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I keep seeing talk of BJ 45, I really didn't see too many threads talking about 44 so here goes...

I finally just got it in 4 days ago. It was like Christmas, I couldn't open it fast enough. What are your thoughts. Musically, I find myself listening to this a lot for recreation. I really like the recovery track "Flasing Lights" and the David Bowie remix of "Let's Dance". What are your favs?

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"With God's Help, ANYTHING is possible."

Reading the thread a little further down, too...I have to agree with everyone.  I LOVE the first half-- especially the rockin' hiphop.  It was so creative and fun.  I had an absolute blast.  It was what I love about JAM, pushing you to move your body a different way, something new, popular moves brought to the fitness room, and kickin' music.

But I personally felt disappointed in the second half (which was the first time I have ever felt disappointed in JAM).  I felt like it was more of the same...arm combo to beyonce, the 5step move again...it just felt like we had done all of it before.  The music selection I was neutral on.  I like Greenlight, but like I said, it felt like more of the same. 

Our members are fabulous though, and we've been talking it up, so I am sure that it will still be a big hit at the gym.  And JAM is still my fave of all time.

We won't get to do Body Jam 44 at my local gym until April. I think, though, it will be fun. You're gonna think this is so funny, but I originally thought that Gloria Estefan song they used for this release was the Chaka Khan song they used in 43! Boy was I wrong! LOL!

Oh, and I said this before and I'll say it again: I want that Flashdance song to appear again in a new release! Don't think that I'm obsessing, because I'm not. I am just in love with that song, and I think it's a really fun addition to Body Jam.

Oddly enough I felt echoes of 41 in there but then again, 41 was a gym fav too!

Let's Dance!!!!!! 

 

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"With God's Help, ANYTHING is possible."

Lets Dance really takes me back. Can't wait to hear the remix.

 

And.. I really don't care about the Flashdance song... there are so many others from that time span that I like better.  *Hopping up and down and stalking my mail-carrier*....where's my 44???? 

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Hi Jammers,

I have been teaching 44 for 2 and a bit weeks. I loved the music and can see where G is going with the simple format but many in my class are finding it too easy. G you have created dance monsters  by giving previous releases such a range of moves. The last half needs to be taught carefully to emphasize the dance feel otherwise the class feel like they are running on the spot (echoes of body attack). I usually run a release for up six weeks before mixing but this time round  I will need to mix next week to keep the class happy. One instructor has already mixed  barely two weeks in.

I'm really a little bit disappointed about 44. I don't teach Jam for that long, but this is so easy. I don't know yet what my participants think about it, but I guess they'll ask me to mix afer two or three weeks...

 Please Gandalf don't make it to easy....

I just cracked open my DVD this weekend and am stoked to see that hip hop is finally back. I'm concerned about the interlude in the middle of the segment though - the whole "pat your weave, pat your weave" bit. I always find that my participants kind of zone out when we have these random bits stuck into the routine - like "Yummy" in release 41. 

 

Well I already posted in another thread about being a bit underwhelmed by the chorry in this release so I won't repeat myself. The hip-hop block has really good music, though. To answer your question about the "Get me Bodied" chorry, that "drunken bridge" where you go through all these different dance crazes in a minute is a huge club-banger and Gandalf has very kindly made it far less athletic than regular club-goers might be used to, FYI. The "arch your back like an alley-cat"bit especially... it is quite a sight to see the entire dance-floor at a club when the song gets to that part... everyone drops to all fours on the floor and swings their heads around! Intense. Anyway, I know what you mean about the bit in "Yummy", but this isn't the same thing. Any participant who is familiar with the video or has danced this song in a club will expect us to follow through on that bit. They might even argue that we are softening it up

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Hey shimarella.... interesting post. I mean, just yesterday I asked my instructor what the choreo is like for that part, because... well, basically Beyonce is "telling us" what to do... Now, I'm wondering how this is going to work in our gym, since I'm in Spain, or Catalunya, to be more exact. Don't get me wrong (any Spanish people here) but in general (let me emphasize that, IN GENERAL) people here are not that good at english. And this is not your basic, everyday-conversation english we are talking about.

So... I'm just saying that... in order to "get into the groove", it helps to understand what Beyonce's singing, right? I mean "wind it back", "pat you weave", "shake it like alley cat"... I consider my level of english relatively high, so... I can have fun with it. Am just wondering how that is going to work in class (with the rest of the participants), that's all...

Either way, can't wait to see (and do) the release.

smiles,

M.

M.....probably about the same as native English speakers who don't have any idea what "wind it back" means as a move.  Or "shake it like an alley cat".  Around here, the alley cats strut, they don't shake.

Everyone will have to watch the instructor and mimic the move, I expect, and just relax and have some fun.

I agree after 2 weeks, regulars at our gym are not that happy with this release.

What we have to remember as instructors is that yes, the routine might be more simplistic than previous releases, but that gives us an opportunity to get new people into our classes and give them a chance at success - also those who have been intimidated by barrel rolls and turns!  It also allows us to get a better workout by dancing harder and REALLY focusing on the breakout aspect that makes your class go off - encourage your participants to truly let loose and also to perfect the moves.  It requires more work for us as instructors, but that is our job.  I have found that this release actually has longevity with the Beyonce dance bridge, but you as in instructor have to sell it, and the retro house back half can really kick people's cardio up a notch.  Scripting is key!!!!  We can never stop doing our homework as instructors and make each class new and interesting - don't go in there saying the same thing you said in the previous class(es) and your people won't get bored.  No worries JAMMERs 45 has extreme complexity - many of the base moves having been incorporated in 44, thus the imperitiveness (is that a word?) that we really get our people dancing 44 well before we blow their heads off with 45 :)!

 Laura

Les Mills US National Trainer

I Like flashing lights and Get me Bodied with Beyonce and everybody,everybody