Customer Reviews

The Firm - Cardio Dance Fusion

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is a great workout-IF you don't mind struggling a little at first to learn the dance moves. This is more of a dance moves for cardio instead of just dance moves that may give you a workout. It is one of the most challenging FIRM workouts I have because of the intense cardio segments. I am a devoted FIRMIE and love the FIRM, and this workout is definitely one of the best in my opinion. It kicks your [...], but it is soooo fun that the time does go by quickly. The first 30 minutes or so are broken up into 3 9-10 minute cardio segments, then there is a lower intensity segment and finally, the cool down. No weights, just a lot of moving and shaking! Alison is a master at gradually building a segment move by move so you learn as you go and repeat the steps often so you don't feel overwhelmed. If you love to dance and want a great workout while shaking your booty slimmer, look no further!!

I'm not terribly coordinated, so I usually stay away from alot of dancy stuff. I end up spending half the time at a low heart rate as I struggle through the moves. And while I didn't hit every step perfectly the first time on this one, I was able to keep up and get in a good workout. The girls really look like they're having fun, too. I like the fact that this doesn't require any equipment, so I can take it on the road with me. Sometimes I wish the camera had more full-body shots so I could see Alison's feet, but I'll figure it out. This is FAR better than the Firm's "Cardio Dance Slimdown", although I love the instructor, Allie. Castmember Emily is sporting a cute new 'do and a rockin' bod-- very inspirational for us moms!

Here are the specs on the DVD:

Equipment Required: None-- just a little floor space

Full Workout: 44:24
Club Exerpt/Version: 24:00
Latin Exerpt/Version: 25:08
Jive Exerpt/Version: 24:24

Extras:
Behind-the-scenes featurette
Trailers for other Firm DVDs
Promo for the Firm Believers Web Club
"Pump Up the Music" feature, allowing you to reduce the audio track and hear more of just the music.

Filmed on location in Burbank, CA, it's nice to have a new and colorful set. Go get it and have some fun sweatin' it out!

This is the first DVD in a long time I have loved from workout #1. It was a little tricky at first, but I learned the footwork before adding the arms and had it all mostly down by the last rep. Alison spends lots of time on each set, instead of going from move to move like crazy. You really have enough time to get this down!

To anyone who does try it, please don't give up after your first try. Many of the best workout DVDs take a couple of rounds to get down.

This video states on the back that no dance experience is required and two left feet will not stop you ... WELL, I don't have two left feet and have been successful with dance videos on my cardio days but not this one. The moves are too complex and not called effectively enough to enable you to maintain a cardiovascular workout and follow along. I found myself subtituting jumping jacks and jump rope moves to maintain my heart rate when the choreography got too difficult. I still recommend The Firm Cardio Dance Slimdown for an easier to follow more effective workout. Don't always believe what you read on the back of those DVD sleeves.

This video is really the most fun workout ever. I absoulutely love it. It is not easy at first to get all the moves, but the fun is in learning and mastering the moves. It does take a couple of workouts to feel proficient in the moves, but even until then, you are getting a great cardio workout. Totally buy this and don't listen to the naysayers who just gave up too quickly!!

I was so hoping that I would be able to pick up the dance moves and follow along with Alison and her girls. She is my favorite Firm instructor and I have always been able to follow the steps of her various Firm workouts. I could not keep up with the moves on Cardio dance fusion although I did enjoy watching and I liked the music in the background.

This is a fun dance workout that also gives you a great aerobic workout. I have tried a few dance workouts in the past, but have found the moves overly complicated and the workout not that great. This dvd, on the other hand, is a blast. The moves are fairly easy, especially if you have done other firm aerobic tapes in the past. After working out with the dvd, I feel that I've gotten a great workout!

The tape breaks down as:
10 minute warm-up -- this is the hip-hop section
10 minute low impact -- this is the latin section, which is also a great workout for the abs
10 minute high-impact -- this is the swing/jive section, which is a great cardio workout
10 minute cool-down -- this is a ballet inspired section that gives you a great leg workout.
5 minute stretch -- this combines stretching with some balancing moves

There is also the option of 3 - 25 minute express workouts. These combine one of the first three workouts (hip-hop, latin, or jive) with the ballet workout and stretch. I really enjoy this workout and highly recommend it.

Yes this video is a bit challenging at first if you have never danced before or have little coordination (I was a dancer for a number of years and it still took me a minute to get the moves down)but overall it is such a fun and intensive workout that it hardly matters if you do all the moves perfectly or not, as she says in the video you can make each move your own. Alison is a fun and far from annoying instructor that does well at letting you know what moves are coming up next. In the end you get a fabulous workout that just flies by because it is so much fun to do!

I have rhythm, coordination, and have been considered a pretty good dancer. So, why do I have 2 left feet with this video? Alison goes way too fast, and moves on to the next before you can get your bearing on the current. Very frustrating.

This is a fun dance workout for the well coordinated. I'm a dancer and had no problem picking up the steps, but while I was doing the workout I was thinking about how it would be quite difficult for non dancers to pick up. Give it a go if you want a challenge. What I like about Alison is she'd constantly add on to moves, i.e. she'd teach one move, do it several times, add on the next move, do that several times, put the two together, do that several times, then move on and keep folding each new move back so that you naturally start to pick up the order of the combination. However, it is still fast paced, though in my mind just challenging enough to still be doable.

The workout is 45 minutes if you do the whole thing, and there are also 3 25 minute express options. The dvd express options say there's 3 workouts: club, latin and jive, and Alison also claims there's 3: latin, jive and modern. I put them together and claim there's 4: club, latin, jive and modern :-). The "club" section isn't very club like... at first I thought it was just a warmup, though it lasted past 10 minutes so that's why I'd classify it more as its own section. To me it had the feel of a choreographed aerobic routine or warmup. It's definitely dance based, like all the sections, but doesn't have any particular dance style. The latin section is fun and includes some mambo type moves and fast footwork. The jive section is my favorite and the choreography really suits the music well. The modern section seems shorter, is somewhat ballet inspired, but still upbeat, and goes right into the cool down stretches.

I found each section fun, fast paced and moderate intensity. If you want a workout you can follow along to without much thought, this probably isn't for you. But if you're good at picking up choreography and want to add a more dance inspired workout to your regular aerobic work, this is a good choice.