Discover Bellydance: Basic Dance
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DVD details
Actor: Neena Bidasha, Veena BidashaDirector: n/a
Brand: Goldhil Entertainment
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 45 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-01-21
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Cerebellum Corporation
DVD Reviews of Discover Bellydance: Basic Dance
DVD Review: Incredibly overrated!
Summary: 2 Stars
The reason why I decided to buy this DVD to begin with is that I saw a chapter from it on Fitness On Demand. Out of curiousity I tried it out and back at that time I thought it was perfect. Later when I decided I want to start learning bellydance at home (since there was no instructor available where I live) this DVD was the obvious choice.
Only by accident I got it after the other DVD I had purchased which is Neon's Crash Course. When I had some very basic experience and another DVD to compare, I was dismayed.
These are the reasons why:
- The DVD is very short. It's 45 minutes only. They don't show a lot of moves. When you ask anyone at intermediate level what they consider "bellydance basics", they will give you 4 times as many moves. Some of those are included in the other 2 DVDs Neena and Veena made (Beyond Basic Dance and Mystic Dance) but still what they show here is quite insufficient
- The DVD will only give you a very slight idea of what bellydance is like. If you find it to your taste, expect that in a few weeks you'll be spending more cash on DVDs.
- When I first tried the hip drops / hip lifts I did them the way the twins did them. That's leaning back. As I result I badly hurt my back. They don't make a point about this and only when I compared with other instructional sets I noticed it's not an essential component of the move and it can be done without the leaning. I saw a reviewer say that one of the twins leans back more to show how to make the move harder. First of all this is NOT a workout video and someone with a weak back like me is exposed to the risk of getting a bad injury on her first dance class at home.
- Only later when I had more experience I was able to understand they basically waste their double potential. They are identical twins and they dance the same style, in the same way. They both do the same moves facing you and it would have looked no different if an editor mirrored the movements of only one of the sisters. Instead one of the twins could dance with her back turned to you so you could see how it looks the other way. Pure waste of potential.
- Speaking of instruction, they hardly instruct you. There isn't enough explanation given especially since only a beginner would be watching this and a beginner needs more pointers. Instead you watch and copy.
Okay, this set does have a merits, these being
- Quality is high. The room is nice, with the right atmoshere, with a lot of light, everything can be seen.
- A couple of decent performances at the end.
- Audio options are great (see description of the product)
- If you care for beautiful teachers, you can see two of them.
- There is lots of repetition.
I was wondering if I wanted to give this DVD 3 stars instead because I was inspired by it when I saw it first on cable TV. Two friends of mine liked it a lot (but neither had any prior bellydance experience). However, when they learned a few things and then borrowed a few more DVDs from my collection, they compared and wholeheartedly agreed with my point of view.
You probably would prefer to pass on this DVD:
- If you already have any previous bellydance experience. You probably won't see anything new here.
- If you already have an idea of belly dance and are determinded to learn. If you opt for this video make sure to buy another set as well or have in mind you'll need one in one or two weeks.
- If you get bored easily. The action is slow.
- You don't insist on outstanding production quality and prefer quality of instruction.
- If you are a complete beginner and you know you don't learn well without detailed verbal instruction.
- If are looking for a workout.
This DVD may be good for you if you have no prior belly dance experience and you want to find out what it feels like to do a bunch of basic moves, without spending too much of your money.
For anyone with more than a passing interest, I recommend checking out Jehan's Sacred Dance instead of this DVD or the 3-piece set. I have written a very detailed review for that one here on amazon. I own about 15 instructional videos by now and Basic Dance is now at the bottom of my chart, especially in comparison to the other products available on the market. Make sure that before you purchase this DVD you have checked your other options.
Description of Discover Bellydance: Basic Dance
Studio: Cerebellum Corporation Release Date: 01/21/2003Jazz Music CDs
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