Power Dance Mix, a CIA production available for
only $15, is the same length as Funk It Up, but is
definitely more my speed (advanced). After a brisk warmup
of basic funk steps, there are four 10+ minute segments:
funk, low impact, hi-lo, and hip-hop. Each segment is a
different combo, with no final run-through. The funk
segment is my favorite; Charlotte's funky waltz and funky
boogaloo get this party started right! The next two
segments consist of cha-chas, pivots and other aerobic
standards jazzed up with dancy, sometimes complex rhythms
and arm movements. The final segment, hip-hop, is a lot
like the old Fitness Pros hip-hop routines: heavy,
syncopated marching, booty-shaking, arm-pumping and rapid
jacks (a non-carpeted floor helps). A big plus is that
this workout doesn't require a lot of room. I like this
tape a lot, but it does have a few annoying technical
shortcomings. The sound is awfully low; I have to crank
up the TV almost to the max to hear the music. And the
camerawork is careless even for early CIA. There are a
couple of points where they're doing an especially
complicated step like the "aerobic cha-cha",
where the camera suddenly cuts off everyone's legs, and
at one point Charlotte appears to almost collide head-on
with the camera! But if you can overlook these gaffes,
PDM is challenging and lots of fun for the advanced
funkster. Some of the music is recycled from, of all
things, Kathy Smith's Weight Loss Workout. Grade: A
Sue Bryant
8/8/97