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| Dancing With the Stars: Fat Burning Cardio Dance | |
| Lionsgate Home Entertainment // Unrated // $14.98 // November 30, 2010 | |
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| Review by Katie Levans | posted January 6, 2011 |
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By far the most manageable of the Dancing with the Stars workouts I've tried, Fat-Burning Cardio Dance is at least doable if not down right enjoyable at times. Place yourself in front of a mirror while doing this, however, and any magic found in keeping up with the moves is instantly lost the second you see what you look like doing so. Leave your ego at the door and pop this video in for a little mindless entertainment. But don't expect to "shed pounds & have fun!" I didn't even break a sweat.
The video is broken into three 15-minute routines--Mambo Mix, Hollywood Jazz and Hustle & Pop--and a 5-minute cool down. I found Mambo Mix to be the most challenging, not because the steps are terribly difficult but because the dance requires that you sexily slink about like the red mini-skirt-clad instructor, and that just wasn't working for me. Hollywood Jazz is most enjoyable if you ever had dreams of being on Broadway and Hustle & Pop has the simplest, Grease-inspired moves.
Mambo Mix - Edyta Sliwinska leads this dance, and though it doesn't appear to be exceptionally difficult, I felt like an idiot doing it and my conveniently placed mirrors confirmed my suspicions. When I found that I couldn't quite get it down, I just wiggled my hips around and found that I did at least feel that in my core and thighs.
Hollywood Jazz - Kym Johnson teaches this routine, which is as close to fun as DWTS workouts get. There are lots of cute little moves like big hip rolls, Jazz flair, the Susie Q and the Sailor. Dare I say, I almost liked it.
Hustle & Pop Chelsea Hightower takes you through what I consider to be the easiest of these three routines and, consequently, the most fun. Call me crazy, but when I can actually do the moves, I find them far more enjoyable. You can call on your inner Sandra D. to bust out these Grease-inspired moves complete with disco point.
Equipment Needed
Just your body and lots of space to move. You'll be doing some big kicks, so steer clear of your breakable items.
Effectiveness
Since I was actually able to keep up with this video, I did feel that it was a better workout than other DWTS routines I've done. I did feel it in my core during all the Mambo twisting and in my thighs while bouncing around, but overall I don't consider this a strenuous cardio workout.
Safety
As always, check with your doctor before embarking on any fitness venture.
Cast/Instructor
The routines are taught by sickeningly beautiful Dancing with the Star dancers Kym Johnson, Edyta Sliwinska and Chelsea Hightower. If you don't feel ridiculous enough trying to dance like them, don't even waste your energy trying to imagine yourself looking like them. You're beautiful just the way you are. Even if you can't move your hips in inhuman ways.
Music
Genre appropriate pieces for each routine. Think Latin for the Mambo, big band music for the Hollywood Jazz and a little funk for the Hustle.
Set
The set is a mock dance studio with wood floors and white walls.
Video
1.78:1
Negatives
Other than it not being all that strenuous of a workout, there isn't much else wrong with this video. The steps are simpler, instruction more thorough and overall routines more enjoyable. I just wouldn't rely on this as my sole form of cardio if I were really trying to "shed pounds."
Conclusion
It pains me to say it, but this video isn't that bad. It's by far the best of the DWTS series that I have tried, meaning the steps are more manageable and instruction more comprehensive. I think that if I did it three times a week for four weeks, I might look semi-presentable doing the routines. But on this my second time doing it, I still made my boyfriend leave the room. No sense acting a fool in front of mirrors and another human. I'll save that for the foolish "stars" who find themselves having to do this on the actual show.