Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I had high hopes for this DVD workout by Richard Giorla, but all it really is is a highly-marketed but not very pre-meditated workout. NONE of the workout participants in the DVD appears to have the high-quality, meticulous form of a true ballet dancer, not even Giorla himself (though he can be forgiven, since he has suffered a groin injury in the past, which caused him to have to retire from professional dancing and find some other form of livelihood...namely, the new "sensation" called "Cardio Barre") or Kelly Newkirk, the instructor of the "Beginner's" routine. The music is overly fast, generic, and obviously chintzy-sounding. The movements would be good if done slowly and with concentration and focus, but instead are jarring, harsh, uncontrolled, and almost vulgar-looking. I know his workouts were inspired by both ballet dance and Pilates, but this workout is a complete antithesis to the core principles ballet, dance, and Pilates: namely, that control, concentration, refinement, poise, and perfect form are what give a movement it's quality and end benefits. All this workout offers is quantity: rapid, flailing, un-focused movements that only encourage one to equate quantity of movement, indiscriminate "throwing" of the extremities, and over-extension of the limbs with a good workout. This workout can yield strength and control if done more slowly and with focused intent; however, the annoying, driving beat of the cheap, techno-trash, night-club background music is supposed to push participants to further "lose control" with their movements in the pursuit of a cardio workout. Giorla should know better (as a professional dancer)that one can also get a cardio workout from ballet plyometrics (i.e. ballet jumps from plie position) and moderate paced lifting of the legs and arms using grace and excellent form in pursuit of aesthetic perfection and isometric stregth. NOTHING on this DVD appeared in the least bit aesthetic; even Kelly Newkirk, a very pretty girl with a lithe body, looked awkward, frenetic, wild, and almost as if in a seizure-like orgy of movement that was extremely unrefined and almost embarrassing to watch. I guess this workout works for some, as Giorla does have a "celebrity" following, but for someone who is familiar with dance already, it is almost a shame that Giorla would really promote that his workout could yield a dancer's body and discipline. This is nothing more than a poorly constructed cardio workout rashly based on real dance conditioning movements and Pilates, but to call it something that could transform someone into a truly disciplined dancer with a lean, long, body is just plain false marketing and nothing short of disingenuous. I only had to watch this video (and the "Ultimate Advanced Cardio Barre" DVD) and browse through his book to realize that this is simply a slick marketing campaign promoted by celebrities and students, and is not a true ballet "barre" workout. I couldn't even get myself to try the workout, I'd be so embarrassed doing it and looking as foolish as everyone else on the DVD. If you really want a true barre workout, Elise Gulan's "Ballet Conditioning" is far less jarring and is more true to ballet form, isn't frenetic, and is a much more classy production. Learning Pilates will also teach ultimate control and quality of movement. This is the basis of the making of a true dancer's body; after all, making things look effortless is what dancers do best, despite how challenging a movement might actually be. This is called grace...and you won't find it here, at all, no matter how hard you look.