Lisa Rinna: Dance Body Beautiful-Learn & Burn

Rating NR Formats DVD Genre fitness Starring Lisa Rinna, Dmitry Chaplin, Kelly Connolly, Suzanne Easton, Eric Hoffman, Liz Ramos Directed by N/A Publisher Warner Home Video

If you're already in shape you'll have no problem with the warm-up where at one point a deep, plie/squat is held for several minutes. If you can already follow choreography, you'll get through the four segments of movement based on dance steps from the rumba, hustle, paso doble, and quick step. If you don't fit in both those categories, do yourself a favor and take actual ballroom dance lessons or pop in an old Jane Fonda workout video, before you pop in this DVD. 

Rinna demonstrates each “dance” in the “Breakdown” section; other dancers join in to take the viewer through the steps at a slow, medium, then fast pace. Yes, that's all there is: same steps each time. Even at the fast pace, it doesn't feel like dancing thanks to the repetitive, lack-luster music. The bonus routine, “Rock Hard Dancer's Abs,” boils down to everyone twisting their hips to a cha-cha rhythm for two minutes straight--an effective ab exercise, but hardly worth suffering through the rest.

This workout will more likely raise your stress levels than help you burn fat, because while Lisa Rinna may be able to do the steps she's been taught, she can't teach others. Clueless in giving directions, she does little to warn the viewer when changes coming in the routine, let alone which foot to use. In one segment, another voice can be heard in the background calling out tips to the group--no doubt her “Dancing With Stars” partner Louis Van Amstel trying to salvage the take.

If you are determined to use this DVD as your New Year's resolution workout, a word of advice: look at the backup dancers and not Rinna. Fans of “So You Think You Can Dance” will easily recognize the dashing Dmitry Chaplin in the last row wearing an oversize light blue t-shirt. If the camera weren't glued to Rinna's gyrations, someone truly interested in ballroom dance might be able to pick up a few tips on style from his impeccable technique and that of the other dancers.

If you're an obsessive Lisa Rinna fan, this DVD might be a must-have for you especially if you want to see her dancing solo as the end credits roll. Otherwise, turn on your favorite music, shake your booty to the beat for ten or twenty minutes a day and save your money.