Product Description

Born in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, samba reggae is an explosive, high energy blend of Brazilian samba and Jamaican reggae. Engaging the total body with every step, samba reggae is the perfect aerobic workout - a great way to shake off stress, burn calories, and wake up your senses with invigorating rhythm. Created by renowned samba instructor Quenia Ribiero, THE SAMBA REGGAE WORKOUT begins with an explanation of the basic samba reggae steps and rhythm. Next is a 10-minute warmup including a wide range of exercises to loosen and stretch your muscles, and engage your core. Next, Quenia leads two workout sessions utilizing her own authentic Samba Reggae choreography: Workout 1 (medium intensity, 45 min.) breaks down each move in a precise and easy-to-grasp manner, keeping the workout pace fast and steady. Accompanied by performers from her New York City-based dance company Grupo Ribeiro and presenting to live music, Quenia starts every move with footwork and hipwork, then adds the upper body coordination, and offers ample repetition of every step and the entire sequence of combinations from the top. Workout 2 (high intensity, 7 min.) employs the same vocabulary of dance steps but at a much faster pace! You ll feel the pure joy of dance and the powerful aerobic qualities of samba reggae. As a social dance, samba reggae is usually done in a follow-the-leader fashion with a few dancers initiating moves and everyone following: Workout 2 is a real samba reggae experience - you will dance with Quenia to the sounds of exotic percussion, presented live by her spectacular Grupo Ribeiro band. ABOUT SAMBA REGGAE Samba is Brazils gift to the world. Like Brazil itself, samba is a synthesis of many cultural influences., with elements from Africa, Europe as well as from the indigenous people of Brazil. Developed in Bahia by Brazilians of African descent, samba spread in its various forms throughout the country. Over the course of its evolution it has finally been embraced across Brazilian society. There are many different styles of samba music and dance in Brazil. In this instructional DVD Quenia Ribeiro teaches Samba Reggae, a style of music and dance popularized in Salvador Bahia, Brazil by groups such as, Olodum, Ile Aiye, Ara Ketu, and Muzenza to name just a few.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20269 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-09-05
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Colour, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 60 minutes

Customer Reviews

I love Samba
If you love samba and want to learn a few new steps and get an awesome workout, definitely pick up her dvd

Quenia is Dynamite!
The samba Quenia Ribeiro teaches us in this sensational DVD was birthed in Salvador, Bahia, and has deep African roots. It has found the perfect interpreter in Quenia, who dances with dazzling speed, strength and control. What Baryshnikov is to ballet, Quenia is to samba. Watch her and be amazed!

After Quenia and her Grupo Ribeiro give us a "Welcome," Quenia shows us some "Basic Steps," and then we get a terrific "Warm-up," which is slow and powerful. We next move to the "Workouts:"

In "Workout #1" Quenia shows us a set of steps, repeats them and then adds on the next set of steps, until we have a lengthy combination that gives new meaning to the word aerobic. Quenia says it's "a great way to exercise and burn calories," and have lots of fun too! If you don't have the necessary natural abilities (sense of rhythm, agility, etc.), muscular strength and tip top aerobic conditioning you may have trouble keeping up, but do what you can, and enjoy it.

In "Workout #2" the pace is picked up, and it's continuous, with the kind of energy that would leave some of our million dollar athletes panting in the dust. After the "Workouts," we meet the fabulous 5 man Grupo Ribeiro led by Nick Birmelin and dancers Ana and Nao.

Quenia is one of the most dynamic performers you'll ever see, and she will motivate you to try this fire-in-the-soul/fire-in-the-soles-of-the-feet dancing, expand your horizons, and learn from the best. Challenge yourself and the rewards will be worth it!