Between the Lions - Pecos Bill Cleans Up the West Review

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(More customer reviews)As seen on public television Pecos Bill Cleans Up The West collects three episodes from the educational, Emmy award-winning children's series "Between the Lions": "Pecos Bill Cleans Up the West", in which a storybook tornado makes a terrible mess in the library, "Lionel's Great Escape Trick" in which Lionel ties himself up with ropes and tries to escape without using magic words, and "Touching the Moon", in which Leona won't let her family sleep because she wishes for a queen to touch the moon. Catchy songs, adorable feline puppets, and a magical world in which letters sing, words come alive, and characters pop off the pages abound in this delightful DVD that combines entertainment and a curriculum of key reading skills. Special DVD features include downloadable activities and reader tips, a "Leading the way to Literacy" bonus video, a downloadable activity guide in English and Spanish, and much more. A highly recommended addition to DVD libraries for beginning readers. 90 minutes, color.


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Pecos Bill Cleans Up the West A storybook tornado blows into the library and makes a terrible mess.Lionel’s Great Escape Trick Lionel ties himself up with ropes and tries to escape without magic words.Touching the Moon Leoona keeps the whole family awake because she wants a queen to touch the moon.Also featuring Broadway stars Faith Prince and Walter Bobbie, the Information Hen, the "What’s Your Name" song, Monkey Pop-Up Theater, Arty Smartypants, Cliff Hanger, and more BETWEEN THE LIONS favorites!

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Honey and Spice: Sensual and Fierce Burlesque Review

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(More customer reviews)Jo Weldon aptly describes burlesque as a "sophisticated and theatrical art with a long history," and it's a history that will go well into the future, in many forms. Anyone planning on a Broadway musical career should learn what Jo has to teach in this DVD, because sooner or later, they'll need to know. One has only to see the late great Bob Fosse's choreography ("Cabaret," etc.) to know what many of his ideas were based on...burlesque!
Jo covers many subjects in this DVD, and teaches 2 routines. The first is "Honey," which is smooth and sensual with a feather boa, the 2nd is "Spice," which is faster and raunchier because it includes the classic "bump and grind" moves. Both are demonstrated and broken down step by step for easy absorption, and are simple to learn. It's the style that takes practice, in this "art of concealing and revealing."
Jo among her many credits is founder of the New York School of Burlesque. The music used is terrific and very authentic, and is drummer and bandleader Ronnie Magri's Shim Sham Revue- Music of New Orleans Burlesque Shows of the 30's, 40's & 50's
There is a Warm-Up section, and the "Extras" are excellent, and are on costuming. Stockings (runs are O.K., but the seams better be straight!), corsets, and those special little tassels. You'll learn how to glue `em and move `em. They are demonstrated on a bra, but of course are supposed to be applied to your skin. These days we are used to seeing actresses on the screen "in the buff" and it is so boring. Jo does much more just taking off a single glove.

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The Honey & Spice instructional video explores two styles of burlesque: Sensual and Fierce. Burlesque is a sophisticated theatrical art with a long history, many subgenres and a wide range of flavors from classic to neo-burlesque. Burlesque combines elements of acting, modeling and dance. It cultivates confidence, bold femininity, and a sense of humor.

Created by Jo Weldon, the Headmistress and Founder of the New York School of Burlesque, the program features two burlesque routines set to authentic burlesque music. The emphasis of both routines is on understanding the art of concealing and revealing. While burlesque has its own classic moves and steps, any burlesque routine can be personalized by adding steps from your favorite form of dance or from other variety arts.

The Honey routine is a tantalizing, sensual dance, performed with a feather boa. It is playful, funny, and very graceful. You will learn how to work with the boa, how to peel off your gloves, how to interact with your audience, and how to be sexy and confident on stage.

The Spice routine is based on the burlesque staple, Bump & Grind. It is high-energy, sexy, rhythmic, and glamorous. You will learn different types of bumps, various burlesque walks, and classic burlesque poses. In the Spice routine you will also learn how to project the burlesque attitude, that sexy confidence you need to amaze and charm any audience.

Jo demonstrates the routines and then breaks down each section step-by-step. Every routine consists of 5 combinations. The DVD chaptering allows you to navigate easily between combinations, both in the demonstrations and in the breakdowns, for easy review and practice.

Additional technique and practice sections include a warmup, a sensual burlesque movement series, and the basics of bump & Grind. Jo also discusses burlesque costumes and offers tips for using certain special items of clothing as props: You will learn how to make a theatrical event out of peeling off your stockings and gloves, and taking off your corset. Special DVD Extras demonstrate the basics of Tassel Twirling and show different types of pasties and how to attach them.

Both routines in this program are based on the classic burlesque [striptease] tradition. Jo teaches moves she learned from women who performed burlesque in the 1930s through the 1960s. Jo s fascination with classic burlesque brought her to study with Dixie Evans, Sherry Britton, Tura Satana, Satan's Angel, Dee Milo, Toni Elling, and other legends of burlesque. Jo Weldon is the Co-Executive Director of Education for The Burlesque Hall of Fame, Las Vegas, as well as the Coordinator of The Burlesque Master Class at Coney Island, where the best of New York's amazing neo-burlesque performers come together to present their most outrageous and iconoclastic acts.

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Discovering Hamlet Review

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(More customer reviews)For anyone interested in a behind the scenes look at how a play proceeds through production this video is for you. The Birmingham Repertory Theater is the setting for this production directed by Derek Jacobi with Kenneth Branagh taking the lead as Hamlet. Narration is provided by Patrick Stewart to guide viewers through the production process. Interspersed between scenes of the rehearsals are interviews with the various actors discussing their characters. I would have like a longer interview with the director, Derek Jacobi, discussing his vision of Hamlet but all in all this is quite a good video.

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Two of Britain\'s greatest actors stage Shakespeare\'s greatest tragedy
A behind-the-scenes look at Shakespearean theatre
In 1988, rising star Kenneth Branagh tackled the role of Shakespeare\'s prince of Denmark for the first time in his professional career under the guidance of celebrated actor Derek Jacobi, considered "the best Hamlet of his generation" (The New York Times). Narrated by Patrick Stewart, this hour-long film documents how these two intelligent, passionate men found new depths in Shakespeare\'s classic drama.
Filmmakers Mark Olshaker and Larry Klein follow the company through four weeks of rehearsals, from the first read-throughs to opening night. Interviews with principal actors--as well as the set designer, costume supervisor, text advisor, and others--reveal how each member of the company meets the production\'s challenges. In all, Discovering Hamlet offers an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the process of staging Shakespeare\'s most demanding tragedy.
An Emmy®-winning star of stage and screen, Derek Jacobi (I, Claudius) has played some of the Bard\'s most challenging parts in his 50-year career, including Hamlet, Prospero, Macbeth, and Lear.
Four-time Oscar® nominee Kenneth Branagh is a versatile actor, director, and writer famed for bringing Shakespeare to the silver screen in Hamlet, Henry V, and other films.

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Kung Fu: The Complete Series Collection (1972) Review

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(More customer reviews)There are lots of reviews which already talk (extensively) about why Kung Fu was such a great show, and worth owning on DVD. Instead I just wanted to make sure people know what they are getting with this set...
I hesitated to buy this set at first because it had all 3 seasons packaged together, but didn't mention anything about special features, etc. I wanted to make sure I had the commentaries & featurettes that the individual seasons boasted. Eventually, I bought this version because the price difference won me over (just before the holidays it was $35 + super saver shipping!) and I was pleased to find out that the set contained all 3 seasons as they appear individually, as well as a nice little slip cover to store them all together. The individual seasons & this package are the same, except that this one costs far less.

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He is a man of peace in a violent land. He is Kwai Chang Caine, schooled in the spirit-mind-body ways of the Shaolin priesthood by the blind, avuncular Master Po and the stern yet loving Master Kan. Caine speaks softly but hits hard. He lives humbly yet knows great contentment. He is the Old West's most unusual hero. But hero is not a word Caine would use. He would simply say, "I am a man."

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