My review was written in October 1983 after viewing the Family Home Entertainment/Monterey video cassette.
With the major success of "Jane Fonda's Workout" in the home video field, it is inevitable that other thesps and celebrities should produce exercise vidtapes. "Sandahl Bergman's Body" is a particularly effective entry, in that the photogenic actress (seen in "All That Jazz" and "Conan the Barbarian") has adapted the exercise format to her own area of expertise, dance.
Obviously aimed at the advanced physical fitness enthusiast with its rigorous, fast-paced program, tape features a dozen routines of about five minutes duration each. Bergman alternates solo spots with lightly synchronized moves accompanied by two male dancers. With middle-of-the-road music backing, she voices over exercise instructions to the viewer, plus encouragement. Though few watchers can conceivably match her flexibility or terping sophistication, the dance format avoids the monotony of the usual (and simpler) taped athletic workout.
Beyond the familiar stretching and aerobics aimed at strengthening and toning specific body parts, tape is highlighted by several dance numbers: a free-style ballet workout and a Bob Fosse-influenced bit of choreography using a chair as prop. Lighting and three camera video direction are fine. "Sandahl Bergman's Body" should give the health and figure-conscious female audience a formidable goal to stirve after.
