CIA 9702: Step, Kickbox and Funk

Janis Saffell
Year Released: 1997

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


Like 8003, this is an offbeat, not-too-serious Crunch-styled workout, but it's much more beginner/intermediate like the Crunch tapes themselves. The dancy warmup and step are the best parts of this tape. Somehow I don't think "storytelling step" is going to catch on, unless someone like Whoopi Goldberg becomes a step instructor, but Janis shows us some great combos to go with her "plot" if you can call it that. I really like the part that starts with the lunges and turnstep ending with a twirl on the floor (shades of Christi Taylor) up through the around-the-worlds, Skip to My Lou and the repeater-ski. But I agree with Annie that it goes downhill after the Three Stooges. The Paula Abdul, etc. floorwork just doesn't go with the intensity of the earlier steps. And the remainder of the tape is strictly intermediate, almost like a very extended cooldown. The kickboxing is very basic and slow, almost beginner level, and I expected a lot more innovation and imagination in the funk section, instead of warmed-over Fitness Pros material. Even though 9704 is the same length as this tape - 90 minutes - this tape feels two hours longer. This is the lowest-intensity CIA I've seen, thus it might be a good starter CIA for intermediates. And instructors could get some good ideas from the step part. But I will definitely be combining the step with other, more intense workouts, unless I'm feeling really tired or sick. I give it a B+.

Instructor Comments:
Janis Saffell is typical Crunch: cute, fun, hip and willing to try almost anything to please her audience. Her cueing could best be described as "casual", but her steps are easy enough to follow nevertheless. I'd like to see more step workouts from her.

Sue B

12/07/1997