Search - The Method: Dance to Fitness on DVD

Excellent, well thought out video that mere mortals can do!

deranged but cute | outer limits | 09/16/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As disappointed as I was with Step Up To Dance, that's how happy I am with Dance To Fitness. The moves are done slowly, with posture, balance and strength being emphasized. The first segment is about 35 minutes long and is considered the "warm-up". I, for one, was dripping sweat by the end of that segment. The second segment is done with Lisa Wheeler who I really like. Then there is a wonderful stretch. As a 44 year old former aerobics instructor/belly dancer with osteoarthritis in my back and neck and with another disability that is a daily challenge, this is a workout that I can do, enjoy and feel that I'm getting alot out of. I highly recommend this tape."

2 Different Dance Classes That Hardly Feel Like Working Out

blueyed puella | CT, USA | 09/08/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Workout Description: Jennifer's "Body Rhythms" = 22 minutes dance warm-up, 8 minutes of dance aerobics, and 5 minutes of cool down and stretching for a total of 35 minutes; Lisa's "Body Lines" = 6 minutes dance-inspired warm-up, 15 minutes jazz dance aerobics, and 12 minutes yoga inspired cool down for a total of 33 minutes
Workout Level: low to mid-intermediate; low impact; fairly complex choreography
Instructor: Jennifer Kries (Certified Pilates instructor; has taught and choreographed a variety of performances; founder of the Balanced Body Center at New York's World Gym.) & Lisa Wheeler (Has a degree in Dance and Theatre; certified personal trainer; has performed professionally for over 15 years). Both instructors are low key and cue well. They are instructing their class rather than the viewer, so when they say left, you have to decide whether to follow along or mirror them while ignoring their clues. Both use dance terms liberally without much explanation of their meaning.
Class: Jennifer's class has 5 women and 2 men; Lisa's class has 4 women and 2 men. All class members are professional dancers.
Music / Set: The music is performed live and is (bongo type) drum-heavy instrumental. The interior set is fairly dark, with brightly-colored columns draped with swags.
Equipment Needed: sneakers, jazz, or ballet shoes, although I often do this barefoot
Caveats: Be careful if you are on carpet, particularly with pivots (turns). Some of the camera angles are not helpful, cutting away to the musicians or focusing on the dancers' faces instead of their feet. You may have some difficulty figuring out Jennifer's leg moves because she wears a long filmy skirt. These routines will take you a couple of times to get down completely: Jennifer's because you will not be able to look at the TV a lot and Lisa's because it will take a few times to pick up the choreography. I recommend previewing both segments before attempting them. Dance experience is helpful but not necessary.
Additional Comments: You will need a lot of space for these workouts. Ideally you should be able to take two fairly large steps forward and back and three fairly large steps to each side. Jennifer's aerobic segment takes more room than Lisa's, which I can just barely squeeze in my 6' by 8' space if I do a lot of the moves diagonally.
This is a strange workout in that those beyond high beginner-low intermediate level of cardiovascular fitness won't get their heart rate up much, yet the moves are complex and quick enough that those new to exercise will have a lot of difficulty completing the routine. As a mid-intermediate exerciser, I find these routines perfect to use as warm-up routines (particularly the warm-up and aerobic segment of Lisa's routine) or on days when I want to take it easy. I've only done Jennifer's class two or three times, as I much prefer Lisa's dance routine and instruction.
The DVD allows you to select Jennifer's workout, Lisa's workout, or Lisa's yoga cool-down. The only extra is a weblink for The Method."

Great dancing to the rhythm of drums!

Sima Uyar | Istanbul, Turkey | 06/07/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."

For Advanced/Knowledgeable Dancers Only...NO BACK PROBLEMS!

Debi Klees | Rochester, NY | 01/08/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"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."