Product Review

ABOUT THE TEACHER: Finis Jhung is a world-renowned ballet master who has been featured on CBS THS MORNING, written The Finis Jhung Ballet Technique: A Guide for Teachers & Students and produced more than 45 instructional videos. ABOUT THE VIDEO: As Finis Jhung often says in class, “you either stand up, or you fall. You either balance, or you don’t. It all comes from the way you do your barrework.” As you do this carefully constructed and minutely detailed barre, Finis frequently asks Kelley Waddell of The American Ballet Theatre (and you) to see if she can continue doing an exercise with her hand off the barre. Sometimes, he asks her to check and see that she’s not sitting back on her heel, because he wants her to feel she’s always ready to move from that position. Kelley works at a portable barre which has been placed in front of the mirror, because Finis thinks it’s very important for you learn to see what he sees, so that you will eventually be able to correct yourself. Throughout each exercise, Finis is right at Kelley’s side, providing directions and corrections. Go beyond the positions and the terminology—learn to move! The CD music is by Scott Killian. EXERCISES: 1. Stretches; 2. Pliés; 3. Battement tendu à la seconde, 1st position; 4. Battement tendu devant & derrière, 1st position; 5. Slow battement tendu en croix, 5th position, stretch, relevé & balance; 6. Quick battement tendu-dégagé; 7. Battement dégagé, relevé & balance ; 8. Circular port de bras & balance; 9. Rond de jambe à terre; 10. Petit battement, fondu; 11. Grand battements en croix; 12.Piqué-balance, fondu, pas de bourrée dessous; 13. Tombé-fondu-relevé