Advertised on television infomercials, the "Zumba Fitness Complete Total-Body Transformation Guide" includes four DVDs with six workouts, two toning sticks and a guidebook designed as an at-home alternative to Zumba classes. The DVD collection, available at Zumba.com, was released in 2009 and retails for $59.95 as of January 2011.
Function
The DVD set can allow shy, elderly or overweight dancers to start Zumba fitness at home. It can also bring interested dancers to a class.
'Zumba Basics' and '20-Minute Express'
Zumba participants who believe DVDs might not compare favorably with a live class may be pleasantly surprised by the leadoff "Basics" DVD, which describes 23 component steps of the Latin-based exercise form. Three leggy divas, Gina Grant, Asuka Boucher and Tanya Beardsley, bare their washboard abs and break down each step into "easy beats 1, 2 and 3" at increasing tempos.
If you've always had a bit of trouble with the body roll or booty circle in class as the instructor rolls nonstop through the songs, you'll find the "Basics" DVD can provide "a-ha" moments. You'll be shown exactly how to do a move yourself. If you've never tried Zumba, you should have little trouble following the well-paced instructions, which can also be paused or repeated. Additional moves covered include cumbia, reggaeton, calypso, samba and the quebradita step. A "20-Minute Express" workout at the end of the DVD provides a condensed version of a typical hour-long Zumba class.
'Cardio Party'
This 45-minute "Cardio Party" DVD depicts Zumba founder Beto Perez and Beardsley on a large performance stage decorated with Zumba motifs, surrounded by nine other teachers and a bongo player. Familiar songs include a warm-up with "Que Te Meuve," the salsa number "Zumbano por un Sueno" and the cooldown "Zumba Lluvia." The resemblance to a real class is no accident; new Zumba instructors also receive "Cardio Party" as part of their welcome pack and may draw routines from it.
'Sculpt & Tone'
For more upper body work, grab the toning sticks and follow the third DVD, which lasts 30 minutes. The hiphop "This Is Tha Song" kicks off as Beto and the gang demonstrate arm motions. The DVD like the others offers a dubbed Spanish option as well as English. "Cumbia Jam" works biceps and triceps with curls, followed by the salsa "Zumbando el Son" and its three-step with hip-to-hip action. The belly dancing number "Sahara Oasis" includes presses above the head.
'Fitness Live!' and 'Flat Abs'
"Fitness Live," at 55 minutes, joins Beto with a different group of dancers and a drummer on a more informal stage in front of a lively audience of 300. All dance to the same tracks as in "Cardio Party." The 18-minute "Flat Abs" workout has five dancers emphasizing side steps to Zumba's "Urban Core Mix" song, followed by side crunches, leg lifts and squeezes to work the midsection.
References
- Zumba Fitness: "Total Body Transformation" DVD Set
- Andres Bujanda; licensed Zumba instructor; Baltimore, Maryland.
- Dana Cala; licensed Zumba instructor; Baltimore, Maryland.
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