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mrsq:

    Just because you can perform the move does not always translate into to teaching them.

I LOVE this thought!  Jam can be a very challenging class to instruct, because (as you said) just because you can do the moves, doesn't necessarily mean that it is as easy to teach/cue OTHERS to do the moves!

Well stated, mrsq!

cbc

Did our first launch this morning, and launching another place in a coupla hours. It went very well, including our totally crunk Bodyjam rap. Everyone seemed to really enjoy it and mentioned liking that the releases change from challenging to easier every so often. I bet that after five weeks they'll be wanting something "harder" ( and you know, vice versa) but right now, I'd say this one's a success. After the second launch I have a long tech rehearsal at the theatre. But guess what, I think I will have earned my late-night

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Too easy and repetitive.  I went to one class.  It might be popular with the older participants but not challenging enough for younger ones and ones really interested in hip hop.

ok....I have been rooting for 44 because I really like it but we have been teaching it for two weeks at our club and members are over it...most have said that they like the first half, but even for the "klutzies" the second half is way easy or they cant really get into the dance feeling of the club tap.  on a positive note, they are all loving the huff and puff that comes with this release

from an instructor standpoint, i will be sure to mix the back half when during times when there are lots of newbies around because it is easy and easy to get the workout

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Always grace appetite with soul!!!

lionesscdk:

Too easy and repetitive.  I went to one class.  It might be popular with the older participants but not challenging enough for younger ones and ones really interested in hip hop.

 hello! im from Sydney and i think all the fitness first gyms in NSW (not sure about the other states) have been launching the programs this weekend...i went to the BodyJam launch class this arvo!

 i agree with the above post...im in the "younger" age group haha who LOVES hip-hop and i didn't think it was challenging enough but im trying to look at the bright side of this release and i guess the good thing about it is that its just different - with the whole contemporary rock thing and all..im not really into rock and shaking my head up and down..but i really enjoyed dancing that rock piece even though it could have been more challenging. haha the so-called butterfly jump! i thought it was the butterfly jump in capoeira (or whatever its called) so i was practising it before the launch (as i read about it online) and then i got to the class and realised that it was totally different! liked the 360 degree jump turn though..very cool...

not that keen on the house block...i think i was a bit too aggressive with the jumps the floor shook lol..i'd like to see a bigger and better latin block next release to make up for its absence this release...i agree with previous posts that BodyJam doesn't do that well with its latin..but i think the older participants (like my mum!) will enjoy it! and i like latin too...its nice to do something different..although a bit hard to do the real latin straight legs in runners/sneakers when they require heels =P

music wasn't that great in this release..my opinion..i think the best music was release 42? not sure if thats the one im talking about..it had the "mainstream pop" stuff - hot songs like Rhianna's "please don't stop the music" and Timbaland "the way i are" - except it was such a missed opportunity to not make total use of such great hot dancing songs with more and better choreography..... argh it was sad!!!!

 i say...bring on "4 minutes" - Madonna/Justin Timberlake for the July release and have some difficult hip-hop =P so it'll give me a reason to go to BodyJam regularly!

Sounds like you are talking about BodyJam 45, not 44.  And you are saying the same things about it that people have been saying about 44....too easy.  Makes me wonder what you think'd be hard, and why you're not in music videos. ;)  Also does make me wonder what things you have liked in different releases....I mean, what you have liked without criticizing it at the same time.  Anything?

Don't get the problems with the Latin in BodyJam.  Other than we do it without a partner. lol  You aren't really serious about the heels, are you?  Because that's not a complaint to make about BodyJam...that's more you doing a dance workout but wishing you were at a dance, no?  And men don't wear heels even there, yet when dancing Latin we still do the moves the Latin way (not as sexy as the ladies, to be sure, but you know what I mean lol).

Hmmm Let's see... Shellane started this thread on 3/10 and now it's 5/10 ....  and finally we launched BJ44 today!

I at least scanned all the responses and was surprised that only a couple posts matched my own initial impressions as a participant - one was that second half was sort of like Body Attack!  For myself, I don't mind that.

In other words, there's lots of cardio.  It ain't sophisticated, and it ain't physical, but it is quick without being fussy. There's a good work out in this release.  It's gonna take stamina.

Our instructors have all been teaching Jam for about 18 months now, and I noticed again today how totally HOT they all are!  There's plenty of room for attitude, and they've got it!

Rex

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Excuse me... May I motivate you?

BJ44 FUN but boring, need extra workout on DISTRO part (endurance). We'll launch BJ44 in 4th June. IMAGINE !!! Bless ur country...

("I" : Bandung - West Java INDONESIA)  today: 30 May 2008

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Please check out my Video Profile in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRlUi_mTUxw Keep on movin' (Inggi - Indonesia)

Okay, just to put my little 2 cents in...I LOVE this release. It's perfect for getting people into class that have been too intimidated. I find that these members are becoming much more confident after doing this release for the last month. It has really opened them up for the challenges of the back halves of 42 & 43. (I had to stop doing those parts not long after launch because they were merely watching me). As much as I love the audience, it defeats the purpose. This one has banging music, basic chorey and a true cardio. I have no complaints start to finish. If you're not getting the workout, you not putting enough into it....bottom-line!

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If you're always looking back, you'll miss what's ahead.

So far so good with this release. Here's the thing: yes it's great that we have a low intimidation factor with 44. But once we've "trained" our classes, then what? They naturally expect to progress technically, and might not stick around for a class thats constantly pegged to keep the entry-level participants from feeling intimidated. I think the suggestion of having a Tips section on how to take certain moves to level 4 would be great for next time.

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laura_wilson:

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

 The thing is Laura though, that veteran patron bodyjammers are getting extremely mentally bored.  Way too much repetition

cajamdanceblast:

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...  :)

      

 

 In the nicest possible way, challenge smalenge.  Boring repetition is boring repetition.  You can't hide that with saying something different.  The moves are the key in Body Jam :)

I have moved back to an older release after doing BJ 44 for 3-4 weeks. All I can say is that because of BJ 44...I have INCREASED MY CLASS SIZE! I sold that release to young and old members as one that they can really learn the basemoves. It worked! By week 3, yes, everyone knew it so I focused on EXPANDING the moves to jack the heart rate up. I'm sure being summer has something to do with class size numbers increasing as well but I have had feedback from young and old that they feel they can now take the class. I agree with those who say it's all about SELLING THE PARTY! Focus on heart rate for 44 and base moves with FLAVA! Thanks G!

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Jeni Morrison