LITTLE ROCK — Title: Dancing With the Stars: Cardio Dance for Weight Loss
What’s the goal?
Dance, dance, dance your way to a leaner body.
Who’s it for?
Anyone who is a fan of the TV show or is interested in learning some of the basic steps contestants learn while on Dancing With the Stars, whose 14th season begins tonight on ABC. The DVD claims it is suitable for beginners.
Format:
Total running time is 55 minutes, divided into four sections. First, the “Warm-up” (7 minutes) teaches signature moves that make up some of the basic steps in the three workouts. Then it moves into the “Samba” (15 minutes) and works the abdominal muscles during this Brazilian dance. Next is the “Salsa” (15 minutes), which focuses on a 1-2-3 rhythm for a full-body workout.
The last segment, “Swing” (15 minutes), includes classic American dance steps: the jitterbug, Lindy hop and jive, all at once for a fast leg workout.
You have the option to play all of the dances at once, or choose one at a time, with or without trainer instruction.
Gear needed:
Low-heeled dance sneakers. Regular cross-trainers would be cumbersome, since the shoe is not very flexible.
Floor space required:
At least 6 by 6 feet, preferably uncarpeted.
Can I do it barefoot?
No
Workout developer’s credentials:
The DVD was directed and choreographed by Cal Pozo, a former Broadway dancer, teacher and choreographer with more than 300 workout DVD credits for experts such as Denise Austin, Kathy Smith and Leslie Sansone and other Dancing With the Stars productions as well as The Biggest Loser and the Dirty Dancing Official Dance Workout.
Who demonstrates the workout?
Professional dancers and Dancing With the Stars winning cast members Kym Johnson and Mark Ballas lead the routines together and separately. They are surrounded by several dance and fitness professionals. Ballas demonstrates a “cooler guy version” (the easier to follow version) during the “Salsa” section.
What do they want from me?
To be quick on the feet and able to learn a dance move in about 30 seconds. I often went back to the basic moves introduced at the start of each section and felt a little dizzy trying to keep up with the pace. I suggest working your way up through the segments and not trying to do them all at once. The “Swing” routine is very fast and difficult for a novice.
Distraction factors:
While Johnson and Ballas are gifted dancers and fascinating to watch, I can’t say the same for them as workout instructors. They use dance-move names I can’t pronounce and throw in information like “this will make you burn calories” and “what a great workout this is!” They also spend minimal time showing the progression even for steps that get more complicated as a segment moves on.
Johnson is Australian, and her accent is very thick and difficult to understand at times. Her moves are also extremely stylized and exaggerated;
I found it hard to mimic her steps. I ended up watching a girl in the back corner to see how a “normal person” was performing the workout. Even Ballas got distracted by Johnson, making quips about her sexy moves.
Price:
$14.98
ActiveStyle, Pages 23 on 03/19/2012