This was the video I turned to when I was first starting to exercise and I wanted to learn step. I tried Kathy Smith's Step Workout but it was more complex and too high in intensity for the total beginner I was at that time. If you have been exercising for awhile or pick up on new steps fairly easily (it took me two weeks to learn a grapevine!) and are merely new to stepping, start with Kathy's tape. This tape is best for the TOTAL beginner.

With that caveat, for the total beginner, it's a very good tape. Yes, the costumes are silly, it doesn't matter, honestly, you will outgrow this tape soon enough. This tape breaks down a few of the most basic steps very completely and teaches them very thoroughly. She teaches the basic 'up-up-down-down', alternating knees, and a straddle step, with lots of marches and side-steps in between. I was very uncoordinated when I started stepping, this was the only tape I found that was accessible for me.

Leslie is as always friendly and cheerful. Her cueing isn't always great, but this tape is easy to follow anyway. My biggest problem with it as a beginner was the sound was poor & it made me think you were SUPPOSED to make a loud sound like that when you stepped up on the step - don't, you'll hurt yourself. There could be a few more form pointers & safety tips. If you can get another basic step tape like Kathy's or Buns of Steel 7 that does explain form really well, watch it first, then try stepping with Leslie. Good luck!

Denise Patterson