The following classes were reviewed during our festival in 2020. This will be updated periodically.

The four questions answered for the reviews are:

1) What fitness/dance level is class appropriate for?

2) Was the class easy to follow and understand?  Did you need prior fitness or dance experience?

3) What tips/advice you can give a new participant?  Need a mat, have water handy, you’ll need lots of room to move, you’ll need to be coordinated, you will sweat, etc.

4) What was great about the instructor or what could the instructor do better?

DivaDance NYC – https://divadancecompany.com/

Beyonce “Run the World”! 

Technically, the class seemed geared to folks with a moderate level of modern dance experience and a moderate fitness level.  However, the way the class is structured (and the community and all-inclusive feel of the class), makes it appropriate for anyone who just wants to gather with other gals, listen to great music and dance!  

The high quality acoustics and video production made it easy to understand the instructions. The individual dance segments and string of moves were short enough to be able to remember and follow along. And for folks unfamiliar with some of the moremodern moves, relatable real-life examples were used to describe them. For example, “chop the salad”, and “reach up to the top shelf for a bottle and slam it on your leg”.  Even if we don’t typically do those moves, we could envision and reenact them. The examples also helped to remember the moves when we heard the cues. 

And the more “seductive” moves were made comfortable by the instructor’s approach to it. It completely diffused the awkwardness when the lead instructor said, “If you can wash it, you can touch it!”  It made the moves feel less inhibiting.  

Prior dance experience or at least some experience watching performers like Beyonce would be helpful prior to this class.

As far as fitness level, it was similar to a HIIT class (High Intensity Interval Training) because there were a lot of cardio bursts with short breaks in between.  

Ideally, a smooth non-carpeted surface would be best. And you will want some water for the short breaks. You don’t need a lot of space.  But for some of the traveling moves, it would be good to have a least six feet in the front and back.  

And the music is great, so setting up a good speaker is worth the effort. A half or full-length mirror is a nice addition if you have it.  

Coordination is needed, but not necessary.  There is a lot of room for self-expression. It’s not like line-dancing where everyone has to do the same thing.

Jamie is an amazing dancer and her enthusiasm is contagious! Just being in her presence, I couldn’t help feeling happy and smiling!

I thought the brief but important socialization in the beginning was nice. And at the end, she encourages attendees to video themselves for the final run-through. It’s optional, but a great idea. 

It felt like being with a group of gal friends for a choreographed dance session/exercise class . Oddly enough, age didn’t feel like an issue. Both the young and less-young could enjoy this class.

One suggestion for improvement would be to adjust the lighting on the two back-up dance participants. They couldn’t be seen very well. We could hear them. But not see them very well.

DjunaPassmanYoga – www.DjunaPassmanYoga.com

I would classify the difficulty of this class as beginner. It might be considered long for a beginner, but the poses were not difficult or strenuous.

The class was easy to follow. Having prior experience made it easier to understand the poses, but she explained them well.

All of the above and maybe a towel if you’re someone who sweats a lot. If you are new to this it helps to know that falling out of poses or not being able to hold a pose is normal.

She did a good job of describing each move and you could clearly understand what she was saying. It would have been helpful if the instructor had provided a brief description of the flow of the class in the beginning – so students would have a general idea of what to expect.  Also, a more uniform background if spacing allows. I personally like a little background music too.

M Dance & Fitness – https://mdancefitness.com/

Circuit Breaker by Sabatino

The instructor did a wonderful job making this class an option for all levels of fitness!

Yes. I think the class is possible with or without fitness or dance experience. 

Come with a lot of energy, and ready to have a great workout! Don’t stress about having “proper” equipment. 

The instructor was very positive, high energy, and encouraging! Thank you for a great class!

Top Pop Cardio by Madeline

Advance beginners and on.

The instructor is great at explaining the routine of each exercise, making the class easy to follow. She also gives some variations for the hardest or more complicated exercises.

The choreography is dynamic and require a previous knowledge of movement and a basic level of coordination.

I’ll definitely tell a new participant to have a lot of water and to wear tennis shoes even though the participant is at home and has a carpet. The participant will find himself/herself challenged with the jumps and the combinations. The bigger the space, the bigger the movement of the body and so the more advantage can be taken from the class.

I loved how Madeline keeps the class uplifted and how she makes new and not that new participants all feel welcome. I didn’t know what to expect from the class, but after a couple of exercises I felt the rhythm.

Dance Cardio + Pilates Mat by Natalia

This is an advance beginner level to advance.  

The dance cardio segment was easy to follow if you have experience in dance or have coordination since each move is not being broken down and the music is fast.  

For the mat segment, the moves are easy to follow but require some strength, especially in the lower abs.  The instructor, Natalia, provides modifications in case you have injuries, or so that you are able to do the moves easier.

You will definitely need water and coordination for the dance cardio segment.  Natalia will WORK you out; that is if you are doing the moves full out, of course.  Make sure you have enough space to stretch your whole body, including arms on the floor and extend your leg across the body while lying down.  Prepare to sweat and work those abs!  

Natalia is very upbeat and funny.  She also offers a short discussion in the end in case you had issues during class and provides tips/modifications.

PMT House of Dance – www.pmthouseofdance.com

Basic/Beg. Jazz Dance – Mica Butnar

The indicated dance level is actually accurate unlike the indicated levels for many other dance classes.  It’s appropriate for basic beginners and can be taken by those with little dance experience.

Was the class easy to follow and understand?  Did you need prior fitness or dance experience?

Overall, the instructor was good and the class could be followed and understood. See my recommendations in #4 for ways to make the virtual class easier to follow.  Some  fitness or dance experience could be helpful, but not necessary as a high level of technique or flexibility were not required.

A mat or carpet could make the warm up portion on your knees more comfortable.  This class didn’t require lots of space and the choreography could be done in a limited space.  For the technique portion (working on pirouettes) and choreography, you’ll need a surface that you can turn on.

It was helpful that the instructor let us know ahead of time that she would (back to camera so we can follow) or wouldn’t be doing the combo with us so we could mentally prepare.  However, it would have been helpful for the instructor to more often do the choreography combo full out with her back to the camera like during an in person class so that we can follow along more easily.  This would be especially useful because it’s much harder to pick up moves virtually from looking at a small screen.  It got confusing when she demonstrated and explained moves while facing us because then her movements were opposite what we should be doing, and my brain has difficulty processing the moves in reverse.

I appreciated that the instructor provided some technique instruction (breaking down and practicing pirouettes)- that was great, but more demonstration in the same direction as us from the screen perspective for that technique section as we follow would be very helpful.

Many thanks to the instructor for an excellent class!  Her song choice and choreography  were great, and I liked that it was more classic jazz style instead of the more typical music video pop style of many jazz classes.

Power Pilates Live – http://www.powerpilates.com/live/trial

Open Mat with Pedro

The fitness level needed for this class is beginner.  Some precaution should be used for folks with lower back issues.  However, modifications were given for any exercises that could potentially cause back discomfort. Also, modifications were given to make some of the moves more challenging, but overall, this is definitely a class for beginners (physically).

Was the class easy to follow and understand?  Did you need prior fitness or dance experience?

The class was fairly easy to follow.  The audio and video quality were very good, and the instructor’s verbal descriptions of the exercises were excellent. The instructor gave some physical demonstrations with his arms and hands to describe the feet and leg movements, but did not perform the exercises himself.  

Without specific visual guidance, it was necessary to have at least some level of prior Pilates experience.  Also, there was terminology used that related specifically to mat Pilates that may not be known to the beginner.  For example, a series of “teasers”. 

I found the series of exercises, movements and stretches to be physically intuitive and restorative. One movement transitioned into the next in a seamless manner, and they counteracted one another beautifully. I definitely appreciated that.

What tips/advice you can give a new participant?  Need a mat, have water handy, you’ll need lots of room to move, you’ll need to be coordinated, you will sweat, etc.

Ideally, you should have a mat for this class and approximately 3 feet around your mat so you can stretch your arms and swing your legs.

A link to log into the class was sent 30 minutes prior to class. It isn’t a ZOOM link; it is provided by Whereby.com, and you may need to download the app if you are viewing on a mobile device.  

Also, if you don’t know the moves from previous class experience, then you may want to have your screen set to gallery view so you can see the other attendees, and what they are doing.  

The class begins and ends on time.

What was great about the instructor or what could the instructor do better?

The instructor was definitely experienced and comfortable with the routine. I got the impression that the instructor was keeping a close eye on us and watching our form and if we were comfortable with the directions.  I also found his demeanor to be encouraging and supportive.

RIOULT Dance Center – rioult.org

Basic Beginner Ballet

This was a true beginner basic class. If you are new to ballet or want to focus on fundamentals, it will be a good pace for you.

The class was easy to follow, the teacher explained each combination thoroughly without music prior to starting the exercises, and did each combination herself so you could follow along if you forgot the combination or were unsure of the steps. I think you could take this class and follow along if you had minimal dance experience.

Need a mat, have water handy, you’ll need lots of room to move, you’ll need to be coordinated, you will sweat, etc. To take this class, it would be helpful to have a ballet barre, but a chair or countertop will do. Something that can move like a chair is better, because we did some combinations facing the barre, so you’ll have space to move around. You need space for extending your legs, you don’t want to bump into any hard surfaces with your elbows, knees, feet.

The instructor is very clear and thorough. One thing that could improve is the sound quality of the music, it was a little difficult to hear. 

Yoga Flow

Beginner

The class was easy to follow and understand.  And the  instructor did a good job positioning herself in the video so we could see the proper form. She made an extra effort and that was helpful.

No prior fitness or dance experience needed.

Need a mat (yes), have water handy, you’ll need lots of room to move, you’ll need to be coordinated, you will sweat, etc.

Would need a mat.  You won’t get sweaty.  You don’t need very much room.  It’s very peaceful, so it would be nice to practice in a peaceful environment if possible in order to get the full benefit. 

The instructor didn’t just assume we knew how to do all the moves.  And she had a very calming manner. She also asked if anyone had any health issues or concerns.  It was a very thorough, yoga flow class – restorative. I loved the poem and chimes at the end, too.

I think they may have had some technical difficulties in the beginning because class started late.

Xtend Barre – Xtendbarre.com/Brooklyn

Xtend Barre

I think this class was appropriate for many levels, it was high energy and simple movements.

The class was easy to follow for any experience level, and modifications were provided if you couldn’t do certain exercises. 

Need a mat, have water handy, you’ll need lots of room to move, you’ll need to be coordinated, you will sweat, etc. It’s helpful to have a barre to hold onto. Some exercises required bands, and if you are advanced or stronger you could also use weights.

The instructor had a really great energy and kept the class moving. The music was clear, she had a lot of space to demonstrate and was teaching from a studio so it felt like you were really in class.