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Midwest Book Review
Feb 29, 2012, 6:09:55 AM2/29/12
to
The Library DVD Shelf
Tar Creek
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
1937772020 $250.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
Licensed for public performance, Tar Creek is a documentary on DVD
about one of the worst ongoing environmental disasters in the United
States today: the Tar Creek Superfund site. Tar Creek was once the
site of one of the largest lead and zinc mines worldwide; now it is 40
square miles of virtually uninhabitable land. Acid mine water has
polluted the creeks; lead poisoning has caused permanent developmental
and learning disabilities in the local children; and underground
sinkholes consume backyards and ball fields. Nearly 30 years after
being assigned cleanup for the Superfund program, the residents of Tar
Creek - including Native American residents descended from survivors
of the Trail of Tears - are fighting for justice. Even the buyout of
homes and relocation of residents is plagued with unequal appraisals
and worse. Tar Creek is a stark warning against corporate greed and
expensive, destructive, and community-destroying environmental
catastrophes, highly recommended especially for public and school
library collections. 54 min., SDH captions.
In the Mayor's Footsteps
Featuring Mayor Amilcar Huancahuari
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
$195.00 each www.bullfrogfilms.com
Intended for viewers in grades 7 through college, two volumes of the
"Life" DVD series concerning the effects of globalization, "In the
Mayor's Footsteps: Peru" and "In the Mayor's Foosteps: Brazil" follow
Mayor Amilcar Huancahuari as he tries to reach out and help children
at risk from the most crushing poverty, or worse, desperate violence.
In "Peru", he visits the jungle city of Iquitos, the Andes mountains,
and more. In areas so dangerous as to require a police bodyguard,
Huancahuari searches for a way to protect children from the physical
and mental damage that is the fallout of unrestrained violence. In
"Brazil" he observes the Mina congregation of Sao Luis select a child
Emperor and Empress, and discusses his trip with the Minister for
Human Rights at the Modernist capital, Brasilia. Promoting Mayor
Huancahuari's plans for a future where children have the opportunity
to fulfill their highest potential, both DVDs are uplifting and very
highly recommended especially for public and school library DVD
collections. 26 min. each, SDH subtitles.
Shades
Starring Dervia Kirwan and Stephen Tompkinson
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598285901 $39.99 www.acornonline.com
Originally broadcast on public television, Shades is a British
romantic comedy with an unusual premise: the protagonists are both
recently deceased. Maeve lost her life to a hit-and-run driver, while
Mark died during a routine surgery. As spirits, they cannot
communicate with the people they were in love with while alive, but
they can speak openly with strangers. Can their efforts to right the
wrongs of their life allow them to transcend their regrets? A thought-
provoking and ultimately uplifting series, Shades is highly
recommended. 6 episodes on 2 DVDs, 296 min., widescreen, SDH
subtitles.
The Brontes of Haworth
Starring Michael Kitchen & Alfred Burke
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598287387 $39.99 www.acornonline.com
The Brontes of Haworth: The Dramatic Lives of the Literary Legends is
a period drama of the artistic endeavors and personal hardships of one
of England's most well-known and accomplished literary families. The
Reverend Patrick Bronte taught his children Charlotte, Branwell,
Emily, and Anne to think for themselves and harness their
imaginations; yet their transition to adulthood is a rocky one.
Pressure to live up to their family's sky-high expectations is
immense, and the young women in particular struggle to adapt the world
outside their home. While the sisters are able to pursue a stable
writing career, Branwell becomes increasingly self-destructive,
inflicting ever-greater misfortunes on himself and the family. A
gripping saga, enhanced with bonus material about the Brontes' home in
Haworth, The Brontes of Haworth is a choice pick especially for public
library DVD collections. 5 episodes on 2 discs, 260 min., SDH
subtitles, 4:3 fullscreen.
A Cook's Tour
featuring Anthony Bourdain
Questar, Inc.
307 North Michigan Ave., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60601
9781594646966 $59.99 www.questarentertainment.com
A Cook's Tour in Search of the Perfect Meal: The Complete Series
collects all 35 episodes of the popular gourmet television show, as
originally seen on the Food Network, within a thinpack boxed set of 6
DVDs. Host Anthony Bourdain brings the viewer on a global tour from
the United States to Mexico, the Americas, Europe, Morocco, Russia,
Australia, Japan, and Asia, all in search of the most flavorful and
memorable of meals. A showcase of cuisine ranging from authentic
traditional to purely wild, A Cook's Tour is an extraordinarily
enjoyable set, sure to prove popular in public library collections,
and makes an excellent gift for foodie friends. 6 DVDs, 13 hours.
German Lineage in Modern Dance
Dr. Betsy Fisher
Dancetime! Publications
c/o WC Books
1200 County Road Rt. 523
Flemington, NJ 08822
$49.95 www.DanceTime.com 1-888-854-5602
Conceived and performed by expert choreographer and dance researcher
Dr. Betsy Fisher, German Lineage in Modern Dance is a tribute to the
tradition of Modern Dance from its origins in Germany before World War
I to its breathtaking new developments in late twentieth century
America. Featuring solo performances by dedicated individuals in the
style of German Expression Dance, or Ausdruckstanz, German Lineage in
Modern Dance blends these captivating dance segments with fascinating
narration and original photographs. The result is an eye-opening tour
of a vibrant dance tradition that has strong German roots but reaches
out to its witnesses worldwide. A treasure to experience, German
Lineage in Modern Dance is the next best thing to seeing modern dance
performed in person, and is highly recommended to dance enthusiasts,
scholars, and college library DVD collections alike. The featured
choreography segments are "Mary Wigman: Witch Dance and Swinging
Landscapes", "Dore Hoyer: two excerpts from Affectos Humanos", "Hanya
Holm: Excerpt from Homage to Mahler", "Alwin Nikolais: Excerpt from
the Tribe, plus photos by Tom Caravaglia", and "Murray Louis: Excerpt
from Figura". 58 min.
Sensuality & Nationalism in Romantic Ballet
Prof. Claudia Jeschke and Robert Atwood
Dancetime! Publications
c/o WC Books
1200 County Road Rt. 523
Flemington, NJ 08822
$49.95 www.DanceTime.com 1-888-854-5602
Conceived by Prof. Claudia Jeschke (char of the dept. of dance
studies, University of Salzburg) and dance history lecturer Robert
Atwood, Sensuality & Nationalism in Romantic Ballet is an
extraordinary, in-depth DVD documentary and reconstruction presenting
restaged dances that were performed in the 19th century. Based
entirely on the documentation of 19th century dance literature and
iconography, Sensuality & Nationalism in Romantic Ballet strives to
recreate the performances that were part of this era's culture, and
that marked a distinct change in that media of the times began to
portray stories and characters that were ordinary, everyday people.
The influences of "national dance" are also considered, in this
beautiful documentary and performance enhanced with a collection of
stunning illustrations from the Derra de Moroda Dance Archives of
Salzburg, Austria. Sensuality & Nationalism in Romantic Ballet is
beautiful to behold, and enthusiastically recommended for amateur
ballet connoisseurs and serious ballet reference shelves alike,
especially including college library DVD collections. The recreated
registered dances are "Fandango [1761]", "Vestris Gavotte [1832]",
"Cachucha [1871", "Pas de L'Abeille [1843]", "Pas de la Esmeralda
[1859]", and "Tyrolienne [1859]". 57 min.
Mile High + Willpower & Grace
Stacey Lel Krauss
Power Music, Inc.
PO Box 3030, Salt Lake City, UT 84110
www.willpowermethod.com/willpower-gracer-mile-high.html
No ISBN DVD, $24.99, www.willpowerlift.com
Mile High provides a high-energy cardio workout on DVD for any student
who would undertake a routine that promotes conditioning and
flexibility training. It takes the industry's major fitness approach
and blends them into a single all-purpose program of workouts that are
equipment-free, barefoot, and blend a positive philosophy into the
workout experience. The barefoot training approach promotes stable
routines that minimize the risk of injury, making this a fine at-home
TV program.
Personal Training with Jackie: 30 Day Fast Start
Jackie Warner
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 200
Troy, MI 48084-3304
No ISBN DVD, $14.98, www.anchorbayent.com
Personal Training with Jackie: 30 Day Fast Start presents the workout
method she uses for her celebrity clients and provides two quick
workouts, about 20 minutes each, in the DVD. The idea is that viewers
who commit to these workouts for 30 days will see a distinct
difference in their fitness, getting them on the road to a better
lifestyle. Two exercises for each muscle group build a 'power pyramid'
training style that provides a logical progression of exercises and
challenges. A fine pick for any home fitness program.
Yoga+Weights
Kimberly Fowler
YAS Productions
No ISBN, $14.95, www.go2yas.com
Yoga+Weights combines basic yoga with 3-pound handheld weights and
offers a series of weight-bearing poses that match the two, making for
a fine approach to using yoga to develop lean muscles. Weight training
is a fine method to prevent bone loss and recommended for older women
in particular: this approach blends two disciplines for maximum impact
and will intrigue any who want to develop a home yoga training
program.
Screen Printing: The 4 Basic Techniques
Sharyn Pak
On Air Video Inc.
8203 Westminster Rd.
Elkins Park, PA 19027
$16.95 www.onairvideo.com
Screen Printing: The 4 Basic Techniques is a DVD how-to guide to using
silk screen printing to create exciting designs for posters, t-shirts,
greeting cards, and fine art prints. (Viewer access to screen frames,
stencil materials, printing inks, printing surfaces, etc. is necessary
to gain the full experience of practicing screen printing, of course).
Host Sharyn Pak walks viewers through four of the most popular screen
printing methods step-by-step: paper stencil, positive or negative
blockout, film stencil, and photo emulsion. Screen Printing: The 4
Basic Techniques is especially ideal for beginners; it opens with
review of the materials and tools used in screen printing, including
instructions for preparing and maintaining the necessary equipment. An
accessible, informative, and user-friendly resource, highly
recommended to anyone interested in screen printing, whether as a
hobby or for a home business. 73 min.
Yoga for Cancer Recovery
Claire Petretti
Ocean Soul Yoga
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.99 www.oceansoulyoga.com www.411videoinfo.com
Yoga master and cancer survivor Claire Petretti hosts Yoga for Cancer
Recovery, a health and fitness DVD designed especially to help
individuals enduring cancer treatment and recovery. A 60-minute yoga
practice segment features postures designed to promote energy,
flexibility, strength, improved movement, and overall body flow, while
a 30-minute relaxation practice, with focus on breathing and
rejuvenating one's energy, is the perfect antidote to stress and
tension. Although intended especially for those recovering from cancer
or combating other types of intractable illness, Yoga for Cancer
Recovery is quite beneficial to users of all backgrounds. Highly
recommended. 95 min.
Yoga + Weights
Kimberly Fowler
YAS Productions
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$14.95 www.go2yas.com www.411videoinfo.com
Featuring YAS Fitness Center founder and owner Kimberly Fowler, Yoga +
Weights is a yoga-hybrid fitness DVD that encourages viewers to use
free weights as their own personal difficulty adjuster for a yoga pose
workout designed to strengthen and tone every major muscle group in
the body. Yoga + Weights is part of Fowler's "Let's Get Ripped!"
series of strength training videos ideal for building lean muscle mass
for long-term health, weight control, and metabolism benefits. An
energetic, user-friendly workout accessible to viewers of all ages and
fitness levels, Yoga + Weights is especially recommended as a strength
training supplement to viewers who can ill afford expensive equipment
or gym memberships. 30 min.
ChogaFlow
Valerie Rogers
www.chogaflow.com
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.95 www.411videoinfo.com
Suitable for practitioners of all skill and experience levels,
ChogaFlow is a fitness DVD featuring Registered Yoga Alliance Teacher
Valerie Rogers' unique practice of seated and standing chair yoga. A
sturdy chair that supports the practitioner's weight and a non-slip
yoga mat are the only materials needed to undertake the exercises,
which are particularly ideal for elderly viewers or those whose
physical limitations make getting down to or up from the floor
difficult. ChogaFlow allows one to enjoy the full flexibility,
relaxation benefits, and pure joy of yoga without putting one's knees
to the floor. Highly recommended. 55 min.
Jari Love's Get Extremely Ripped! 1000 Hardcore
Jari Love
411 Video Information
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$14.95 www.jarilove.com www.411videoinfo.com
Shot in high definition, Jari Love's Get Extremely Ripped! 1000
Hardcore is the latest fitness DVD in the award-winning "Get Ripped!"
workout series by certified personal trainer Jari Love. Promoting an
intense, endurance-boosting and muscle-building workout, 1000 Hardcore
alternates between five-minute cardio segments and three-minute heavy-
duty weight training exercises, for a total of 6 different cardio
segments and 8 different strength training segments, all sorted into
two 30 minute workout blocks that can be performed separately or
sequentially. The viewer also has the option of playing all cardio
segments together, or all weight training segments together. The only
necessary equipment is a pair of inexpensive 3-8 pound hand dumbbells;
use of s step is optional. 1000 Hardcore is an exhilarating, intense,
and satisfying workout, enthusiastically recommended for high-energy
exercise video collections. 80 min.
Ellen Barrett Live
c/o Fit PR (publicity)
195 Linden Ave., Red Hook, NY 12571
$14.95 each www.ellenbarrett.com
Two DVDs by professional fitness expert Ellen Barrett bring the energy
and health benefits of her classes into the privacy of one's home.
"Power Fusion" (46 min.) blends yoga and dance for a high-energy,
waistline-slimming workout that includes muscle toning without bulk,
and mat exercises that target the core. "Grace + Gusto" (46 min.) is a
barefoot workout combining elements of Pilates and basic ballet into
an accessible cardio regimen designed to improve balance, flexibility,
and personal fluidity, with a final five minutes devoted to trimming
belly fat and improving one's upper arms. Both DVDs are lively,
invigorating, and all-around excellent additions to any DVD exercise
library!
Pentrex
2652 East Walnut St.
Pasadena, CA 91107
$29.95 www.pentrex.com
Pentrex continues its long tradition of top-quality DVDs for railroad
enthusiasts with four excellent picks with live color footage and hi-
fi sound and narration, presented in standard definition 4x3 format.
"Union Pacific's Clinchfield Challenge: 50th Anniversary of the Santa
Claus Special" (156342293X, 2 hours) showcases a Challenger engine,
operating in the tradition of railroads that once hauled Appalachian
coal across the country; "Missouri Kansas Texas" (1563422999, 1 hour)
brings the viewer on an eye-opening tour of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas
Railroad (popularly known as KATY) and its many types of locomotive
cars; "Chesapeake & Ohio: New River Masquerade" (1563422913, 1 hour 30
min.) brings steam locomotives of the West Virginia mountains into the
viewer's living room, even revealing the inside of a cab alongside
Engineer Rich Melvin; and "Amtrak's Auto Train" (1563422964, 1 hour 15
min.) is the portrait of an extraordinary train that transports both
passengers and their vehicles, as a luxurious alternative to stressful
road trips! All four DVDs are superb gifts for railroading buffs, and
quite literally the next best thing to riding classic railway trains
in person. Highly recommended.
Hip Hop Body Blast
Dance Off the Inches
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 200
Troy, MI 48084-3304
No ISBN DVD, $14.98, www.anchorbayent.com
Hip Hop Body Blast comes from a fitness dance expert, Jennifer
Galardi, who uses the latest hiphop dance club moves and kicks to best
effect in a high-energy cardio workout. An accompanying Step Guide
teaches the basics and make it easy to workout at home even for those
with no prior hiphop dance experience. The Step Guide can be used to
help make Galardi's original moves second nature. A fine pick for any
home workout program!
Yoga for Cancer Recovery
Claire Petretti
Ocean Soul
No ISBN, $19.99, www.oceansoulyoga.com
Yoga for Cancer Recovery comes from a cancer survivor who has designed
a program specifically for someone going through cancer treatment or
recovery, and comes from a teacher who has been studying and teaching
yoga for over ten years. She outlines methods for yoga applications
that include a 60-minute practice designed to restore strength and
enhance body functions, along with a 30-minute Relaxing practice for
stress. A top pick for new age, health and sports collections alike.
The Sarah Jane Adventures: 4th Season
BBC America
0780682610, $29.98, www.bbcamerica.com
The 4th season of The Sarah Jane Adventures has just been released,
and is a 'must have' acquisition for any follower of the Dr. Who
series. The focus in this series is on a group of school chums who
team up with alien investigator Sarah Jane Smith and her supercomputer
Mr. Smith. As a spin-off of Dr. Who it reaches a younger audience but
many an adult fan will find this series captivating. In this fourth
season Luke is departing for university and facing nightmares; but
there are more dangers facing the planet from otherworld influences.
Big changes in store for this season as Luke departs and Sarah Jane
prepares her replacement - who may not be trustworthy. The actress who
played Sarah Jane passed away earlier this year, but her legacy lives
on and this 4th season is not to be missed by any enthusiast.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to
promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We
accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given
to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites,
newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational
newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest
Book Review a credit line when doing so.
The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines
"California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch",
"MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch".
All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www
(dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com
Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them
to:
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to
Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title,
author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number,
13-digit ISBN number, and list price).
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
Tar Creek
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
1937772020 $250.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
Licensed for public performance, Tar Creek is a documentary on DVD
about one of the worst ongoing environmental disasters in the United
States today: the Tar Creek Superfund site. Tar Creek was once the
site of one of the largest lead and zinc mines worldwide; now it is 40
square miles of virtually uninhabitable land. Acid mine water has
polluted the creeks; lead poisoning has caused permanent developmental
and learning disabilities in the local children; and underground
sinkholes consume backyards and ball fields. Nearly 30 years after
being assigned cleanup for the Superfund program, the residents of Tar
Creek - including Native American residents descended from survivors
of the Trail of Tears - are fighting for justice. Even the buyout of
homes and relocation of residents is plagued with unequal appraisals
and worse. Tar Creek is a stark warning against corporate greed and
expensive, destructive, and community-destroying environmental
catastrophes, highly recommended especially for public and school
library collections. 54 min., SDH captions.
In the Mayor's Footsteps
Featuring Mayor Amilcar Huancahuari
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
$195.00 each www.bullfrogfilms.com
Intended for viewers in grades 7 through college, two volumes of the
"Life" DVD series concerning the effects of globalization, "In the
Mayor's Footsteps: Peru" and "In the Mayor's Foosteps: Brazil" follow
Mayor Amilcar Huancahuari as he tries to reach out and help children
at risk from the most crushing poverty, or worse, desperate violence.
In "Peru", he visits the jungle city of Iquitos, the Andes mountains,
and more. In areas so dangerous as to require a police bodyguard,
Huancahuari searches for a way to protect children from the physical
and mental damage that is the fallout of unrestrained violence. In
"Brazil" he observes the Mina congregation of Sao Luis select a child
Emperor and Empress, and discusses his trip with the Minister for
Human Rights at the Modernist capital, Brasilia. Promoting Mayor
Huancahuari's plans for a future where children have the opportunity
to fulfill their highest potential, both DVDs are uplifting and very
highly recommended especially for public and school library DVD
collections. 26 min. each, SDH subtitles.
Shades
Starring Dervia Kirwan and Stephen Tompkinson
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598285901 $39.99 www.acornonline.com
Originally broadcast on public television, Shades is a British
romantic comedy with an unusual premise: the protagonists are both
recently deceased. Maeve lost her life to a hit-and-run driver, while
Mark died during a routine surgery. As spirits, they cannot
communicate with the people they were in love with while alive, but
they can speak openly with strangers. Can their efforts to right the
wrongs of their life allow them to transcend their regrets? A thought-
provoking and ultimately uplifting series, Shades is highly
recommended. 6 episodes on 2 DVDs, 296 min., widescreen, SDH
subtitles.
The Brontes of Haworth
Starring Michael Kitchen & Alfred Burke
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598287387 $39.99 www.acornonline.com
The Brontes of Haworth: The Dramatic Lives of the Literary Legends is
a period drama of the artistic endeavors and personal hardships of one
of England's most well-known and accomplished literary families. The
Reverend Patrick Bronte taught his children Charlotte, Branwell,
Emily, and Anne to think for themselves and harness their
imaginations; yet their transition to adulthood is a rocky one.
Pressure to live up to their family's sky-high expectations is
immense, and the young women in particular struggle to adapt the world
outside their home. While the sisters are able to pursue a stable
writing career, Branwell becomes increasingly self-destructive,
inflicting ever-greater misfortunes on himself and the family. A
gripping saga, enhanced with bonus material about the Brontes' home in
Haworth, The Brontes of Haworth is a choice pick especially for public
library DVD collections. 5 episodes on 2 discs, 260 min., SDH
subtitles, 4:3 fullscreen.
A Cook's Tour
featuring Anthony Bourdain
Questar, Inc.
307 North Michigan Ave., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60601
9781594646966 $59.99 www.questarentertainment.com
A Cook's Tour in Search of the Perfect Meal: The Complete Series
collects all 35 episodes of the popular gourmet television show, as
originally seen on the Food Network, within a thinpack boxed set of 6
DVDs. Host Anthony Bourdain brings the viewer on a global tour from
the United States to Mexico, the Americas, Europe, Morocco, Russia,
Australia, Japan, and Asia, all in search of the most flavorful and
memorable of meals. A showcase of cuisine ranging from authentic
traditional to purely wild, A Cook's Tour is an extraordinarily
enjoyable set, sure to prove popular in public library collections,
and makes an excellent gift for foodie friends. 6 DVDs, 13 hours.
German Lineage in Modern Dance
Dr. Betsy Fisher
Dancetime! Publications
c/o WC Books
1200 County Road Rt. 523
Flemington, NJ 08822
$49.95 www.DanceTime.com 1-888-854-5602
Conceived and performed by expert choreographer and dance researcher
Dr. Betsy Fisher, German Lineage in Modern Dance is a tribute to the
tradition of Modern Dance from its origins in Germany before World War
I to its breathtaking new developments in late twentieth century
America. Featuring solo performances by dedicated individuals in the
style of German Expression Dance, or Ausdruckstanz, German Lineage in
Modern Dance blends these captivating dance segments with fascinating
narration and original photographs. The result is an eye-opening tour
of a vibrant dance tradition that has strong German roots but reaches
out to its witnesses worldwide. A treasure to experience, German
Lineage in Modern Dance is the next best thing to seeing modern dance
performed in person, and is highly recommended to dance enthusiasts,
scholars, and college library DVD collections alike. The featured
choreography segments are "Mary Wigman: Witch Dance and Swinging
Landscapes", "Dore Hoyer: two excerpts from Affectos Humanos", "Hanya
Holm: Excerpt from Homage to Mahler", "Alwin Nikolais: Excerpt from
the Tribe, plus photos by Tom Caravaglia", and "Murray Louis: Excerpt
from Figura". 58 min.
Sensuality & Nationalism in Romantic Ballet
Prof. Claudia Jeschke and Robert Atwood
Dancetime! Publications
c/o WC Books
1200 County Road Rt. 523
Flemington, NJ 08822
$49.95 www.DanceTime.com 1-888-854-5602
Conceived by Prof. Claudia Jeschke (char of the dept. of dance
studies, University of Salzburg) and dance history lecturer Robert
Atwood, Sensuality & Nationalism in Romantic Ballet is an
extraordinary, in-depth DVD documentary and reconstruction presenting
restaged dances that were performed in the 19th century. Based
entirely on the documentation of 19th century dance literature and
iconography, Sensuality & Nationalism in Romantic Ballet strives to
recreate the performances that were part of this era's culture, and
that marked a distinct change in that media of the times began to
portray stories and characters that were ordinary, everyday people.
The influences of "national dance" are also considered, in this
beautiful documentary and performance enhanced with a collection of
stunning illustrations from the Derra de Moroda Dance Archives of
Salzburg, Austria. Sensuality & Nationalism in Romantic Ballet is
beautiful to behold, and enthusiastically recommended for amateur
ballet connoisseurs and serious ballet reference shelves alike,
especially including college library DVD collections. The recreated
registered dances are "Fandango [1761]", "Vestris Gavotte [1832]",
"Cachucha [1871", "Pas de L'Abeille [1843]", "Pas de la Esmeralda
[1859]", and "Tyrolienne [1859]". 57 min.
Mile High + Willpower & Grace
Stacey Lel Krauss
Power Music, Inc.
PO Box 3030, Salt Lake City, UT 84110
www.willpowermethod.com/willpower-gracer-mile-high.html
No ISBN DVD, $24.99, www.willpowerlift.com
Mile High provides a high-energy cardio workout on DVD for any student
who would undertake a routine that promotes conditioning and
flexibility training. It takes the industry's major fitness approach
and blends them into a single all-purpose program of workouts that are
equipment-free, barefoot, and blend a positive philosophy into the
workout experience. The barefoot training approach promotes stable
routines that minimize the risk of injury, making this a fine at-home
TV program.
Personal Training with Jackie: 30 Day Fast Start
Jackie Warner
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 200
Troy, MI 48084-3304
No ISBN DVD, $14.98, www.anchorbayent.com
Personal Training with Jackie: 30 Day Fast Start presents the workout
method she uses for her celebrity clients and provides two quick
workouts, about 20 minutes each, in the DVD. The idea is that viewers
who commit to these workouts for 30 days will see a distinct
difference in their fitness, getting them on the road to a better
lifestyle. Two exercises for each muscle group build a 'power pyramid'
training style that provides a logical progression of exercises and
challenges. A fine pick for any home fitness program.
Yoga+Weights
Kimberly Fowler
YAS Productions
No ISBN, $14.95, www.go2yas.com
Yoga+Weights combines basic yoga with 3-pound handheld weights and
offers a series of weight-bearing poses that match the two, making for
a fine approach to using yoga to develop lean muscles. Weight training
is a fine method to prevent bone loss and recommended for older women
in particular: this approach blends two disciplines for maximum impact
and will intrigue any who want to develop a home yoga training
program.
Screen Printing: The 4 Basic Techniques
Sharyn Pak
On Air Video Inc.
8203 Westminster Rd.
Elkins Park, PA 19027
$16.95 www.onairvideo.com
Screen Printing: The 4 Basic Techniques is a DVD how-to guide to using
silk screen printing to create exciting designs for posters, t-shirts,
greeting cards, and fine art prints. (Viewer access to screen frames,
stencil materials, printing inks, printing surfaces, etc. is necessary
to gain the full experience of practicing screen printing, of course).
Host Sharyn Pak walks viewers through four of the most popular screen
printing methods step-by-step: paper stencil, positive or negative
blockout, film stencil, and photo emulsion. Screen Printing: The 4
Basic Techniques is especially ideal for beginners; it opens with
review of the materials and tools used in screen printing, including
instructions for preparing and maintaining the necessary equipment. An
accessible, informative, and user-friendly resource, highly
recommended to anyone interested in screen printing, whether as a
hobby or for a home business. 73 min.
Yoga for Cancer Recovery
Claire Petretti
Ocean Soul Yoga
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.99 www.oceansoulyoga.com www.411videoinfo.com
Yoga master and cancer survivor Claire Petretti hosts Yoga for Cancer
Recovery, a health and fitness DVD designed especially to help
individuals enduring cancer treatment and recovery. A 60-minute yoga
practice segment features postures designed to promote energy,
flexibility, strength, improved movement, and overall body flow, while
a 30-minute relaxation practice, with focus on breathing and
rejuvenating one's energy, is the perfect antidote to stress and
tension. Although intended especially for those recovering from cancer
or combating other types of intractable illness, Yoga for Cancer
Recovery is quite beneficial to users of all backgrounds. Highly
recommended. 95 min.
Yoga + Weights
Kimberly Fowler
YAS Productions
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$14.95 www.go2yas.com www.411videoinfo.com
Featuring YAS Fitness Center founder and owner Kimberly Fowler, Yoga +
Weights is a yoga-hybrid fitness DVD that encourages viewers to use
free weights as their own personal difficulty adjuster for a yoga pose
workout designed to strengthen and tone every major muscle group in
the body. Yoga + Weights is part of Fowler's "Let's Get Ripped!"
series of strength training videos ideal for building lean muscle mass
for long-term health, weight control, and metabolism benefits. An
energetic, user-friendly workout accessible to viewers of all ages and
fitness levels, Yoga + Weights is especially recommended as a strength
training supplement to viewers who can ill afford expensive equipment
or gym memberships. 30 min.
ChogaFlow
Valerie Rogers
www.chogaflow.com
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.95 www.411videoinfo.com
Suitable for practitioners of all skill and experience levels,
ChogaFlow is a fitness DVD featuring Registered Yoga Alliance Teacher
Valerie Rogers' unique practice of seated and standing chair yoga. A
sturdy chair that supports the practitioner's weight and a non-slip
yoga mat are the only materials needed to undertake the exercises,
which are particularly ideal for elderly viewers or those whose
physical limitations make getting down to or up from the floor
difficult. ChogaFlow allows one to enjoy the full flexibility,
relaxation benefits, and pure joy of yoga without putting one's knees
to the floor. Highly recommended. 55 min.
Jari Love's Get Extremely Ripped! 1000 Hardcore
Jari Love
411 Video Information
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$14.95 www.jarilove.com www.411videoinfo.com
Shot in high definition, Jari Love's Get Extremely Ripped! 1000
Hardcore is the latest fitness DVD in the award-winning "Get Ripped!"
workout series by certified personal trainer Jari Love. Promoting an
intense, endurance-boosting and muscle-building workout, 1000 Hardcore
alternates between five-minute cardio segments and three-minute heavy-
duty weight training exercises, for a total of 6 different cardio
segments and 8 different strength training segments, all sorted into
two 30 minute workout blocks that can be performed separately or
sequentially. The viewer also has the option of playing all cardio
segments together, or all weight training segments together. The only
necessary equipment is a pair of inexpensive 3-8 pound hand dumbbells;
use of s step is optional. 1000 Hardcore is an exhilarating, intense,
and satisfying workout, enthusiastically recommended for high-energy
exercise video collections. 80 min.
Ellen Barrett Live
c/o Fit PR (publicity)
195 Linden Ave., Red Hook, NY 12571
$14.95 each www.ellenbarrett.com
Two DVDs by professional fitness expert Ellen Barrett bring the energy
and health benefits of her classes into the privacy of one's home.
"Power Fusion" (46 min.) blends yoga and dance for a high-energy,
waistline-slimming workout that includes muscle toning without bulk,
and mat exercises that target the core. "Grace + Gusto" (46 min.) is a
barefoot workout combining elements of Pilates and basic ballet into
an accessible cardio regimen designed to improve balance, flexibility,
and personal fluidity, with a final five minutes devoted to trimming
belly fat and improving one's upper arms. Both DVDs are lively,
invigorating, and all-around excellent additions to any DVD exercise
library!
Pentrex
2652 East Walnut St.
Pasadena, CA 91107
$29.95 www.pentrex.com
Pentrex continues its long tradition of top-quality DVDs for railroad
enthusiasts with four excellent picks with live color footage and hi-
fi sound and narration, presented in standard definition 4x3 format.
"Union Pacific's Clinchfield Challenge: 50th Anniversary of the Santa
Claus Special" (156342293X, 2 hours) showcases a Challenger engine,
operating in the tradition of railroads that once hauled Appalachian
coal across the country; "Missouri Kansas Texas" (1563422999, 1 hour)
brings the viewer on an eye-opening tour of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas
Railroad (popularly known as KATY) and its many types of locomotive
cars; "Chesapeake & Ohio: New River Masquerade" (1563422913, 1 hour 30
min.) brings steam locomotives of the West Virginia mountains into the
viewer's living room, even revealing the inside of a cab alongside
Engineer Rich Melvin; and "Amtrak's Auto Train" (1563422964, 1 hour 15
min.) is the portrait of an extraordinary train that transports both
passengers and their vehicles, as a luxurious alternative to stressful
road trips! All four DVDs are superb gifts for railroading buffs, and
quite literally the next best thing to riding classic railway trains
in person. Highly recommended.
Hip Hop Body Blast
Dance Off the Inches
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 200
Troy, MI 48084-3304
No ISBN DVD, $14.98, www.anchorbayent.com
Hip Hop Body Blast comes from a fitness dance expert, Jennifer
Galardi, who uses the latest hiphop dance club moves and kicks to best
effect in a high-energy cardio workout. An accompanying Step Guide
teaches the basics and make it easy to workout at home even for those
with no prior hiphop dance experience. The Step Guide can be used to
help make Galardi's original moves second nature. A fine pick for any
home workout program!
Yoga for Cancer Recovery
Claire Petretti
Ocean Soul
No ISBN, $19.99, www.oceansoulyoga.com
Yoga for Cancer Recovery comes from a cancer survivor who has designed
a program specifically for someone going through cancer treatment or
recovery, and comes from a teacher who has been studying and teaching
yoga for over ten years. She outlines methods for yoga applications
that include a 60-minute practice designed to restore strength and
enhance body functions, along with a 30-minute Relaxing practice for
stress. A top pick for new age, health and sports collections alike.
The Sarah Jane Adventures: 4th Season
BBC America
0780682610, $29.98, www.bbcamerica.com
The 4th season of The Sarah Jane Adventures has just been released,
and is a 'must have' acquisition for any follower of the Dr. Who
series. The focus in this series is on a group of school chums who
team up with alien investigator Sarah Jane Smith and her supercomputer
Mr. Smith. As a spin-off of Dr. Who it reaches a younger audience but
many an adult fan will find this series captivating. In this fourth
season Luke is departing for university and facing nightmares; but
there are more dangers facing the planet from otherworld influences.
Big changes in store for this season as Luke departs and Sarah Jane
prepares her replacement - who may not be trustworthy. The actress who
played Sarah Jane passed away earlier this year, but her legacy lives
on and this 4th season is not to be missed by any enthusiast.
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