Dance Fitness for Beginners with MaDonna Grimes: Urban Street Heat

Used only once.

Let's face it: the ultimate test of a workout video is whether you want to keep doing it.MaDonna Grimes' Urban Street Heat has the tight structure of a typical cardio dance workout: she adds on a move at a time, adds arms and styling after the footwork, and repeats the whole thing from the top. To help you remember the choreography even further, Grimes gives each move a name that she can call out.While I'm not sure that I'd pull out many of these moves in a club, they're definitely "dancier" than those of other cardio dance workouts. Enough of them are doable the first time around, and enough of them are hard enough, either because of the arm work or because of their speed, that you can still grow into the program. Still, the most important thing is that the workout is *fun*. Grimes is sassy, teasing the male dancers in her group\. The dancing requires your entire body, which makes it hard to sleepwalk through it. You'll break a sweat, but the entire workout is short enough to fit in your schedule and leave you energized rather than tired. And, after doing the video twice, I find that I'm still looking forward to the next time.

If you're looking for a workout that is so much fun that the time just flies by, look no further! This workout combines innovative choreography and a fast pace to get the heart pumping before you know it.Here's what you get:10MIN WARMUP - This combines a few low impact dance moves with a few stretches. Some of the stretches are a bit 'hmmm...', but you only do them after you're VERY warm. This is around 10 minutes, which is a good length for a warmup. Some of the moves you learn in the warmup will be re-used in the dance portion of the workout.15MIN DANCE - Madonna teaches you the moves one by one, building together a longer routine. One thing that I love about her teaching is that once she's taught you a move, she practices what I like to call 'the transition'. This is where you practice the move that comes just before the new move, as well as the new move. If that doesn't make sense, say that she's taught moves 1-3 and is teaching you the 4th move. Once she's taught the 4th move, she practices moves 3 and 4, before going through the whole routine from the 1st move. This Hip-Hop combination includes some innovative steps, like 'The Snake', 'The Electric Slide', 'The Wobble', 'Lockdown', and so on.5MIN COOL DOWN - Here, Madonna takes you through some of the stretches that you did in the warmup, as well as some neck stretches - some people will need to be careful with these.10MIN BONUS - This is not a urban-street dance segment, but rather a set of intense tonin moves. She takes you through around 3 minutes of squats & lunges, done at such a pace that it BURRRRRRRRRRNS! She then goes through some standing and floor abdominal work. The standing work includes possibly some of the most effective oblique exercises I've seen without putting pressure on the neck & back.Madonna and her group of exercisers - both male and female - exercise in a nice street-dance-studio-esque set. If that doesn't set the scene, the floors are polished wood, and the walls are dark red brick, with pillars and windows scattered throughout. It kind of reminds of the old Ricki Lake sets (back in the day!).In terms of instructor personality, Madonna is a breath of fresh air. She is relaxed, laid back, and interacts with the other exercisers in a 'hey-wassup-mate' manner. In addition, they also interact with her the same way - giving a fun atmosphere; like being in a class, but not an extreme 'whoop-it-up' atmosphere like in Kathy Smith's Timesaver Cardio. She says things like "Dis mah mama's daynce!", "I'm wi-choo, aight?" and "C'mon y'all!" That certainly is refreshing compared to "Smile, you're burning fat!" [Denise Austin], "Two more please!" [Tamilee Webb], and "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!" [Kathy Smith]For those of you who are absolute beginners to dance, you will find this difficult. What I suggest you do is ignore the arm movements for the first couple of times that you try the DVD, and focus on the getting your legs right. Madonna moves through the moves pretty quickly, only giving a couple of opportunities to learn the steps before incorporating them into the routine. She is good at cueing, but not so good at teaching the moves.One thing you need to watch out for is that some of the turns and pivots might put pressure on your knees if you're working out on carpet. I knew this before I did this workout since Juliane Arney warned me in QuickFix's Cardio Hip Hop DVD, but Madonna doesn't mention this in her DVD. Just eliminate any turns and pivots if your knees are dodgy. Also, go easy on the head swinging during 'The Snake' move, it could be quite easy to click your neck out if you don't be careful.The only reason why I didn't give this DVD four stars is because I found Madonna's other DVD, 'African Beat - Latin Heat' more fun.A refreshing, intense, short workout that's fun! Cheers!

Madonna Grimes is awesome! She breaks things down enough that it's possible to follow (if you're quick at picking up dance moves), but not so slow as to lose momentum, or stop moving, ever. It's not a high intensity workout, but it's a great one for a light cardio day, or for people who need lower impact due to injuries, and the 10 minute "bonus workout" is a nice add on & great for legs & abs.Fun, too. Unlike most dance workout videos that claim you can take the moves to the the clubs, I actually wouldn't feel like an idiot doing some of these moves in public.Madonna also seems like a real person, who actually teaches dance, rather than some of the dance video instructors who talk constantly and are WAY too perky. The video also has a feature where if you don't want to listen to her, you can go through the workout with just music & no narration. I haven't reached that point yet, but I appreciate the option for later.

The exercise portion of the video is much shorter than I expected. 30 minutes of exercise. MaDonna Grimes presents very warm and friendly atmosphere both in her introduction and through out the DVD. The music used is up beat and generic tune so you aren't going to be stuck listening to a song you may not like. Each new move is offered as part of a section of the overall dance/exercise routine. The exercise is part of learning the moves to an overall routine and then finally doing the routine a couple of times.The dance moves are, however, shown at a speed that is going to be a bit fast for someone who does not have experience in exercise routines or dance routines. Ms. Grimes uses real dance moves. If this type is exercise is new to you, expect to spend several days learning all of the moves.

I love this video! Its a great workout for a beginner or intermediate. Madonna Grimes is funny and down to earth. She explains the moves well and breaks the workout down into sections. I cannot dance and I dont think I'd do any of these moves in public but its fun and the time flies! It has an extra bonus 10 min. workout at the end that I always do. I have another video with some other lady and its boring and I dont break a sweat. Not to mention shes annoying.... Not only am I sweating after Madonna Grimes video...Im red in the face! I am really happy with this video and have bought four more of hers. The only reason I could see someone being unhappy with this video is if they expected to learn to dance...The moves arent exactly current or good looking when put together but thats not the point of the video...Just the fact that youre dancing instead of doing boring reps of sqwats makes it fun.

The Best workout DVD I ever had was this one. The whole atmosphere was warm and inviting, and there was a cohesiveness with the guys and girls Madonna was working out with. Oh yeah, she's damn funny. She is very laid back and keeps you amused during the workout cat calling "Trey" and the other guy. Very multicultural group... now the workout...the best... never in my years of working out have I felt so excited and looking forward to doing another morning with Madonna's workout. She breaks it down so that we can understand and learn by memory and repetition, in these pieces of dance moves she joins them all together piece meal. I haven't danced since I was ill a while ago--a year--and I caught on very quickly. It's quick paced but the moves are pretty straight forward and FUN! Madonna's refreshing and familial tone makes you feel at home and does not irritate me. I think it may be a little challenging for beginners but the moves aren't hard to learn.. The music I like...going back to Madonna's instructing, she doesn't irritate me one bit, like others...so many...others who have that fake smile cheerleader voice. I can see Madonna is having fun, the back up dancers are having fun and I am having fun. Trust me, you wanna learn hip hop--which has moves you can use in any club-- this is the DVD to get. Here is a pointer...before you start exercising like a good while before yr first time--watch the whole workout repeatedly and suddenly the moves don't seem so foreign and you expect what they will do next. I am so happy with Madonna Grimes' Urban Beat Hip Hop, I have been dancing every morning since last week when I got it. Already I am showing weight loss and muscle tone and flexibility as well as feeling free and feminine. Any DVD hip hop workout I had before blanches in comparison to this one. Seriously, give it a try, you have nothing to lose--but the only thing you will lose however, is weight and flabby muscles. GO! GO GET IT! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!!??? :D

It was not my thing. It was too short and not enough excercise. I resold it at the end but not for much.

As described, fast shipping and fair price. Tks!

Says very good condition... Not sure about that. Anyway if my girlfriend likes it who cares.