Customer Reviews

Dance and Be Fit: Abs Burn

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Acacia videos that I know are great! They have original music easy to hear several times thru.
This video in particular it is not very hard to follow. I consider myself as an intermediate dancer and I find this video easy to follow but I love it anyway because when I finish it I always can se the difference in my abs, they seem tighter and toned every time. Now I am doing this one once a week.
Another thing that I love is that the exercises are a mix of conventional forms of working out with some more unconventional. One other thing that is worth mentioning is that even though this workout is focusing on abs you still work your whole body because you are dancing half of the time.

YogaGirl wrote a grew review on the content & feeling of the dvd.
The amazon clips are helpful as the trailer doesn't show you the content, but the second one shows you part of the wonderful warm-up that when it finally builds up the the full movement, really stretches out your lats, shoulders, spine, etc. The third clip shows you one of the, what I would call "free dance" as it's not dance moves (other then step touches & occasional hip circles), but it is more fluid then just aerobics. You'd better like these kinds of moves as it's the main bulk of the workout & it feels very repetitive. But it DOES work. My abs were killing me the next day.
Kimberly Mullen's standing dance/aerobics pace felt a bit fast to me, but she has grace & fluidity. What's odd is she does do a small amount of pilates, but each movement/pose is done so quick, she's done before you can fully get into it almost, it's like an afterthought. I actually wished she did more, as her holding plank & bridge w/lifted legs was over before I could even feel anything. It's also thrown in between a lot of the standing aerobics as a break, but it seemed a little disjointed the way it was done.
Kimberly Miguel Mullen seems friendly & positive, she does have great presence as you can tell she does enjoy what she's doing which keeps you motivated.

Menu options:
Sound - Usual instruction & music or just music, biography of Kimberly Miguel Mullen & Composer Justin Michael & 4 trailers of other workouts.
Workout - Warm-up (5 min), Curvy Core (20 min), Sexy Sculpt (20 min), Cool Down (5 min) I can't tell you what difference curvy core or sexy sculpt has other then the latter repeated the same moves, but added hip circles w/the stepping & a few VERY simplified latin moves.
Bonus - Playful dance from "The Bollywood Dance Workout" (5 min) & Samba de Roda from "Dance & Be Fit Brazilian Body (8 min)

Better idea of content on video clip: collagevideo com

She is fun and the moves aren't that difficult but also not super easy either. The camera angles are pretty good; unlike some videos where you are just looking at their face when you need to see their foot work, or it's so schizophrenic that you get dizzy. The music is good, but like most videos' for me, I get bored with them after a couple of weeks. I would buy another from her, like her energy.

"This is a totally new way of working your abs or your entire core area. Kimberly will lead you through 2 segments: "Curvy Core" and "Sexy Sculpt". Each one is 20 minutes. It was slightly difficult following the DVD when you are laying on the floor moving all over the place, so you have to heavily rely on hearing Kimberly or just plain remembering the sequence! Floor work is half of the workouts and the other is standing/dancing. The standing is more cardio-oriented because you will be isolating the hips, the abs, doing undulations, "scoop & press", plies, et al. This is a workout where you will have to really contract your middle all the time because you don't want to stress your lower back, so beware and listen to Kimberly. This is a DVD, I would want to always watch and work up to doing. Finally, check out the bonus feature with other dances from ACACIA DVDs,"

So I just finished doing this dvd and the jury is out on this one. Did I enjoy it? I really don't know. Did I sweat? Not really, I had to add the bonus segments to get a good sweat going. The workout starts with a standing warm-up. Nice for your back and thighs Lots of roll downs and ups, leg squats and oblique work. Each aerobic segment starts with an on the floor abs workout.
Segment 1: head side to side; straightening one arm cobra; cobra rolls; opposing leg and arm lifts; bent leg straight arm lift...to touch behind with twist...to sitting on each side; forearm plank; child's pose. The aerobic section is a bunch of scoop releases, and hip pops and turns on each side with add ons. You can go to totalfitnessdvds and see a clip of segment 1. This segment is aerobic, but not sweat inducing, for me anyway.

I have to say a word about the music. It is calypso jazz. It is quite syncopated. Now, I am quite rhythmic and I can follow almost any beat, BUT I kept getting lost with this music. So I guess if rhythm is not your strong suit, then you may get lost. I suggest that you follow your own beat and have a good time. The steps are simple but for me it was hard to figure out what beat she was dancing on. She should have counted more. But you know Kimberly is not great on cuing and that applies here. UPDATE: I did this workout on music only, and I swear that it is hard to pinpoint the beat. You have to listen for it as I think she changes beats frequently. Basically I think the count is in the bass guitar and not the percussion. So listen for that. What a challenge!

Segment 2 begins with some simple pilates moves. Nothing too hard. The aerobic section is somewhat aerobic but mostly toning, just lots of hip circles and snake moves. There is an african dance move that will test your coordination and timing. Hands on hips and twisting side to side with a step touch. Same music as segment 1.

The cool down stretches the back and is done mostly standing.

After I finished the main workout, I was barely sweating so I did the 2 bonus segments: Bollywood workout playtime (5 minutes) and Samba da roda (8 minutes).

My overall thoughts are that this is not an intermediate workout like the people at collage video said. It is more beginner to advanced beginner. Kimberly is her usual perky self and I'll do it again with the music only option and maybe the rhythm will be more apparent. Just a note, I think this dvd goes hand in hand with lower body burn. I returned that dvd, but a friend gave me hers and I think next time I will do them together, if time permits. If you do both segments from that one and both segments from this one, you'll have a great workout. Together you'll sweat up a storm.

I wish she would come out with an intermediate/advanced workout with a longer aerobic section, taught like a real dance class. But alas, the next Dance and be Fit dvd is a hip hop workout. Not feeling that!

The pace gets too slow at times for me, and the moves are not always evident. In fact, I overextended a neck muscle the first time I did this workout, and I've done her other workouts for two years now. I got a decent workout with this, though I will probably sell my copy.

What more can I say, these Dance and be fit DVD's with Kimberly Mullen are great. OMG, I am so sore right now. This is my third review of her DVD's. I worked my butt off, her energy keeps you so motivated, a calm, enlighting spirit transends through her dance. I could barely keep up, but just like with her first DVD the Brazilian Body, I was able to catch on in no time. The music, exotic movements, grace and form, makes you work harder to master it. I almost died getting through it, and what a sweat I was able to work-up. When I was done, I felt like a million bucks. You won't ever catch me in a gym again, No way this is it for me. I will dance myself into maintaining good health and wellness. Loved it.

This DVD is a nice addition to my collection of dance workouts. It gets me moving, but is pretty low impact. I love the instructor. She is very upbeat with out being unnaturally or annoyingly so!

THe work out was ok if you are beginner... Poor cueing ... I would recomended if you don't use it as your only workout.

Kimberly has the power to motivate, her DVD'S are the best.. she has alot.. If you want to tone up and let that fat go,,, Buy this DVD... trust me it works