Instructor: Christy Lane for Vol. 1 and Meili for
Vol. 2
Music: modern country (e.g. Cowboy Sings the Blues,
4-Wheel Drive) with live band
Length: 30 minutes each. 5 minute motion warmup with a
little static stretch. 20 minute dance. 5 min floor
exercises & stretch
Energy Level: moderate
Choreography:some easy, some more difficult. Hops that
are hard on knees.
Production: ok
Volume 1 is led by Christy Lane;
Volume 2 by Meili. Both volumes start with intro by
exercise expert and demo of basic steps. Both contain
some complex routines, but it is easy to find them on the
tape because each song has a definite start and end so
you can fast forward to practice the routines. Each dance
is taught by building up steps into routines. In both
volumes, there are places where I can't, even after
dozens of plays, follow the pattern (combinations of
single and double leg lifts that both instructors seemed
to screw up). Both instructors have some kind of bounce
in their steps which I can't duplicate but I can,
nevertheless, otherwise approximate the steps. You can
modify the intensity level to some degree. Both tapes
contain 2 pulse checks. The second tape contains a series
of turns, some involving single left lifts, that leave me
dizzy and off-balance. Country 1 has a single-legged hop
that is hard on the knees and twisting steps as you move
across the floor that may be difficult on thick
carpeting. Volume 1's floor exercises involve side &
forward leg lifts; Volume 2's contain arm & stomach
work. Volume 2 seems to spend a little more time on the
floor and a little less time dancing. Overall, not bad if
you enjoy the music.
Diane Danielle
