Workout length: warm-up (6), cardio (33), stretch (6) = 44 minutes

DVD chaptering:

3-3. warm-up and beginner cardio(13:30)
3-4. intermediate cardio (10:20)
3-5. advanced cardio (15:10)
3-6. stretch (5:30)


My background, relevant to this review: I usually do cardio workouts that Collage Video rates intermediate to intermediate-advanced. I pick up aerobics choreography fairly easily, but I don’t do as well with dance workouts.

This is a dancy beginner-intermediate floor aerobics workout. The choreography is moderately complex and very dancy, with a few fast turns. It isn’t a real space hog, but you’ll need at least enough room for a grapevine to each side. The impact is mostly low, and there is a fair amount of marching in place as Victoria explains the next move. There are three progressively more challenging cardio segments, which are TIFTed during the workout.

There are four background exercisers: three females and one male. The set is a studio with wood flooring. The music is nothing special. It’s background exercise music with a funk or hip-hop flavor. This is an older workout, so the outfits are dated.

I did the beginner and intermediate section before giving up on this one. I really should stay away from funky hi-lo workouts! They aren’t my style, and I don’t dance well enough to get my heart rate up with this type of choreography. My ribcage and shoulders just don’t want to move that way. Victoria’s cueing is usually good, but sometimes the camera zooms in on the upper bodies of the participants. This annoyed me because I tend to feel lost when doing hi-lo if I can’t see the instructor’s feet.

I won’t be keeping this workout. The feel was similar to Donnamite (which I disliked for the same reasons), but Donnamite has much better music. If you liked Donnamite, you may want to look for Cardio Soul at your local Target. Some Targets are selling Victoria Johnson DVDs for $1 right now. The picture and sound quality of this DVD are fine.

Instructor Comments:
Victoria is peppy and encouraging. She does more whooping in this workout than in her other “Diamond Series” workouts.

Colleen