Dancing with the Stars: Dance off the Pounds

NEW DVD 613.715 DAN
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I recommend checking out this DVD if you are looking for a fun way to exercise. Fans of the show Dancing with the Stars will recognize professional ballroom dancers Kym Johnson, Lacey Schwimmer, and Dmitry Chaplain as the instructors. Your choices on the DVD menu are straightforward: pick from the dances Swing, Jive, Quickstep, or the Cooldown. Each dance segment lasts 15 minutes, and the Cooldown is 5 minutes. For each dance the instructor teaches you combinations of steps, adding one combination on top of the other, until you work up to a full routine. Even if the first time you try a combination you don't have the steps completely down, don't panic or allow yourself to get too frustrated. Because the routine keeps returning to the beginning after you learn something new, the repetition helps you master the steps. Or, if a certain combination really has you stumped you can always rewind that part of the instruction so you can focus on that area. I'll admit that out of all the routines it took me the longest to get down the shuffle-hops in the Quickstep.

Kym does a great job of teaching you the steps in each combination in the Swing. When you go through the entire routine from the start to incorporate the new combination, she often reminds you which leg to start on, which is helpful. If you haven't gotten up to speed with the Swing portion, the Jive will be a challenge. Lacey runs through the Jive at a quicker pace, which you'll notice right from the start with the speed of the triple step-rock step combination. I do enjoy that this routine is more difficult, because you definitely feel the workout from the quick footwork. Just be prepared to sweat. When this segment is about 14 minutes or so in I'll think Lacey is taking us through the routine for the final time, but guess what? "Let's do it again!" she yells. While this may sound funny, the encouragement from Lacey (and Kym and Dmitry) does help me to push on during the routines instead of giving up and stopping. Whenever the Quickstep is performed on shows like Dancing with the Stars or So You Think You Can Dance you hear about how much the contestants hate it, so I wasn't expecting to have fun doing these steps. Well, after going through the routine once I was hooked. Dmitry does a good job of explaining the steps and the Quickstep is a great workout for your legs. The kicker is that Dmitry has you do squats at the very end of the routine, and usually by that time my legs are about to turn into jelly. But instead of thinking of the pain I just think about how good-looking Dmitry is.

Even if you are a dance novice you will be able to pick up the steps in these routines. I like to do the routines in different combinations-- sometimes I'll repeat Swing or the Quickstep twice before going on to another routine. Instead of following the order on the menu I like to start with the Quickstep and then continue on to the Swing and then the Jive. If all you do is just go through each dance once, that is 45 minutes of aerobic activity. Every time I've worked out to this DVD I'm sweating buckets by the end, so I think this DVD helps you get a worthwhile workout!

Awesome(ly bad) dance scenes on film and TV

I compiled a list of funny dance scenes from movies and TV that stood out to me after watching the scene in Date Night in which Tina Fey and Steve Carrell attempt to pose as exotic dancers. The only criteria I really used in making my selections were that the scenes were memorable and were not part of a proper "dance" film or show; these are scenes that surprise you with original dance moves when you were least expecting them.

You can look at the examples I compiled as being either 1) awesome or 2) awesomely bad. I'm not going to lie: I classify all of the included dance scenes as AWESOME. Click below to see the list (arranged in random order), and please add your favorite awesome(ly bad) dance scenes in the Comments section.

Da da doo doot-n dance DVDs

A wise woman by the name of Lady Gaga once sang, "Just dance! / Gonna be okay / Da da doo doot-n." She sings the truth. You will feel better if you get up and move. Dance instruction DVDs, musicals, and movies with plot lines centered on dancers-- I dare anyone to stay seated while watching the selections from this dance-filled list.

DANCE INSTRUCTION

Ballroom Basics. Volume 1, Foxtrot
DVD 793.33 BAL
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Ballroom Basics. Volume 2, Waltz
DVD 793.33 BAL
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Ballroom Basics. Volume 3, Tango
DVD 793.33 BAL
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Latin Dances
DVD 793.33 LEA
Rumba, cha-cha, samba, mambo, and the tango.
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MUSICALS

Chicago (2002)
DVD MUSICAL CHICAGO
Based on the Broadway musical of the same name; starring Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta Jones (who won an Oscar for her performance), Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, and John C. Reilly. 2003 Best Picture winner.
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Easter Parade (1948)
DVD MUSICAL EASTER
Don (Fred Astaire) gets a new dance partner Hannah (Judy Garland) after his old partner Nadine (Ann Miller) goes off on her own. Also starring Peter Lawford.
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Hairspray
DVD MUSICAL HAIRSPRAY
Based on the movie that became a Broadway musical. Set in 1960s Baltimore, teenager Tracy Turnblad is excited to make it onto "The Corney Collins Show." Starring Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah, Zac Efron, and Christopher Walken.
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High School Musical series
DVD MUSICAL HIGH
High School Musical (1): Popular Disney made-for-TV movie that finds high school basketball player Troy (Zac Efron) and new brainy student Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) breaking the molds of their respective cliques as they audition for the school's musical. Find it in the catalog!
High School Musical 2: The students from East High School are working at a country club for the summer, where the annual talent show is approaching. Find it in the catalog!
High School Musical 3: Senior Year The students share their mixed feelings about leaving high school and friends and going to college in a spring musical. Find it in the catalog!

The Other Side of the Bed (El otro lado de la cama)
DVD FOREIGN OTHER
A romantic-comedy-musical about two couples who switch between different lovers. Starring Ernesto Alterio, Paz Vega, Guillermo Toledo.
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Singin' in the Rain
DVD MUSICAL SINGIN'
The careers of matinee and silent film stars are affected during the transition from silent films to talking movies or "talkies." Starring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell, Cyd Charisse, Douglas Fowley, and Rita Moreno.
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West Side Story
DVD MUSICAL WEST
A version of Romeo and Juliet set in New York during the 1950s. Winner of 10 Oscars in 1962, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Cinematography. Starring Natalie Wood, Russ Tamblyn, Richard Beymer, Rita Moreno, and George Chikiris.
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DANCE AND DANCERS

El Cantante
DVD FICTION CANTANTE
In 1970s New York City salsa singer Hector Lavoe rises to fame. Starring Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, and Christopher Becerra.
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The Cheetah Girls
DVD FAMILY CHEETAH
A singing group made up of four high school friends, dreaming of a record contract. Based on the Cheetah Girls books by Deborah Gregory. Starring Raven-Symone, Adrienne Bailon, Kiely Williams, and Sabrina Bryan.
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The Cheetah Girls 2
DVD FAMILY CHEETAH
The group travels to Barcelona, Spain, to perform at a music festival. Starring Raven-Symone, Adrienne Bailon, Kiely Williams, and Sabrina Bryan.
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The Company
DVD FICTION COMPANY
Behind the scenes of a dance company. Directed by Robert Altman and starring Neve Campbell, Malcolm McDowell, James Franco, and the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago.
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Dirty Dancing
DVD FICTION DIRTY
The teenage Baby (Jennifer Grey) vacations at a resort in the Catskills during the summer of 1963 with her parents and learns about dance and herself. Also starring Patrick Swayze and Jerry Orbach.
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Every Little Step
NEW DVD 792.6 EVE
A documentary that reveals the audition process for the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line.
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Flashdance
DVD FICTION FLASHDANCE
Alex (Jennifer Beals) holds down two jobs: she works as a welder during the day and exotic dancer at night, all the while practicing her dance skills, hoping to get into a local dance company.
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The Full Monty
DVD COMEDY FULL
Yorkshire steelworkers lose their jobs and decide to form a male stripper group. They practice for their one-night performance, hoping to earn some money and respect. What makes their upcoming performance different from other strip shows is the fact that they will strip down to "the full monty." Starring Robert Carlyle, Tom Wilkinson, and Mark Addy.
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Honey
DVD FICTION HONEY
Honey (Jessica Alba) teaches dance classes at a community center and hopes to one day open a dance studio for the local kids. One night her moves are noticed at a dance club and she is hired by a hip hop video director to be a dancer (and later choreographer). But does the director want her for reasons other than her talent?
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How She Move
DVD FICTION HOW
Raya (Rutina Wesley) leaves private school and returns to her old high school after the death of her sister and gets back into competitive step dancing.
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Limelight
DVD COMEDY LIMELIGHT
Set in London during 1914, a ballet dancer Terry (Claire Bloom) is saved from suicide by music hall clown Calvero (Charlie Chaplin), who is also depressed. Calvero then helps Terry to return to dancing on the stage. Also starring Buster Keaton, Sidney Chaplin, and Nigel Bruce.
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Saturday Night Fever
DVD FICTION SATURDAY
Brooklyn teenager Tony (John Travolta) looks forward to dancing at the disco each week. When he meets Stephanie (Karen Lynn Gorney) they decide to enter into a competition together.
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Save the Last Dance
DVD FICTION SAVE
After her mother's death, Sara (Julia Stiles) quits ballet and moves in with her father on Chicago's south side. She meets Derek (Sean Patrick Thomas), who teaches her hip hop, and a romance develops.
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Save the Last Dance 2
DVD FICTION SAVE
A sequel to the original, with different actors. Sara is attending Julliard but conflicted about dance styles (ballet or hip hop?). Starring Izabella Miko, Columbus Short, Aubrey Dollar, Ne-Yo, and Jacqueline Bisset.
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Shall We Dance? (1996; in Japanese with English subtitles)
DVD FOREIGN SHALL
Entranced by a dance instructor he sees from the subway, Japanese salaryman Sugiyama signs up for ballroom dance lessons. He keeps the lessons a secret from his wife, even though he enjoys dancing so much he begins to discreetly practice everywhere. Sugiyama discovers that his co-worker Aoki also loves ballroom dancing because of how it allows him to feel the music and become a different person.
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Shall We Dance? (2004)
DVD COMEDY SHALL
Remake of the 1996 Japanese film of the same name; a Chicago lawyer starts to take dance lessons, hiding it from his wife, who thinks he is cheating on her. Starring Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, and Susan Sarandon.
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Step Up
DVD FICTION STEP
Tyler vandalizes Maryland School of the Arts with some friends; he is the only one caught and is sentenced to community service at the school. He meets ballet dancer Nora and shows off his street dancing moves. They pair their dance styles for a routine Nora hopes to perform for her senior showcase. Starring Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan.
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Stomp the Yard
DVD FICTION STOMP
At Truth University in Atlanta, D.J. (Columbus Short) and his dance moves are coveted by two rival African American fraternities who hope to win the national step show competition. Also starring Meagan Good, Ne-Yo, and Darrin Henson.
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Take the Lead
DVD FICTION TAKE
Former professional ballroom dancer Pierre (Antonio Banderas) helps teach dance in a public school in New York. After initially rejecting the ballroom dance steps the students come around to the new moves; the result is a fusion of the styles of ballroom and hip hop. Also starring Rob Brown and Alfre Woodard.
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