I'm someone who timidly tiptoed on the shores of dance classes in NYC. I took a fair amount of ethnic (African, Afro-cuban, Afro-Brazillian, haitian). I also took some beginner jazz (Broadway Dance - Frank Hatchett), I made a couple of forays into very beginner ballet floor-barre technique, but the intimidation factor (skinny people who'd been on pointe since the age of 6) was just too much of for me.

So this production is just paradise for me! A well produced, accessible, serious ballet barre/floor technique class that I can do in my attic. I'm ballerina bound!

When I say well produced I'm not kidding. The classical music is gorgeous and the sets are spare and elegant. It's imbued with the atmosphere of a dancers life in NYC. There is a "mysterious voice over" which is Peter Marins - the troupe's choreographer.

Their are four dancers. Two are principle dancers in NYC Ballet. The other two are younger corp dancers. There's a nice ethnic diversity (so NYC) and of course, they're all ridiculously beautiful.

"But what about the workout?" you ask.

The program focuses on posture, alignment and core strength. There are a series of warm up stretches and limbering movements, followed by floor work which includes some abdominal strengthening and some slow push ups. The standing work allows the student to obtain the goal of performing basic ballet movements with grace and ease. There is an enormous emphasis on torso placement and alignment.

I can tell you that the morning after I feel the muscles in my hips and thighs and I feel, generally, long and lean.

This is an extremely rewarding, enjoyable program. Its what I've always wanted from a yoga tape and never quite got. I makes me feel stretched, poised, tall, limber and strong. To do these movements correctly involves a tremendous amount of core strength, flexibility and stamina, but the road to that blessed state is accessible to most people.

This tape is far more ambitious that earlier, respectable efforts such as Balletcise.

NYC Ballet Workout is available in VHS and DVD formats. I in no way regret shelling out the money for this DVD. FYI, Collage only carries the VHS version. The DVD must be ordered directly from the NYCBallet.org website.

The DVD allows a choice of classical or contemporary music (!) and has interviews with the instructors, and "day in the life" segments as program options. I've only heard the classical music and its wonderful.

Jane C.