Search - African Grace: A West African Dance For Cardio Fitness on DVD

Trish S. (HarleyT) from MORENO VALLEY, CA
Reviewed on 12/8/2007...

If you want to step out of your regular routine, this is a fun place to start. You start with a 10 minute warm-up and then 2 sessions of approx 22 minutes each and then a nice cool down.
The aerobic sessions are no easy (I did sweat), but the are explained well and you should be able to get it after a few times.
I like doing it and it's in my regular rotation (I have roughly 60 exercise DVD's)

Great Dance, Lackluster Instruction

A. Jablinske | Arizona | 01/04/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I had high hopes for the 'African Grace: A West African Dance For Cardio Fitness' DVD. I'm afraid I have been spoiled by the high quality instructions in some other dance DVDs (e.g., 'Crunch - Cardio Salsa by Giselle Roque de Escobar', 'Brazilian Dance Workout with Vanessa Issac').

Although the actual West African dance is beautiful, I had a hard time following the instructions. Some of my favorite dance DVDs first demonstrate a new step in full-tempo, then the viewer is asked to dance along to the new step in half-tempo, then full-tempo, then transitioned with the previous step, before dancing to everything learned up to that point. Other favorite DVDs have you repeat a step 8 times, then 4 times, then 2 times, then 1 time in order to 'get it'. There were only a few steps in the 'African Grace' DVD that offered such helpful instruction.

Another problem with the 'African Grace' DVD was the costumes. Although the pants worn were attractive, their bagginess made it difficult for me to interpret what the instructor and other dancers were actually doing with their legs.

I would consider buying a version 2 of this same DVD if the instructions were improved, but could not recommend it as is."

Colorful and fun

Angela Heights | Evanston, IL USA | 03/26/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

""African Grace" exceeded my expectations. I'm only beginning my fitness journey (yet again) and wanted an alternative workout; something doable but rigorous. This fits my growing ability level and would certainly be effective for the more advanced. Debra Bono is a focused, engaging teacher who sensitively isolates the moves and prepares the way for the next steps. This workout is a wonderful and accessible chance to explore African dance."

Great Workout

Delisa L. Mcdaniel | 04/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The workout was wonderful, yet most of the moves were comfortable. The workout doesnt not appear rigorous at first but it quickly gets the heart pumping."