|
|
45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ballroom Bliss (and Lavish Latin too!), 7 Jan 2009
Already owning (and loving) the first Strictly Workout (Erin and Karen's) I was thrilled to find out that a new DVD was coming out. And I'm not disappointed. Flavia and Kelly's offering is fun, fresh and funky.
There are seven sections - Warm up, Salsa, Tango, Quickstep, Slow Jive, Fast Jive and Cool Down. Flavia leads the Tango, and the two jive sections, Kelly leads the Salsa and the Quickstep. Both girls present the Warm Up and Cool Down.
The dances are a little easier to follow than in the first DVD, but no less motivating. For the Salsa, the Quickstep and the Jives, the cycle of moves is repeated three times (the cycles were repeated only twice in Erin and Karen's DVD) therefore there are less steps to remember, which means it takes less time to really get to know the dances and really feel the benefits (The other sections of the DVD repeat the routine twice).
The tango requires a chair to carry out and it is a slower routine, aimed at toning (with particular emphasis on abs). Out of the other dances, the Salsa is the easiest in terms of workout intensity, intensity builds in the Quickstep, and the fastest and most physically demanding is the Fast Jive. The slow jive may be a little too sedate to people who are used to working out, but beginners will benefit from this as they start out, before tackling the fast jive which really builds up a sweat.
The choreography is great. Flavia is a very skilled dancer and in my opinion a very good instructor. The DVD is well produced and the music well chosen. (The 'official' Strictly Workout DVD's are much more polished productions compared to the other workouts fronted by Strictly stars, such as Lilia's two DVDs and Camilla's - although Camilla's DVD is not bad)
The reviews for Erin and Karen's DVD suggest that some people find the steps challenging. If you don't have that DVD, Flavia and Kelly's workout is a good choice to allow you to 'try out' a Strictly exercise programme, as if you get into this, you are likely to enjoy both and if you can master the steps quickly, it indicates that you'll probably be able manage the other one as well. If you already have Karen and Erin's DVD and really enjoyed it, then you'll probably like this one too. But be prepared to work hard. I think in terms of physical challenge, Erin and Karen's DVD is slightly harder. But this DVD has an element of fun which makes me choose it slightly more often. I have adapted the order slightly and tailored the workout to challenge me appropriately. As I like putting higher impact aerobic routines together, after the warm up I do the Tango, then move onto the Salsa, the Quickstep, and last of all the Fast Jive, which I do twice (Skipping Slow Jive completely) followed by the cool down. This sequence ensures I have had a proper workout. I think you get the most from this exercise programme by really going for it in the steps, but I find there's something about the DVD that encourages a little flamboyance!
|