Denise gives the Dance Off The Inches, Crunch et al dance workout videos a run for their money with this medley of Latin, "funk" and "broadway jazz" routines plus a 15-minute ballet-inspired section.I liked this much more than I thought I would! I usually see dance workouts as light day workouts and as a touch of variety. This provides all that in a very pleasant way.

Each routine is, similar to the DOTI workouts, built up of maybe 3 or 4 basic moves with TIFTTing. At the end you repeat the whole combo about 4 or 5 times. The moves are mostly low-impact.

I surprisingly found that I was able to let go of my self-conciousness about looking silly trying to do "Fosse"-style arm gestures. Partly because they aren't TOO extravagant and partly because Denise just seems to be honestly having so much fun that I might as well too. Her background dancers really look like real dancers -- very toned, hip and precise in their movements.

I did this workout while recovering from a nasty cold with chest congestion. It was perfect in that I worked up a light sweat, got my body moving but didn't overexert.

The ballet section is very light no-weight toning and balance exercises, like plies and ronde de jambs, that I liked much better than when Tracey Mallet does them in her newest workouts. Say what one may about Denise; she is certainly a veteran of workout videos and it shows.

Instructor Comments:
If you don't like her, this won't change your mind. She still has the traditional catchphrases and exhortations as in all her videos. But for all the cliches and professional "exuberance," I think she's kinda fun. She seems a tad mellower and doesn't take herself too seriously. She really seems to enjoy herself, and that's a big plus in any workout. The moves here are so simple that cuing isn't really an issue.

acey