Bellydance Basics and Beyond: Technique for a Solid Foundation

Bellydance Basics and Beyond: Technique for a Solid Foundation
by Jenna

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DVD details

Actor: Jenna
Director: Jenna
Brand: STRATOSTREAM
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown)
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 140 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-09-26
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: StratoStream - WorldDance New York

DVD Reviews of Bellydance Basics and Beyond: Technique for a Solid Foundation

DVD Review: I have never belly danced before
Summary: 5 Stars

so I was very careful selecting a beginner's DVD. I also had lower back problems since January so I wanted to make sure that the video explaines everything in detail and extra careful about posture, meticulous about techniques. Well, I wasn't disappointed in Jenna's, I love it all the way. She breaks up every movement in such detailed segments that you have no room doing something wrong. However, I do agree with those reviewers who says that this video is not the flashiest; there are no costumes (only hip scarfs), no mood lighting, no dance coreographies you can practice and not even a high cardio workout...but let me tell you something, I also own 2 DVDs like that and - to me as an absolute beginner - were useless. I couldn't see properly how to execute the isolations to begin with, never mind the coreography! By the time it was time to do it, I was lost and I could mostly feel it in my back that I wasn't doing someting right. So I set those aside for later and went for Jenna's, then Amira's. Now that I've almost got all the basics down, I pulled out my other two DVD's to watch and finally they made sense to me.

All this said, I still don't think that Jenna's dvd is boring. Far from that, I do it almost every day and I am looking forward to it. Here's a quick break down:

1., "Welcome" section has music and voice, and an intro to what you're gonna be doing.
2., "Posture & Basic Arms" section follows with no music just voice,
3., "Warmup" has music and voice again, not all warm up moves are belly dance some are just the classic warm up you can find anywhere (e.g. neck rolls) so even beginners can execute it properly.

4., "Isolations" (shoulders, ribcage, hips),
5., "Compound Moves" (circles, undulations, figure 8's),
6., "Traveling" (footwork, layered steps) which are all segments without music - only voice.

At the beginning having no music was very useful because there was no distraction but having been through it so many times now it would be nice to have music and/or voice option for segments 2,4,5,6. So maybe this would be the only thing I'd change. As an alternative, I ordered a CD Bellydance Superstars 1 - which I also love, great music! - just to play from my CD player when I feel that I need it along with the instructions.

7., "Practice Combinations", the very last part when she puts all the above together have music and/or voice options. Lastly, this also includes the cool down which is optional like everything else on this DVD.
Which is the other reason I like it so much because each part is accecable from the menu and sub-menu options. So you decide in what order you proceed, what you need more parctice on or you can play the whole DVD in order from beginning to end if that's what you want.

Then there's one bonus performance included, Jenna and her students doing a basic coreographed dance together (only music).

On the whole, I am very satisfied and love practicing with Bellydance Basics and Beyond! I cannot recommend it enough!
Since it covers so much more than an average beginner's DVD it will be in use for many more months/years to come; as a reference which you can always turn to later on.

DVD Review: Technique, technique, technique
Summary: 5 Stars

This isn't a workout tape. It's not a choreography tape. It's bellydance technique.

What's good about it, though, is that it teaches introductory bellydance vocabulary with very clear descriptions of what happens when (and where). Lots of other bellydance instructors teach technique well, but the best of them can be intimidating. (Some are too fast; some just have a lot more endurance than your average beginner student.)

When I started trying to teach myself to dance, I had days when I could not bring myself to practice because the level of tape that I started with was too technically difficult--not so with this dvd. This isn't too difficult for a rank beginner.

I wouldn't buy this if you are looking for a dance tape: I would buy it if you want to know what you are really supposed to be doing if you are going to teach yourself bellydance without the benefit of a teacher.

Edit: After a few more viewings, I have to say that this is like a master class--watch it to see what else you pick up about technique. For really good, very basic technique, get Bellydance for Core Fitness and watch Ayshe's instructional segment. THAT is what really taught me to dance.

DVD Review: Great DVD for uncoordinated beginners
Summary: 5 Stars

The other reviews have covered many of the wonderful things about this DVD - 2 1/2 hours of instruction, separate clips on arms, hips, etc, practice sessions with voice & music or music alone, the instructor faces a mirror so you can see her front and back while she's teaching a movement. All that is great. What I love about this DVD is that I am uncoordinated, and she breaks the steps down so that I can focus on just one thing - not worrying about arm movements while trying to do hip movements. Also, in doing just a few sections, I feel much more aligned (a little like after doing yoga). Definitely was worth the investment!

DVD Review: Truth in advertising
Summary: 5 Stars

The title sums it up perfectly. This is a great place to begin the bellydance journey, as Jenna is an excellent and precise teacher. This dvd doesn't offer music, or pretty costumes, or a lot of flash. You just have Jenna breaking down the moves in a very accessible way. Wonderfully, she covers a lot of moves. I think it would be most helpful to someone who has had a bellydance class or two.

I view it as a resource that I can turn to again and again, to refresh myself about moves and proper posture.

DVD Review: Fun fun fun
Summary: 4 Stars

Being uncoordinated as I am, I have found this to be a relatively easy dance video to follow. The explanations are clear and she demonstrates the moves. I would recommend it, especially if you are a beginner who has a rough time walking and chewing gum at one time

Description of Bellydance Basics and Beyond: Technique for a Solid Foundation

Bellydance Basics & Beyond is a 2 hr. 20 min. program designed to teach the fundamental movements of bellydance and encourage their practice in a wide range of dance combinations.Jenna's methodical presentation of bellydance basics begins with POSTURE the foundation on which dance movement is built. The BASIC ARMS section teaches you how to maintain and enhance a beautiful elongated body line through graceful positioning of the arms and hands.WARMUP includes select dance moves and dynamic stretches and is designed as a light total-body workout.The FOOTWORK section lays the foundation for traveling steps focusing on a number of patterns such as basic walk 2-step and triple step traveling and ways to change directions.ISOLATIONS of shoulders ribcage and hips are building blocks of bellydance movement. Jenna breaks down slides lifts drops arcs and sharp accents. Some of these elements are dance moves in their own right and others help to form compound moves.COMPOUND MOVES are the essential vocabulary of bellydance - circles undulations and figure 8s. Jenna's technique of building them from the smallest and most basic elements up ensures that they are performed with effortless grace. Next Jenna shows how to layer simple and compound moves on top of TRAVELING steps.PRACTICE COMBINATIONS offer five 5-minute practice sessions made from many exciting bellydance combinations. As you follow Jenna you can listen to the music together with her verbal cues or you can select the music-only option. This section offers a series of excellent technique drills and can be combined with the WARMUP for a fantastic 30-minute moderate workout. The last session contains stretches and can serve as a cooldown.System Requirements:Run Time: 90 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre:?HEALTH/FITNESS UPC:?188883000109 Manufacturer No:?30122

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