Product: World Dance Workout CD
Website: www.worlddanceworkout.net
Cost: $25 for CD, $22 for digital download
World Dance Workout is a CD designed specifically for dance. The music is percussion, and the musicians understand that a steady rhythm is needed to accompany movement. The centerpiece of this album is a nice, hypnotic beat that would be great for many different types of dance class. I can see belly dancers using it, modern dance classes or even dance classes at a health club.
The CD has five separate sections:
1. The first is a warm-up. This track lasts for 15 minutes and 22 seconds, which is really nice for the instructor. Often times dance CDs have short tracks that necessitate the teacher stopping and starting again, which can break up the flow of a class. This warm-up leaves plenty of time to get the muscles going and prepare to dance at a more challenging level.
2. The second track is a cardio-dance track, and it lasts for 15 minutes and 24 seconds. This again gives the instructor the chance to really concentrate on dancing rather than finding appropriate music every few minutes. The steady pulse of the percussion instruments creates what I would call “the zone” — meaning an almost trance-like connection with the music. I found it kind of meditative, but not in a mellow, kick back and relax way. More like a fusion of the rhythm of the instruments with the movement.
3. The third track is another good-sized one, coming in at 15 minutes and 14 seconds. This music is labeled “across the floor” and it does have a more active sound to it.
4. Track four is a strength training section section. At 15 minutes and 3 seconds, this track has a punch to it that would make exercises easy to count out, yet it changes up enough to keep things from getting boring.
5. The last track is a 4 minute 41 second cool down. It has a nice, easy vibe to it and provides a smooth transition to an appropriate finish.
I think that this CD would be a useful addition to any dance classroom that utilizes world music. School PE classes, dance studios, fitness centers and even those who just enjoy dancing for exercise in the privacy of their own home would find this album both useful and enjoyable.
In addition, the quality of the CD is good. This is something I always try to take note of, as some dance music is recorded at a very poor quality, meaning there will be a lot of hiss and you will have to play it at an unnaturally loud volume to get appropriate sound out of it. World Dance Workout comes across crystal clear, which I would argue is an important consideration if you are going to purchase a CD for your collection.
