Dartmouth has its own Tae Bo, and it's not only providing a workout, but also funding to knock out AIDS.
Heather Tatarski '04 began kickboxing her junior year of high school and continued the sport at Dartmouth by teaching FLIP recreation classes throughout her college career. Due to the popularity of her well-attended classes, many suggested that she create an instructional DVD.
"I started toying around with the idea [of a DVD], and my friends and family were very supportive," Tatarski said. "I knew if I was going to do this it was going to be for a reason beyond myself. I had to do it for charity and I was already very involved in a cause."
Choosing not to write a thesis, Tatarski considers this project a culminating experience, even if it is not affiliated with Dartmouth academics.
In May 2002, Tatarski spent eight days in Africa making a documentary on AIDS for MTV with U2's Bono, actor Chris Tucker and former U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill. Tatarski spent her time in Ethiopia and Uganda with the Save the Children fund, and now is searching for ways to help them fight AIDS.
The DVD is a continuation of this mission for Tatarski, who is giving all profits of the DVD to the Save the Children fund. Each DVD is slated to be a minimum donation of $10, and with production costs only $1.75, over $8 from each sale will go to charity. Already, $200 has been donated.
The DVD, entitled Knockout! Cardio Kickbox Workout, is enthusiastic and professional, especially for having been done on a low budget. Designed for fitness it is broken down into five parts: one is an explanation of kickboxing and the charity project, one details safety and the last three are the workout in arms, legs and combinations.
Lasting 20 minutes, it is comparable to workouts found in other such DVDs and sure to have those new to the sport quite sore the next day.
This spring, Tatarski is at home in New Jersey concentrating on her DVD by buying materials and looking into marketing. She said opportunities to sell her DVD at local stores in her community look promising and she is also looking to teach session classes at various health clubs in order to sell more DVDs and get a consumer base.
"If there is a big enough response I will set something up on Ebay, but people can just blitz me and I will send them a DVD. There has been a lot of encouraging interest, and the FLIP program has been especially supportive," said Tatarski.
When questioned about the future of this project Tatarski is "taking it day by day." Tatarski plans to continue working this spring and all summer on selling her DVD. She even plans to send a copy to U2 lead-singer Bono, who has long worked to fight AIDS, and MTV, hoping for but not expecting their support.
