Stay young with this accessible class taught by Finis Jhung and demonstrated by Sasha Dmochowski. This is a great class for people of all ages whether they dance or not.
The "plus" in this video perhaps refers to more stretches. Or maybe it refers to the fact that the program also incorporates a wider movement vocablulary than just ballet. The exercises have a bit more feeling of the spine twisting in a spiral, plus the core contracting and releasing, experiences usually thought of as part of modern dance.
The video's description says it is "accessible" to a wide range of people and, indeed I think it is. For example, if you must be careful of your knees you know that with weight on a leg you never bend the knee more than 90 degrees and the knee never goes beyond your toes. In this video you do not go beyond demi plies in first position and the grand plies in second position are done with a wider stance than usual in ballet so that this is a safer warm-up.
The class starts with floor stretches then continues with barre-type exercises but without a barre. Not only does this make following along easier for the home viewer but it is also more of a challenge for students who are addicted to gripping onto something. In addition, it frees up both arms to perform graceful arm movements along with the usual exercises, such as rond de jambe, making the barre exercises more like center combinations.
Although this program can stand on its own, I am guessing that a novice student would get the most benefit after completing "Finis Jhung-Ballet Technique Level 1-Barrework for Beginners" and "Finis Jhung-Ballet Technique Level 1 Centerwork for Beginners".
No ballet class is ever "easy" and the program's simple, basic exercises can be used by more advanced students to strengthen their core skills until they can do them as well as the very accomplished demonstrator,
Actually, there are 2 programs on this DVD. At the conclusion of the main centre barre there is a slow, stretchy, reverence exercise. Then the last 3 exercises are "kitchen sink stretches" plus a relaxed combination in 3/4 time. This short, final group makes a good AM wakeup routine or a before bed final stretch. If you feel like going on a bit longer, add on the aforementioned stretchy reverence at the end.
Then, after both programs, there is an entertaining interview with the demonstrator, Sasha Dmochowski, from ABT.
