Christy said on her web site that she took more time to break down the moves and teaching them than she did in CIA 9801, but if she did, I'm not sure where. It seems to move pretty quickly to me! :-) That said, I had a lot of fun with this video! Christy is her usual, bubbly self. There are tons of
fun new moves and turns and variations on familiar moves. There is a really fun shuffle-turn/straddle move that really flows great! And then there are the skip turns, the backwards T-step into a repeater that is a lot like Cathe's in-and-out repeater, into another turn. I'm going to have to do this a few times before I really have the whole thing down. ( Major understatement! :-) ) Even with Christi's taking from the top several times throughout the video, there were still things I couldn't quite remember
when we would put it together, and some moves I never did quite get. But this is fun! This is going to be a great addition to my rotation once I really get it down. It is definitely not for a brain-dead day, though. It was worth the wait! :-) There is a short abs section at the end, which helps me stay motivated with the abs training that I hate so much! :-) The music for the abs was funny. It's from 9801, and the main thing I remember is that over and over in the song are the words "can't stop!" Which is, of course, what I always want to do when it comes to abs!
For those who are "on the fence" about this video: If you didn't like CIA 9801, you probably won't like this one either. If you did, though, GO FOR IT! IMO this is VERY similar in both style and intensity. Go, Christy! :-) As a fan of complex choreography, I give it an A+!
Instructor comments: Christi is fantastic! Her creative choreography and her enthusiasm guarantee that you will never get bored!
Erin
ferragut@avalon.net
08/16/99
Here goes – my first ever review (actually a mini-review) of a tape. I’ve only done Stepping Zone twice and the first time included lots of rewinds. Then I previewed it concentrating on the steps I didn’t get and then did again the next day, much more successfully. I think it’s easier to learn than 9801 but I’m used to Christi’s style and also knew many moves from Cathe’s tapes. Very fun tape. She does take it from the top, actually from the warmup all the way through but there is a long second section part to learn and repeat, before she takes it from the top a few times to finish up. Fun moves include a turning shuffle ball-change, 2 turning skips and a turning skip over the step in one direction, then the turning skips and turning skip over the step in the other direction so both sides are not equal. Then there is a repeater hop back and forth over step, back over turning, squat reverse turning chacha in back of the step. I do not have enough room in back of my step to do this correctly but even scrunched together, it is fun. In the second section is a T-step, backwards T-step into a repeater touch front heel back toe (ala Cathe) , then a straddle shuffle step, sort of like a shuffle turn step only you straddle, not turn. One move I haven’t gotten yet is the chacha lunge step. I just did regular lunges – I’ll have to work on those. I don’t know if I can move my feet fast enough. I thought this tape moved really fast and got my heartrate way up there.
The cool down is very simple to give your brain a rest. Then comes a very simple basic abs section and then a stretch sitting on the step.
All in all a very fun creative tape but I’m not sure it will replace 9801 as my all time favorite step tape.
Instructor comments: Great as always especially if you are used to her style. A lot of her cuing is "Watch me, then you do it the next time". There is no trying to learn steps while your back is to the TV in this one, an improvement over 9801.
Jeanne
jeanness@norcov.com
8/15/99
Have you ever had a blast while exercising that you forgot it's exercise?
This is what this video is all about. By far the best complex step video
out this year of 99'. Christi has outdone herself again in a superb step
workout. I found myself laughing and hooting I was having so much fun. The
warm-up is part of the step choreography. So you pretty much know it by
heart by the end of the workout. Christi doesn't mess around talking about
the move. She jumps right into it by saying, "you stay there, I will be
right back" or "Are you watching?". She sneaks more choreography with each
8 count. Her cueing is top notch. Her personality is contagious. I love
her "Pray" move and love it when she says,"Were still praying" after a
tough combo! She does this incredible step move called "Double hop-Double
hop- mambo chacha move. You are just flying. Even more than Flying Angel
move. It is a reverse hop over the step and then you hop again turning it
into a mambo to get you back in front of the step as you chacha. Confused?
You've got to try it to understand it. Some of the moves are complex. Lot's
of turns and pivots. Christi starts it off slow though. This is an
advanced workout. Most of the workout is low impact with some high impact
on turns and to unload the knee for pivots. I like the mixture of both high
impact and low impact for stepping. The workout ends with a fun around the
world move which consists of mamboing around the step. Then there is abs in
which Christi coaches. A quick stretch follows the workout. It is the CIA
setting and CIA instrumental music. Christi is a wonderful instructor and I
highly recommend this tape to the experienced stepper.
Mandy Lee
9/2/99
When I first attempted this workout, I was getting a bit frustrated, especially with that first combo, but when Christi teaches, your brain just listens to her voice and your feet follow her every syllable and before you know it, you can close your eyes and not miss a step. She is brilliant in her cueing on every workout and Stepping Zone is a winner. I love her spins and turns on her hi/lo videos and she does a great spin over the step with a pivot, mambo (such a great "flying" feeling). Going from the top numerous times isn't a problem with her workouts because the patterns are so intricate that boredom doesn't have a chance to enter your mind. It's about the same intensity and learning curve as 9801 step. Deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.
maryann parker
maryann.parker@citicorp.com
9/16/99
I was probably among first in line to order Christi's three new videos, and as a hi-lo enthusiast, I expected Happy Hour to become worn out the fastest. But while all three videos are terrific, Stepping Zone has become my newest dancing addiction. I think it's because, while Christi's amazing gift for floor choreography was evident even in 5004, her step choreography has made the greatest strides - from the relatively basic 5004, to the mind-boggling moves of 9801 and Stepping Zone.
But enough of the art critic talk - Stepping Zone ROCKS! I love each and every combo, but my favorite is where you skip across the step diagonally, do a mambo, cha-cha turn and another mambo. It's like gliding on air. The warmup combo is used throughout the workout, which is great because it gives my mind a much-needed break. Having to remember everything at the end stretches my brain to its limit! If you love to turn, you can be a whirling dervish throughout this workout as Christi adds spins to everything. Or you can leave the turns out till you get the basic steps down (though it would help if one exerciser was non-spinning, like on Franny's videos). One small word of warning, if you have carpet, some of the turns may be risky, especially the one at the very end where you turn-step, spin around and immediately jump up onto the step. I could feel an ankle twist waiting to happen, so I leave out that spin. Just listen to your instinct and do what feels right.
I was able to pick this up much faster than 9801's step, but I don't know if that's because it's actually easier or I'm just so in harmony with Christi after doing her videos for 3 years. One thing's for sure, this is NOT a zone-out workout; it requires a high level of concentration. And like usual, you have to keep an eye on Christi as she does her "Did you see what I did?" antics. IMO the intensity is a tad higher than 9801; it's not Interval Max, but that's not the purpose here. Another Hall of Famer from DC's Dancing Queen!
Sue Bryant
SuesZ@aol.com
10/4/99
This is a definate keeper video! Christi Taylor is one of my favorite instructors because she is a master of choreography and very fun. This video does not disappoint. I feel like I am dancing on air at the U turn continue spinning turn - that is probably my favorite move on the tape! It has been well broken down by now so I will just give a 2 thumbs up.
Cinnamon Conrad
cjconrad@hotmail.com
October 10, 1999
I've only had this video for 10 days -- and I've already done it 5 times! So that should tell you something about the workout. They ought to slap a message from the Surgeon General on this video: Warning -- Choreography May Be Addictive. Put on your sports bra before previewing, cause you'll HAVE to jump right in.
There is a LOT of choreography in this video, but it shouldn't intimidate anyone who's been doing step for a while. Christi includes 3 long combos in the video and the warm-up includes a good chunk of the first combo. There are a lot of cha-cha's, shuffles and spins, but Christi layers her teaching so well that if you're not comfortable with the more complex move, there's always a simpler option to get you through. I'm not going to go into detail about the combos themselves -- other reviewers have already done a thorough job of that. All right, I lied. I do have to say that I love the three knee repeater into a turning hopover, squat, cha-cha. And the shuffle straddle. And the turning skips around and over the step. It is the closing thing to recess that I've experienced since the 6th grade! I know I'm working out, because I'm flinging sweat droplets all over the room, but it just feels like play, play, play.
This tape is less complex than Christi's CIA 9801 step workout (hey, even Einstein's theory of relativity is less complex than 9801.) This music is good, but not as "rockin'" as her 9801 tunes.
I have no criticisms of this tape. It is a wonderful, advanced choreography step workout. I'll pre-order anything Christi puts out.
Instructor comments: Christi has this incredible gift for teaching choreography. I am not the most coordinated VFer in cyberspace, but when Christi is coaching me, hold onto your sweatbands, ladies, I am a pivoting, mamboing, cha-chaing tornado.
On top of that, Christi has this natural beauty and joy that shines through her workout. You get the feeling that there's nothing else she'd rather be doing than shuffle-straddling with you at that moment. What a smile, what a workout, what a teacher!
Daphne M
11/23/99
Others have done a great job of reviewing this tape, so I will add my comments to help get this one into the Hall of Fame! This workout is on par with 9801; I like it even better than Happy Hour Hi/Lo. The choreography rocks; it is complex, but I got most of it on the first time through. I know this is partially due to experience (mastering 9801, Kari, Franny, etc.), but Christi’s teaching method of breaking down the moves and creating smooth transitions really deserves the credit.
I enjoyed all of the combinations; the turns, pivots, leaps, skips, and mambos make me feel like a dancer, even though I know better! For some reason, I had a difficult time with the footwork on the first combo used in the warmup, but rewinding a few times solved that problem. My initial thoughts were, “Great, I cannot even do the warmup!” I am sure glad I stuck with it. This is going to be a favorite for a long time. I found the workout to be less repetitive (with less TIFTs) than some of Christi’s others.
The intensity is great, too. This can definitely be modified for low or high impact. Finally, the abs section is basic, but effective.
My only complaint is that the music is too quiet. I have a difficult time keeping count on some of the footwork, like mambos, cha cha chas, when I cannot hear the beat.
Instructor comments: Christy is enthusiastic and motivating as always! She is one of the best teachers of complex choreography.
Jennifer H
bugcity@pacbell.net
3/7/2000