A Fantasy Garden Ballet Class

Kultur Video, 1990, DVD

Product Description

Ballet is fun and easy with this classic program created especially for pre-schoolers. Each of the basic steps is associated with flower and animal characters that make it easy to remember ballet terminology. The beautiful melodies and memorable lyrics make this class a unique and exciting experience for the young child! In addition to the basic ballet steps, the class includes a warm-up, stretching and strengthening exercises, and fundamentals like basic motor skills and creative movement. The floor exercises teach children the format of a dance class, spatial directions, and working together in groups. Special Bonus: The DVD includes audio tracks of all 21 practice songs!

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) — Tami Horiuchi

Product Details

Title: A Fantasy Garden Ballet Class
Sales Rank: 31993 in Music
Actor: Rosemary Boross
Studio: Kultur Video, 2003-08-12, Theatrical Release: 1990
Format: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Acpect Ratio 1.33:1
Languages: English (Original Language)
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region Code: 1
Running Time: 40 minutes
Package Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.42 x 0.58 inches, 0.18 pounds

Customer Reviews

Very good for the intended audience: Okay, let's look at the date of composition. The comments about camera angle and technical filming are irrelevant. This video is full of excellent instruction that engages a child in dance without stressing the particulars of turnout, etc. For a very young child of 2-4 it helps them to engage with someone other than their parent in an activity that is probably new to them.… More reviews

Great DVD: I purchased this DVD, because it came recommended by other dance teachers. I found the material to be age appropriate and highly creative. I was disappointed that the music included with the DVD was not on a CD where I could use it in the classroom. This DVD was helpful in generating new ideas for my classes.… More reviews

Just like being in a class: I bought this video for my daughters who were too shy to be in a ballet class with all the other children. This video was just like being in the class. Literally. They basically set up a video camera in one corner of the dance studio and filmed the class. So it get a bit boring for my little ones to see the same scenery, etc.… More reviews

Great kids dance movie: I purchased A Fantasy Garden Ballet Class and its sequel A Fantasy Garden Ballet class II for my 2 year old daughter who is not quite old enough for a dance class. She absolutely loves watching it and loves Miss Rosemary, she sings along with the songs and participates as if she's part of the class on the tv. I have used it with my preschool… More reviews

music is perfect: As a ballet teacher looking for a method that would teach 3 and 4 yr olds technique, but still keep their attention, the songs on this were perfect and I wanted to adjust movements. The only problem was that there is no CD available, so I ended up not really using this DVD and just coming up with my own syllabus. … More reviews