Kathy Smith - Step Workout (1992) [VHS]
Kathy Smith'sStep Workoutis a splendid introduction to step for the novice, and a solid workout for intermediates. The main workout consists of three 12-minute, progressive step segments. Beginners do only the first, then fast-forward to the cool-down; intermediates do the first two; seasoned steppers may do all three. The beginning segment uses very simple moves repeated frequently: the basic up-up-down-down, knee lifts, toe taps, leg curls, and leg lifts. The intermediate segment introduces more moves, still presented simply, and puts them together into simple combinations. It's athletically more challenging, but not complicated. The advanced segment adds more strenuous moves such as straddles, lunges, and gentle propulsion moves. After the cool-down is an abdominal segment using the step as a slant board, and then a short upper-body sculpting segment starting with pushups and then using weights. At the end, a special teaching guide for novice steppers demonstrates the basics of stepping. Experienced steppers who like a lot of choreography will get bored quickly, but if you want the athleticism of step without complicated choreography, you'll be happy here. Smith's cueing and safety guidelines, as always, are excellent.--Joan Price