Lots of rah rah rah, not so much on the actual dance routine
350050
Eh, this book had a lot of "Rah rah rah you can be great and indispensable" kind of talk but really wasn't for me. The author seemed to be blowing a lot of smoke without actually sitting down and going "OK here's your plan for figuring out how you can be a linchpin and how you can get a job as such and how you're going to go about shaping your destiny."

I do freely admit to returning the book before I read the whole thing, so maybe there's some magical plan in the latter chapters, but I got so sick of the motivational speaker parts in the beginning of the book that I (metaphorically) threw it across the room.
3026152
I ordered this DVD expecting a low-impact workout based on traditional hula. I did not expect this weird hybrid dance incorporating the mashed potato and other totally non-hula moves (that are high impact and bouncy) set to really hokey music (Hula Rock Momma...gak!).
While you do get some introduction to each of the hula steps, they really aren't broken down totally...you just have to hope for the best.
On the tiny bit of good side, the other production values are decent...this production company seems to like to have the intructor do a voice-over, rather than actually talk during the workout, but I think the purpose of this is (as I found in the special features section) that you can turn off the voice track and just have the music. But with music this hokey, who'd want to do that? The setting is gorgeous and the instructor is obviously a real hula dancer, but I was expecting something more traditional and not some bizarre hybridization with country linedancing.
I'm returning my set, because I cannot do high-impact workouts due to an  injury. So if you're looking for low-impact, look elsewhere and if you're looking for anything resembling traditional hula, again look elsewhere.
1896430
I was very excited to get this DVD workout because the other reviewers gave good reviews. But I was disappointed. The 3 dances are very short. Too short for a workout. I think some movements should have been incorporated in a warm-up or cool-down and not in the aerobics part. I am a dance instructor who loves to add some Bollywood dance movements to the routine I teach. I did learn a couple of new good moves from this DVD. But that's all.
2338637
Well I guess for what I expected it did ok. I was hoping it would have been closer to the movies Latin style dancing - but it did state it was a workout.
Dirty Dancing is one of memories that started me dancing for real. It would have been nice if the video included some of partner work that made most people that like dancing enjoy the movie.

A little over 3 years ago this would have got an higher rating when I was dancing a lot of Zumba ( 4 years straight ),  but something important was missing in Zumba that got me interested in Salsa and even recently Kizomba and that of course is connection to the partner. This was totally missing from this DVD.

So will it get used in the future - not sure probably for some work outs - of course important dance songs were missing from this DVD that were in the movie.
927107
The presentation is a bit annoying, her voice and music are out of balance, her talking drowns out motivational soundtrack, so I couldn't tell if the music playing in the background was really very good. Her knees go way over toes in leg part, so for people with any knee joint issues, the bar/chair section is maybe not the best idea. I did not feel a lot going on in the arms section at the beginning, I ran through it twice, but really, I only felt my shoulders working, not the parts of my arms that I want to change. Otherwise I felt the abs and legs on the mat to be more challenging. She does come across a bit like a kid's working out with Barbie video or something, I think it's an okay rental for something different, but I wouldn't buy.
2844680
If you are looking for a dance video, like Cize, you will not find it here. This workout was advertised as BeachBody's latest dance workout, but while you "learn" dance moves, you don't actually do a routine.  Instead, you learn two moves and put those together and then move on to more more and so forth, never putting it all together.  I have most of Beach Body's workouts, to include Cize, so I was excited to see a country version of a dance workout.  Sadly, I am disappointed that this program doesn't actually put all the moves together like Cize.  Don't get me wrong I burned 268 calories on the first workout (which is significantly more than I did on today's Hammer & Chisel workout, 118 calories) and believe I got a great cardio workout; I was just hoping this was going to be a country version of Cize.
3931513
This video is high energy and fun but I had hoped to have more instruction. At some point in the video, the dance moves Cheryl does get really fast and for someone who has never done the moves before, it can get confusing. The music is entertaining and I felt like I got in a decent workout. I feel like if this a video you do very regularly, you should see results. I only just bought it so I don't know yet. They could offer more direction before proceeding into the fast tempo dancing. The perk: even if you don't know how to do the uptempo dance moves, you still feel energized enough to make something up so you at least get some exercise!
4661503
This dvd is definitely not for beginners, which was a pleasant surprise for me since I have some dance experience and all of the other dance/hip hop dvds I have are too easy so you get bored quickly. I like that she doesn't spend too much time explaining the moves so that your heartrate doesn't go down. If you need more instruction, you can go to the section at the end where she explains each move slowly without music.

The production value is pretty mediocre. The sound on my copy actually comes in and out. Sometimes there is music, but no voice and sometimes it is the reverse - strange. Also, the music really, really sucks -- which is a big reason why I don't do the video often. I mean, all of the dance exercise dvds have boring beat track music (I assume because they can't get the rights to real hip hop music?), but this is particularly bad. The set is also not appealing with a multi-colored curtain that looks like it came from a hot air balloon behind the dancers. Then there are the dancers -- I think she chose them to make herself look good. Not that they don't know the moves, but they have no style and are definitely not dancers you would want to emulate. They also have these cheesy smiles on their faces the whole time.

Overall I gave it 3 stars because it is a good workout and the moves are challenging.
4911213
Cute dance,but I've seen much more interesting Korean choreography.  Why does it contain so many versions of the same dance?
1770975
As a dancer and a follower of dancing there were no new names in this book and there are lots of names missing but there were some new theories.  The author begins with the Cakewalk then moves to Bill Robinson, Fred and Ginger, Agnes De Mille, Paul Taylor and ends with Michael Jackson's Moonwalk.  The author also uses dance as a mirror for racism in the US. I did not always agree with the author's conclusions but they are interesting.  I was disappointed in many of the names that were missing.  I would also have liked more photographs. Where photographs or film are not available the author does a very good job of describing the dances. You can also Youtube many of the dancers. The book is very easy to read esp for someone not familiar with the dances and dancers. If you have an interest in the history of dance and entertainment you will enjoy this book.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review
1497013
I like this series of DVDs.  The quality isn't great but the dancers are.  These two episodes were long stories (told through dance).  I don't find them as entertaining as their other dances.  Even though they explain the story behind the dance ahead of time it just doesn't work for me.
3985428
Maybe I'm just lame, and I've never done the aerobics thing before, but she changes the routine too quickly.  Just as I get into the groove with one thing, she's got another move.  It's too frantic, even the low impact version.  Other than that, I like the other workouts on the tape, especially the lower body and the stretches.

The aerobics routines she does on the daily tv show seem a little more attainable.
3497246
NOTE:  I received a free copy of this DVD to review for the web site Metapsychology Online Reviews; you can read a more detailed version of my review on that site.

"Cardio Hip Hop Party" provides three routines which, according to the DVD case, feature "hot dance styles."  Jennifer Galardi instructs this 41-minute workout live and is accompanied by two background exercisers, Dawn and Jenny.  No modifications are shown for the choreography, which is moderately complex and with moderate impact.  However, Galardi teaches a separate 26-minute "Step Guide" segment which breaks down some (not all) of the dance steps featured in the DVD.  The guide includes instruction on the following ten moves:  1) Cabbage Patch, 2) Old School Shuffle, 3) Roger Rabbit, 4) House Hop, 5) Glide, 6) Sweep, 7) Slide, 8) Push, 9) Dig & Snake, and 10) Swivel Step.

The Main Menu of the DVD has options for Play--Chapters--Step Guide.  Selecting Chapters brings up a submenu that lists the Warm-Up, Cool-Down, and each of the three dance segments separately.  I have broken down each of these chapters in greater detail below.

WARM UP (5 minutes)
Galardi begins with an out-out in-in step.  She then stands in place for isolations of various parts of the body, including neck, shoulders, chest, waist, and hips.  Returning to the out-out in-in, she adds a heel-knee step and a few dynamic stretches to finish.

OLD SCHOOL (10.5 minutes)
This segment brings the heart rate up.  Apparently, many of the moves--such as "Cabbage Patch," sort of wide march with triple step, and "Roger Rabbit," a backward step--are supposed to be familiar dance steps.  However, I graduated from high school in the 80s and went to dance clubs in the 90s, and nothing Galardi did here looked familiar to me.  What was a big odd about this section was that after running through the moves several times, Galardi adds an entirely new sequence.  It seemed like she was starting a completely new routine (with small side kicks), but eventually, she does add this to the first series, taking it from the top.

HIP HOP HOUSE (10.5 minutes)
This was the highest energy segment, but also the one with the most impact.  The "House Hop" is a relatively simple heel-side knee move, but the energy continues with the Glide, Sweep, and Slide.  The final two combinations were a lot of fun:  a high knee with opposite arm punch and a standing crunch with heel push.

VIDEO JAM (10 minutes)
This last routine is performed at a slower pace; in fact, I found it difficult to keep my heart rate elevated (one move is actually called "Stroll"!).  The other issue I had with this section is that many of the moves (such as the opening "Push") required twisting your foot on the ground, which is difficult to execute on carpet--definitely not ideal for many home exercisers.  This was my least-favorite section.

COOL-DOWN (5 minutes)
Galardi begins the cool-down with reaching side stretches, moving through pli.  She also performs pelvic scoops, upper body circles, shoulder stretch, triceps stretch, and chest stretch.  For the lower body, she moves through a forward bend and lunge to stretch the hip flexors.

As an instructor, Jennifer Galardi does an excellent job:  her mirrored cueing is clear, and her instructions are easy-to-follow.  Personally, however, I do not like dance workouts which are so complex as to require a separate tutorial to teach the moves.  Most home exercisers like myself have limited time for our workouts, and so we certainly do NOT want to spend half as much time learning the moves as it takes to complete the actual workout!  That being said, I did not watch the Step Guide prior to trying the dance routines, and I was mostly able to follow along, although it required a good deal of concentration.  As noted above, some of the moves on this DVD are quite fun, and for those who easily learn new choreography, DOTI "Cardio Hip Hop Party" may be a good choice.
442443
Many people have said they think the Richard Simmons tapes are too quick and too hard to follow. I have found this true of Broadway Sweat. I like Broadway music and thought this would be a good place to vary my workout. But the tape is CHEESY. The action takes place on a theatre stage with some very colorful characters. Again plenty of stiff and goofy smiling dancers sashay their way to "Can We Dance?" from The King and I, "June is Busting Out All Over" and other assorted (and lesser known) Broadway songs. I found the steps VERY hard to keep up with. It is more of a dance tape than a work out. I don't like the Tone Up tape at all (I got them as a package set). Do yourself a favor and skip this one.
724000
This is a dance tape, not really an instruction tape.  It begins with some standard aerobics moves that take a lot of room.  It then moves to more dance steps taught a little more slowly.  It's not staying in my collection for three reasons:  1.)  It's impossible to do these routines unless you have a clear eight by ten space.  You can't do this in the space where you might do a step workout, yoga or pilates.  2.)  This is a relatively difficult set of dance steps.  (Which might be a positive, not a negative for some folks.)  3.)  These are not the kind of routines you can do in more conventional dance settings.  In recent years, hip hop and bellydance have garnered more interest from the general public because there are people teaching those particular forms of dance in ways that can be done in the small, socially conventional 2 by 2 space of a dance floor.

These are very well done, floor eating dance routines that can't be used like that.

Having said all of that, if you have a drill team, cheerleaders, drama club, or church group where large scale performances of more modern hip hop dance could be useful, and your students have some prior dance experience, this might be a go-to tape for practice. It's easy to watch, and well made.
4491703
Having recently purchased this DVD I was excited to try it out.  I have a strong power-lifting routine in place but I wanted some cardio to tone my midsection a bit.  I have seen other "dance fitness" programs on my cable's On Demand exercise channel and they all walk you through moves slowly and methodically so you can stay with the on-screen action.  With this DVD, I was unimpressed, to say the least, with the lack of instruction.  One of the dancers would spend a couple of seconds showing a move and then it's on to the next routine.  It wouldn't be so bad if the camera work showed off the footwork, but it didn't.  The dance stars use lingo like "rock step", "triple step" and "step, ball, change" that probably means a lot to a trained dancer but not to a non-dancer that decided to try a DVD on whim.  Again, had they illustrated the moves more slowly and visually this would be o.k.- why not show the moves individually on the "Extras" portion of the DVD like other "dancercise" series are known to do?

I tried to persevere through the frustration- but, alas, it just didn't work out.  After about seven viewings I knew I was still faking it, and although sweating a bit, I felt there were other videos out there that would be more efficient.  I've gone back to the On Demand options through my cable for dance cardio and Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred for even more intense cardio(combined with strength/ab training).

I am sure the well-known Dancing With the Stars franchise label helps to sell this DVD- I'm probably one of the suckers myself!  That being said, I've moved on to better options and I'll be more careful with my purchases.  Again, if you are serious about losing weight, check out Jillian Michaels stuff.

In the end this DVD fails as both dance instruction and exercise- and maybe because it's a middle ground hybrid that never really dedicates itself to either one in full force.
2592497
The only pro to this DVD is that you do feel your muscles working. However, I did not work up a sweat after completing three segments.  I danced for many years and so am familiar with dance workouts and warm ups and that there is typically repetition. But these exercises are excessively repetitive... She does 4 or 5 8-count sets of every exercise and doesn't alternate sides until one side is complete. The arm segment is 14 min. of variations on "swan arms." There is not much instruction on body alignment so basically all she is doing is counting to eight for you over and over and over. It is just Mary Helen alone in the studio and it isn't very motivating.  After doing the DVD once I am returning it - very disappointed.