The Brazilian Carnival Dance Workout: Samba Reggae Review

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(More customer reviews)This dvd is the second in the Samba Reggae dance series. It is an excellent cardiovascular workout as well as being a lot of fun. It is quite different from her first samba reggae workout as such there is no problem in owning both of them. Here is a breakdown of the dvd:
Warm-up - this is a 25 minute thorough warm up from head to toe. If you have her samba cardio workout dvd, the warm-up is very similar. Standing stretches, abs, seated stretches and back stretches. Very nice. Quenia is accompanied by two dancers who I believe were in her last dvd.
Step by Step instruction + workout. This is the longest of the workout sections. About 25 minutes. The tempo is at a slow pace. The music for the workout sections is different from the previous dvd. It is all percussion with a senuous swing to it. Hard to describe, but I loved it. In the step by step instruction, Quenia goes over the choreography in sections. There are 5 sections with easy to learn steps in each section. She goes from the top a couple of times in each section. Here is the difference from her previous dvd. Once you learn a section, you move on to the next one. You don't repeat from the top from the very beginning of the previous sections. Once you have learned the choreography in a slow temp she moves on to the samba reggae transitions steps that are in between each workout. If I had one complaint is that she doesn't repeat the slow tempo workout from the top without instruction at least 1x through.
Medium tempo- After the slow tempo, the choreography is repeated 1x through at a medium tempo. To me this was fast. The section is followed by the samba reggae transition steps at a medium pace. About 7 minutes long.
Fast tempo - Same choreography repeated 1x through at warp speed, followed by the samba reggae transition steps at warp speed. About 7 minutes
Cool Down - About 5 minutes, neck, arm, back stretches. Seated hamstring stretches. Very nice.
I liked this dvd a lot. What makes it challenging is not the choreography; I got it the first time through. It is keeping up with the speed of the dance. Progess is being able to do it at the medium and fast pace AND keep up. The first I did the dvd, I just did the wam-up and the step by step workout and I was sweating bullets. The second time I did the warm-up and the medium and fast workouts only. The workout didn't seem as complete to me AND I wasn't able to keep up. So unless you are in great cardio shape, I suggest that you do all of the workouts, even after you learn the choreography. Which leads me to the cons.
Cons: As I said earlier my only complaint is that the step by step was not separated from the slow pace workout. It should have been. The step by step should have had its own section. If you are not ready for the faster tempos, you are left with going through the step by step over and over again. My suggestion is to keep moving and do the steps as she is explaining them to keep you heart rate up.
Overall: Great choreography and music. Quenia is a delightful teacher. If you love Brazilian dance, then get this dvd. Your heart will thank you. Obrigada Quenia

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Carnival in Bahia, Brazil is like no other carnival in the world. The city of Salvador de Bahia pulses with energy and excitement as throngs of people gather in a celebration of life. The Samba Reggae percussion groups called Blocos Afros parade in the streets as carnival participants dance and party. The Brazilian Carnival Dance Workout: Samba Reggae brings the excitement and energy of the Bahia carnival from Salvador to your home. This vibrant total-body workout program weaves authentic Samba Reggae moves into high-energy dance combinations. Samba Reggae is an aerobic dance form - a great way to shake off stress, burn calories, and wake up your senses with invigorating rhythm. Samba Reggae is a street dance, its moves are simple and accessible to everyone, any body type, and any level of dance experience. As you follow Quenia Ribeiro and her Grupo Ribeiro dancers, you will learn faster with every step, your strength, flexibility, and nimbleness will grow every time you do this workout.

Building on the success of her Samba Reggae Workout DVD, Quenia Ribeiro designed The Brazilian Carnival Dance Workout as a blend of non-stop fitness movement and dance instruction. In the first section of the workout Quenia introduces Samba Reggae moves and combinations step-by-step, and practices them with you at a slower pace. The second and the third sections of the workout put together the Samba Reggae combinations at a medium tempo, and then at a fast tempo.

Quenia also offers a thorough warmup with upper and lower body isolations, exercises for abdominal and lower body strengthening and stretches, and a relaxing cooldown.

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Dance and Be Fit: Brazilian Body Review

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(More customer reviews)This workout is a lot of fun if you like dance-style fitness DVD's. The music gets you going and although it doesn't look like hard work you can definitely get your heart rate up if you put 100% into it. My BIG complaint about it, however, is that the cuing, if you can call it that, is absolutely the worst I've ever experienced on a DVD. She does a voice-over which is fine except she tells you what to do after the onstage talent has already started doing it, rarely tells you how many counts you will actually be doing, and she gets the count wrong more than once anyway. If you want and/or need strong cuing I would say pass on this one. However, if you pick things up easily by just watching then go for it. The moves aren't hard to master and a DVD like this can help you avoid boredom in your usual fitness routine.

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It’s a captivating, fun, fat-burning good time!This fabulously fun and enchanting program reveals the secret to obtaining that lean, sexy Brazilian body. By using elements of Brazil’s heart-pounding, steamy dances such as the Maculele, Samba Reggae, and Capoeira, this workout targets all your trouble spots while burning fat and calories to deliver amazing results. You’ll learn simple, flowing steps and incorporate hip circles and torso pops. The authentic, pulsating Brazilian music sets the rhythm; add your personal style and flair and you’ve got your own Carnival. So take a vacation south of the border and have a hip-swinging, calorie-burning, body-slimming good time—Brazilian style! Warm-Up 6 min. Maculele 12 min. Samba Reggae 12 min. Capoeira 12 min. Cool Down 6 min. Bonus dance: Samba de Roda

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The Cardio Samba Workout (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)I just finished doing this workout and it was intense! The workout sections are:
1) samba basic steps - She teaches front foot samba, side to side samba and going back first samba. She teaches it first without music and counts for you. This is excellent as you can get the count and the sway of the hips. I have been doing brazilian dance for years and this is the first time I had someone break it down with precision. She then teaches it with music and at half time and regular time.
2) workout tutorials - She breaks down the workouts (1-4) at half time.
3) Transition samba steps - These are steps you will do between the workouts to keep your heart rate up.
Next is the warm-up. If you have ever taken a dance class, the warm-up will be familar to you. It is a slow warm-up, not very exciting but it gets the job done which is to warm up the muscles.
Then there is the workout which is broken into 4 sections. She does each one slow then up to tembo with a transition step in between each workout. The workouts are on separate chapters in the event you need to repeat one. The steps are not complicated but are fast and challenging as you will be changing directions and turning. I suggest that you have a pretty large dancing space. The last section, 5, is all of the workouts strung together w/o the transition steps at warp speed (up to tempo).
For my first time through I got about 1/2 the steps up to tempo. The samba is very fast and tiring. I sweated up a storm!!! Unless you are in excellent shape and/or a sambanista, you will not get this at tempo the firt time around. That's good because this dvd challenges you so that each time you do it you get a little bit more and a little bit stronger.
The last section is a short but sweet cool down.
Quenia is joined by 3 dancers 2 of whom were on her last dvd. The setting is a soundstage with hard wood floors. (not good on thick pile carpet) The music is very good BUT could have been a little louder. Thankfully, once the workout starts she doesn't talk alot except to cue you.
Over all I loved this dvd and will do it again and again and one today I hope to be able to do part 5 straight thru without stopping. And since workout 5 is its own chapter, you can put your dvd player on repeat and do it several times as you become stronger. I must say that I had the priviledge of taking her class at the Alvin Ailey dance school in NYC and she is the sweetest person and a petite dynamo. Obrigada Quenia

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Studio: StratostreamRelease Date: 05/19/2009

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The Samba Reggae Workout Review

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(More customer reviews)This is without a doubt one of my favorite workout DVD's hands down.
Pluses
1) Quenia Ribero is amazing. Her moves are fantastic. Her energy is inspiring. Background dancers know the routine and are really good. Especially, the one on the right. Keep an eye out for her.
2) This is a huge improvement from her Dance Today: Samba video. In this video she explains very well that her left is your right. She also breaks down the moves much better and there is less down time between moves.
3) I like that there is a warm up.
4) The routine is fun. I haven't counted but I think it has like 15+ moves. Much better than some tapes I have that teach you only like 6.Minuses
1) I thought they could have repeated the full routine at the end of section one at least 3-4 times completely before moving to section 2.
2) The workout is intense. I wish there was a cool down section. But maybe they sacrificed that to include a longer workout so ...
3) Awaiting her 3rd dvd :( when is it coming?Helpful hints
1) This work out will use every muscle in your body. Don't skip the warm up. Do a cool down on your own when you finish (even though there is not one on the tape to relax after you finish).
2) When she explains the moves. Don't just stand their and watch. Keep marching in place so you don't lose your heart rate.
3) If the moves seem to complicated keep going. After practicing a few times you'll build muscle memory and be moving like a pro in no time.
4) I didn't get all the moves down until the 3rd 4th time I did this DVD. The explanation was good but my body wouldn't comply. But it gave
me something to look forward to conquering the next time so I appreciated the challenge.
4) Fair warning. This tapes makes a lot of other workout DVDs seem boring. I've done it a least three times a week for the last 2 months. (More than any other tape I own except 1)

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Studio: StratostreamRelease Date: 08/28/2007Run time: 45 minutes

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Zumba Fitness Latin Workout Routine 4 Dvds Box-set Review

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(More customer reviews)If you buy this set it comes with FOUR different DVDs.
One is for beginners, it's slow but it shows you some of the moves. I find it suitable for an older person, or for someone who's never danced before. It gets a person started. Or, if you're slow to pick up choreographic routines, you'll enjoy the slow pace in learning the basic moves.

The abs and thighs DVD is just what you read. Not necessarily the most exciting DVD from the set, but the workout is good.

The Advanced DVD is -in my opinion- an intermediate DVD. You get to apply what you learned on the first DVD and the pace gets faster. I think it works out well for someone whose needs are to move, but still can't go all the way into it. I enjoyed the music much and I think if one adds the extra hips or shoulders to the moves, the routine becomes more challenging.
Then, the fourth DVD is called the Power - Rapido. It's a better workout and it'll make you sweat! Yes, they stop between sections, but it's nothing that will kill you. I've been out of shape for a while, and although I was raised dancing Latin dances, I found it challenging enough.
If you do not enjoy dancing in front of others; CANNOT afford a gym membership to attend a Zumba class; or, if none are available in your area, buy it. It's the closest thing to being in class and the music is tons of fun!

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This Zumba Fitness DVD Set includes;Beginners DVD - Learn to Zumba with the beginners series, it will show you step-by-step how to perform all the Zumba moves. You will learn the exclusive and fun Latin dance steps that Beto has put together to create exhilarating aerobic workouts.Abs, Buns and Thighs DVD - It's fun-packed workout that combines the most effective exercise and routines to tone these parts of your body. This video is the best body toning workout ever. It turns on the heat and works out those problems areas located in your abs, buns and thighs.Advanced DVD - Get ready to experience total body workout with the hottest rhythms and moves. Some of the hottest hits like "La Casa Del Ritmo" by Daiquiri and other sizzling rhythms like salsa, soca, merengue, and even flamenco!Power DVD* - This video combines the best Zumba moves and rhythms to get you to burn calories. It`s crazy! It's the best workout ever! Zumba workouts are based on interval training, very effective way of working out your whole body.*Also included, Zumba Kids!

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