Most amazing principal ballerina and danseur I can recall
586160
I first saw this performance in a local theater, then kept searching for a BD version of it until it appeared on amazon.uk, then waited months until it finally made it to amazon.com in the States. Why? Because the lead ballerina's technique is totally amazing - so fast and precise that her performance needs to be seen to be believed. Most dancers visibly initiate movements and end them; she seems to avoid these transitional phases, going apparently instantly from one position or path of motion to another without those visible connecting moments of acceleration and deceleration.

As a former amateur male dancer (primarily ballet) wih martial arts training, who performed in minor roles with local and sometimes visiting professional companies, I seldom have any interest in watching male dance technique. However, I found myself intently watching the lead danseur in this performance - he's that good.

The sumptious staging of this ballet and the high skill level of the entire company are apparent in this performance, but not unexpected of the Bolshoi company, trained as it is in the classical Russian Vaganova technique. Still, it is very pleasing to see such precise limb placement, without the sacrifice of beauty of form for speed of movement that accompanies so much of the Balanchine technique.

This is by far and away my favorite ballet recording, so much so that I bought a second copy as a gift for my local professional ballet company so that their dancers, choreographer and staff also could appreciate the performance.
3295424
This is an excellent book, reminding me of what I learned from my teachers at SAB and from Mr. Balanchine and my time in the company. I love the anecdotes, the comprehensive combinations with musical timing and the detailed combinations. I also love that Ms. Walzak and Ms. Kai state that this is for dancers who have already been trained in classical ballet! An inspiring and useful book in every way. I carry it with me and find myself using it often. A sincere and heartfelt thank you to these two incredible teachers.
4478394
If possible I would have given this book a 4 and a half  star review. Such a lovely biography written by the choreographer of the "Phantom of the Opera". It is a true, heart-breaking story of a little girl committed to dancing, evolving into a perfect ballerina. She aptly describes the atmosphere of ww2 in London, sensed in the ballet world through special performances and struggle ffor costumes, in a very english, understatement way. She is also very respectful of her teachers and fellow dancers, again in a sweet typical english style. A perfect read for ballet and ww2 history fans.
3460149
This workout works your whole body and is filmed beautifully.  Oh, to have a ballerina's body and flexibility!  Amazing!  There are lots of extras on the DVD too--I especially liked the dancer profiles.  This is one of the few exercise DVDs I've seen that are actually WORTH buying--most of them I watch once and don't have the desire to do them again.  Over half this workout is done on the floor, which is perfect for me since I have an injured foot.  (You can learn the exercises and do them while you're watching TV!)  My only criticisms are that I think if you do not have a ballet background, you will be lost 20% of the time (not a terrible percentage, really), the music doesn't always seem to match the movements, and that there is too long of a pause between one exercise to the next.  Overall, I think this is a great workout DVD.  I would love to get my certification for this program and teach it myself!
698171
Lola Keeley takes her readers on a tour behind the curtain to see the world of ballet through the eyes of the primas and the newest additions to the stage. I couldn't put this one down. The descriptions of the ballet world we never get to see were as compelling as the romance that took center stage. The characters are well written and developed. The romance, is by turns, sweet, impossible and sensual. You cant help but put yourself in Annas ballet slippers and fall in love with being a part of her dreams coming true. Anna and Victoria are a great pairing, with each of them at the opposite end of a ballerinas world. This is a story, Ill go back to again and again. Thanks for the entertainment Ms. Keeley!
4618507
I have an other DVD ot the same Nutcracker by Gregorovich (with other ballerina, recorded in nearer time). The comparison is What to say...  Ekaterina Maximova is always she, the unforgettable... perhaps somewhere in this DVD she looks a bit "tired" on respect to other performances. Anyway, I am very satisfied of this purchase, it is always interesting to admire Ekaterina,  a real "milestone" of ballet (and this DVD was recorded in Bolshoi during Soviet Age!), her delicate steps, her way to move.
2379745
This wins my vote for best Nutcracker ever.  Baryshnikov both choreographed and danced the lead and it's spectacular, I never get tired of watching him dance.  I remember seeing it when I was young and it was first broadcast and I'm so happy to be able to watch it whenever I want.  Gelsey Kirkland is perfect as Clara and is a dream to watch.
778711
This is the best ballet Blu-ray DVD available to date.  Both ballets are performed live at the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg Russia.  Gergiev's interpretation of the Firebird score is superb: rendering all the inner details of this masterpiece with perfect sensitivity to the story and to Fokine's choreography.  In fact, it's worth buying this DVD just to hear the sound recording of the Firebird.  Yet, there's more:  the dancing is also first rate.  Note that this is the same Kirov production of the Firebird filmed in Paris in 2002 featuring Diana Vishneva, also available on DVD (see "The Kirov Celebrates Nijinsky").  However, this 2008 performance is overall superior to that older one even though a less famous ballerina, Ekaterina Kondaurova, dances the title role.

Rite of Spring is also very well done but this is the first time I've seen the Nijinsky choreography as reconstructed by Millicent Hodson and Kenneth Archer.  Seeing it myself for the very first time, I could much more easily understand the reaction of the Parisian audience at the premiere in 1913. Those who contend that the riot was more a result of the choreography than Stravinsky's score are probably right.  Nijinsky's approach is not merely different from classical ballet but nearly hostile to it, sort of an anti-ballet.  Turned in legs, flat feet, off balance and hunched over postures with angular arm positions are all purposely the exact opposite of the classical style.  Most telling of all is that the Chosen One is the one dancer who keeps tripping and falling down, apparently unable to keep her balance. In other words, the least balletic dancer is the one chosen to be glorified in the ritual sacrifice. The dancers also punch their fists into the air - a not so subtle gesture having but one unmistakable meaning to the Parisian audience of the time: Revolution! No wonder fist fights broke out amongst some audience members who had never seen what we now call modern dance.

The sound quality and video production quality are flawless: None of the motion artifacts I've seen on some other ballet DVDs, such as blurring or dancing that's not quite in sync with the music.  As near to perfection as one could possibly hope for.
2422565
If you are a Nutcracker Suite fan and the thought of a Clara ornament for you or someone you know, is appealing, I can't recommend this one strongly enough. She has the sweetest face and the nutcracker is well done and large enough to be an impressive part of the piece. One of the nicest things, though, is her real-fabric dress and satin hair bow. The embellishment on the dress is also way beyond what you'd expect. The whole ornament is really exceptional. I have bought a couple for myself and several more for gifts.
4563622
This DVD covers a ballet gala performed in Prague in January, 2006.  The pieces are from classical and modern ballet and consist of solos, pas de deux, and a pas de quatre.  The dancers all dance with amazing technique and expression, and there are behind the scenes rehearsals and interviews thrown in before each of the pieces.  I was especially impressed by the father and son team of Dmitri and Daniil Simkin from Germany.  We do not often get to see a pas de deux danced by a father and son.  Their technique was fantastic!  The father also dances with Marek Tuma in another piece and the son dances a solo.  It is in this last solo that I did not appreciate the tendancy of the camera to stay in close up.  The camera cannot always stay in a longshot, and it is necessary for the camera to move in and out and change angles to follow the action(after all when we view a performance live, we do the same thing with our eyes and cannot focus on everything simultaneously).  Sometimes we do want a close up because facial expression and hand gestures can be important, but it should not be over done.  For the most part, I found the camera work to be satisfactory.  I also enjoyed listening to the Bolshoi dancers talk about each other.  They sound like they are in love!
The image(16:9 widescreen) and sound(pcm stereo, dd5.1, dts5.1) are absolutely perfect.  A twelve page booklet in English, German, and French is also included.  This is recommended for all lovers of ballet.
3819980
I ordered these ballet slippers as soon as I saw the brand. Forty plus years ago I had them.(ohh the memories) Back then I was taught by dancers who some of them went on to become some of the world's greatest dancers and teachers!!!!! (Capezios was the brand to have!!!!)I  still love the quality, and if it was good enough for them then what else can I say???????
4621670
The title of this DVD translates as "An Evening With Carla Fracci". It was an Italian TV broadcast from 1973 and is a delightful, rare gem. It shows Carla dancing in classical ballet pieces: Sleeping Beauty--finale, Romeo and Juliet balcony scene--Cranko version, and segments of a traditional private ballet class at La Scala--some barre and center. It also includes some other genres: A modern camera montage with Carla superimposed while dancing, a jazz medley with two other dancers, and a fantastic cancan version with members of La Scala Ballet. There is even an opera piece with Giuseppe di Stefano singing to her. Carla also does some speaking in Italian, of course. It is marvelous to hear her speak in her native tongue. Don't worry, there are subtitles(in English, Spanish, French, and Japanese). Carla was in her prime when this was done. The picture and sound are great, so if you enjoy Carla and obscure ballet videos, you will love this!
1984186
Ballerina is a wonderful inside look at the dedication that these dancers must have to attain success.  My neice is a 13 year old aspiring dancer so I mailed this to her.  She loves it and watches it over and over and I plan on buying her more movies like this.  The women portrayed are real dancers and the stories focus on their personal lives as well as professional.  If you appreciate that ballet is more than just another kind of dance you can't help but love it too.
3029468
I've had the pleasure of studying with Paul and Sharon in person, and -- like in their video -- they are extremely warm, thorough and clear communicators.  For those who don't know, these two folks are some of the most renowned dance instructors around, and deservedly so.  Get the video, and if you're anywhere near San Francisco, take their classes!
4339790
My daughter has the good fortune to study ballet at a school directed by Yvonne Mounsey, a Balanchine ballerina who danced center Spanish in the first NYCB Nutcracker. Because my daughter dances in a local production of the Nutcracker every year, I asked her teachers what CD they would recommend we play at home. The unequivocal choice was this Andre Previn version. It's a classic - no pyrotechnics, but clear phrasing and danceable tempos. It's not as showy as the new Kirov version - but I find some sections of the Kirov version to be overly manic. Tchaikovsky worked very closely with the ballet master to write music to dance to, and Previn's version is faithful to that intent. If you have a dancer in the family, or you are looking for a classic Nutcracker, you can't go wrong with Andre Previn's.
3969165
This full length ballet is a balletic biography of Charlie Chaplin(no surprise there!). It incorporates a blend of classical ballet and modern dance movements with a sprinkling of other styles to add spice, such as break dancing. This is exactly the kind of ballet that the Leipzig Ballet loves to do. The principal cast is formed from an international assortment of dancers(Chaplin, the dancer, is danced by an American, Tyler Galster, formerly of the Pennsylvania Ballet, and Chaplin, the Tramp, is danced by an Australian, Amelia Waller, formerly of the Queensland Ballet). The music is taken from a wide variety of sources and much of the music is composed by Chaplin, himself. The staging includes a wide variety of dance settings, including solos, duets, and full-sized ensemble pieces. Chaplin's character of The Tramp is prominent in this ballet, but, of course, that was not Chaplin's only character(The Music Professor was among my favorites). The choreography and dancing are energetic and impressive and the ballet holds our interest throughout. There is also a nice introduction(in German and English with available subtitles in English, French, and German), featuring interviews with the choreographer and principals. This is beautifully and tastefully done and is great for all audiences, both young and old(and those in-between).
1900371
Snow White is a wonderful choice for a ballet story(I, myself have worked on choreographing and staging a Snow White ballet version).  The story of Snow White was first popularized by the Brothers Grimm, but it(as well as several other famous stories) was told to them by two well-to-do sisters, Jeannette and Amalie Hassenpflug.  The Grimms took the Hassenpflug version and varied and edited it to suit their own taste.  But there are traces of the basic elements of this story dating back to the Sixteenth Century.  It was Walt Disney that made it a household tale.  There are many different versions of Snow White(not to be confused with Snow White And Rose Red, where that Snow White character is a totally different one).  The version used in this ballet was chosen to be very similar to the Disney version so that it would be familiar to a wider audience.
The quality of the dancing and choreography is absolutely fantastic!  The choreographer, Ricardo Cue, said that he wanted to show off the talents of the dancers and he certainly succeeded in that.  Tamara Rojo is an amazing dancer and she performs a few quadruple pirouettes in the first scene and does 48 fouette pirouettes in the last.  The role of the Prince is danced by Inaki Urlezaga, and he is also very impressive, executing very difficult steps flawlessly.  In fact, all the dancers displayed amazing ability and artistic maturity.  Each of the seven dwarfs(played by young men who are not very tall, but not very short either!) also dance very interesting solos.  The sets and costumes are also excellent.  The role of the evil Queen is a pure character role, also contributing to the feel of a classical ballet.  The entire ballet, in fact, except for the musical score, was conceived as a purely classical ballet, which is a very welcome concept.
I have two criticisms of this ballet, however.  First, the climax of the entire ballet comes with the entrance of the Prince and his discovery of Snow White. He is supposed to realize that she is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen and fall in love with her.  But this whole scene is very rushed.  The entrance of the Prince is as if he were in a hurry for an appointment.  He is also all alone.  He very quickly takes a look at her, kisses her, and that is the end of the scene, more or less.  This should have been a little more extensive, perhaps even giving him a solo adagio to ponder the situation.  My other objection is more serious:  it has to do with the nature of the musical score itself.  Basically, the entire score is a theme and variation of only one melody!  If you look at the great classcal ballet scores, you see that they consist of many very diverse melodies.  This could have been done much more effectively here.  Interestingly, this was Emilio Aragon's first attempt at composing a ballet score.  He consulted Tamara Rojo to get an understanding of the tempo, sequence, and duration needs of classical dance, but somehow the idea of using different melodic ideas throughout the ballet got lost. (The style of the score can be described as neo-baroque.)  But there are problems in every ballet, so these things don't spoil the overall result, which is truly wonderful.
The DVD has state-of-the-art image and sound quality.  We are also given a very generous supply of extras.  There are no fewer than five included documentaries, showing most every aspect of the creation of this Snow White ballet.  A good amount of rehearsal footage is included, as well.  The documentaries are in Spanish with available English subtitles.  This is the first classical ballet ever to be entirely created in Spain and it is a very welcome addition to the ballet repertoire.