Thread: Question for teachers on Beginning student DVD's

Hi,

This question is for those teachers who have been teaching for awhile. I often have students asking which beginning DVD's or videos are good for them to watch and practice with in between classes or if they have to take a break from classes for awhile due to work schedules...etc. I am happy to have so many students so eager to advance their knowledge! I have had a very short list I have handed out but would like to add onto it and revise it. What DVD's or videos do any of you recommend to your students in the early stages?

I should clarify that I am loking for looking for Oriental style. It does not mattter whether it is classical or American Cabaret style.

Thanks to all in advance,

Lisa

Cassandra's is supposed to be quite good. Hadia's Ultimate Belly Dance System is good but I do think it might be better if you already have some BD experience, not because the moves are so very hard or anything, but because you need quite good body awareness IMO when you are working with her stuff - the way she generates her moves are different to how I was taught.

A UK teacher called Galit has just brought out a very simple, straightforward beginners DVD which I think is really good.

The production quality isn't IAMED (there's some annoying traffic noise in the background at times) but what I like about it is that she teaches each move and then drills it for a fair time so they can really practice it. Best of all, you can jump to straight to the drills section, so you don't have to sit through the explanations each time.

she covers a lot more moves than in the other beginners DVDs I've seen and I think it is much more geared to beginners than a lot of them. (for example IMO Jilllina's level one is definitely not a beginners DVD)

You can order the DVD from Galit's website www.galitmersand.com

Originally Posted by sunshine

A UK teacher called Galit has just brought out a very simple, straightforward beginners DVD which I think is really good.

The production quality isn't IAMED (there's some annoying traffic noise in the background at times) but what I like about it is that she teaches each move and then drills it for a fair time so they can really practice it. Best of all, you can jump to straight to the drills section, so you don't have to sit through the explanations each time.

she covers a lot more moves than in the other beginners DVDs I've seen and I think it is much more geared to beginners than a lot of them. (for example IMO Jilllina's level one is definitely not a beginners DVD)

You can order the DVD from Galit's website www.galitmersand.com

Just gone and bought it thanks.
Like Lisa Michelle, I am in that boat and I have often been disappointed by so called beginner DVDS and none really completely fits the bill or has poor film quality so I don't like to recommend the. EG one UK double DVD I recently bought from eBay very cheaply. Tuition OK film quality blerghhhh. Then there is the notorious dancer who resides in my area. nuff said... I really would like to recommend a UK DVD but I present I go with the IAMED beginner ones with Paulina as the quality is so good and ditto with the twins. I have old videos and one from a lady called Tejal which I still rate..I used these along with my first classes but I don't think she has ever updated them and that's what the better known UK ones really need doing is totally updating and refilming because some of those have a lot to offer the beginner.
Anyway Galit send me those DVDs..good price too, Sunshine...g.:

I have this dilemma too, and have watched a lot of beginner DVDs, hoping to find one that I liked so that I wouldn't have to make one myself! Many of them are dreadful and don't explain how to do the move at all. The one I really like is by Virginia, available through Hollywood Music. Her explanations of the basics are very clear.

Veena and Neena seem to have very effective DVDs. When I get new students who haven't had classes but have only used DVDs, the ones who have used the bellytwins really seem to have a good grasp of the basics.

This is a great thread! I shouldn't have bothered looking at all those DVDs myself, I should have just asked my fellow Bhuzzers! (Actually, though, I began this research BB -- Before Bhuz.)

Not a teacher but wanted to second the Virginia DVDs as excellent for clearly teaching the basics of Raks Sharqi. If a friend asks me to teach her bellydance, I lend out these two DVDs instead.

Originally Posted by bintbeled

I have this dilemma too, and have watched a lot of beginner DVDs, hoping to find one that I liked so that I wouldn't have to make one myself!

Ditto! So far the only beginner DVDs I'd want to recommend to my students are out of the price range of a beginner -- they expect to pay about $10-20 for a DVD, based on their life experience so far. Advanced students start understanding you have to pay more. I liked Nourhan Sharif's (though it had one big ole error in it somewhere, IIRC) but it was pricey. I haven't seen Hadia's but wouldn't hesitate to recommend anything of hers -- but don't you have to buy the set for $99? Even I balk at that.

I'll have to check out Virginia's, she's a student of the Sharifs and I like their technique.

My students sometimes ask me to make videos available for them -- drills to practice at home and choreographies. I could do that with my home video camera -- the advantage would be that they'd be able to go over things exactly as we do them in class and sales would help support the studio. But yeeeeeesh, I'd live in terror that my little homemade vids would make it out into the market & be judged by pro standards someday.

"Jenna's Bellydance Basics and Beyond" is a really great DVD for beginners, she goes over a lot in 2 hours. There's a review here:
http://www.gildedserpent.com/art39/monet%20REVjenna.htm

Michelle Morrison's video Joyous Laughter, Volume 1: Belly Dance Basics with Michelle is one that I recommend to my students. It starts with a review of technique, and then moves into an 18-minute practice session. Sold on her web site at www.farfesha.com

For drilling, I also like Bellydance Fitness for Beginners: Basic Moves by Veena and Neena. The explanations are more superficial than Michelle's video, but it's good for students who don't have the patience to review technique, and just want to get up and drill.

These videos, plus some of the others mentioned on this thread, are reviewed on my web site at www.shira.net/videocenter-alpha.htm

i sell arms and standing steps in a 2 pack.$35.00
www.bellydancingbyzamoras.com

These are some great ideas! I am going to make a list...maybe divide it between media for beginners with the basics under their hip belts as opposed to those who have had very little training yet.

Keep the ideas coming!..g.:

Lisa

Originally Posted by Lisa Michelle

These are some great ideas! I am going to make a list...maybe divide it between media for beginners with the basics under their hip belts as opposed to those who have had very little training yet.

Keep the ideas coming!..g.:

Lisa

Lisa, if you're wanting to include ideas for videos to use after outgrowing the ones for raw beginners, I'd like to suggest Suzanna Del Vecchio's Precision Motion Workout. It's more intermediate in level, but once someone has outgrown 2-3 of the beginner-level ones, they could probably handle it. It starts with 60 minutes of instruction in technique, then goes on to offer a 30-minute drill/review session. More detail in my review on my web site at www.shira.net/videocenter-alpha.htm

Great question.

Cost is a factor for many of my students, as well. I can't justify recommending a $50 video to them when they have had only a few months of classes. I also admit that am not a big instructional video fan when it comes to my own education--I get way more out of watching performance clips of dancers. I just do my best to recommend a few with a range of prices and to tell them what I like about each.

One great solution--my local library has several belly dance instructional videos! Last I checked they have a few from Neena and Veena, an Alexandra King, and one of Atea's. I love being able to recommend the library as a source to try out a video before buying, and they are all pretty solid offerings.

I have thought about recommending/requesting other titles to my library, as well. But do try your own area libraries, maybe there is something there for beginner students.

M.

Originally Posted by lizajuk

Anyway Galit send me those DVDs..good price too, Sunshine...g.:

Liza and Sunshine...how available is this DVD in the USA? I am not really familiar with this dancer.

Thanks,

Lisa

Originally Posted by Nepenthe

Not a teacher but wanted to second the Virginia DVDs as excellent for clearly teaching the basics of Raks Sharqi. If a friend asks me to teach her bellydance, I lend out these two DVDs instead.

Hi Nepenthe,

What about the "Bellydance One-on-One: Complete Combinations & Choreography with Virginia?" Was that a beginner type DVD too? It sounds more advanced than her other one?

Thanks,

Lisa

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I liked Nourhan Sharif's (though it had one big ole error in it somewhere, IIRC) but it was pricey.

Hi Lauren,

Are you referring to, "Introduction-Bellydance-Technique by Nourhan Sharif?" What was the error you referred to? It would be good to know more about it before recommending this to my students. I have all of Nourhan's videos but not this one.

Thanks for your help,

Lisa

Originally Posted by *Shira*

Michelle Morrison's video Joyous Laughter, Volume 1: Belly Dance Basics with Michelle is one that I recommend to my students. It starts with a review of technique, and then moves into an 18-minute practice session. Sold on her web site at www.farfesha.com

For drilling, I also like Bellydance Fitness for Beginners: Basic Moves by Veena and Neena. The explanations are more superficial than Michelle's video, but it's good for students who don't have the patience to review technique, and just want to get up and drill.

These videos, plus some of the others mentioned on this thread, are reviewed on my web site at www.shira.net/videocenter-alpha.htm

Thanks Shira for the clarification of the two. I do get both types of students. I am trying to compile a list that can incorporate different beginners' needs.

Lisa

Originally Posted by Monica

Great question.

Cost is a factor for many of my students, as well. I can't justify recommending a $50 video to them when they have had only a few months of classes. I also admit that am not a big instructional video fan when it comes to my own education--I get way more out of watching performance clips of dancers. I just do my best to recommend a few with a range of prices and to tell them what I like about each.

One great solution--my local library has several belly dance instructional videos! Last I checked they have a few from Neena and Veena, an Alexandra King, and one of Atea's. I love being able to recommend the library as a source to try out a video before buying, and they are all pretty solid offerings.

I have thought about recommending/requesting other titles to my library, as well. But do try your own area libraries, maybe there is something there for beginner students.

M.

Hi Monica,

I am with you on the cost issue. I know some of the best DVD's are not always the least expensive and hate to suggest them to anyone who isn't really serious about the dance.

Thanks for the library idea..I see that they have a couple of the twin's DVD's.


Lisa

Originally Posted by Lisa Michelle

Hi Lauren,

Are you referring to, "Introduction-Bellydance-Technique by Nourhan Sharif?" What was the error you referred to? It would be good to know more about it before recommending this to my students. I have all of Nourhan's videos but not this one.

Thanks for your help,

Lisa

I wish I could remember, I don't have my copy any more. Maybe I was mistaken, because I've never seen anyone else mention it. But there was a part (when she was teaching 3/4 shimmies, maybe?) where she says one thing on the voiceover but is actually doing something else. Or was it that she did the move one way when she did it slowly, but the fast movement was actually something different?

Sorry, I'm not much help, I just can't remember. It wasn't a huge deal, though, and overall it's an excellent beginner video. Except for being a bit pricey.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I wish I could remember, I don't have my copy any more. Maybe I was mistaken, because I've never seen anyone else mention it. But there was a part (when she was teaching 3/4 shimmies, maybe?) where she says one thing on the voiceover but is actually doing something else. Or was it that she did the move one way when she did it slowly, but the fast movement was actually something different?

Sorry, I'm not much help, I just can't remember. It wasn't a huge deal, though, and overall it's an excellent beginner video. Except for being a bit pricey.

Actually, that did help Lauren. I would agree it sounds like no big deal and that was the most important thing to me. ..g.:

Thanks,

Lisa

I highly recommend A'isha Azar's "Fundamentals of Egyptian Belly Dance" which teaches basic movements along with Egyptian styling. A'isha's teaching is clear and well presented. It's a great practice presentation for beginning students for both learning and practice.
Disclaimer - The music on this DVD is from my CD "Golden Days, Enchanting Nights" - however, I would recommend this DVD, regardless of the source of the music!

In my experience, most beginners don't want to spend much. www.amazon.com has quite a lot of affordable dance DVD now with reviews of what buyers thought. You might want to check there for ideas.

I'm a dance DVD junkie, so I bought a lot of beginner DVDs when I was starting out. My favorite of the bunch was "This Is Your Hip 101" by Mahisha. It doesn't have a fancy set or music, but the content is solid. She introduces a lot more moves than I saw in any other beginner video, and she explains them very well. She starts from the very beginning--i.e., proper dance posture, and literally, "this is your hip"--and over the course of about 90 minutes, she progresses to more difficult moves like camels and 3/4 shimmies. So it's a video that a student can grow with, and continue to find value in for a while. Even though when I was starting out, I couldn't do many of the moves toward the end of the video, it was nice to see what kinds of things I could look forward to learning if I stuck with my classes.

I got lucky and stumbled across a DVD copy on eBay, but the only place I've seen it commercially available is on VHS at ShimmyShimmy: http://www.shimmyshimmy.com/cgi-bin/...&category=VDEO

Originally Posted by nimah

My favorite of the bunch was "This Is Your Hip 101" by Mahisha. It doesn't have a fancy set or music, but the content is solid.

I agree, Mahisha did a great job with this video. I really liked it when I reviewed it. (For those who may be curious, the review is on my web site at www.shira.net/videocenter-alpha.htm ).

Originally Posted by Lisa Michelle

Thanks for the library idea..I see that they have a couple of the twin's DVD's.


Lisa

Netflix has a bunch of instructional DVDs too-pretty sure they have Neena and Veena, and they have everything from BDSS.

By the way, since we're talking about low-price videos that are sold through mass-market sources such as Amazon, I would advise AGAINST Dolphina's videos. Her "Intro to Bellydance" one is dreadful because the camera stays mostly focused on her face and breasts, which doesn't help much at all when she's teaching a hip circle. It has other issues too, but in the interest of keeping this message short I won't go into them. Her "Finger Cymbals" one is not useful at all for learning rhythms.

I actually like her "Warrior Goddess" and "Veils" videos as exercise videos - I think she did a good job with both of those. But I wouldn't recommend them to my students for review of dance technique or drills.

I just got a copy of Virginia's Bellydance One-On-One: Essential Technique (mentioned earlier in thread), and I think it's really good - I'm going to recommend it to my beginner students. Well filmed and clearly explained. I like that she's talking to you, rather than a voice-over, as she has an engaging and encouraging personality. I think it's good value in terms of content and cost.

I also looked at the BDSS Introduction to Bellydance. It's not bad. Very basic (ideal for novices), again, well explained. I found the presentation a little bland - voice overs and inexpressive faces, and was disappointed that there was no bonus performance footage. Still, not a bad choice.

I also like Instrucitonal Bellydance With Jillina. Level 1 is not absolute basics - I'd recommend it for students with at least 6 months under their hip-belt. It's different to the other vids in that she covers technique briefly, then practices combinations which then form a routine. So it's good for adding variety to home-practice.

I love buying DVDs for my students. It means I can go shopping without ultimately having to use my own money!

Originally Posted by badriya_al_ahmar

Netflix has a bunch of instructional DVDs too-pretty sure they have Neena and Veena, and they have everything from BDSS.

I would never have thought of this since we don't have a netflix account.

Thank you!

Lisa

P.S. I am getting a great list...thanks to all!

Zahra Zuhair's Beginning is FAB. Repetition, great breakdown of movemnents, and just a inspiration to dance.

Originally Posted by teakpeek

Zahra Zuhair's Beginning is FAB. Repetition, great breakdown of movemnents, and just a inspiration to dance.

You are right, I do like her. I have her more advanced DVD.

Thanks! ..g.:

Lisa