use his other tape for intermediate/advanced.

Finis Jhung is another great teacher but his DVDs are quite pricey. He has different levels for barre, center work and pointe work.

I also like Melissa Lowe. You feel like you're in a real class. She has great form. She could try her original Ballet Workout.

If she wants help doing a split though, my recommendation would be for her to do yoga. I was always flexible but nothing has helped me maintain my flexibility more than yoga. I would recommend Eoin Finn's Power Yoga for Happiness. There is a great practice on there called Magically Bliss Hips which has some great hip openers and he does do horizonal and vertical splits in this practice and some other stretches I used to do all the time when I was studying ballet. Warning --(from another review): "Those who are especially modest may not be comfortable with some of Eoin’s phrases (“It should feel like ice cream getting licked off your hips”) and the view of thongs through and over the top of a few of the women’s pants." Maybe you could mute that part.

Marcy
 
Thanks Marcy. I think I'll have her try your yoga suggestion. I own the Ali McGraw one, and I can check our local library for more.
 
Tina,

You might also want to have her try Kari Anderson's Angles, Lines & Curves 2 which is a fusion workout of ballet, pilates, yoga and stretch. She does stretching in splits in this. It is about 60 mins. I just did it for the second time on Friday and it's fast becoming one of my favorite workouts. The music is really nice and relaxing and Kari emphasizes proper form. I know your daughter wants splits, but this will give her strength and flexibility at the same time. She does ballet type center work like pliés and then does a plié and pushes onto one leg and holds. She also does planks, prone and supine, a variation on boat pose, and some good twisting stretches.

Marcy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top