Product Details

• Actors: Donna Richardson
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
• VHS Release Date: November 3, 1998
• Run Time: 53 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303917178
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #164,704 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I am not "exercising" when I do this tape--I'm DANCING, April 12, 2001

By 

Melissa P. Cooper "kymissyin" (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Donna-Mite Aerobic Workout [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Fitness level: intermediate Breakdown: 5 minutes warm-up; 35 minutes floor aerobics; 5 minutes cool-down; 5 minutes stretch Impact: mixed, but one exerciser demonstrates low-impact through-out Soundtrack: Covers of classic Motown hits from 60's and 70's Setting: Studio

Donna promises "serious fun" in her intro, then she sucks you in and you're hooked from the first "Temptation walk" to the final step-tap and lunge. I haven't done this routine for nearly three years--I outgrew it and went on to more advanced tapes. But I remember it fondly. For about a year, it was just about the only cardio routine I would do. I honestly could not WAIT to get to it, it was so much fun.

This is definitely a serious workout--and some folks will find the choreography's a bit challenging the first few go-arounds. I personally got most of it the first couple of times I did the routine, but I think my perspective on the complexity was different because I learned this one after spending three months trying to master Paula Abdul's Get Up and Dance. Donna packages it as a "big old fat-burning party." And what a party it is! The timeless sounds of the Temptations and the Four Tops, the high-energy group accompanying Donna, and especially the cool-down routine all remind me of the all-girl all-nighters and college dances I enjoyed in my junior high and late teen days.

Donna enjoys herself throughout the routine. Her love of the music is obvious and she cuts up with the crew throughout. But none of it distracts her from her instruction. She's very conscientious about cuing for the changes, giving pointers for proper alignment, and encouraging you to keep moving even if it means doing low-impact or reducing your range of motion.

While her focus is on fun as well as fitness, and this video comes across as a bunch of friends getting together and dancing, the workout itself is not as complicated as, say, Kari Anderson or Christi Taylor. You can always repeat the base moves rather than add the little nuances that are Donna's trademarks. I enjoyed her adding her own flair to basic stretches and aerobic moves.

The cool-down is all dancing, but trust me, none of it is hard. Most of the steps, such as the pony, the popcorn, and the washing machine, I remember from eighth grade. In fact, I get so caught up in having fun here that instead of cooling down, this turns into five more minutes of aerobics! The stretch includes more of Donna's attitude moves built into the routine, and she advises the exerciser to balance this tape with muscle toning and stretching. Of course, Donna's the star here. But her troupe of exercisers--some of them her pals from Crunch Fitness- deserve a hand for their enthusiasm. They're all in great shape, but encouragingly, they're not all hardbodies or youngsters. The lady who does the low-impact version here is built a lot like me--petite and a little bit busty. Another exerciser is taller and a very shapely size 12 at least. These are real people, all right!

Donna, if you're reading this, how about a more advanced sequel for the diehard aerobic animals in the room?

Grade: A+ and 10 points extra credit

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Happy, High Energy, August 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Donna-Mite Aerobic Workout [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I purchased the Donna-Mite exercise video and enjoyed it very much. Donna Richardson seems genuinely upbeat and fun-loving (unlike the sometimes "canned" look of Jane Fonda). The music was energetic Motown which is great to dance to. The only negative I saw was in the complexity of dance steps and the frequency of upper body camera angles. It was difficult at times to get the hang of the foot moves because the cameras moved off the dancer's feet and legs and focused onto arms and faces. It wasn't like the camera crew was trying to give the male audience a good look at the dancers' bust lines--it was just poor planning I thought. Other than that I'm sure I'll figure out the moves in time. There are no after workout crunches, push-ups, etc. You have to do that yourself.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SO MUCH FUN I FORGOT I WAS EXERCISING!, March 21, 2000

By 

NewGrad 2010 "Confirmed Book Worm" (Colorado) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Donna-Mite Aerobic Workout [VHS] (VHS Tape)

If you like Motown and you love to dance, this is for you. The first time I did it for the first time this morning and it was so much fun I couldn't believe it. I had a little trouble learning the routines, which is par for the course for me because I'm kind of klutzy. However, I just kept moving and I know that after I've done it a few times I'll get it down. Donna is a very upbeat and encouraging instructor. If you don't like "dancey" aerobics, or hate Motown, this isn't for you. Otherwise it's the best workout I've ever done, and I highly recommend it.