Amy Bento: Advanced Step Challenge 2

I've been dancing since I was 4 years old and have been performing/dancing professionally since I was 9 years old, so I have a lot of experience with choreography - following a class or having to teach a class in mirror-view. I also LOVE step and have been taking step classes at the gym for about 12 years (I'm almost 30 now - yikes!!). When I read the reviews for all the Amy Bento Advanced step challenge workouts (most reviewers were very discouraged with regards to the speed and the intricate steps in the DVD), I was actually encouraged to buy all 3 (at the time 4 hadn't come out) at the same time. I was so excited when they came in and I couldn't wait to see what all the hype was about (in terms of her difficult choreography and late cueing).I was completely floored when I popped it in and as many other reviewers posted, within the first few minutes (warm-up and first combo) I was sooooooooooo completely frustrated and felt defeated. I was really disappointed in myself because I consider myself a very quick learner (especially with choreography memorization), and I didn't think that a workout DVD could possibly be so hard to catch on to! So, I put the DVD(s) away...It must have been a year later since I first bought the DVDs that I saw them lying around and decided to pop ASC2 in and just watch it (baby steps). Watching it a second time made me stress out again! It was just as hard as I remembered it being!So, I decided I could either put it in the pile of "stuff I've wasted my money on", or put my ego aside and take the approach used in my dance classes to break down combos. I'm so glad I decided to do the latter! After I broke it down and it had a chance to marinate, I was amazed at how awesome the workout is and it has now become one of my favorite workouts to do (I actually get excited to do it after I get home from work)!Basically, I watched one combo at a time to start... just watched. Then, I played the 1st combo in slo-mo while doing the moves in 1/2 time using my step - this really helped with the moves where your back is turned towards the TV. By doing the whole segment in 1/2 time, even though it was really time consuming, by the end of the segment I had pretty much memorized the whole combo. The next step was to play it in real time now being able to connect her vocal cues to the steps. After doing the actual combo a few times in real time, I was able to add the arms full-out and throw in a few of my own little stylized things. This is pretty much how we do things in dance class (in most of my dance classes anyway) - you show part of the dance with music, then break it down without music, practice it without music, then add music and do it in real time. Then you repeat the cycle with a new combo and add on.I was able to learn the whole DVD in 2h and I now do it every other day (in fear that if I don't do it frequently I'll forget the choreography and have to re-learn the whole thing BUT also because it's so fun). Once you get the hang of it, time really flies! And it doesn't even feel like a workout (but you'll know it is because you'll be out of breath and drenched with sweat... at least I always am!).In these DVDs, Amy definitely has a different teaching style than other aerobics instructors out there. I think her vision was to create something that was really fun and intricate and advanced. But I think she knew that the only way to create a step workout at this difficulty level (choreography-wise), she would have to skimp on the break-down time of the choreography. Even in the previews of the more difficult moves, I wouldn't say she breaks it down adequately enough for someone to pick it up in one viewing. BUT if she did break it down step by step on the DVD, it would take hours, so, I think she did the best that she could.All in all, I love this series. This one (#2) is particularly my favorite because I just really like the combos and the set is more pleasing to the eye than #1. I don't use the modifier but it is nice that this DVD has that option as well as premixed workouts which I haven't tried but think is nice to have(again, unlike #1). I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a great step video and a great challenge. Like anything new or challenging, take it step by step. You don't have to learn it all in one day, even learning one combo at a time and doing it a few times in a row will make for a great workout in itself (until you're ready to move on). My only regret is that I didn't take this advice sooner as I waited a whole year to start enjoying this workout.

This was definitely not an easy workout. It was the most challenging to get out of any majorly choreographed step dvd I've ever purchased. I knew it would be like that from reading the reviews, but having purchased ASC1 and ASC3 and loved them, I knew I would want to try this one out. I waited until I had a day when I didn't feel like working out intensely and I could set aside another hour on top of the hour the workout actually takes to rewind, rewind, rewind. It took me about 2 1/2 hours to go through the preview of the moves and the whole workout and burn it into muscle memory enough so that the next time I did the workout, I wouldn't be stalled and frustrated. Those 2 1/2 hours were very frustrating--at one point after rewinding, pausing, etc. for the 10th time on one part I was ready to chuck the remote at the screen. The preview helped a bit, but there were about 15 other moves that could've used an extensive preview as well that you have to just reverse engineer while she's calling them out, with minimal breakdown. And yes, you will have to figure this out while looking away from the screen. And the camera angles are not always helpful. Sometimes I wished she had an overhead camera view so I could see where the heck they were in relation to the step. If I hadn't had a lot of dance training, this would've been very difficult. Cathe Friedrich does a lot less turning and using the "front" of the step (requiring your back to be to the screen). You will have to pause the screen right as she starts doing something complicated so you can have some idea of which direction she turned, then try to reenact it yourself, over and over...Some sections were easier than others, to be fair. #2 was easier for sure, that required almost no rewinds or pauses. Some other parts were fairly easy too.That all said though, once I got it...this has become an awesome workout, which is why I give it 4 stars. It's still always challenging to get, and now I'm grateful for the minimal breakdown which was initially so frustrating, it makes you work a lot harder once you've mastered the move, there's no need to do that extensive breakdown.I just bought ASC4 which just came out, it's not on Amazon yet. I'm hoping it's more along the lines of 1 and 3 though.

I've attempted this workout numerous times over a couple of months and have yet to make it through the workouts without getting totally confused. I've done plenty of step aerobics in the past and had no problem catching on. Amy's steps are too complicated for the average stepper who just wants to pop in a video and get their workout done.Here are some specific things that make this workout challenging: Most of the steps require you to turn your back to the TV at some point, so you can't really watch what Amy is doing while you practice it. Also, she doesn't "build" the routines, which is a style that allows you to get used to a step before you move onto the next one. She just does the whole thing and you hope you'll eventually catch on. She tries to compensate for this by using preview steps for the complicated parts. But even the preview steps are hard to learn without replaying them over and over so you can practice them. She goes through each one twice at a slow pace, and then does it at "normal" tempo, which is really pretty fast. Again, you often have to turn your back on the TV.Amy's workouts have the potential to be both physically and mentally challenging, making for a very stimulating workout. That's IF you can ever learn the steps. I haven't totally given up on it yet, but I'm close.

I disagree with the reviewers above who complain that the routines on this disk are too challenging and complicated. Yes the routines are complicated but they are also learnable. Also, to get the best from a step routine you need the workout to be challenging and then you have the option of either following the routine at maximum pace or lower pace such as when you don't step high and you just keep your steps low or moderate. As you watch Amy with the other girls you will observe that she has 4 companions with her, the two on the right are working out in an more energetic manner and the two on the lefty of the screen are working out at a lower / more moderate pace. Also, you can lower or raise your step. For me, this DVD workout is effective because I need to lose some serious weight (2 stone +) and I need something that will motivate me. The music on the disk is good and Amy has a nice manner - she is not bossy and appears quite relaxed and amiable - not some cleaver clogs. Also, I have been unable to purchase Kathy Smith step DVD's in UK format - I actually ordered two and they would not play ion my blu ray player and I was gutted. Just be brave and go for it with this disk. I give it 5 starts. If you go to any proper gym in the UK nowadays (Virgin Active etc) this is the type of step workout you can expect. Hope this helps you decide. Good Luck in getting fit. Miriam.

As other reviewers have noted, this is a difficult routine - complex choreography, and it will really wear you out. However, it is called advanced step challenge so you have to expect it!Even the warm up involves some pretty quick choreo; although others say there are no breakdowns the first routine is really well broken down. Some of the later routines aren't so well broken down, although (in particular no 3) have quite a lot of reps so even if you are struggling by the time you pick it up there are still plenty of chances to have a go.Personally, because of the challenging nature, I find it really rewarding when I get the hang of it and then get a lot out of it. Some of the steps are also really interesting and fun to do, and I would recommend running through the complex steps first using the breakdown section on the workout. It's perfect for those days when you just want to get completely exhausted from a workout.However, it's not quite a "5 star" workout; the music and set is the same as the Kelly Coffey-Meyer Cardio Kick; it would have been nice to have a few more steps broken down (or the complete routines for that matter!) and the lower impact routine can be difficult to work out and follow.

As the previous reviewers said, this DVD is really fast paced and does take a while to get to know the routines. I did spend a few frustrating days working them out and getting them right. But having said that, once you get used to her accent and the complicated moves, it's a fantastic workout with lots of variations and well worth persevering with. I think it'll be a while before I get bored with this one. Before you know it your sweating and you've done an hour of high intensity workout. I wish I was able to get her other DVDs for our Regional DVD players.

Don't buy this unless you are used to learning complicated dance moves. More hip hop dancing than step exercise. You can turn the music off (if like me you hate club music), but difficult to find music at right rhythm if you want to play your own. No gradual learning of moves - even the 'preview moves' chapter is too fast and complex. Too few repetitions so if you think you might have learnt a move/sequence, she's already moved on to something else. She uses a lot of weird names for moves and sequences as well. At whatever point (chapter) you start, you then don't know when she moves on to the next one as there is no break or visual indication that the next chapter has started. Back to Kathy Smith!

As an experienced fitness fanatic who has been stepping since my early twenties I thought that I could handle this. However the choreography is extremely challenging and after 10 attempts I can just about manage the shortest workout on this DVD. I would not recommend this as there is too little guidance as all of the moves in this workout are complex; not just the ones covered in Amy's explanation.