I'm of two minds about this video. I love Cathe's rapidly expanding repetoire of choreography on this tape. I especially like how she has incorporated hi-lo moves into the routine, such as grapevines, pivots, and walk around the bench moves. Yet, even despite the content of the video, I find that Cathe veered a little on the outer edges of safety in this one.

First, I think the warmup is not much of a warmup at all. You're stepping after about 30 seconds in, and I'm not talking itty bitty stepping. Though there are no propulsions, the warmup easily qualifies as an intermediate step tape. I personally lower my step to one riser, and that helps. I tried it once with two risers, and I felt the blood rushing to my head fast, and I felt a little lightheaded. Now, I just make sure that I make my motions smaller on that part.

Secondly, I think the tempo on the power lunges in the first step combo is too fast. I feel like I'm flaying my arms and rushing to get on the bench on the recovery move following the lunges. I also think the flying angels move, while fun, is a move that should be best avoided. Yes, Cathe reminds you to stay airborne, but it's really difficult to make a complete rotation so that you don't hurt yourself. The first few times I did the video, I stopped the tape right there, because something in my knee felt terribly wrong. It's like holding a chicken "wishbone" still while while twisting the other half above the joint. Your knee is that poor joint that is twisted if you're not careful to complete your rotation *while* you're airborne. Hope that description is comprehensible. I've since mastered this move, and I admit that I love it! But I wonder if it's worth doing at all, given the down side.

Like I said, I really like this tape. Even more than even the beloved Powermax. It's second on my all-time favorite step tape list behind Step Jam. I like how things quickly change, and I like the addition of the walk around the bench moves that let you get your wind back after the grueling 1st section. Maybe I'm just a little conservative on the safety issues.

Eulonda Skyles