Thread: DVD review advice

debating between these two:
any recommendations?
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Bellydance-One-One-Combinations-Choreography/dp/B000HEZF22]Amazon.com: Bellydance One-on-One: Complete Combinations & Choreography: Bellydance One-on-One: Movies & TV[/ame]
or
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Belly-Dance-Balance-Jewels-Desert/dp/B000MZHUK6]Amazon.com: Belly Dance For Balance: Amira Mor & The Jewels Of The Desert, Amira Mor: Movies & TV[/ame]

I know they aren't really comparable, but I'm just curious if either one of them are worth it? I have sword and have experience dancing with it, but would like some more help... I consider myself an advanced student, so I don't need beginners moves either.
Just curious if any of you have watched either of these and your thoughts!
Thanks!

I have watched the first one - Complete Combinations & Choreography with Virginia. Netflix has it. She doesn't teach actual moves, just combinations to put together for the song "My Music Intro". (It seems that the names she uses for some of the moves come from another DVD she instructs.)

I like it for the aspect of seeing what Virginia does with that particular piece of music, what she does with the sections, etc. As with any choreography, part of the benefit is moving to the music over and over, so that when you've gone through the whole thing, you know the music really well, whether you want to use the choreography as is, expand on it, change it completely, or use it as a springboard for structured improv.

thanks kiyaana! I have free borders bucks and I want to use them on something for dance. I get all my books at the library :)

I own the Virginia DVD but have not yet had a chance to watch through it. I did watch the performance piece which I enjoyed.

I own several Amira Mor dvd's which I purchased at ross. The quality has been generally poor and sometimes distracting. She usually does not discribe the moves but runs through the routine like you would aerobics ( I lead, you follow). I did though enjoy her cario shimmy dvd. For the price I paid at Ross I would say a few of them were worth it, more to get ideas for warm ups and short combos. I don't think I would purchase it full price though. Any dvd can be hit or miss though. Maybe this one is different since a little more specialized. And it is a newer release so maybe the quality is improved....now I'm curious.

I like the Virginia DVD, but I have a few critiques of it as a DVD. You run through the combinations in order, but you never repeat them. I think at the very end, your only chance to run through the whole choreography is to do it with Virginia in costume. I would like it if there was combination practice, then the choreography in order, repeating previous sections, like on the Jillina DVDs.

I have the Amira Mor one and I don't particularly recommend it. I have never seen any of her others so I can't comment on whether the quality has improved from her previous ones. She talks constantly but somehow manages to never really explain what she is doing. I usually put it on mute and just follow along to some of the moves. It has been a long time since I've watched it so I don't really feel like I can give an adequate review but I'd say you probably don't want to pay full price for it. I hope this helps.

...

I have yet to see a "sword" video that really instructs you, the ones I have just give advice on how to pick a sword and how to use it, get a nice little groove in your head, etc. Amira Mor's shows a routine, but like someone said above, she just goes through the moves, doesn't explain or make suggestions. I still can't imagine rolling from side to side on the floor with a sword on my head, no matter how many times I watch it!

I think with sword you're just kind of on your own as far as videos are concerned. You gotta learn the balance part on your own, and anything you see on a video you just have to practice to get up to. One piece of advice, be it sword or tray... get the pets out of the way!