I'd say that I'm in the beginner/intermediate range, and I definitely get a workout when I do this tape. I could see it being too easy for a mid/high-intermediate or someone who isn't comfortable doing some of the more dancy, full-body "wave" movements that can really get your heart-rate up. I also can see myself adding more full-range motions to the movements in future when I need more of a challenge. I think it'll give me enough room to grow as I become more fit.

This tape is broken into three workouts, or routines. If you do all three routines, it's about 45 minutes. In each routine, the instructor leads some warm-ups (head-rolls, stretches, etc.) then teaches you a "home-base" step. She teaches you a dance step, then another, then leads you through the routine so far. A new step, then add it on to the routine. Etc. After each new step learned, or section of routine you go through, you return to the home-base step to catch your breath and prepare for the next move.

The dance movements are earthy, very hip- and shoulder-intensive, and quite joyous. You do a number of them while in a semi-crouch (second position, or "horse stance"), which gives the legs a great workout. I particularly like them because there's a lot of graceful reaching and stretching with your arms and torso while your legs bend and dance. (It reminds me of when I was little and danced around the living room pretending to be a ballerina. (grin)) The movements are easy to learn and mostly low-impact. There are a few jumps (like a hopscotch-type move in the third workout), but the instructor doesn't give a low-impact option for them. I made up my own.

The cast is primarily young, lithe, and graceful, with a mixture of women and men (although the men are in the back so you hardly ever notice them). The live music is all percussion, with three drummers giving a good, solid beat to follow. The routines are energetic and earthy, and the instructor gives a few comments on how a particular move might be used in a community celebration dance. They all seem to be having a lot of fun without being sacharin. There's also some free-form interpretation of the movements going on, from one of the guys using very little hip-swing to one of the women doing an almost belly-dancing hip-swing. I was always able to find someone I could imitate (and, at 270 pounds, I'm not all that graceful!).

All in all, I enjoy this tape, and use it primarily when I'm in the mood for something fun, graceful and whole-body. I use other tapes for target toning or pushing my aerobic envelope.

Pet peeves:

There's no real cool-down or stretch at the end of any of the workouts. After doing all three, my heart rate was still rather high. I walked around to bring it down and then did some stretching to round it out. Having a warm-up at the beginning of each routine will be nice for those who plan to do only one routine, but when doing them one right after the other you may find that it takes you out of your heart rate target zone when you don't want to be. The instructor was difficult to follow sometimes. I found it confusing to have her demonstrating the next movement while the cast did the previous one, but after the first couple of these, I was able to follow. Her cuing was off a number of times, especially in the second routine. It wasn't just me, either. The cast even had trouble following her once or twice. After a couple of times through the tape, though, I could follow easily enough. About me: I began using videos in February 1999 when, at almost 300 pounds, I decided I HAD to make some changes in my life. (grin) I'm down to 270, and still plugging away 2-3 times a week with aerobics tapes. With my weight so high, my primary concerns in choosing videos have been that they are low impact and gentle on the knees and ankles. I've been very grateful to have the reviews at Video Fitness to help me choose a variety of good tapes as I went from rank beginner (couldn't get through a whole Richard Simmons tape), to beginner/intermediate (I even do some weight training now!). This is the first Method tape I've done, and the first review of a tape. Hope you find it useful.

Synger