Rating: Summary: Not so hot... Review: All these raving reviews here stun me. Are we talking about the same tape? The English version "Viva" I have features Latin steps that Jane Fonda included in her old "Complete Workout"! I was extremely disappointed in the music. Expected songs or at least some great Brazilian sounds, but this stuff is strictly muzak. As for the "sexy" movements, Elise has the shimmy and tummy rolling down pat; unfortunately, she doesn't teach these foxy movements to the rest of us. The gals in the background look as stiff and frankly lost as I felt while doing the routine. One funny thing, though: Elise starts the tape by yakking calmly--the usual drill--and then vrrrrrrooom! She's moving a mile a minute! You'll break a sweat fast, but so would you if you turned the radio to any Latin station and just stood there jiggling. That's what this video feels like to me. Sorry.
Rating: Summary: A Great and Fun Workout Review: Elise Foss is entertaining with contagious enthusiasm. This tape will give you a fun workout. This is highly recommended for those who want to add a latin flair to their workout, work up a sweat...and learn a few Latin dance moves.
Rating: Summary: A Tremendous Talent ! Review: Elise has tremendous talent and is a natural in Latin Dance! She is highly motivating, and you will love this tape.If you look at some of the other "movie star" tapes in this genre, those others only try to simulate Latin Dance. But Elise has clearly done this her whole life, having been born and raised in Latin America. I liked the English version so much I bought the Spanish language version also, which is actually cued in Spanish during the performance(not dubbed in) by Elise. It is even spicier and fairly easy to follow, even if you don't know much Spanish. This multi-lingual instructor "speaks" salsa and samba to you as fluently as she speaks other verbal languages. I didn't understand the couple of reviewer here who didn't like the camera work and/or background dancers, as these looked fine to me. If you've seen some of the other tapes in this genre, this one is clearly best due to Elise's natural talent and instruction style!
Rating: Summary: Fantastic: Made Me the Queen of Lean! Great Body Trimmer! Review: Great Workout with Rhythm! Elise Foss is fantastic with her easy-to-follow salsa aerobic. I use it at home every day and have produced fantastic results in trimming body fat in the right spots. I love the rhythm---> RESULTS: I FEEL GREAT and everyone tells me I LOOK GREAT! THANKS ELISE!
Rating: Summary: nothin' doin' Review: I bought this tape based on the reviews here and I regret it. Elise seems like a great, perky mover, but this tape is boring. It has really bad, tinkly music, goofy background dancers (one of whom can't move her hips to save her life, and another of whom looks bored), and it doesn't get intense enough to give you a good hearty cardio workout. There's not much sexy or stylish about it. Elise is warm and enthusiastic and can move--but this is not a good workout tape.
Rating: Summary: FUN and gets you sweaty !! Review: I do not like aerobics, but I really needed to do some cardio workout, so I found this, and really, IT IS A GEM! The workout is based on very easy Latin dance steps, so it is much more fun than doing plain floor or step aerobics! And you don't need to be a dancer to use it! It is great fun! Try it!
Rating: Summary: What's all the fuss? Review: I don't understand all the rave reviews of this tape (I bought it based on these reviews). Elise Foss is very pleasant and lively without being annoying. So much for the positive aspects. I find this tape to have 2 fatal flaws- 1) monotony 2) horrendous camera work. I was under the impression that there would be distinct sections to the workout (even annoying Richard Simmons has variety of music and moves). This is really the same thing over and over again to insipid droning "latin" music that has no variation. If Foss didn't tell you that she was through with the warm-up and going into the aerobic section, you wouldn't know the difference. Most of the time, the camera is focused on Foss's face or face and midsection. Once in awhile, the camera pans down or pulls out to show her feet (the others are also not shown from the waist down for most of the time) after the fact- that is, when it's the last time she does that step after having done it for awhile. I wanted to like this tape, but, I can't recommend it.
Rating: Summary: You won't be bored Review: I get bored easily with standard aerobic workouts. But every time this one ends, I think "Already? But I'm not sick of it yet!" I have the Spanish version (I understand Spanish) and found the teaching to be very clear. Elise mirror teaches, calls steps in advance, and builds steps up well so you don't feel overwhelmed with new material. I have dance experience, though, so a brand new dancer might struggle a bit. The music sounds like one guy with a synthesizer, but it's Latin and far more interesting than the music on my Kathy Smith video. I have to add arm & hip movements to feel like I'm working, but at least I work all through the tape, instead of getting bored and turning the thing off! Finally, Elise has a great smile, energy, and charm, and she doesn't come anywhere close to yelling.
Rating: Summary: Hip Shaking Fun!! Review: I got this from the library and loved it from the first time I did it, so I had to buy it! The moves are easy to follow and Elise has the cutest accent! Yes, it's true that the background dancers aren't that enthusiastic and one does look bored, but I don't focus on them. I focus on following the music, swaying my hips and working up a sweat! This is a great workout if you just want to dance!
Rating: Summary: Hip Shaking Fun!! Review: I got this from the library and loved it from the first time I did it, so I had to buy it! The moves are easy to follow and Elise has the cutest accent! Yes, it's true that the background dancers aren't that enthusiastic and one does look bored, but I don't focus on them. I focus on following the music, swaying my hips and working up a sweat! This is a great workout if you just want to dance!
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