Evolution: Step Fusion

Marcus Irwin
Year Released: 2004

Categories: Step Aerobics


I’m reviewing this workout after doing it 2-3 times.

General workout breakdown: Erin has described this workout so well there’s not much else I can add! Well, I can give the exact time of the different sections: section 1 = 32.5 min. (not counting the ~1.5 min. intro), section 2 = 27.5 min., section 3 = 16 min., and section 4 = 22.5 min., for a total of almost 100 min.
And I’ll note that although Marcus teaches symmetrical combos (meaning he does them on both sides), he doesn’t always spend the same amount of time on each side building them up (meaning sometimes he’ll get you to a certain point on one side, then have you try the full block up to that point on the other, then alternate once or twice before moving on).
Although Marcus clearly introduces this as a tool for group fitness instructors to learn new choreography to teach in class, he does acknowledge that some will use it as a workout. As a home exerciser who has no ambitions to teach step classes, I find this works perfectly well as a workout, although as Erin said it’s for those who want to have fun with choreography during their workout rather than those who want to sweat out every last drop of water and wring out every last bit of energy from their bodies.

Level: I’d recommend this to at least intermediate exercisers who are experienced steppers comfortable with moderately complex choreography.
I consider myself an int./adv. exerciser, although I feel more like an intermediate plus when it comes to step, not because I find choreography tricky – in fact, I consider myself a big choreo hound, able to pick up choreography that’s taught at least halfway decently with relative ease – but because I just don’t have the cardio endurance on the step that others do. This is a fun, doable, moderately challenging workout for me in terms of cardiovascular and choreography, although I can’t do this all in one go – one or two sections at a time works better for me.

Class: 2 “back-up babes” join Marcus, who instructs live. Yes, they all mess up, but Marcus is said to have filmed videos in pretty much one take, plus the background exercisers are fellow instructors, many of whom learn the routine when they show up to film their own videos. It’s also worth noting that many of them are also from European countries where English is a second language at most.

Production: clear enough picture, somewhat quiet but clear enough sound. Marcus’ voice is definitely louder than the background music, so you may have to crank up the volume quite a bit if you want to hear the music (which appears in A LOT of Evolutions). The camerawork here is actually some of the best Evolution has done, with close-ups of the lower halves of bodies in appropriate places and not too many strange shots cutting off feet or zooming in on faces when you really don’t want them to do so. And the black screen with the rotation e pops up from time to time, usually before TIFTs but sometimes between blocks or other run-throughs.
It’s worth noting that both Marcus and his background exercisers all wear black pants, which isn’t ideal.

Equipment: step (Marcus and company use Reebok steps) and sneakers that can pivot on your step and workout space’s flooring.

Space Requirements: You’ll need to be able to move comfortably all around your step. I had no trouble fitting this in my workout space (8’ wide by 6’ deep), but I wouldn’t want to try to squeeze it in a significantly smaller space.

DVD Notes: This DVD is chaptered by block (with 26 total chapters for the workout). It also has extensive previews of 2003 and 2004 Evolution titles.

4x4 Step vs. Step Fusion vs. Step Pro vs. Step Tools
Step Fusion is the only one of the 4 Marcus Irwin step titles currently available on DVD (well, excluding Topless Blocks, which is half step, half hi/lo). It’s also the longest by a mile. And it’s the only one that doesn’t begin with a warm-up, TIFT all sections together, and end with a cool-down / stretch (although that’s also true of Topless Blocks). While there are some step taps side to side and basics as holding patterns, this doesn’t feel like it has as much marching and other filler moves as some of Marcus’ other ones, most notably 4x4 and Step Pro.
If you’re new to Marcus, this might be a good place to start, particularly because you’ll get the most value for your buck here, even if the DVD still is on the pricey side. The choreography here is also representative of Marcus’ usual style (Step Pro and Step Tools, his swan songs, are a bit of a departure for him).

Instructor Comments:
Marcus is one of the better cuers out there. He breaks down everything and cues descriptively enough that I can dust this video off after too long of a break from it and have little trouble following it. Marcus mirror cues, but he tends to provide directional cues somewhat sparingly, waiting until just when you need them, and he also provides some additional directional guidance like telling you to turn to the outside or to use the leg that’s closest to the television. Sometimes he relies on gestures (pointing, grabbing his pants on the leg you’re starting on) rather than verbal cues, not just for direction but also for the name of combos, but since he frequently uses the “watch me” method to show the next layer you’ll want to watch him closely anyway.
I love Marcus’ personality, with his giggle, his concern for and joking with his back-up crew, and his self-deprecating humor. He’s so natural on camera you feel like you’re right there with him, and yet he never loses sight of the fact that he’s an instructor filming a video.

KathAL79

02/02/2011