Dance Fitness for Beginners: Daily Quickies

On the face of it, a DVD offering five 10-minute exercise routines for people on the go would seem like a smart idea. But using excerpts from previously released fitness programs—including some segments that start mid-sentence—feels more like regurgitated filler than cohesive instruction. Natural Journeys has consistently produced outstanding fitness instruction titles, including wonderful bellydancing how-to's with single-monikered Jayna, Rania, and Suhaila, who each use basic step-by-step instruction to create impressive dance exercise routines. So, imagine my confusion when one of the segments began with Jayna (I think) inhaling, bending over, and flexing one side of her derrière and then the other in time to the music—no hello, no kiss, and no instruction on how I could learn this party favorite, just twitching buttocks for much of her allotted time. The other two 10-minute bellydance routines are better, but still obviously culled from much more detailed original programs. Thankfully, the three edited workouts are bookended by two strong segments featuring the energetic MaDonna Grimes presenting killer cardio workouts focusing on the abs and thighs. DVD extras include a bonus 10-minute yoga workout. Optional. [Note: also newly available is Divas of Dance, featuring all of the instructors here and more.] Aud: P. (N. Plympton)