Thread: Double veil DVDs?

Hey Girls,
I'm interested in starting to use double veil, and looking for DVDs on the technique. Any suggestions? Petite Jamilla's is on eBay, as is one by Joynan, but I'm not sure what they'll be like and I really want to actually belly dance with the veils, rather than just spinning (yes, yes, I know, I haven't seen too much with double veil that doesn't involve much more than spinning)......SO.....I was hoping for some suggestions, or just being pointed in the right direction if you know of someone else who has a double veil dvd out. Kamsa hamnida!

Hi, I don't have Joynan's DVD yet, but it appears she dances more with the veil. Have you seen her youtube add?
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyF8JEOUjvw]YouTube - Single & Double Veil Technique with Joynan[/ame]

I have Petite Jamila's DVD, it has a lot of spinning. I'll write down what she teaches in it, and post it here in a little while for you. She also has a youtube advertisement.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KFdzqkIu0M]YouTube - Petite Jamilla Unveiled: Double Veil Instructional DVD trailer[/ame]

If I'm not mistaken, Petite Jamila has two double veil DVD's. The earlier one, "Secrets of the Double Veil," is not particularly good and I wouldn't recommend it. I haven't seen her later one, so can't comment.

Mezdulene's Veiled Visions teaches three different styles of veil technique: single veil, double veil, and cape. Because it covers three different topics, it's really just an introduction to each. The double veil moves she teaches overlap a lot with Petite Jamila's earlier video, but Mezdulene teaches them better. There is a problem, though, with the poor production quality - she seems to have been trying for mood lighting and it was NOT a good idea.

I haven't seen the double veil videos by Aneena and Alyne. I can tell you that I have attended workshops in person taught by both, and both demonstrated excellent teaching skills in the live workshops. Based on that, I would think you're better off taking a chance on one of them rather than on Petite Jamila.

Adry used to sell a double veil video (which I haven't seen), but she has moved to Hungary so I don't know whether she still sells it or whether it's good.

I've heard Kamaal had a double veil video, but I don't know much about it. I haven't seen him teach double veil, but I've seen him perform it in person and he certainly knows what he's doing!

If one of my students asked me for an opinion, I'd steer them to Alyne or Aneena despite having not seen those videos just because I've seen them teach it in person and I know they a) Perform it well and b) Explain it well.

I've used most of these except Aeneena's, and the second one by Petite Jamila. Out of all of them, I most strongly recommend Alyne's (get both of them).
Training DVDs - Alyne Belly Dance
They're a bit cheaply produced, but her instruction is excellent. After studying them, I later got a chance to take a workshop with her. She's a sweetheart.

I think Joynan's is pretty good as another choice if you want the perspective of more than one teacher.

I have both Aneena's and 2 by Alyne. I would recommend them both.

Originally Posted by JeanneLF

I've used most of these except Aeneena's, and the second one by Petite Jamila. Out of all of them, I most strongly recommend Alyne's (get both of them).
Training DVDs - Alyne Belly Dance

Hi Jeanne,

Wow looks like you gave an amazing tip for a beginner instructional aside the double veil instructional - I just went to Alyne's website through your link and must say I am very fond of her beginner description..
any experiences with it?
Aside many mainstream videos, I have recently bought Veda Sereem's first 2 dvds, and am thinking about Zahra Zuhair s beginner and Mesmera s Garden.. would Alyna s video teach me different things?
Thanks in advance appreciate advice here on bhuz so much ,r:;

I highly recommend Aneena's .... she is Queen of the Double Veil!!!!

Sweet guys, thanks a lot! I knew there had to be more out there, I just don't have a lot of time to dig for it. I really appreciate your input!

Another recommendation, similar to Shira's, for Alyne. Haven't seen her videos, but took both her DV workshops back in the day. When a dance teacher can have ME doing new stuff right in class the very FIRST time - that says something about her instructional quality! ..g.:

Aneena really has a lot of material on her DVD, and it's much more than just spinning
I recommend!

MEISSOUN

Sorry, I didn't get a chance to watch my tapes until now.

Aneena's Double Your Veil, Double Your Pleasure with Cindy's Candle Dance begins with Aneena perfomring.
Then she goes over types of fabric, finagling/holding the veil. Posture. Etc.
The moves she teaches are: Flying (Barrel Turns); Carnation; Whip Move; Figure 8 (Scoop on Jamila's); Dome Move; Face Cover; Nancy's Mess Up Move; Flip Move with Hand in Air; X-Moves; Egg Beater; Rose.
I think Figure 8, and X-Moves were the only ones you didn't need to spin.

On Petite Jamila's new DVD she goes over spinning (she broke it down a little more than Aneena did) with Paddle Turns, Cross Step, Barrel Turn, Lunge Spin.
Scoop (Figure 8), Pillar; Strut; Unveiled (Getting in and out of your veil on Aneena's); Floating Skirt; Spiral; Blossom. She does two performances very similar to each and in the same costume. 1st Performance is filmed with close ups, and frequently camera changes like they did in the Superstars Paris one, the other one called 'Dancers Cut' is filmed a little further back, and you can see a full constant view of her dancing.

I love BOTH of the videos!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcaRK148GPk&feature=related]YouTube - Petite Jamilla Veil Dance[/ame]

All the moves Petite Jamila does in this video is on the DVD.
.22, 1:19, 2:22 (I can't rember what she called this one, sorry).
1:01 Floating Skirt, 1:42 Spiral, 2:04 Blossom.

[ame=http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=OEpOL6ukGCE]YouTube - Double veil / drum solo with MEISSOUN[/ame]

:33 Face Move (on Aneena 1st tape)

I'm definitely going to get Alyne's DVD also.

[ame=http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=EovPg4fTAOU]YouTube - Double veil practice 08.05.12[/ame]

Joynan's Veil/Double Veil Dvd does offer a lot also. She is who I learned Double Veil from years ago....she is a great instructor!
Phoenix

Originally Posted by gothique

On Petite Jamila's new DVD she goes over spinning (she broke it down a little more than Aneena did) with Paddle Turns, Cross Step, Barrel Turn, Lunge Spin.
Scoop (Figure 8), Pillar; Strut; Unveiled (Getting in and out of your veil on Aneena's); Floating Skirt; Spiral; Blossom. She does two performances very similar to each and in the same costume. 1st Performance is filmed with close ups, and frequently camera changes like they did in the Superstars Paris one, the other one called 'Dancers Cut' is filmed a little further back, and you can see a full constant view of her dancing.

I love BOTH of the videos!

Thanks for going into so much depth, Gothique, I really appreciate it. I may have to get them all...

I've never done double veil. I noticed that a lot of the veils shown are half circles and have beading/sequins on the edges. Does the weight on the edges help? Can you do it with 2 rectangle veils? Looks beautiful.

Alcina is on the 1998 Belly dance pageant video, dancing with rectangles, it looked awesome!
She did have sequins all the way around them.
I'm just learning.
I use 2-1/2 by 45 inch tissue lame' half circles, no trim, and chiffon without trim. Chiffon might be easier with the trim.
Some are cut eliptically. *Shira* has how to cut eliptical ones out, on her website.
I forgot exactly what Petite Jamila said in her video, I think she said hers are 3 yards long, and 2-1/2 yards deep (I'll have to check again).
Hers are heavy tricot (?), with a lame' trim all around the edges.

I used a three thread rolled hem on the straight part of the veil (you can feel the raised edge), and a 3 thread flat serged edge on the rounded edge, and straight stitch the round edge with my machine to make sure the serged edge doesn't get pulled out.
I probably should fold the edge in, and give it more weight...thinking about it.
So far, I haven't had a problem without a folded hem, or sequin trim.
I did trim my chiffon ones with tissue lame binding...and I hated it, so I took it off.

Originally Posted by KelsNasim

I've never done double veil. I noticed that a lot of the veils shown are half circles and have beading/sequins on the edges. Does the weight on the edges help? Can you do it with 2 rectangle veils? Looks beautiful.

When you're brand-new to double veil, use tissue lame fabric, means make complete half circles (not half ovals), even if that means piecing it so that there's a seam. Sew wide (1 inch or wide) sequin trim on the curved edge, and sew narrow (one sequin wide) sequins on the straight edge.

Once you can dance with confidence with veils that match my description above, then you can experiment with other fabrics, rectangles, etc. But the style of veil I described above is the very easiest to use for double veil.

Shira, Could you explain the difference between half oval and half circle for me? (It sounds like such a dumb question but I am having a really hard time picturing it)
Thanks!

No I was not adressed Mahsima, nor do I know ANYTHING about veils except for my "Normal" beginner veil I have not even checkd for circular or square form features (rarely used :)

But I was thinking a circle is what you d have in mind at first I bet - cut it in half and imagine the lower half.
Then picture an ellipse:
Ellipse – Wikipedia

The first drawing below the table of contents (dont worry about the text, I am just intending to show the very first graph :)
well if you cut it in half and look at the lower half it will be "vaster" to the sides than the half circle..

the half circle you could draw yourself with the compass, for the half ellipse you d need those curve lineals (and lots of patience) if
you remember math class :))
did that help?
If this was not your question or my amateur "veiler" opinion is plain wrong, please correct me :)

Thanks Dinavienna, I think it makes things a little clearer for me. I need all the help I can get! I was bad at math. Hahaha.

Originally Posted by Mahsima

Shira, Could you explain the difference between half oval and half circle for me? (It sounds like such a dumb question but I am having a really hard time picturing it)
Thanks!

First the short explanation: A half circle is, well, half of a circle. A half oval is half of an oval.

Now, as it applies to double veils...

The only way for a veil to be half of a circle is if the width is fully half that of the length. In other words, if the veil is 3 yards long, it needs to be 1 1/2 yards (54 inches) wide in order to be a half circle. If it's any narrower, it's not a half circle.

Most fabrics in the U.S. are sold as 44-45 inches wide. Such fabrics are too narrow to accommodate a half circle for a 3-yard veil, although they're perfect for a 2.5-yard veil. The only way to make a 3-yard veil made from such a fabric is to cut it a special way (either several pie wedges or by piecing the widest section).

Most people don't want to bother with the extra effort that goes into making a half circle from a 45-inch fabric, so they just saw off the corners of the narrow rectangle and (erroneously) call it a half-circle. These sawed-off rectangles don't move very well for the type of one-handed technique required by double veil.

Does this help?

It does help very much. Thank You!

hmmm I did feel silly with the math explanation :)
only I was lacking words for describing the forms in English..
plus whatever I d said would have been form- and not veil-related, as I can for sure not compete with the expertise on veil props here, especially by Shira :D

Does anyone know what type of fabric the shiny veil is in Joynan's video?
It looks like liquid lame not tissue (which can be stiff)?

Yet another recommendation for Alyne's DVDs. I have them both, and they are really an encyclopedia of double veil moves. Alyne is very good at explaining the technique and she gives lots of tips on spinning, fabric choices etc.
Also, if you have a chance to study with her, by all means do it. I got the DVDs after attending 2 workshops and 2 private classes with her. I just couldn't get used to the idea of not being able to continue studying with her (I moved back to Israel from the SF Bay Area)

Alyne is AWESOME! I studied with her the summer I lived in San Jose, and had a private lesson on double veil. She is a great instructor! I've never seen her DVDs but I'm sure they are great.