World Famous Comics: Bellydance Basics and Beyond: Technique for a Solid Foundation
Bellydance Basics and Beyond: Technique for a Solid Foundation
Starring: Jenna Directed By: Jenna Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: DVD Format: Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC Label: StratoStream - WorldDance New York Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product. Number of Items: 1 Release Date: September 26, 2006 Running Time: 140 minutes Theatrical Release Date: 2006
Product Description: 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
Technique, technique, technique 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.
Great DVD for uncoordinated beginners 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!
Truth in advertising 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.
Fun fun fun 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
New to Belly Dancing Ok. I listened to all the reviews and selected this DVD to help me learn a good foundation for the movements in belly dance. I am completely new to belly dance and started at first with the Discover Bellydance DVDs by Veena and Neena. They were an inexpensive trio of DVDs that gave me some dances and movements and are very fun at first. But I keep going back to Jenna's DVD as I progress because she is really helping me get stronger and helping me to learn the isolations, posture and basics that make all the other things really work. One thing that is working for me is Jenna's explanation of good posture. I really need to protect my back. Jenna shows you how. Doing Jenna's DVD is preparing my body so I'm ready to take on more. Bellydance has become my favorite exercise. I love the way the DVD is sectioned off so I can easily go right to the part I want in each workout. There's so much on here that I rarely see the whole DVD in one sitting. I was so inspired that I got Jenna's other DVDs too: Bellydane the Next Level, and The Heartbeat of Bellydance. They are just as good. Now, I'm inspired to take up the drumming.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Not Available Comics
Trevor
