Thread: Your favorite beginner bellydance DVDs

In another thread re: teaching, Shira suggested that you look at beginner bellydance DVDs to study how those instructors teach moves, develop them into combos, choreos, etc. As I'm about to begin teaching, I would like to study up.

If you could, please post your favorite beginner bellydance DVDs. I want to make sure I have a good number of DVDs to study.

Thanks!

Jenna's Beyond Basics is my absolute favorite (and probably the most comprehensive one I have seen). I am looking forward to her new one coming out soon!

Seconding Jenna! Of the videos I've seen, her explanations come closest to the way I was taught, and that technical foundation has served me really well. Also important: my recollection is that she does everything safely, unlike some other beginner videos that use questionable posture, stretching techniques, etc.

I really like Virginia's One-on-One, available through Hollywood Music.

I've actually been collecting a bunch of beginner instructionals, 1) to see if there might be a better way to explain or break down basic moves; and 2) in hopes that I could fine a good one to recommend to my students, so I wouldn't have to make my own. ..l;, Unfortunately, most of them aren't very good. They don't really explain how to do the moves, and they mostly only present the information in one way, which doesn't account for different learning styles.

I have said it before and I will say it again, Bellytwins. There basic moves video brakes down the movement so you know where to pull, push, put weight on and all that. I really like there whole beginners set.

Oh....and I know it is kind of a stupid one but bellydancers for dummies went nice and slow for those who are having a hard time catching on.

Amira's Belly Dance 101. You can order it through her website Amira - International Emissary of Dance
Great Video - good pace - good explanation of moves. Amira is on of our amazing instructors that will be teaching at the 6th Annual Las Vegas Bellydance Intensive.

Originally Posted by Amaryllis

Amira's Belly Dance 101. You can order it through her website Amira - International Emissary of Dance
Great Video - good pace - good explanation of moves. Amira is on of our amazing instructors that will be teaching at the 6th Annual Las Vegas Bellydance Intensive.

I second Amira's DVD!
(She's my teacher!) It really is an excellent resource for beginners.

The Art of Bellydance series by IAMED (with Paulina as the instructor) has good beginner-level instruction. There are reviews of all three on my web site at Belly Dancing: Shira's Reviews of Instructional Videos, Alphabetical List

Thank you, ladies! Keep 'em coming!

Originally Posted by Amaryllis

Amira's Belly Dance 101. You can order it through her website Amira - International Emissary of Dance
Great Video - good pace - good explanation of moves. Amira is on of our amazing instructors that will be teaching at the 6th Annual Las Vegas Bellydance Intensive.

I also love this DVD. Good explanation of different shimmies!

I really like Jillina's Instructional Bellydance series. They will need to do their own warm-up (it lets you know when you start to warm up before going into her stretches), but the levels are (I think) appropriately labelled, and the moves are broken down well. The material goes fast, though, so they'll need their remotes in hand at first. There's some nice, simple combos and choreography that still looks really nice. Another bonus is the price. It won't break your baby bellies' wallets.

I just started working with Sensual Bellydance as well, though it's more advanced beginner, I think. It also needs additional warm-up time (there's some stretching that I feel is too early in the warm-up), but if your goal is to see how another instructor puts their combos together, she has a really nice progression to her instruction. She begins with individual moves and starts with the footwork only, then adds the hips, then adds the arms. She does the same with travelling steps, then very short (as in two travelling moves at most) combos. The instruction is in two sections, one focusing on technique and the other focusing on getting the movements to flow better. Then comes the choreography, for which she offers not only instruction in the combos but practice sections for the footwork, hip-work, and arms separately and then for the whole of it.

Another good one for advanced beginners (and up) is Keti Sharif's A-Z Bellydance. I found the combos a great way to help get me out of the rut of doing just one or two moves when free dancing (which I was especially self-conscious of as a baby belly).

Originally Posted by Linnyg

Oh....and I know it is kind of a stupid one but bellydancers for dummies went nice and slow for those who are having a hard time catching on.

Um, what is the exact title of this video? I couldn't find it through Googling.

spiced

Nourhan Sharif presents an Introduction to Bellydance Technique.

My vote is definately for Jenna! Her beginner foundations DVD is great. She doesn't teach the glute squeezes (to execution hipwork/Suhaila Salimpour technique) which I am a fan and supporter of, but I love her stuff. She gives great explainations, in detail. Lots of valuable info as far as safety and protecting the low back. I also love her drum solo DVD and her newest one for intermediate and advanced dancers!!

Originally Posted by Linnyg

Oh....and I know it is kind of a stupid one but bellydancers for dummies went nice and slow for those who are having a hard time catching on.

Do you mean Bellydance for Wimps? If so, I'd have to say I think that one is really poor. The way she explains things is NOT the way she actually does them, and the explanations aren't particularly clear, either. For folks who like a slower, more methodical pace, the 3-part Paulina series from IAMED (Art of Bellydance) is much better.

More votes from me for Virginia's One-On-One and Amira's Bellydance 101. IAMED's beginner bellydance series is good, too, but I find their DVDs too pricey.

I love Amira's video too. I'm biased cuz she's a friend, but truly...it's a good video too.

I have not watched instructional videos for a while, but I recall really appreciating Kathryn Ferguson's Introduction video. I have it around here...somewhere...and will check it out to see if it has held up.

Edited to add: Bellydance Instruction DVD & Video - Mid-Eastern Dance: an Introduction to Belly Dance

I second the IAMED dvds and for us over here in the UK the best DVD I have seen is Galit Mersand's even though stylistically she isn;t always what I am used to . I hope one day an organisation such as JWAAD will put one out. I am not a structure freak but it certainly would do the groundwork for a beginner.
But once I get past the perfect bodies and smiles Veena and Neena won't do any one any harm.
I do wish a real Egyptian Egyptian dancer would bring out a good quality DVD for basics and have clips of good dancers over there in between instruction. The love the Raqia teahces but price and quality leave a lot to be desired.
It's getting that balance and I tell students to go for clarity and that means I end up with IAMED.

Originally Posted by lizajuk

The love the Raqia teahces but price and quality leave a lot to be desired.
It's getting that balance and I tell students to go for clarity and that means I end up with IAMED.

I confess I have only seen one and that was enough. It was the turquiose satin lycra leggings one with the baggy T-shirt. All of it was terrible. Why do people sit back and allow themselves to be ripped off? I see it some much with this dance and people rarely question it.

Originally Posted by spicedjellybeans

Um, what is the exact title of this video? I couldn't find it through Googling.

spiced

Sorry I didn't see you ask the question. It is "Wimps Series: Bellydance for Wimps".

Originally Posted by caroline_afifi

I confess I have only seen one and that was enough. It was the turquiose satin lycra leggings one with the baggy T-shirt. All of it was terrible. Why do people sit back and allow themselves to be ripped off? I see it some much with this dance and people rarely question it.

I think I saw part of this one - maybe on an Ultimate Combos. I really didn't like the baggy tshirt with leggings as something to teach in - it made it more difficult to see the moves. But I did wonder if there were cultural/personal reasons that this teacher decided to wear such baggy clothing.

Usually IAMED videos show someone wearing velvet leggings and a velvet choli - not always the most flattering to everyone - but it's consistent.

Amar Gamal wears hot stuff in her videos. And Jillina's new videos (not for beginners) - REALLY great clothes.

Hello Toya,

I created two beginner dvds called Belly Dancing for Every Woman. I'd be happy to send you volume 1 and 2 as a gift for your collection. If anyone else would like copies, I'll send out 9 additional sets.

Sabra* a.k.a. Michelle*

Belly Dancing for Every Woman
Goddess Hour Dance and Fitness Studio

Originally Posted by Sabra26

Hello Toya,

I created two beginner dvds called Belly Dancing for Every Woman. I'd be happy to send you volume 1 and 2 as a gift for your collection. If anyone else would like copies, I'll send out 9 additional sets.

Sabra* a.k.a. Michelle*

Belly Dancing for Every Woman
Goddess Hour Dance and Fitness Studio

I'd love a set.

...

I would love a set as well if you are still offering! I will PM you as well.

I HATE Veena and Neena. They are short (the dvds) and their posture is appalling. I hurt my back just demonstrating posture to a friend. Although there are 2 of them, they don't show different angles, or less extreme versions of the move. Also IMO they move more like fitness instructors than dancers. I suppose that if you feel the need to learn a routine, they're not too bad. I prefer to practice technique with a nice bit of drilling.
For me, it's Jenna every time. There is SO much content, including different footwork. No choreography as such but 4 short workouts which string the moves together in interesting ways, so you get 40 mins of moving to music.
Just got new one but haven't started with that yet. Maybe will post a new thread about moving on dvds when I have.
Potato aka jenpercy aka jenc (must work out why I keep getting rejected)

I love a set too Sabra, I'll pm you. I recommend the bellytwins dvd's to my students because they're cheap and available in stores. Most of the other dvd's mentioned in this thread are not very easy to come by in the Netherlands.

Originally Posted by mekyria

I recommend the bellytwins dvd's to my students because they're cheap and available in stores. Most of the other dvd's mentioned in this thread are not very easy to come by in the Netherlands.

I order mine from Amazon.com (US) as this is often cheaper than ordering from UK. I don't know if this appplies to NL. Jenna has a website for direct ordering ::: BeyondBellydance ::: Jenna ::: Venture beyond your expectations with bellydancer Jenna's solo performances and group belly dance classes; based in Manhattan, Jenna is available for Middle Eastern dance workshops and private lessons as well.. Also US but supports dancer and is same price as Amazon

Originally Posted by Sabra26

Hello Toya,

I created two beginner dvds called Belly Dancing for Every Woman. I'd be happy to send you volume 1 and 2 as a gift for your collection. If anyone else would like copies, I'll send out 9 additional sets.

Sabra* a.k.a. Michelle*

Belly Dancing for Every Woman
Goddess Hour Dance and Fitness Studio

I would love a set too! Always looking for something to recommend to my students.

Latifa