[MCorrea]

Hi everyone!

I've been teaching BODYSTEP since release 44 and since then I've watched teh program grow very well untill release 57. Since 58 I've been patiently waiting for a GOOD release (i mean GOOD... from top to bottom) and it never happened.
Here are my issues with BODYSTEP today:

Music: Noisy - some of those VERSIONS are really bad quality and the sound effects on the background makes it very annoying.
Chessy - lots of the songs are remixed 80's and almost all of those remixes are just BAD. What kind of people do they want in BODYSTEP? 40-60 women?
Choreo: Repetition - Why do 8x the same basic movement (like 3 knee repeaters or basic steps or step'n kicks) before add another one or change to next.
Flow - Maily in tracks 8 there's no flowing from a move to another and what about those combinations that comes from nowhere (like 71). It just doesn't flow anymore. (take a look at the old stuff and compare)
Intesity - I felt a drop on the overall intensity of the class comparing to older releases (before 58)... tracks 2,3,8 and 9
Anyhow, I used to love to teach it and today I try to avoid because it became very difficult to motivate when I don't feel motivated to do it.
Please, I want to know you guys opinions about it... give me inputs... is that me?
I hope you guys dont take it as a BAD criticism I want to restore my love for the program, but i just feel like I have one hand tight in my back.
Let me know what you think!

Marcio
New Jersey, USA

[Sofie]

I know what you mean, it's been a while since we had a release where every single track has been stand out, like some of the older releases were. However, that being said, I think they haven't gotten THAT bad. I haven't had a problem with any of the music, obviously some tracks I like better than others, some I love, some are a bit odd, but you expect that. I agree, we've had some really bad covers of old 80s tracks, some songs that just don't feel like peaks, but on the flipside, we've had some awesome tracks too that have been great to teach and mix with (I am loving BS 72 as a whole actually haha)

Chereo wise, it has definitely felt more 'dancy' to me in the last few releases. It's meant to be quite simple, that's the main difference between BodyStep and freestyle, too much complexity scares some people off. But I think there has been enough innovation to keep it interesting. If you have a really good instructor that can bring out the best of the release, coach it well, its good not to have to think about the chereo and just lose yourself in the music.

Guess everyone is different. I haven't had a problem with any releases and I've taught back to 47. Obviously that's easy to say you can never please everyone at the same time. I can see your points though and I know you're not badly criticsing.

Just my personal opinion *g*

[Special]

I actually agree with a lot of your points. I have only been teaching since 57 though, but I often teach stuff from back to 42 and it does have a different feel.

I guess the difference though is that even though I don't like some of the changes (especially the music which just sounds like noise sometimes) I still really enjoy BodyStep overall.

Like Sophie said, there are some awesome tracks that I like and will mix in often, but the flavour for me has changed.

If you have been teaching for such a long time I don't think there is any harm in taking a break. I am not saying you should definitely stop, but I also think that sometimes even a 3 month break can refresh you.
Maybe your outlook will have changed.


Have you been to other Instructors classes? Maybe getting the feel from a participants perspective could remind you what you like about Step? (or you might just get frustrated and think "I could do it better myself" )

[Doobie123]

Why not teach the older releases or mix in the older tracks with the new stuff? As far as I know, there is nothing forcing us to use a current release.

[cbc]

MCorrea, on May 1 2008, 05:27 PM, said:

Hi everyone!

I've been teaching BODYSTEP since release 44 and since then I've watched teh program grow very well untill release 57. Since 58 I've been patiently waiting for a GOOD release (i mean GOOD... from top to bottom) and it never happened.
Here are my issues with BODYSTEP today:

Music: Noisy - some of those VERSIONS are really bad quality and the sound effects on the background makes it very annoying.
Chessy - lots of the songs are remixed 80's and almost all of those remixes are just BAD. What kind of people do they want in BODYSTEP? 40-60 women?
Choreo: Repetition - Why do 8x the same basic movement (like 3 knee repeaters or basic steps or step'n kicks) before add another one or change to next.
Flow - Maily in tracks 8 there's no flowing from a move to another and what about those combinations that comes from nowhere (like 71). It just doesn't flow anymore. (take a look at the old stuff and compare)
Intesity - I felt a drop on the overall intensity of the class comparing to older releases (before 58)... tracks 2,3,8 and 9
Anyhow, I used to love to teach it and today I try to avoid because it became very difficult to motivate when I don't feel motivated to do it.
Please, I want to know you guys opinions about it... give me inputs... is that me?
I hope you guys dont take it as a BAD criticism I want to restore my love for the program, but i just feel like I have one hand tight in my back.
Let me know what you think!

Marcio
New Jersey, USA

This makes me VERY sad, as I am training to teach this program in November. Is anyone JAZZED about the STEP program!?!?!?

cbc

[Jco]

I love Step. It's still hugely popular at one club where I teach. The latest release (73) was nicely athletic, with simple and easy to learn choreography and plenty of opportunities for FUN. Track 8 had great flow and is an awesome track to start our climb back up toward our last peak right along with that "flava" some people dig.

Maybe you are feeling less intensity in the work because of your lack of enthusiasm? I've found the difficulty across the entire release stays about the same..obviously some tracks stand out more than others in terms of perceived exertion (Final Countdown, anyone?), but overall I couldn't say the earlier releases were a "better workout" than the recent ones.

The music generally has something for everyone. How odd would it be if we loved every single song equally? I've got people who LOVE one song and some who HATE the same song, but in the course of the workout they will find music that moves them. Chiuhuahua is a great example of that...I get requests for it...and groans at the same time! I've even had one woman request it and then shamefacedly tell me how much she hates that song because she can't get it out of her head all day long. We've discussed in class hearing music from a Step release outside of class and how difficult it is NOT to want to do the moves that go with the song, even when the song isn't one of their favorites.

I start each new quarter with the new music, and it's rare that I love it at first. I often moan and groan and think to myself "YUCK! I hate this song!" but give me two weeks and I'm in love with it all. Perhaps because the music ends up fitting the movements so well. Or because I've discovered the "essence" of the song when I put it together with the choreography. Whatever happens, that connection gets made for me and I am pretty sure it's happens for the class as well. I disliked Queen of the Night SO much when I first got 73 in the mail. OMG, I was scowling and hating the "woohoo", thinking how cheesy it was and that the sound of the track was messy...and then it grew on me and it's one of the tracks that absolutely went OFF in my class. All my stepping divas were woohooing and getting in on the armlines at the end. I gotta say that was probably a strong favorite of my steppers. I just started mixing, but I'm sure that track will be back soon by request.

I'm still jazzed about Step. Woohoo!

[neeshia]

MCorrea, on May 1 2008, 11:27 PM, said:

Hi everyone!

I've been teaching BODYSTEP since release 44 and since then I've watched teh program grow very well untill release 57. Since 58 I've been patiently waiting for a GOOD release (i mean GOOD... from top to bottom) and it never happened.
Here are my issues with BODYSTEP today:

Music: Noisy - some of those VERSIONS are really bad quality and the sound effects on the background makes it very annoying.
Chessy - lots of the songs are remixed 80's and almost all of those remixes are just BAD. What kind of people do they want in BODYSTEP? 40-60 women?
Choreo: Repetition - Why do 8x the same basic movement (like 3 knee repeaters or basic steps or step'n kicks) before add another one or change to next.
Flow - Maily in tracks 8 there's no flowing from a move to another and what about those combinations that comes from nowhere (like 71). It just doesn't flow anymore. (take a look at the old stuff and compare)
Intesity - I felt a drop on the overall intensity of the class comparing to older releases (before 58)... tracks 2,3,8 and 9
Anyhow, I used to love to teach it and today I try to avoid because it became very difficult to motivate when I don't feel motivated to do it.
Please, I want to know you guys opinions about it... give me inputs... is that me?
I hope you guys dont take it as a BAD criticism I want to restore my love for the program, but i just feel like I have one hand tight in my back.
Let me know what you think!

Marcio
New Jersey, USA

_________________________________________________________

i have to disagree, especially about the flow part. i think the flow is great doing the party tracks / . although i rained on step 70 i have used chore and music from past releases and for the most part i don't feel that they are better than the new releases.

i do think that some of the beginning tracks in the older releases (mainly track 3) are more intesnse, but i find the newer releases are progressively more challenging in the later tracks like 6, and 10.

in a training session i was told that track three is less intense because they want the heart rate to raise more gradually.

ok and the music is like you described, but i tend to like songs with wierd sounds in them (not just work out music either. lol) plus i find it provides a nice way to be playful with the class.

although i do not agree i understand where you are coming from. i have been attending step for about 3 years and i really love it. but i'm sure that the fact that i have only been teaching it a short time makes it hard for me to relate with you veiws.

i hope that you'll start to love step again.

i have a question for you since you've been doing step so long.

i notice that the presenters were very bouncey before they started teaching to "stick" the landings in the AAT, or OTT. was it easier/less challenging to get through those moves before the implementation.

just wondering.

[Sofie]

the 'bounce' on the ATT move used momentum to help assist people to complete the move, therefore making it easier. It also is quite taxing on the calf muscles and ankle/knee joints. The idea of 'sticking' the landing is to really load up the leg muscles to make the move harder to complete as there is no momentum to use. It's also safer on the lower joints. Took a while to get used to, particularly since I have short legs hehe, but Lisa is shorter than me so I have no excuse :-D

As for the comments on BodyStep over the years, I just have to say, everyone is different, not everyone is always going to be pleased. Just like I keep trying RPM but its just not me, I cant get into it. No particular reason why, just not for me.

[Klas]

MCorrea, on May 1 2008, 11:27 PM, said:

Hi everyone!

I've been teaching BODYSTEP since release 44 and since then I've watched teh program grow very well untill release 57. Since 58 I've been patiently waiting for a GOOD release (i mean GOOD... from top to bottom) and it never happened.
Here are my issues with BODYSTEP today:

Music: Noisy - some of those VERSIONS are really bad quality and the sound effects on the background makes it very annoying.
Chessy - lots of the songs are remixed 80's and almost all of those remixes are just BAD. What kind of people do they want in BODYSTEP? 40-60 women?
Choreo: Repetition - Why do 8x the same basic movement (like 3 knee repeaters or basic steps or step'n kicks) before add another one or change to next.
Flow - Maily in tracks 8 there's no flowing from a move to another and what about those combinations that comes from nowhere (like 71). It just doesn't flow anymore. (take a look at the old stuff and compare)
Intesity - I felt a drop on the overall intensity of the class comparing to older releases (before 58)... tracks 2,3,8 and 9
Anyhow, I used to love to teach it and today I try to avoid because it became very difficult to motivate when I don't feel motivated to do it.
Please, I want to know you guys opinions about it... give me inputs... is that me?
I hope you guys dont take it as a BAD criticism I want to restore my love for the program, but i just feel like I have one hand tight in my back.
Let me know what you think!

Marcio
New Jersey, USA

Hi Marcio,
like some other "replyers" I wasn't a bodystep instructor during the 40-releases (my first release was #62 so I can't compare with them). I think though that the releases I'm trained in is overall great, both the music and choreo. Of course everyone can't love all the tracks. When it comes to the music, I first was skeptical about all covers, but actually I think they most often is great! A good thing with using covers: it's easy to get right RPM, "change side" with adding 4 extra counts and create a choreo which goes hand in hand with the music. About the choreo my opinion is during my "bodystep career" that you can find a flow in it. Is it too easy? No participant during my four years as BS instructor have told me that it´s too easy! I think on the other hand it's positive that the concept allows a "first-time-participant" to leave the class thinking: this was a great workout, it was fun, it was hard, and easier than I thought!.
When you read this (if you read it) you hopefully have got your enthusiasm back and love the BS-release #78!

Klas
Sweden

[fitchick_nz]

I've been teaching bodystep since release 49 and have to say it just keeps getting better, the last few releases have rocked, i truly believe its such a great program i love it so much and just love teaching it.

I love how its grown and become harder, the older releases are not as challenging as the new ones with more tracks being higher energy, longer with harder moves.

I always enjoy the music and have to say I loved all off 78 (the lastest release)

I think as an instructor you have to stay passionate about the program you teach, love to teach it otherwise find another program you can take on, if you dont love your program and love teaching it your members will feel it in there work out.

O:)

MCorrea, on May 1 2008, 11:27 PM, said:

Hi everyone!

I've been teaching BODYSTEP since release 44 and since then I've watched teh program grow very well untill release 57. Since 58 I've been patiently waiting for a GOOD release (i mean GOOD... from top to bottom) and it never happened.
Here are my issues with BODYSTEP today:

Music: Noisy - some of those VERSIONS are really bad quality and the sound effects on the background makes it very annoying.
Chessy - lots of the songs are remixed 80's and almost all of those remixes are just BAD. What kind of people do they want in BODYSTEP? 40-60 women?
Choreo: Repetition - Why do 8x the same basic movement (like 3 knee repeaters or basic steps or step'n kicks) before add another one or change to next.
Flow - Maily in tracks 8 there's no flowing from a move to another and what about those combinations that comes from nowhere (like 71). It just doesn't flow anymore. (take a look at the old stuff and compare)
Intesity - I felt a drop on the overall intensity of the class comparing to older releases (before 58)... tracks 2,3,8 and 9
Anyhow, I used to love to teach it and today I try to avoid because it became very difficult to motivate when I don't feel motivated to do it.
Please, I want to know you guys opinions about it... give me inputs... is that me?
I hope you guys dont take it as a BAD criticism I want to restore my love for the program, but i just feel like I have one hand tight in my back.
Let me know what you think!

Marcio
New Jersey, USA