Ballet Beautiful - Backstage Workout DVD

I have all the other Ballet Beautiful workouts and just tried this latest one yesterday. I loved it! I always find the Ballet Beautiful workouts quite similar to one another despite different sequencing and emphases, but I found this one quite different from Mary Helen's usual. In particular, the arms segment is the first of hers I've done that does not have 'swan arms' at all. As mentioned by another reviewer, she does variations of tricep dips and ballerina push backs instead, which is a pleasant change (although I do love her swan arms series). The inner thighs segment is also different from the usual lifts, and I found the arabesque segment much more challenging than any of her other work. This workout still contains Mary Helen's signature sweet style while she leads you through intense burning, but I personally feel that the moves are fresher and newer this time around. Definitely a must have for Ballet Beautiful enthusiasts!

I have all the ballet beautiful workouts. I do this along with some Tracy Anderson DVDs and have gotten noticeable results. I think the workouts compliment each other and have many similar aspects. This is a more difficult workout, I especially like the arabesque lift portion, you can feel it work the whole side of your body. The stretching segment is fantastic, I now use it after doing all her other DVDs. Everything is new and very challenging. I would say if you are already a fan this would be a nice addition and if you are new I would begin with the Total Body workout.

I agree with others when they mention her lack of instruction. All her videos are challenging and because of my limited flexibility i do modify where i need to but would have liked on this video if she had more advice on how to hold your leg and other cues. I find this is the same more or less on her workouts as well. In all fairness i may not be the intended audience for these videos they are definitely on the the more advanced intermediate to the very advanced side. I am doing them for the challenge but do get frustrated when unable to really get the benefit because lack of instruction or it being super hard. I couldn't balance for the being on all fours and bringing your arm up at the same time as your leg. She didn't offer the modification of keeping you arm on the floor but had to to keep my balance. I don't mean to be critical but don't think a lot of her workouts are for me i prefer a lot of standing barre workouts i have found on line for example lindsey bushman is challenging yet doable for me. After not really doing this workout for a while. I decided to try it again in it's entirety. I really think it's better for getting a full body toning workout. I still feel like it could use more modifiers and better cueing. I need to keep my arm down while doing the butt workout segment Other then that you really get an great full body workout for being on the floor the whole time.

Mary Helen's workouts are the only ones I have actually stuck with. They are challenging, but feel so good at the same time. I love the stretching, and the ability to choose one workout, or play the whole thing. I have several of these dvd's, and enjoy them all.

I have a few Ballet Beautiful DVDs, and this is good, solid intermediate workout. The problem I have with this DVD, and the others, is that Mary Helen doesn't offer much, if any, form pointers for the exercises. For example, when you're extending your leg, should the top of your foot be facing the wall, the floor, the ceiling? Should your elbows be back or lifted? What muscles should you feel for each exercise? I find it easier to do the DVDs without watching her, and just by listening and trying to "feel" what is right. This workout is as hard as you make it, I guess...

Great workout, and is set up in individual sections. You can either play all or individually. Just a heads up - In some of her other DVDs you can customize the play sequence, however this one does not allow that function. It is not a deal breaker, but is sort of annoying, lol.

I have three ballet beautiful DvDs, and I think this is the hardest of all. I can do the body blast one for an hour without stop, but I can barely finish one set of the first movement in this one. my button and thigh are burning in the first three minutes when I do this workout.

This DVD starts with only Music & conitinues through out with music only. There is no place to select Custom-Workout option.