Ashton The Dream Ethan Stiefel Alessandra Ferri Herman Cornejo American Ballet Theater Deals on Ethan Stiefel

Ashton - The Dream / Ethan Stiefel, Alessandra Ferri, Herman Corn...

Category: (DVD)

18 new, starting at $16.49

4 used, starting at $15.00

Editorial Reviews

To celebrate the centennial of his birth, DANCE IN AMERICA presents American Ballet Theatre's acclaimed staging of Sir Frederick Ashton's magical ballet. Stars Ethan Stiefel, Alessandra Ferri, and Herman Cornejo.

Customer Reviews

Excellent Dancing

Reviewed by spirittoo, 2009-12-27

I loved this DVD the dancers are excellent. The scenery is nice too. Highly recommend it.

a beautiful interpretaion

Reviewed by Raquel J. Michaelson, 2009-11-01

If you prefer athletic dancing and beautiful costumes, then you will probably enjoy this immensely. I generally don't buy ballet DVDs because the vibrancy doesn't translate well to film for some reason. Dynamic energy is not lacking in this film. The couples have good chemistry and Puck steals the show with his comic timing and effortless-looking leaps and bounds. I ordred it from Netflix but now I want my own copy.

A common man's point of view.

Reviewed by Richard Rawls, 2008-07-20

There are some very good reviews on this ballet from folks much more versed in the art of ballet than I, but I'll betcha most of those buying them are about as knowledgeable as I. You know what YOU think is beautiful and that's about all you need to know.

There are several things beautiful about this ballet. Number one, the music by Mendelssohn is some of the most beautiful your ears will ever have the pleasure to hear. But, I'll bet you knew that already. I listen to his music, and think to myself, "I'll bet that seventeen year old kid was having a ball writing that music, with the tinkling sound of fairies and the braying of donkeys, and the silly antics of love-struck humans as they are manipulated by an impish Puck and his master Oberon.

Number two, the sets and costumes in this production are also very beautiful, and very colorful. The lighting is perfect for a night-time scene, and every one is well lit.

Number three, both principle actors are beautiful especially Alessandra Ferri. Just gorgeous. Everyone in the cast looked gorgeous. Well, Ethan Stiefel may not want to be called beautiful, so if not I will change his description to handsome.

Number four, even the donkey was beautiful, and I must say I didn't believe that was a man dancing that part because I have never seen a man dance en pointe before, but I played it over and over and I cannot see where anyone changed places with him, so it must have been Julio Bragado-Young dancing that part. He was very good en pointe, by the way. This donkey is much more beautiful than the one in BBC's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". The Dream is a 16x9 anamorphic widescreen non-HD DVD version and looks almost as good as an HD DVD played on an HD player. I have the HD DVD version of A Midsummer Night's Dream and the quality of The Dream is just about as good as the HD version.

The Dream"s Puck is really the best puck I've seen and that includes Mickey Rooney's Puck in that movie version of A midsummer Night's Dream, made maybe 70 years ago (I'm 77), but I did see that movie not too long ago. Herman Cornejo is a really delightful Puck. OK, his acrobatic dancing is beautiful.

This is a very funny ballet, and the scene I think is the funniest is when the lovers Hermia and Lysander are preparing to go to sleep in the woodland glade, the expression on Hermia's face when Lysander feigns such a wound to his ego as she only let him kiss her on the cheek, is worth the price of this DVD, even though I know it isn't at all cheap. All-in-all well worth the money, and you will not be sorry if you buy it. I'm not. Happy viewing. Oh, by the way, you'll know everyone lived happily ever after when you hear Mendelssohn's Wedding March as all the reunited lovers leave the woodland scene for home, to get married of course.

Beautifully danced, poorly filmed

Reviewed by Delaval, 2007-02-02

All the dancers in this were well cast. Alessandra Ferri always seems light and graceful and full of passion anyway, so the role of Titania is perfect for her. Though I always enjoy Ethan Stiefel's dancing, I've never been a fan of his acting abilities until now...his arrogant, scheming Oberon blended well with his prowess of technique. The four lovers were entertaining, even if Hermia (and the four faery handmaidens) did use the open-mouthed "oh my god, s/he did NOT just do that" routine a few too many times. Herman Cornejo is the perfect Puck in Ashton's vision. The children who watched this ballet with me compared him to Tigger, and that's actually a more accurate description than my adult mind could give him. Bouncy, mischievous, alternately endearing and distratcting...perfect for Puck.

The sets and costumes are lovely and ethereal without being overdone. I've seen other productions of this ballet (as well as Balanchine's version) and this one had the best costuming for Oberon by a long shot. I liked that it concentrated on Oberon being the King of the Forest, as opposed to an overly effeminate faery or forcing a purely human machismo the character doesn't possess. But the camera work needed help. It was static when it should have been dynamic, and filled with jump cuts when it should have held a mid shot steadily. But that's typical for ABT videos, I'm afraid. They really need to hire someone else to do their editing because the current editor wastes too much of the skilled dancers' performances.

Absolutely Lovely!

Reviewed by Yvette Mignerey Atkin, 2007-01-17

I love this ballet and Ethan Stiefel as Oberon and Alessandra Ferri as Titania are absolutely incredible. Because this story is a comedy, it's a fun ballet to watch for all ages. I highly recommend the The Dream to anyone who is a fan of the American Ballet Theater or ballet.