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The Method - Dance to Fitness

The Method - Dance to Fitness

List Price: $19.98
Your Price: $17.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Fun Great Workout, Even for Nondancers
Review: I'm not a dancer, but like most people, I suppose, I secretly want to be. And I'm not exactly in great shape, but I'm trying. Unlike the usual boring, repetitive, Let's Jump Up on a Step and Rip Our Knees! junk, this video is both challenging and fun. I learn a little more each time I do it, I get a fine workout, and I feel a little like a real dancer. My only kvetch would be with the camera work--sometimes, they don't show the part of the dancer that is doing the move. (For instance, focusing on a face instead of the lower body for a side plie and bow.) This can make it hard to follow, but only three or four times on the whole tape, and I soon figured it out. Also, I can either do the whole tape or, if pressed for time, just do the first section with Jennifer Kries and still get a good workout in 35 minutes. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is the camera thing.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Classic dance conditioning exercises & fun choreography
Review: If you cannot get to a dance studio for a class, this is a good tape to get. I use this tape as a supplement to my normal studio schedule.

As a dancer and certified teacher, I can say the exercises which Jennifer Kries leads are some of the classic core exercises which I was trained in and still exist today. However, I would have liked Jennifer to have issued some quick words on proper technique (especially for flat back, ankle presses and plies) to avoid strain or injury.

I notice the method teachers do not "mirror" teach which may be confusing at the beginning. When they refer to the right side, it is THEIR right side and your left side. This is one technique which they should work on.

Be warned the stretching exercises are at a minimum (in relation to a normal dance class) but should serve the purpose. I normally stretch before I use the tape. The choreography in the second section is fun and challenging. It is classic jazz style - not hip hop or funk. But it is nevertheless enjoyable and a good workout.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: video quality very poor
Review: its a real nice workout - different and refreshing, but the video quality is so poor I dont do it.
I cant replace it because I live out US

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: great dancing to the rhythm of drums!
Review: The execises in this video is made up of two parts led by two instructors who are great, both as dancers and instructors. I have several other fitness videos but I cannot help but reach out for this one whenever I put on my tights to start exercising. It is addictive :-) Seriously, I think that it helps if you have some dancing background but even if you don't, don't worry! The instructors are very good and you will learn the steps and get to enjoy them more with every exercise. One more word though. I used to dance classical and modern ballet as a hobby but had to give it up due to personal reasons. I restarted my fitness program with an easier dance workout video and then moved on to this. It may be a bit hard for a first time exerciser. The only thing that I criticise about this video is that the camera focuses on the drummer a couple of times and this causes problems for the continuity of the dance, especially if you are a beginner. But on the whole, I greatly recommend this video for everyone.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: lisa wheeler saves the day
Review: the first dance section by jennifer kries is nonsense - neither a workout nor my idea of dance. lisa leads a nice second dance section - enjoyable and a mild workout. followed by a relaxing stretch again led by lisa. i like the music. unless you are fairly well-coordinated and a beginner to workouts this tape is not effective. the second and third sections are fun to do.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Not really a beginner video...
Review: The first section in particular is hard to do..some of the movements are a bit chaotic and require a LOT OF SPACE! Jennifer Kries gives it her all, bless her heart but I, an untrained dancer, felt like a spaz trying to follow along. It is too quick, complicated and I find myself wrenching my neck trying to watch the video from various awkward positions. The second section is a bit easier to follow but it also quickly moves into an advanced knowledge of dance terminology. She's calling out steps and performing them as if I should have a full understanding of what the steps are. I think if you have a dance background and want to do this tape just for fun it would be great but if your looking to Dance "TO" Fitness, like myself, you should keep looking for a tape that is more instructional a wee bit slower. In the beginning, Jennifer mentions that there are some beginners participating in the group. I have to laugh at what the tape would look like with real beginners, like myself, spazzing all over the place, knocking over our lamps and pulling muscles! Though I appreciate their tendancy to over estimate my skills and coordination, truth is Jennifer and Lisa, I'm a teensy bit less coordinated than all of you lovely folks and the only dance term I know for sure is plie'...the rest is Greek to me.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Never again!
Review: The most annoying part of this video is the instruction; after 15 minutes I could not stand to listen to it anymore. Being shouted out over the drums was more than I could take after a long day at work! The drumming is repetitive enough to be tedious & irritating although the music is more pleasant in the second half. There is nothing aesthetically pleasing about this video and the instruction is not as helpful as it could be. Definitely won't be trying it again!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: For Advanced/Knowledgeable Dancers Only...NO BACK PROBLEMS!
Review: The routines in this video are for those who have an intermediate knowledge of dance terminology, so if you have never taken lessons before, you may not understand what the narrator is talking about. It does NOT take into account that all the bending-while-stretching excercises may NOT be good for those with any type of back problems. In other words, if you've had back problems in the past, as I have, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DO ALL OF THE ROUTINES! I appreciated the lack of techno-irritating type music a lot of these videos contain. But if you don't like bongo or drums, you will not like the background beat. The first routine made me feel very stretched-out, strong and relaxed without feeling too over-excercised. But after the first routine, I could not possibly have done the second and third right away. All in all, pretty advanced.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: lisa wheeler saves the day
Review: There are three sections in this video. Unfortunately, the first dance section is terrible. The instructor counts out steps but never tells you what you're doing. Because there's no vocal instruction, it's nearly impossible to follow the dance movements and watch the video at the same time (most of the steps require a frequent head-down position). The video is very poorly filmed with too many tight shots on the upper bodies of the dancers, making it difficult to see the dance movements. The instructor also wears a filmy skirt that makes it impossible to see her movements clearly. If you are a trained dancer and have a good command of dance terms, you might be okay with this video. You will also need a space the size of a small rehearsal hall, not the small space most home exercisers have. The other two workouts were all right, although also with unfortunatly selected framing for a fitness video.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Not Great
Review: There are three sections in this video. Unfortunately, the first dance section is terrible. The instructor counts out steps but never tells you what you're doing. Because there's no vocal instruction, it's nearly impossible to follow the dance movements and watch the video at the same time (most of the steps require a frequent head-down position). The video is very poorly filmed with too many tight shots on the upper bodies of the dancers, making it difficult to see the dance movements. The instructor also wears a filmy skirt that makes it impossible to see her movements clearly. If you are a trained dancer and have a good command of dance terms, you might be okay with this video. You will also need a space the size of a small rehearsal hall, not the small space most home exercisers have. The other two workouts were all right, although also with unfortunatly selected framing for a fitness video.


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