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72 of 76 found the following review helpful:
This is hip-hopSep 08, 2004
By Amy Leone
I just want people to know that this is a hip-hop workout and difficult for some of us due to all the jumps, twists, and general joint-popping. I would have liked to have known that before I ordered it.
31 of 33 found the following review helpful:
 This one awakened the dormant dancer in me. . .Apr 13, 2001
By Melissa P. Cooper
"kymissyin"
Paula Abdul--choreographer to the stars--and two of her colleagues lead a workout which will challenge your feet and leave you sweating. As far as I know, she's not a certified aerobics instructor, but she had Karen Voight serve as Fitness Consultant for this video, and that was good enough for me. She's taught dance routines for years. Much of what she did for George Michael, Janet Jackson, and the guys from ZZTop probably involved getting them to relax and not worry over how goofy they felt when they couldn't get the steps the first time around. She does spend some time talking about that before you begin this routine. In the words of the customer service experts, she practiced good expectations management there. So I wasn't surprised or disappointed that I couldn't get it all the first time, either. Heck, I like a challenge!You can't do this if you're sleepy. I've never tried it at 5:00am. To me, it's more of a "let's dance and have a party" routine, and one I want to be fully awake for. And there are no modifications given for those who want or need a gentler routine. But this is an intermediate program, after all. I've found that if I didin't snap my neck all the way around, bend my knees too deeply, or jump--just raise my arms toward the ceiling and go up on my toes--then I was all right. I'd also encourage folks who want to keep their heart rate up to use a full range of motion dring the "teaching" segments of the routine and really lift their knees up during the "march-it-outs." I found that even the "YMCA cooldown" (which is really goofy but fun, anyway!) can be aerobic if I made my moves bigger. If this sounds like too much work, then pick up a Kathy Smith or Donna Richardson video, practice the low-impact modifiers they teach, and come back to Paula's program later! Having given those caveats, I still think this is a great, fun, inspiring workout. Paula is beautiful and she's passionate about dancing. This tape is her way of making some of that accessible to the masses. You've gotta love her for that! One exerciser is 42, another is 50--so it's not all 20-somethings. I knew going in that it would take consistent practice to master the dance steps. After a month, I had most of them learned, and abandoned my "modifications" to really go for it. I'm also glad to see an aerobics tape which includes abdominal floor work after the cooldown. If I do ab stuff even a little bit following an all-out cardio routine, my back usually benefits from the stretching and muscle work, too. The most important things are to not get discouraged if you can't get all the steps down in a week or two, and as Paula says, "don't give up" and "have a great time!" I didn't and I did. Hope that's true for you, too!
29 of 31 found the following review helpful:
Paula Abdul's Get Up and DanceApr 16, 2000
By Debbie
I think this video can be really awesome, alot of fun and a fantastic workout. I agree with a few other people's reviews. I went through the tape once and could not follow it. Its a workout that you definitely need to learn in steps. That's what I am doing now. Even though I could not follow Paula's steps when I tried it the first time, it still gave me a workout with sweating. I wanted to continue and learn the steps all at once but I knew I wouldn't be able to get up tomorrow morning. So I will gradually learn it and I am sure in time I will be able to follow her all the way. I really love dancing so I know I will love it when I can do all of it. In my opinion if you don't like dancing, this isn't the tape for you. Its fun and very challenging. I do believe though the people in the video are either professional dancers or they spents hours learning the steps in this video. You cannot learn it in a one shot deal. But I would say if you love to dance, love aerobics then this is definitely the workout for you. Thank you for letting me express my feelings about this video.
17 of 19 found the following review helpful:
Just Fun . Just DO IT!Dec 15, 2004
By L. Parnell
Forget the words: "workout" & "exercise".
Instead - think of: a little challenge, dance steps, and fun.
You can do this.
Don't rush. Take a little at a time.
Anyone can learn moves - all it takes is repetition - just doing it over and over (that and not giving up).
And to get or stay fit you need repetition.
Thus this video encourages the viewer to repeatedly play it;
repeatedly exercising and before you know it - surprise - you're getting more fit, staying fit, and not "working" at it! (along with getting more agile, more balance, more finesse, more confidence, more grace (i.e., your manner of moving is smoother)).
Think of it as your dance class you have x times a week - but it's even better because you can do it in private.
I found myself at different times during the day (when stressed, nervous, bored, waiting, needing to relax - all different times), I found myself practicing some of the steps....i.e., the perfect remedy for any of those situations and so good for ya!!
just fun.
just do it.
10 of 11 found the following review helpful:
Love it!Jan 12, 2002
Once in a while forget squats and weights and just dance, sweat and have fun! And learn those hip steps and feel cool, too. I agree that those steps cannot be learned at once, but I am sure I can pick them up soon (and I have 2 left feet!). This tape has a warmup which was based on dance movements, and real dance segment, abdominal workout and cool down. I am very please with the seperate ab workout, because we all know that that area needs some special care. After the dance segment, 4 college students(? obviously they are not professional dancers) give a surprise FUN dance to Village People's song YMCA. What a great and smooth transition from dance to cooldown! I laughed and followed the tape as if I was in that studio with the boys and Paula. That was something I never expected or seen in any other tapes. I usually love elegant dance movements like in the NYC ballet workout, but this tape made me taste the fun and energy of dynamic dance. What a nice surprise, Paula!
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