Thread: Jenna's Next Level vs Michelle's Drills Drills Drills! reviews & opinions WANTED :)

helloo
im planning to get a new DVD that will take my dancing to "the next level". My teacher has stopped teaching us new moves in class, so ill need a dvd that will *nearly* replace a live instructor for beyond-basic moves. I'm interested in Jenna's Next Level & Michelle's Drills! Drills! Drills! dvd, but which one is better?!?!?
opinions and reviews more than welcome!

I have both and like them for different things. I think that you could benefit from both but in different ways. Jenna's is more "all-purpose" with a little bit of everything, a little bit of layering moves, some good combinations, turns and a focus on stylization. It's a bit more choreography oriented.

Michelle Joyce's is exactly what it says, Drills. Hers is better if you are wanting to do practice on specific isolations, layering and with zills. It is less "dancey" if that makes sense.

I think the Michelle Joyce gives me a better "workout" than the Jenna one, it has much more content.

Hope that helps.

Ohh.. sorry to say I do not yet own Drillsx3!
I can warmly recommend Mala's amazon and blog entries to both dvds.
OnJenna's next level she has a looonng blog thread
malabhargava.com

I have Next Level, but have not worked with it. The upper body part is amazing - moves put together, shimmies layered over all kinds of movements.. the lower body work also looks veery intricate. it s all on a layer focus, which Michelle s not necessarily isnt from what I get.
Jennas offers TWO complete choreos, which Michelle's on the other hand doesn't.. I believe they are really hard to compare :)
Jenna s length wise is hard to beat - 2,5 hours I think!
Hope that helps!

They are totally different. Jenna's has dance flows, she does not break down moves, but there are lots in there for you to work out yourself how she does them.

Drills is more about learning to layer by changing weight and trying to do 2 or more things at once (one could be zills). however, the moves here are generally NOT dance moves but just for training muscles, balance etc

I have both DVDs as well. Jenna is for review, Michelle's is for technique and strengthning. Jenna does not break down the moves, so it may be a challenge.

I may be willing to sell Jenna's Next Level DVD. If not, I have a friend on Bhuz (Focused) who will if you want to PM her. I'll get back to you asap.

BDF/KJ

I like both.

Jenna's Next Level is like the others say, more for review than anything, I like to be able to review certain sections of technique and then go away and practice. This DVD is very much for a visual learner as there is barely any breakdown. If you are a beginner, (or if you came from using Jennas basics and beyond DVD) then there is a big jump between them.

Drills, Drills, Drills....well the title says it all. Its certainly intensive and can be used on a workout level as well as for technique and practic. Its got several sections for you to drill specific movements etc...I personally found it a bit above me on the fitness side of it...although was amazed by Michelle getting down on the floor on her toes and using her arms to hold her off the floor and doing hipwork...wow.

I learned the saidi choreo, very cute, but more for excercise, for it's a bit too much right-left-right-left for an interesting performance.
I think the raks bedeya choreo is wonderful and quite intricate...it's definitely going to be challenging to learn!

Jenna is perfect the way she talks and explains. Everything is clear and not a word too much (Saida also is very concise in her way of talking on her dvds...). I think this dvd talks to an intermediate to advanced student level so breaking down every move - she does in my opinion but not down to a beginners level.

The performances are fabulous. I love Jenna's neat way of moving, no blurring, also the style: she shows temper without artificial exaggeration, charms, and of course she's a beauty to look at, the eyes are just gorgeous, the classical profile plus that fabulous long hair of hers makes a prop of its own!

I usually hate orange when it comes to clothes, somehow I loooove that orange costume, though!

i dont have michelles but I don't care for Jenna's dvd
like i always say, i only use it for turns
but for me it's more of a personal taste
i don't like her choreos so I'm not interested in learning them or her dance style or her (lack of) musicality
do you have a favorite bellydancer yet?
get their dvd LoL

what 's your favorite sharife? Mine has to be Randa :)

hmm thats sooo hard
my all time favorites are samia and fifi
randa is amazing too

my favorite ajnabiya dancer is tamra henna of LA
she's so cute

sorry that was 3 dancers

I've got both, I did work with Jenna's for a while, but found it a bit too fast paced, in the flow sections she does a move 4 times at the most, often just twice, and by that time I am only just starting to get the hang of it. Sometimes she doesn't cue verbally, so you have to keep your eyes glued to the screen.

If you have the time/inclination, you can watch it over and over until you know exactly what's coming next and that way you would get more out of it.
I come back to Drills much more often as it is more accessible to dip in and out of, personally my body retains the info better when I repeat a move more times, so I think over all I get a lot more from Michelle's.
There are some great layering and travelling drills on there too.

If you want a real drilling challenge, I'd suggest a Sadie dvd, Ultimate bellydance or Thrillin drillin, maybe when you've mastered one of the first 2. It depends on what style you like I guess, but I always get a great physical and mental workout with her dvds!

Originally Posted by sharifeh

hmm thats sooo hard
my all time favorites are samia and fifi
randa is amazing too

my favorite ajnabiya dancer is tamra henna of LA
she's so cute

sorry that was 3 dancers

hehe you're GOOD to focus on three only!
Now indecisive me (you know, if I can't decide in which colour to buy something I had to leave the store with at least 2 or 3 colours in the past .w.:) - has to divide also into nationality and style and era for favorites :)
Classic Egyptian dancers:
1. MONA
2. FIFI
3. Suheir (these two are so close - I change my mind all the time)
4. Samia

Modern Egyptian:
5. Randa

So the foreigners -
I'll divide into very or pretty Egyptian oriented:
Ranya Renee, Ahava, Tamra Henna

and American style:
Aziza, Ava Fleming, Blanca

Theatrical style:
Autumn Ward (she's in a league of her own, and really more theatre than anything else I think)

Tribal:
Sharon Kihara (although I don't like this style very much - some of Sharon's performances, especially drum solos, kick a**!)

Male:
David

That's like 15 I guess :)

Oh and Lebanese:
Amani and Samara

Originally Posted by sharifeh

i dont have michelles but I don't care for Jenna's dvd
like i always say, i only use it for turns
but for me it's more of a personal taste
i don't like her choreos so I'm not interested in learning them or her dance style or her (lack of) musicality
do you have a favorite bellydancer yet?
get their dvd LoL

So you join this thread in order to judge Jenna and a supposed "lack of musicality"? Who are you? Why don't you write in threads about dancers you like instead of acting the snob?

Hmm Nouria I think Sharife meant to contribute what she likes of Jenna's dvd (the turns and some technical things), and what she does not recommend her style for..
While I appreciate Jenna's breakdown, too, I must say I also think that much of the time her musical interpretation does not "click" with me.. but the same holds true for me for many many American dancers including f.e. Sadie...

I don't think that was meant as a way of taking her down or something.. even if it sounded harsh :)

Hi Dina,

I'll give you an example: I totally lost my love for Randa there, for I think that, even though she has the tightest moves around, a powerful physicality and a beautiful face, she lacks personality and her choreos are boring. I think she is good sometimes when she improvises but overall she to me is a shell without much soul in it.
I'm telling you, for even if Randa is an Egyptian and spoilt by having live musicians, fabulous orchestras, and Raqia as a teacher, plus she is from Egypt, but still...

Now, do I go to a Randa fan thread to show off like that?
everybody is entitled to an opinion but you only really say it if it can be helpful for others. And if you can't back up that you're an authority on sth. like musicality, which is much in the ears of the beholder, it is not helpful to say what Sharife said, it sounds pretty arrogant.

Originally Posted by Nouria

So you join this thread in order to judge Jenna and a supposed "lack of musicality"? Who are you? Why don't you write in threads about dancers you like instead of acting the snob?

weee weee weee weee
what is this about?
I was just stating my opinion.
who am i?
I am someone that likes to learn from dancers that feel the music, is all.

Originally Posted by Nouria

Hi Dina,

I'll give you an example: I totally lost my love for Randa there, for I think that, even though she has the tightest moves around, a powerful physicality and a beautiful face, she lacks personality and her choreos are boring. I think she is good sometimes when she improvises but overall she to me is a shell without much soul in it.
I'm telling you, for even if Randa is an Egyptian and spoilt by having live musicians, fabulous orchestras, and Raqia as a teacher, plus she is from Egypt, but still...

Now, do I go to a Randa fan thread to show off like that?
everybody is entitled to an opinion but you only really say it if it can be helpful for others. And if you can't back up that you're an authority on sth. like musicality, which is much in the ears of the beholder, it is not helpful to say what Sharife said, it sounds pretty arrogant.

How is sharing your honest opinion about Randa showing off??
I thought that was fine, lol

This is not a Jenna fan thread. (Even if it was...???)

The OP asked Jenna or Michelle? I said, I don't recommend Jenna's because of such and such reason though I use it for such and such reason and I haven't seen Michelle's so I asked the OP if she has any other dancers she likes ..l;,
If you think that's snobby, then....do you....

I never tried to denigrate Jenna, maybe she doesn't care about having musicality to please a certain audience...but I just wish someone would have alerted me to this before I got the dvd,
isn't that what coming on to a belly dance forum and ASKING for an opinion on a dvd/dvds before you purchase is for??
If I asked a question about a DVD, I wouldn't just want the fans!!!
and besides this wasn't a fan thread!

LOL

Well I'm actually glad you're taking it with a laugh.
What one writes comes off often more harshly than when it's said, this goes for my post as well.

I just think that things like: has a soul (or not) or: has musicality (or not ) is not really very objective. And if you're ever serious about dance as an artform, you can't get past the fact that the outstanding figures all have their own approach to the music.

Now, if Jenna's dvd is a good buy or not doesn't entirely depend on whether her choreography would be the eternal role-model-dance. I think it is much for teaching reasons, it's educational and ought to be used as such. Jenna is very clear and well structured and very natural, I enjoy her style of explaining and her technique is irreproachable in my eyes. If I want a fully developped choreo on a dvd it's not the same I want to see when going to a bellydance party and want to see a dancer improvising to live music.

Choreo always is an abstraction, so you might want more, you might want less, depending on the situation in which you perform. You can tone it down, so it's nice she gives a lot of material where you can decide if you want to integrate this into your personal approach to this music.

Little Baladi by Saida is also "constructed" and in her workshop she crammed even more drama into it, but...it's not like I have to use all the material she is offering, it's optional.

I'm inspired by many dancers, just watching them dance. I buy a dvd to get new training patterns, not to solve the question: how must I dance to become "world famous" (that's a Bruno-quote)...l;,

Originally Posted by Nouria

Well I'm actually glad you're taking it with a laugh.
What one writes comes off often more harshly than when it's said, this goes for my post as well.

I just think that things like: has a soul (or not) or: has musicality (or not ) is not really very objective. And if you're ever serious about dance as an artform, you can't get past the fact that the outstanding figures all have their own approach to the music.

I think that most opinions about dance aren't objective.
I think that most dancers will have a problem with at least one part of a choreography, even if it's a favorite dancer. Like Saida's Little Baladi. But I still love her dancing.
But Jenna's dancing leaves me almost totally uninspired. And it does limit what I would take from her dvd.
If my favorite dancer leaves someone else oh well.

And I'm loving the Bruno quote.

Hmm I hope I am not equally offending some people now -

to jump in for the different feelings about musicality.

I am watching "bellydance at its best". Lovely dvd.
TAMRA HENNA is BREATHTAKING BREATHTAKING BREATHTAKING!

best musical interpretation done by an American I've seen so far. I'd not even guess she is not Arab from that one to be honest!
Aziza is great as always.
Jillina I like waaaay more than usually on this one! a lovely rendition of a song called "enter the ra'asa", really nice.
Rania (Greek) is lovely here too. I normally find her too stiff, but she seems to be much better on the HMC performance dvds!

Well and regarding musical interpretation and a NO-NO feeling from me:

Ansuya dancing on classic Arab songs. She's doing Zay al asal a song I love dearly dearly dearly. Habibi wa bas, and Tigi nagsam al amar.

Sorry to say, but she really is better on fusion pieces. She does not translate the music into movement soundly at all, at least not here. And everyone can say it is subjective etc - but the problem here really is they are ARAB songs and I do feel there is a particular validity with the Arab way of feeling the music. To me most of her movements on these songs just look plain wrong.

And sure someone else will love it - but to Arab classic songs I feel there is a "somewhat more right" and "somewhat wrong", even if musical interpretation might be subjective.
I am sure you will show the Zay al asal performance to a representative sample of Arabs and over 90% will think it wrong.
Of course she's an artist, her freedom, her joy in it, all very well. But criticism on authenticity of the dance must be allowed :)