UnderReview: Dance ’til You Drop! (& Giveaways!)
January 28, 2010 by Erin
Nope, that’s not the name of a workout DVD. Instead, it’s what I’ve been doing in order to review three of the latest dance workouts! Read on for a hip-shaking, booty-bopping round-up and a chance to win several dancerific workouts!
Dance and Be Fit
The Dance and Be Fit line of workouts has a ton of variety, so whether you’re looking to tone your abs or firm your lower bod, you’ll be able to find a dance workout to fit your needs. I rocked out the Lower Body Burn workout, and while it’s a solid DVD, it didn’t blow me away. The instructor cued by voiceover, which I never prefer to a talking trainer. The seated warm-up felt a little awkward to me; I tend to prefer standing movements to get limber, rather than the hip openers and straddle stretches that were key in this warm-up.
The dance segments were fun and easy to learn, and while it’s cardio and toning in one, I thought it best for a recovery day, rather than when you need a kick-your-butt workout. The Heavenly Hips section focused on hip-swiveling moves—great for the hips and the core. I found the Lovely Legs segment to be much more fun, and they even disguised lunge-type moves as dance. Nice!
Bonus: Eighteen additional minutes of two other Dance and Be Fit series earned this DVD an extra half star!
FBG Rating (Out of 5):
Instruction: ★★★
Long-Term Likeability: ★★
Music: ★★★
Fun Factor: ★★★
Meets Expectations: ★★
Overall: ★★★
Best for: Those who don’t like surprises and need an easy-to-follow dance workout.
Dances of India: Urban Bhangra Bounce
For those who love the culture of India and enjoy Bollywood-esque dance workouts, this one is for you. This fun and energetic workout is easy to follow and chock full of unique dance moves that I’d never seen before. You learn all of the moves for each combination before putting them together at the end. Once you learn the routine, you can jump straight to the advanced workout and skip the lessons.
The dance moves were fairly easy to learn, although they do take a bit of coordination (think arms doing one thing while your bottom half is doing another). You’re bhangra bouncing and kicking and punching your arms and shrugging your shoulders for the whole workout. And it really is a workout; the constant bouncing keeps your heart rate up but isn’t too high intensity that you can’t keep up. The negative? Again, no live cuing. (I hate that, can you tell?)
FBG Rating (Out of 5):
Instruction: ★★★
Long-Term Likeability: ★★★
Music: ★★★★
Fun Factor: ★★★★
Meets Expectations: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★1/2
Best for: Those who want a unique, high-energy Indian dance experience.
Dance with Julianne: Cardio Ballroom
I’ve watched Dancing with the Stars only sporadically, so I can’t say trying Dance with Julianne: Cardio Ballroom was at the very top of my workout priority list. Even though the show is fun to watch, I had it in my head that a ballroom dancing workout would be boring. I may not have been a Julianne Hough fan before trying this DVD. But after trying it? I love her! Not only is she an awesome dancer, but she also turns out to be a great instructor and dance teacher. She turns the cha cha, the jive and the paso into super-fun cardio workouts.
When you first pop in the video, you’ll want to take the private lesson with Julianne. In the lesson, she’ll go over the steps from the workout and give you pointers and tips for doing them well so that you’ll get the most toning bang for your buck. After the lesson, you’ll do the workout, which consists of a great warm-up (complete with a squatting cabbage-patch move; that’s for you, Jenn!) and then all of the ballroom combos themselves. The moves are easy-to-follow, high-energy, and will get you breathless. Julianne’s energy and sass comes through in a big way to keep you motivated and on track. Plus, she’s cute as a freakin’ button and makes leg warmers look cool again. For real!
FBG Rating (Out of 5):
Instruction: ★★★★★
Long-Term Likeability: ★★★★
Music: ★★★★
Fun Factor: ★★★★★
Meets Expectations: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★1/2
Best for: Those who want an updated ballroom dance workout with a fresh and sassy trainer!
Fit Bottomed Line: If you like basic, go with Dance and Be Fit. If you like your dance to bounce, go with Dances of India. If you want a refreshing and fun take on ballroom, Julianne is your girl!
Want to dance? We’re giving away three Dance and Be Fit DVDs, as well as Dances of India. Leave a comment below telling us why you’d like to win and you’ll be entered! Winners will be notified by email. U.S. residents only, please!
—Erin
Disclosure: All DVDs were provided by their respective manufacturer, but in no way is this post or our review of products sponsored, influenced or paid for by any company. We tell it like it is!
I would love to win one of these DVD;s. I need to add more activity to my day and would love to have some dancing in the evening.
Hi. I would like to win one of these DVDs because I really enjoy dancing, and I need something to work out with at home when I can’t make it to Zumba class. There is only 1 beginning Zumba class a week, and I have a hard time making it. So, I go to the regular ones, and they kick my butt!! I’m hoping for something that I can actually do!!
I’m always looking for new variety to add to my exercise routines.
These all sound like they have something good going for them. I’m especially intrigued by the bollywood one. I sometimes do the workouts on FitTV’s ‘Shimmy,’ which I find is good for isolations, but would love something more energetic and bouncy.
Would love to win the Dance and Be Fit DVDs. Have been overweight for too long now and at the beginning of the new year and decade recommitted myself to the journey of changing my lifestyle. Never have been big on exercise (a problem!) but love music and dancing. Am thinking these DVDs just might be the ticket to getting me moving.
PS your website was refered to me and I will be back. Like the variety of material covered.
I don’t want to be entered.. but I have to say I LOVE Julianne’s dvd. her workout was definitely fun and totally enjoyable! glad to see you rated it just as high!
I hope I win!!!! I definetly want to be entered!
I’d love to win… love FBG reviews
I would like to win so I could add some differentiation into my routine. I usually do the same couple of dvd’s mixed with a treadmill. I think keeping it fresh will do my body good and keep me interested! Right now I’m a substitute teacher looking for a job…so my loans with rent, etc. keep me from a gym membership or fitness classes. Adding in one of these would be refreshing!
I would love to win the Cardio Ballroom because I need something fun to motivate me.
I would Love these dvds because I travel alot and am away from the gym but still remain adament about working out and theses dvds would be perfect to do in my hotel room to get a change up of my cardio and hopefully fulfill my “Zumba fix” while I am away!!
I already have the Dance and Be Fit DVDs, but I would love to try out the Dances of India DVD. I get bored really easily and I find that trying out new DVDs is the best way to keep me motivated to work out in the mornings.
I have always liked working out to home videos and have never done a dance workout and they look like alot of fun for this 46 year old grandma who needs to keep up. I would love to win a new workout.
I would love the workout videos! I am what you would call “clutsy” so I do not like to do classes at the Y. (When I do a class, I end up falling during some part of the routine!) It is very embarrassing!
I love dance dvds! I’d like to give these a try.
Yes! I would love the videos!
Great giveaway!!!
Although I am not a “dancer” by definition… I have really come out of my shell with dancing in the past year. I challenged myself one day to do something I wouldn’t normally do – which was a Zumba class. May seem so simple… but to me – a BIG deal. And I had a blast!!! I called my husband right after and said, “I have a new love”! I’m not the most coordinated person… but I can catch on easily! I can only get to my favorite Zumba class once every two weeks… so this would be the “itch” I need on the weeks I can’t make it!
I love to dance and am certified as a Zumba instructor. I’ve lost 60lbs in the 10 months, but cannot get off the last 30 that I desperately need to lose. I’m always looking for a way to change up my routine and add a little bit more. I’m most excited for Julianne’s video, she’s amazing and hope to find new inspiration.
These DVD’s look great, would love to win one!!!!
b/c I could use these to work out when I’m on the road traveling!
I’m always looking for new DVD’s to make my workouts more fun and add variety. I hope I win
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My daughter is turning 5 and thinks I am the best dancer. LOL. She loves to do dance workouts with me. I, we would love to win one of these!!!!
cause I need to dance till i drop…some lbs! ha ha
Would love the Dance and Be Fit, first because I would love a new workout that I might stick to, and second, it sounds fun and I need a beginner one! Thanks FBG!!
Looks like fun!!! Worth a try!!!