CIA 9702: Step, Kickbox and Funk

Janis Saffell
Year Released: 1997

Categories: Floor Aerobics/Hi-Lo/Dance , Step Aerobics


This has three workouts. The first, and the highlight, is Masterpiece Step Theater. You do the workout in the form of a "story." Each part of the story has its own move associated with it. Jack and Jill meet Janet Jackson at a party. Jack takes off with Janet, and they go on a world tour. Jill gets really ticked and stomps around some, then finally calls the 3 Stooges for help. There, the story line stops. Somehow, Paula Abdul gets involved, but you are left not knowing if poor Jill ever got Jack back. But I digress -- back to the steps. You learn moves like Janet Jackson, the Curly Shuffle, the stomp (when Jill gets mad), make the call (dialing the 3 Stooges), and many more. Things are going great until Curly enters the picture. Here, Janis' instruction goes all to hell (excuse me). I don't know what the problem is, maybe she decides she's short on time. All I know is that from the Curly Shuffle on, it's frustrating. She doesn't show you the moves nearly as well as she did the earlier ones. Plus, you have your side and/or back to the TV during the later moves, which makes it doubly hard to follow. The story line and giving the patterns names actually helps to keep you on track, but that doesn't help much if you haven't learned the patterns properly to begin with. Even so, I love this routine. It's only during the last 5-10 minutes of this 40-minute workout that it gets frustrating. I like it enough to keep trying.

The next section is Kickboxing, which consists of boxing and kickboxing moves. This doesn't keep my heart rate up very well. There are sections where it gets way up, but then it goes back down again for too long. Janis' cueing is not the best here. She seems to be slightly "off" in many instances -- either the cue is a little too soon or a little too late. She also gets left and right mixed up several times. Even her class gets lost. This section is okay; much better than Aerobox, but not nearly as good as Jump & Jab. If I could keep my heart rate up, I would really like it a lot.

The last section is funk -- and -- drum roll -- I can do it! This is the *only* funk workout I've ever been able to do! I'm not sure why. I think the moves are a little more athletic-oriented than some other funk tapes. Whatever the reason, I like it! The only trouble is, as with all funk workouts, the intensity isn't very high. But that's okay; you can use it as an extended cooldown if you want.

The cooldown/stretch has some Tai-Chi-type things in it that really aren't my style. But I live with it.

I recommend this for anyone who likes new and interesting "styles" and who can handle a little bit of frustration. However, I would not recommend paying $29.95 for it. If and when CIA runs their next sale, that's the time to get it.

Instructor Comments:
Janis is very warm, friendly, and fun. I'd like to see her in some more videos. Besides, she didn't finish the "story," so she needs to do a sequel!

Annie S.

11/11/1997