World Dance Aerobics
by Keti Sharif

Overall Rating: (on a scale of 1 to 5 stars)

Keti Sharif and two assistants lead a 43-minute aerobic workout designed to drive the heart rate into the cardio zone. The workout is based mostly on belly dance moves, but also contains some samba and other Latin dance as well as some yoga.

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This 43-minute aerobic workout is designed to drive the heart rate into the cardio-vascular zone. It is based primarily on belly dance moves, but includes some samba, some Latin, and some yoga. The belly dance combinations are drawn from two of Keti's earlier instructional videos, A-Z Bellydance (Original) and A-Z Advanced Stage. The routine consists of three primary sections, as follows:

• Vitality. This is the warm-up section, which is about 17 minutes in length. It starts with mild activity such as the step-hip to get the muscles moving and promote increased circulation. It gradually turns up the heat, preparing body for the high-intensity section to come.
• Ultra-Fit. This is the high-intensity part of the workout designed to drive the heart rate into the target zone for cardio-vascular conditioning. It consists primarily of samba and salsa moves, with a small amount of belly dancing and the high-impact African shimmy.
• Shape. This ends the workout with some low-intensity movement such as snake arms to keep the blood from pooling in the extremities and includes some yoga stretches. The yoga poses used are primarily triangle, warrior, cobra, and downward dog.

The three sections are designed to be used together, encompassing warm-up, high-intensity exercise, and cool-down. If you wanted to use them separately, you would need to add your own warm-up and cool-down as needed. Within each section are sub-sections, each centered around 3-4 different step combinations from Keti's A-Z instructional videos. This structure allows for the overall routine to have some variety, but repeats the step combinations in each section enough times to start feeling comfortable with them before moving on to the next section.

The cueing for which step comes next is handled more effectively on this workout than it was on Body Quake Elements. Keti identifies which combination is coming up, and on-screen text identifies which one it is. This helps someone who has learned the combinations from her earlier DVD's to quickly identify what's coming, and it helps someone who is seeing these combinations for the first time recognize when something familiar is reappearing. To assist people who have not previously studied her earlier videos, Keti calls out what to do for each component of each combination, and text at the bottom of the screen reinforces this.

For people who have Keti's A-Z videos, it may be helpful to review these combinations from them before doing this workout:

• From A-Z Bellydance (Original): A, C, F, G, K, L
• From A-Z Advanced Stage: B, C, D, E, L, N, P, R, S, W

Generally speaking, the cueing is done well enough, and there's enough repetition, that I find I can keep up even without having studied the A-Z videos, but I think a person would need to be at least intermediate level of belly dance experience to do this. It would have been nice if the DVD had included a "tutorial" option on the main menu on how to do two or three of the more challenging combinations. The actual footage from A-Z Advanced Stage could have been used, and appropriate introductory comments or on-screen text could have spun it into a promotion for that video - "This is a sample of the combinations taught on A-Z Advanced Stage, if you enjoy these, you can find more like them on that video."

Keti leads the workout with two fitness models, Paola and Suzanne. Throughout the routine, both assistants demonstrate the moves exactly the same way as Keti does them, there is no differentiation of "watch this person for low-key, this one for moderate". All three dancers are very fit and toned, well qualified to be leading a workout of this sort. Keti narrates the cueing on-screen, while doing the moves along with her assistants, and I'm very impressed that she doesn't seem to be at all breathless even in the most intense parts.

Some of the music is Middle Eastern, some Latin, and some has more of a New Age feel. I find that generally speaking I like the music on this video better than what I've heard on other belly dance workouts.

The production quality is excellent. It is always easy to hear Keti's cueing above the music, and it is always easy to see what the workout leaders' bodies are doing. The clothing worn by the three workout leaders matches each other, and varies from one section to the next, which helps keep the video interesting to watch. The set also varies from one section to the next, sometimes indoors, sometimes outdoors. The camera work and editing are among the best I've seen on a belly dance fitness video. As each combination is introduced, the camera stays back far enough to show the full bodies of the fitness models. Once the combination has been repeated a few times, only then does the editing allow for a close-up. The credits identify the workout leaders and the music used (one of the CD's produced by Keti).

You Will Probably Like This Video If

• You want a cardio-oriented workout that will drive up your heart rate.
• You like using a mixture of movement styles (belly dance, Latin, yoga) all in the same routine.
• You have mastered fundamental belly dance moves such as undulations, circles, and shimmies layered over other moves.
• You can keep up reasonably well with combinations being introduced on the fly.
• You have mastered the combinations in either Keti's A-Z Bellydance video or A-Z Advanced Stage (or both).

You Probably Won't Care for This Video If

• You struggle to keep dancing for more than 15-20 minutes continuously.
• You function best when combinations are introduced gradually, with some details explained.

What I Liked

• The workout is designed well the for its intended cardio benefit.
• The workout is varied, and stays interesting through the end.
• The production quality is excellent.
• The sets are attractive.
• The combinations are consistent with Keti's overall format.
• The credits Identify the music used.

What I Didn't Like

• In a couple of places, the cueing doesn't quite keep up with workout.
• It may be difficult to follow for people unfamiliar with Keti's A-Z step combinations.

If you'd like to read my reviews of other videos by Keti Sharif, choose from the lists below.

Instructional Videos:

• Bellydance Live, Part 1 - Introduction to Music & Rhythms
• Bellydance Live, Part 2 - Classical Bellydance
• Bellydance Live, Part 3 - Folkloric Dance
• Bellydance Live, Part 4 - Modern Bellydance
• Bellydance Live, Part 5 - Tabla Solo
• A-Z Bellydance
• Secrets of the Centre
• Jewel of Arabia

Workout Videos:

• Body Quake Elements (2005)

In addition, the following opinion polls are available featuring other videos by Keti:

• A-Z Advanced Stage
• Body Quake (original 1998 version)

Contact Keti Sharif as follows:

Phone: (+61) 412747447
Web Site: http://www.ketisharif.com
E-Mail: keti@iinet.net.au

Or, if you prefer, you can order from her U.S. distributor, International Dance Discovery:

International Dance Discovery
P.O. Box 893
Bloomington, IN 47402-0893
U.S.A.

Phone: (+1) (812) 330-1831
Web Site: ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/IDD/dzinetoc.htm
E-Mail: IDD@compuserve.com

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