Step Up : The Official Dance Workout is inspired by the popular Step Up films so I came to this DVD feeling at a slight disadvantage because I haven't seen any of them ! According to the press release : "Box office smash hit Step Up has sold over two million DVD copies to date and has an army of street-dance devotees in every corner of the world. Step Up : The Official Dance Workout is the first fitness DVD from the perfectly-toned STEP UP franchise and promises to shift those excess Christmas pounds to all the latest street sounds."
Now, if you look like one of the sleek, toned, lycra-clad babes with a washboard-stomach on the DVD cover, you'll be right in your element. However, if you're a lard-arsed novice with a wobbly belly and a dubious sense of rhythm, you'll feel like a fish out of water ! The pumping tunes and impressive dance routines from the pros make great entertainment and if you manage to follow the moves at least to some extent, you will get your heart-rate pounding and (as long as your neighbours can't see your efforts through the windows !) have a lot of fun. It's not an easy routine to follow though so don't be discouraged if you can't work out all the moves.
With most fitness videos, you feel a sense of camaraderie with your fellow exercisers and fitness instructor on-screen, who throw out little encouragements, telling you that you're almost done and that yes, they too are feeling the burn and getting wobbly legs or feeling tired. I couldn't work out why this DVD seemed a bit strange at first, but I think it's because the dancers showing you the moves don't actually say a word - you get a friendly voiceover telling you what to do instead. This makes the dancers that you are trying to emulate seem very distant and a bit stand-offish, which is a shame.
If you're feeling totally puffed out, red-faced and sweaty in your tatty leggings and T-shirt, the voiceover telling you to "make it sexy" is more likely to annoy you than encourage you to put in some extra effort ! If you're just starting out on a fitness regime, you'd probably be better off starting with one of the slower, gentler workouts on the market, possibly with a celeb who has been there and feels your pain and has exactly the right words of encouragement to keep you motivated. However, if you're already supple, quite fit and toned and are just looking for a recreational fitness DVD to keep in shape and get your heart pumping, the thumping tunes, funky fashions and impressive street dances will keep you entertained as you learn some more routines to add to your repertoire.
As they say on the press release : "For those "B-Fab" (Born from a Boombox) dancers who hate the gym but love to hit the dancefloor, Step Up : The Official Dance Workout brings both to the comfort of people's living rooms. Fans can have fun and dance themselves fit while learning the coolest routines filmed in awesome locations just like the movies." If that's you, you'll love it. If you're not yet at that level, you might be a bit out of your comfort zone.
star rating : 4/5
RRP : £19.99
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this is just the type of workout dvd i need!
ReplyDeletethis looks like just what I need to get me into exercise
ReplyDeleteI could do with this but unfortnately I usually end up starving by the time I have finished and scoff a couple (maybe more) of biscuits!
ReplyDelete