Alright Steppers - Choreograpy's Got Me Worried - HELP!

[jillybean]

I have yet to attempt my first Cathe tape. I have heard that starting out with the Wedding tape is best. I would love to try Rythmic Step and Power Max - these two vids got the vote for favorite Cathe tape on a previous post. Some of the moves scare me - Ricochet, Flying Angel, Drop Squats!?! Who out there started out choreographically challenged and came to love a Cathe tape and master its moves? Two left feet doesn't begin to describe it. Two left feet, no sense of balance, poor hand/eye coordination, but a penchant for step aerobics. How cruel is that? Thanks for your help!

 

[ebh87]

Hi jillybean,
I started out with Mega Step Blast and Step Max and couldn't figure out a lot of the moves. I ended up substituting a lot until I was comfortable enough with the intensity and the choreography that I was doing and felt I could tackle more. It took me a really long time to get that point. I wouldn't even do a hop turn - I never wanted to have my back to the tv - I just did a knee-up instead. Now I can do all of Cathe's choreography. The more you work at it, the easier it gets.
Also, a lot of people have suggested trying the moves either with no step or a 4" step. Maybe that would work for you!! I would definitely start with a tape with less challenging choreography, though.
Have fun!
Erica

 

[atgood]

Many people have recommend the Wedding video for Cathe newbies, although I don't have that one. Power Max is a lot of fun, the music's great, and it's one of my all-time favories. Just be patient and give yourself as many tries as it takes to learn the moves, and have fun learning them.

As far as Rhythmic Step goes, however, I'd say work your way up to that one. Although I ADORE this video, I think you might find it a tad frustrating to learn as an introduction to Cathe, if you aren't familiar with her style. It really clicks along, there's a ton of moves that are not really broken down, then she puts them all together back to back at the end--fast and furious, but sheer fun! Just my thoughts. Good luck.

 

[Nancy C]

choreo challenged..

I started out that way...and pretty much stayed there;-). IMHO, Cathe's tapes are fairly easy in choreography. That's not to say there weren't moves that took me a few times to learn, but compared to people like Christi or Franny..she's a breeze.

Where the challenge lies is the intensity. If you haven't done a Cathe tape, you'll find that keeping up cardio wise is harder than learning the moves. PowerMax was one of my first Cathes and it does have a tad slower beat than most. You might like that one for a first Cathe for learning moves...but forwarned;-) it's tough. Cathe also breaks the moves down before adding on complexity or she shows you variations at the beginning. If you find you can't get the ricochet right away, you can always stick with the double knees up.

The Wedding video is another good one because I think it also is a tad less intense...if that is possible;-). But it's also a great deal with the double workout..cardio and toning.

I'd wait for Rythmic Step..only because it's fast and the choreography goes from one thing to the next and I think it would be easier and less frustrating if you had a few Cathes under your belt to get a feel of Cathes cuing and moves.

Have Fun and jump in!

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[Kay]

RE: choreo challenged..

Ditto everything Nancy C said!
I started doing step with Cathe. I can do the Wedding Tape, Step Heat & Step Jam. I can also do the warm up & most of the first section of Rhythmic Step. I still find the cardio to be one of the greatest challenges, but there is that "pause" for breath button on the VCR. I modify high impact & power moves quite a bit and will probably never advance beyond a 4" step. But I've found the more choreography & intense cardio I do the better my body becomes at doing it. This boils over into everyday life with functional fitness. My balance is better, I can hike longer uphill and my endurance & mobility are better while playing wallyball & volleyball. Just take it slow, modify & use that pause button!
I can't say enough good things about Cathe & her tapes!
Kay

 

[frostyjan]

Hi!
I started with PowerMax as my first ever attempt at step aerobics (video or gym). I thought I was going to lose my mind! I kept at it and within 4 or 5 attempts, I had it down with no problem. That was less than a year ago, and I now have almost all of Cathe's tapes. Some are harder for me than others, but are all doable and much more fun once you get the steps down and can anticipate what is coming next. Interval Max was my second tape, and learning that one set me up to learn all of the other ones because there are 10 separate combos to learn,and they are common to her other tapes (with the exception of Rhythmic Step and CTX All-Step and Step and Intervals). So even though IMAX is so tough intensity-wise I feel like it is a crash course in Cathe choreography.
Rhythmic Step is her most complex and I am grateful I didn't start with it, I may have given up! Just prepare yourself to become addicted. You will never again be able to do anyone else's tapes without somehow comparing them to Cathe's. She has set the standard for advanced stepping. Have a great day.

 

[suzannaerin]

never fear

You'll catch on, don't worry. I, too, am challenged by complicated choreography. It took me two months of doing Step Fit before I got up the confidence to do the flying angels. Instead, I just did the "starter" move. When Cathe has complicated moves, she usually shows a modification that you can use if you don't want to try the more advanced ones. I find that working up and mastering stuff like flying angels keeps me really challenged. Don't give up!!! If a Klod like I can do it, you won't have any trouble. suzanne

PS--if a move has you stumped, post a note to the Ask Cathe forum and she will break it down for you. She did that for me in the repeater shuffle in Step Jam I was able to do it after she "talked" me through it.

 

[JamminX3]

RE: never fear

Hi. I am very new to Cathe and step tapes and Klutz is my middle name. I have both Power Max and Rhythmic Step but I have not done the later yet. I've been doing PM twice a week now, for the past 4 wks and I'll tell you it only took about 2 or 3 times for me to catch on. The fun of it is learning the routine. Such a challenge. Also, I've done Interval Max for the past 4 wks also and it's got alot less choreography to learn. Much more athletic type moves. I recommend it first and then PM. Just becuz it has some of the same moves as PM, so then you'd have less to learn. Does that make sense? Hope so. Anyhoo, they are both soooo tough, altho I think IM is tougher. Be prepared to sweat buckets. Good luck and just have fun. Robin.

 

[meg512]

RE: never fear

Hi Jillybean, I was new to Cathe a few months ago and have many of the same problems you have and I have conquered every tape that I have. I did start out with the Wedding Tape, the Step Heat and Mega Step Blast. I have Rhythmic Step and love it; however, it is a bit more dancy than her others. I really didn't think it was that hard to learn and love the music. What I do when I can't figure out a move is put the VCR on slow motion and actually go through the moves that way a couple of times and then I finally get what she is doing. Cathe goes VERY fast and sometimes I find myself very dazed and confused, not knowing how she got there and I got where I am. LOL http://www.mpz.co.uk/cwm/cwm/cwm/silly.gif You just have to take your time. I tend to get very frustrated when I can't figure it out, but after a few tries, you do get it and it gets much easier. Just my 2 cents. Take care. Mary


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