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I just heard there was some hip hop in this release. If that's true, then I ain't gonna like it, because I hate hip hop! I also never wanna see rap or reggae again!

Hip Hop HURRAY!!!  Hey ... ho.... hey....ho.  I LOVE hip hop!  I guess I'm gonna LOVE it!!!! 

The hip hop section is off da hook!!!

Love the knee pop into the chest pop! AWESOME!

I was confused by choosing Conga as a song, but its all good! I intend to sell this one, just like every other release!

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Tim

I sooo agree.... we as instructors gotta sell it....its all about the delivery......

I have only been with Jam since 41 but have learned a lot and enjoy it so much...  I think it is good that this release is more simplistic so that we can get the new peeps in there.... and keep them in there..... the others who pick up the steps quickly might get bored but like you said.... thats where we as instructors have to do our homework and make each class new and interesting... I mean, I am A.D.H.D. ish..... so I can relate to getting bored quickly but I am learning to try and find something different to say or add to each class......like offering them a new challenge somehow.......

ok, now Im eager to see 45 since it has been mentioned... and we havent even launched 44 yet...  :)

      

 

i am so a.d.h.d. as well!

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Tim

star2:

I just heard there was some hip hop in this release. If that's true, then I ain't gonna like it, because I hate hip hop! I also never wanna see rap or reggae again!

star 2, I really do get the feeling u miss the whole point of Jam sometimes. It seems u wd b happy with 90 minutes of flashdance,are you stuck in the 80's by chance? I don't wanna sound rude and its not my intention but you seem not to be able to fel the essence of Body Jam. Im still to write my review as im waiting more member feedback but the simplicity of this release reinforces my belief that if its fun, easy to learn and a great workout but just as importantly delivered to participants by instructors who embrace the ethos of ALL dance styles coupled with great performance then there is no excuse for any style not to go off anywhere in the world : )

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happy:)

Here are the feedback from the members- The new release 2nd block was described as too "painful" for the knees, There are quite a number of jammers who are aged over 40, couldnt cope with the 2nd block.

 Flashing lights was  "boring" for them regulars, but new jammers are alright with it. Thus we really need to be creative at our delivery.

Regular  members who had been following jam since heydays of jam-35 and before , commented that old releases were dancier and more fun. I guess they are not used to House style. They are fine with the Hiphop. They hoped that G could have used conga not for isolations instead. It could have been used for Latin. Personally, when i taught the Conga, I see that many were enjoying the isolations.

Latest jam 44 , hiphop is quite enjoyable in a way and not too difficult to learn.

 most members said the groove down was beautiful, I think its brilliant to incorporate good stretches with adequate holding patterns towards the end.

We haven't launched 44 at any of our local clubs, but personally, I like most of the music and what I've learned so far of the choreography.  I think it is important to remember that different styles and moves appeal to different people for different reasons.  I have been teaching aerobics for about 12 years and have always loved to dance for fun, but am not a trained dancer...beyond BodyJam training, of course.  The Jungle Jump, aka, Barrel Roll on 43 was extremely dfficult for me to learn and execute, and I have yet to have any fun while doing it.  However, there are people who love it and have no difficulty doing it safely and pain-free, so I would be dissappointed to never see anyone mix those tracks into their class.

I feel it is part of my responsibility as the instructor to bring as much fun and variety as I can to the class, even if it means teaching some tracks that aren't my favorites.  I have found that even the tracks that I don't love are still fun if the instructor brings a lot of personality to their teaching and demonstrates/cues all the levels so that those of us who have achy knees/backs/whatevers can get our groove on as well.  We have one instructor who does everything at Breakout Plus level all the time, and I know that if I was a participant thinking that was only way to execute some of the moves, I would be less likely to take the class.  BodyJam is still the most fun I have ever had at the gym, even during my least favorite tracks!

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Nothing you do for a child is ever wasted.

Some second-hand feedback for the interested:

When I was out of the country briefly, I spoke to a few overseas BJ participants and one instructor... most of her veterans liked 42 and 43 because it was more complicated and dancier... more like the "old days" ( and having taken her "instructor's mix" class where it was all Bodyjam 20 and up, I realised exactly what they meant). The instructor fessed up to being somewhat disappointed in the new release ( hasn't been launched yet) and was concerned that she would lose her regulars if she stayed with 44 for too long. In her words: " There are just 4 moves in the second block!!" She did agree that you could work up a good sweat and heart-rate with the single/double toe tap.

In some ways it doesn't matter what we think, I suppose, its our job to sell the releases no matter what. Still, I hope the next ones go back to being a touch more complex. Once you've trained your peeps to expect nothing less you don't want to give them... well... less! 

 Interesting and valuable to hear from the instructors here who really love this new release... it'll help me find some ways into the blocks and hopefully I'll do a good job on the launch! I am liking the first half of the release a lot better as I practice it.
 

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analyse capitalism choose revolution demand chocolate

shimarella:

 

 Interesting and valuable to hear from the instructors here who really love this new release... it'll help me find some ways into the blocks and hopefully I'll do a good job on the launch! I am liking the first half of the release a lot better as I practice it. 
 

I really love the first block....I think it has a wild feel that is both aggressive and fun....I personally love the music, esp the missy track!!  It was actually the music that gave me a portal into the dance...

From a choreo perspective, the second block is very easy but again the music gave me a way into it...on all of the songs, I have fallen in love with the highs and lows, the contrasts really and since the choreo is easy, I can really focus on taking my particpants on an amazing journey into dance.  From the particpant expereince, I think that many get stuck in thier heads because they are thinking so much about what comes next, but with this release, they can shut the brain down and focus on the FEEL of simply getting lost in the movement and music.  Like on the shoulder roll combo....coaching them to feel fluid and bounding...

Here is the bottom line for me....it may not be my fav or may not resonate with long-time jammers, but the newbies will really appreicate the success, everyone will enjoy the workout (its tough),  and at the end of the day, I will mix this release with the rest of my library to give everyone in class an expereince where they hopefully can loose themselves....

IMHO

k

 

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Always grace appetite with soul!!!

One thing I have learned to do is to remain positive throughout all portions of each release. Sure there are things I truly either don't like or don't feel 100% on execution, but I make great efforts to put my best smile and energy into those parts so the members feel relaxed about trying them. In many cases, they end up looking better than I do. I had such a hard time with the popping sequence in 43, but after a few weeks it had become a nice steady piece of the workout and everyone felt comfortable (even though I know I wasn't the perfect model). I just told everyone they should try the popping tutorials on YouTube and we always laughed about it. When I started Jamming almost two years ago, I thought my favorite style to teach was Latin, and I wasn't crazy about hip/hop. Now I'd rather do nothing else but hip/hop. A lot of that has to do with the music, and 44 rocks the house with the chosen tracks and movements. I have basically worn out the hip/hop from 36, but just from practicing 44, the cardio level is much higher than 36 (and I'm thankful for that!). Anyway, I'm glad we have this forum for all of us to be honest, but several posts have hit it the nail on the head by reminding us that it's our job as instructors to bring the energy and enthusiasm to each release, and then we can mix in our favorites after we've done them for awhile. We are so fortunate to have the highest quality prechoreographed fitness dance program in the world! And whether I'm taking or teaching, I'm thankful I can still embrace and learn new things. My plan is to be a dance crew member in my next life (hey I can dream a little, yeah?).

Personally, I felt kinda disappointed with the choreography for Conga and the second block of the release. However, I would admit that my disappointment in Conga may have been caused by my experience of doing a full choreography for that song under a freestyle dance instructor that I really enjoyed in the past. The second block however.... well lets just say that my initial thought was "Did someone mix up a Body Attack track by accident into BodyJam?". After doing it a few times and getting used to it, I found it slightly more fun to do, but a little boring with all the repetitions.

"but several posts have hit it the nail on the head by reminding us that it's our job as instructors to bring the energy and enthusiasm to each release"

 I have to ask, what if the instructor took up body jam because he enjoyed what it was in the past but no longer enjoys the new releases?

Well that's a tough but fair question. No one likes it when things appear to have changed from under them. I've been there many times in my artistic life.

The bottom line is that if you want to keep teaching Jam you have to teach the new releases ( at least for as long as it's been mandated) and then you can mix it up again; and if that's losing its appeal then it's time to move on to a different kind of fitness/dance.  My thing is that while I understand that we have to keep a good face on when we are pitching the release to participants, there should be some place where we can safely feel like we can be honest if we are disappointed with releases. Of course not everyone will agree but that keeps it interesting.

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analyse capitalism choose revolution demand chocolate

The latest release is easier to learn..i think.., I was quite stressed lately, before the new release, and thank goodness, its not that difficult to remember..phew.... but its exhausting.

Have you seen the faces of the members in the class... I havent seen any release that can cause some of the members gasping for air..or maybe Jam 42? It can be really challenging in terms of stamina, though the choreo can be easy for most members. I have to keep looking out for them, to make sure that they are alright in the class. I can understand why Xynas said it feels like body attack... the members said it was tough!

Anyways.. everyone is having fun doing this release especially the hiphop block. Feedback from members: Hope there be more moves for hiphop blocks in the future! (something like jam 34, with a performance dance)

R-Gal:

Anyways.. everyone is having fun doing this release especially the hiphop block. Feedback from members: Hope there be more moves for hiphop blocks in the future! (something like jam 34, with a performance dance)

Oh! Dear God, No!