Dance with Julianne: Cardio Ballroom

Known for her standout choreography, contagious enthusiasm, and ability to teach anyone to dance, Julianne will motivate you to dance the Cha Cha, Jive and Paso Doble with her in this fun and effective workout—no partner needed! CARDIO BALLROOM Two-time “Dancing with the Stars” champion Julianne Hough is ready to share her best-kept secrets and techniques for getting a lean, toned dancer’s physique! Or do it any time you want some extra fine-tuning for your steps. This is your chance to learn from the best! “You’ll have so much fun, you won’t even realize you’re getting a great full-body workout.” BONUS: One-On-One Personal Dance Lesson With Julianne! Selected as ShapeMagazine's DVD of the Month for December 2009. In this bonus feature Julianne will break down key steps at a slower pace and refine those little details that will make your dance “ballroom beautiful!” Take this personal dance lesson before your first workout to make your dance flow smoother. “Dance is the best way to exercise.” Julianne says. These fat burning moves are carefully choreographed to keep your heart rate up and help you dance your way into fabulous shape.

Dance with Julianne: Cardio Ballroom is an easy-to-follow, infectiously fun, and results-oriented workout that beginners and advanced dancers alike will enjoy and look forward to doing. Julianne Hough, the breakout star of Dancing with the Stars, is not just a fiery dancer, an appealing country singer, and an in-demand choreographer--she's also a very talented dance workout instructor.

Hough is perfectly charismatic on camera, and though her lean dancer body may at first seem intimidating, in fact, Hough's approach is so down-to-earth and inclusive that even true beginners will feel comfortable and right at home. "You can't really laugh while lifting weights." --A.T. Extras include a step-by-step "lesson" from Hough so the viewer can truly understand specific moves, and a very engaging interview with Hough on why she chose this workout: "You can do this with friends, and laugh at the same time," Hough says. Hurley All the moves are chosen, Hough says, for their ability to raise the heart rate and burn calories--but also because dance moves create "a lean, sleek body--not chunky or awkwardly shaped." (And if one can get even halfway toward Hough's own sleek physique, that's plenty of inspiration right there.) The steps are very easy to follow, and Hough keeps the routines simple, stepping up the intensity with optional hops, squats, and spins. "If you feel awkward," she says, especially to beginners, "then you're doing it right." Each subsequent time of doing the workout becomes more fun, as the viewer/exerciser feels more like part of Hough's "troupe."

The 55-minute workout includes good warm-ups and stretches, will get your heart rate up, and will also work key areas like the hips and waist, which can become stiff in a sedentary lifestyle. The moves revolve around several key ballroom styles, including the cha-cha and the jive.