Customer Reviews

The Samba Reggae Workout

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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)

Length:: 2:42 Mins

This video is SO MUCH FUN! In an hour, when I really push myself, I burned 758 calories. If you love dancing cardio workouts, this DVD is for you!

I have to say right at the top that this is a great dance workout. It is energetic; the music is hot and you will sweat. You can see a clip of the dvd at the worlddancenewyork web site. What you can expect:

Setting: Quenia and 2 dancers with 5 drummers behind her. She has to talk quite loudly because the drummers are right behind her and any one who has been in a live drumming samba class knows that the drums are pretty loud. The video quality is good. The sound could have been louder. I had to turn my tv up quite loud to get the pounding beat of samba reggae.

Choreography: There is a really nice warm-up before the workouts. In workout 1, she goes over each step many times and does add on and goes from the top. The 1st workout goes over the entire routine once at the end; however by that time you have gone over the routine many many times from the top. I was sweating and had to stop and drink some water.
Workout 2 is just the choreography at a much faster pace with no instruction. She does it 2x through. The last section of the dvd is the bateria playing as it would do in a real class where the students dance in front of the bateria. By that time I was so tired all I could do was wiggle from side to side. My only complaint is that it would have been nice if the 2 background dancers had started free style dancing, like in a regular class. There is no cool down.

One caveat, don't skip the welcome section. It starts with the bateria and then Quenia dances on stage doing part of the choreography and free style. In my opinion, this litte section should have been at the end of dvd when the bateria is playing. So if you have the energy, after the bateria section, you may want to play part of the welcome section again and dance with Quenia.

Overall: I loved, loved this dvd. Will do it again! It is a great aerobic workout. Will probably add a cool down next time. Get this dvd. You will love it!

Here's the good: this IS a true workout, and its easy to follow the steps. The bad however: the drum beat gets tiresome and the quality of the DVD (lighting, staging, etc.) is very poor & amateurish and therefore distracting.

I have many dance DVDs as dancing is my preferred workout and as much as I expected to like this (because of the many other positive reviews of it!), I didn't. I just didn't feel the same sense of fun and enthusiasm I feel with my other dance workouts!

The samba Quenia Ribeiro teaches us in this sensational DVD was birthed in Salvador, Bahia, and has deep African roots. It has found the perfect interpreter in Quenia, who dances with dazzling speed, strength and control. What Baryshnikov is to ballet, Quenia is to samba. Watch her and be amazed!

After Quenia and her Grupo Ribeiro give us a "Welcome," Quenia shows us some "Basic Steps," and then we get a terrific "Warm-up," which is slow and powerful. We next move to the "Workouts:"

In "Workout #1" Quenia shows us a set of steps, repeats them and then adds on the next set of steps, until we have a lengthy combination that gives new meaning to the word aerobic. Quenia says it's "a great way to exercise and burn calories," and have lots of fun too! If you don't have the necessary natural abilities (sense of rhythm, agility, etc.), muscular strength and tip top aerobic conditioning you may have trouble keeping up, but do what you can, and enjoy it.

In "Workout #2" the pace is picked up, and it's continuous, with the kind of energy that would leave some of our million dollar athletes panting in the dust. After the "Workouts," we meet the fabulous 5 man Grupo Ribeiro led by Nick Birmelin and dancers Ana and Nao.

Quenia is one of the most dynamic performers you'll ever see, and she will motivate you to try this fire-in-the-soul/fire-in-the-soles-of-the-feet dancing, expand your horizons, and learn from the best. Challenge yourself and the rewards will be worth it!

I bought this based on the many great reviews. I love the instructor for her energy and spirit, loved the live music, loved the dancing but was majorly disappointed by two things: 1. There are basically only 2 combinations on the entire DVD and they are the same combinations just at different speeds (very slow, very fast). The combination is a good one and the fast version IS a good workout but there's no variety beyond that. 2. There is no cool down. If you do the fast version, you need a cool down involving stretching. This instructor is so great, I just wish the DVD offered a few more sections because I'm not all that motivated to do the same 2 combinations all the time.

This is the second samba work out by Quenia Rivero and watch out, she is energetic!
This is intense body work out and if you don't believe it, try it! This program is well worth above its price.
This program begins with a good thorough warm up session targeting important muscle groups necessary for this intense dance.
Initially Quenia breaks down the basic steps for samba reggae and their variations. This footwork is fast paced. The choreography is lengthy as it is being layed out but when set to the drumming, it will go by rather quickly. The two sessions set you at different paces, so take your pick.The first segment is about 44 minutes, the second is shorter as it is quicker. As you begin and gather speed, the second session is really fun. There is ample repetition and the segments are easy to learn. Set at slow speed and work up to your potential.
Quenia introduces her band and her dancers, as the band does a phenomenal percussion number. Personally I love drum circles, and listening to this distinct drumming does get your mood going.
I would categorize this as a cardio work out, although it is at times high impact aerobic and excellent at that. If I were looking to find fault, the drumming was really distracting in the background during the warm up, the instructor sounded like she was yelling out the drill. Overall, it is titled as a work out, and that it is! Both of Quenia's work-out dvd's are fun and a must have!

I work out everyday at 5am then commute 1.5 hours to work. I have done a number of video workouts including Hip Hop Abs, Tae Bo, etc. but Quenia's Samba Reggae is the MOST FUN I've had in years! It is pretty rigorous in the beginning but she is a great instructor. I am now using it twice a day--I do the second 45 minute workout just for the pure FUN of the dancing. How often have you heard anything like that? GREAT video and I hope she does more!

Dance Today! Samba - Active Lifestyle Makeover
I decided to purchase this DVD ( Samba Reggae) after I purchased Quenias first DVD ( Samba from Rio De Janeiro) and I gotta say really enjoyed this DVD. I am a dancer and personal trainer and I believe this has to be one of the the most thorough workouts on a DVD that I have experienced . There is a good warmup before the routine ( something that a lot of my excercise and dance DVD's lack) and then there are 2 versions of the same choreography ( the slower instructional section and the full throttle routine). It's best to do the 2 routines back to back. There is live drumming by 5 drummers in the DVD and the instructor is accompanied by 2 dancers. Their enthusiasm and energy is contagious. Having been to Salvador Bahia Brasil I can also tell you that the music and dance is both creative and authentic ... Good job !!! and 2 thumbs up for this one
Axe

I first took Quenia's class when she showed up one day as a substitute teacher several years ago, and have been following her sporadically ever since. This DVD captures the essence of her class--the solid warm up and workout, and the sheer joyous energy of both Quenia and Samba. The price is less than a single class in NYC, so I recommend this DVD for cost, sweat, beauty, and FUN.