ABOUT THE TEACHER: Finis Jhung performed with the San Francisco, Joffrey, and Harkness Ballets, on Broadway and in film, and founded Chamber Ballet U.S.A. He is a master ballet teacher with over 50 instructional videos and has written The Finis Jhung Ballet Technique: A Guide for Teachers & Students and Ballet for Life: a Pictorial Memoir. ABOUT THE VIDEO: This video is a collector’s item because it is demonstrated by Isabella Boylston, the critically acclaimed ballerina of The American Ballet Theatre. As you do these exercises on a portable barre in front of the mirror you will be encouraged to press down on the barre as this will energize your shoulders and supporting arm, strengthen your posture, and help you to balance the movement of your legs and feet in center floor. All pliés (except for stretches) are to be performed with opposition and resistance, which will strengthen your feet, ankles, knees, hips, and core. The fondu-relevé exercises develop proper placement, balance, and foot-ankle- knee strength which are necessary in order to correctly execute most poses, turns, and jumps. EXERCISES are listed on the back cover of the DVD image above.
C**A
Excellent home workout series
This is part of an excellent series for a solo ballet barre workout. This dvd in particular is a slow moving pace and focuses on the basics, which is great if you haven't taken class in a while. I do, however, recommend for the trained dancer (BFAs, etc) to go with barrework level 3, which is an intermediate pace (more or less) and will have you breaking a sweat. Finis Jhung's technique is enjoyable and eye-opening to those of us who still hear our ballet teachers from the past in our heads as we work. p.s. if you're looking for a portable ballet barre for your home or apartment check out vitavibe.com. I purchased a 5ft long (weighs only 9 lbs!) for my hallway, along with a few panels of mirrors from ikea just to workout with these dvds since its pretty much impossible to find an early a.m. before work ballet class.
C**K
would like to return disk or trade it for another
i have used it once and there is skipping on the disk. would like to return disk or trade it for another.
I**Y
Barre exercises are the foundation for dancing beautifully
Finis Jhung’s video The Power Barre emphasizes the importance of barre exercises as the foundation for dancing beautifully with strength and control. Each exercise convincingly shows us how important the placement of the body is, or how using each part of the body in a certain way and sequence builds the strength needed for dancing with ease in center floor. Each exercise at the barre will find its replica in center floor, says Finis Jhung. When the student practices with this awareness of how barre movements evolve into center floor movements, the muscle memory is internalized and movements, steps and poses become automatically correct and beautiful.Unlike traditional classes where the barres are either mounted on walls or placed in parallel with students on both sides, Finis places the barre facing the mirror and asks the student to constantly observe what they do, so they may correct themselves all along. This is of tremendous help because it teaches the student how to work facing the audience or on diagonal, correctly. The demonstrator is principal dancer and star of The American Ballet Theater, Isabella Boylston. It is fascinating to watch Isabella’s genuine interest in learning from Finis. Her execution is flawless, which makes it easier for the student to learn how to use the natural turnout and maintain it throughout the exercise, how to do the isometric plie, how to place and use that all-important supporting arm on the barre and, most important, how to fondu and relevé correctly. In addition, Finis teaches musicality and phrasing.I love this video because it is so original in teaching one how to work at the barre using the mirror. I strongly recommend this video to students of any level interested in becoming—exactly what the title says—a powerful dancer. Ileana L. Ray – Brooklyn, New
F**3
My Favorite Finis Jhung Barre Video!
This is my favorite barre video from Finis Jhung. I have been using it a couple times each week for several months now. For me, this video helps me maintain or refocus on my form while giving me a great workout!
