Thread: What dvd is great for teaching and learning?

What is one of the better bellydance dvds for teaching? I'm going to start teaching a class and I'm going to use a dvd for help. I dont want to get a whole lot of dvds that aren't any good.... Thanks!!!!,r:;

Uh, well, what kind of teaching have you had that you admire? Does that person make instructional dvds? If not, could you ask her/him for some guidance?

I'm guessing, from your profile, that there are currently no classes being offered in your area? Is there someone within a reasonable day's drive you could take privates with to help you launch a class?

There is noone, I think i would have to drive an hour to memphis for anyone that dances

Hi Rimallah!

Being a somewhat experienced beginner who's tried some live classes/teaching which did not work, then resorted to videos and has seen quite some success ever since, I'd advise you these dvds for inspiration in teaching/explanation for students:

Basic movement *execution* (muscles, posture):
- Belly by Sandra: She explains muscle use for movement in ways I have seen nowhere else. Very thorough, excellent explanation, I ve seen progress within a few times of using the video.
- Autumn Ward Beautiful Technique from Step 1: She explains posture, carriage of the body etc in amazing ways. For example, for arm placement she'll bend over and make you check what your arms look like in the mirror, correct if necessary, and then get back up standing straight. her body lines explanations are outstanding.
I believe every teacher could incorporate a lot of these 2 dvds especially muscularly driven dance movements and beautiful body lines in their teaching to make their students' dancing look more beautiful, less clumsy from the beginning on.

The moves themselves:
- Jenna Basics and Beyond: she gives you variations you could teach your students of all basic movements. An encyclopedia. Many movements you ve probably not used in a long time yourself :) Much material for making your classes varied and adding variations of movements every time. Another plus: after 1,5 hours of movements, Jenna gives nice practice sessions of about 30 min using many of the moves she introduced previouly.
(alternatively: Neon Instant Bellydancer, she explains moves in a very logical way. Covers all beginner moves too in this 2-dvd set, and explains them in easily understandable ways using arrow and other graphic elements)

Inspiration for dance flows/actual dance sessions in your classes, how to string together the basic moves in varied, and didactically beneficial ways:
- Luscious Bellydance Workout Neon, Sarah Skinner, Blanca
- Neon's Rhythms workout
Both of these dvds could in my opinion be very useful for teachers to create movement flows for beginning students after they've learned the basic mechanics to get more familiar with the movements "in action", by actual dancing. The focus on Luscious is on soothing, slower music, the circular movements (although some shimmies are in there too), the Rhythms workout is using drum music only.

Drilling:
My favorites:
- Drills Drills Drills Michelle Joyce
- Thrillin drillin Sadie
Both of them give you different levels of difficulty. None of my teachers ever did drilling with us, each of these can give you ideas on how to make your students practice, practice, practice some moves to get better at them :)

So, I hope this helps!
Good luck for your teaching :-)

The problem with learning from DVD's is that the presenter is not able to correct you. Improper technique can lead to very serious damage to your body . . . and others if you go on to teach faulty technique without realizing it! Before you or anyone begins teaching, I believe it is essential to take a Teacher Training Course for Middle Eastern Dance. I recommend Hadia's course. As a manual therapist and advanced massage therapist her understanding of the body combined with her 30+ years of Oriental Dance make her an awe-inspiring teacher and performer. She stresses a "body logic" approach that will keep you and those you teach safe. If you can't get to her training course right away and absolutely MUST start teaching then ATLEAST get her 4-disc DVD set: warm-up, technique, 2 choreographies and cool-down it's so full of info that beginners and pro's can benefit from. Belly Dancing -- Hadia's - Welcome to Hadia's Middle Eastern Dance -- Hadia's Belly Dancing

I'm curious for Hadia's set. Have been for quite some time in fact.
Only at this point I probably will have to do with the dvds I already have and cannot invest 129$..
I must say I've heard pro's and con's regarding Hadia's set.
On a thread here on bhuz, 2 people said they'd injured themselves while doing Hadia's warm-up.
given I ve suffered from a dance knee injury (not from oriental dance) quite a few years, I'm paranoid about such injuries and therefore opted against trying her dvds in the first place.

Some people said her approach was the best ever, some were slightly sceptical about some details. I know too little on physiology nor do I know the exact differences of Hadia's approach as opposed to others.

I think I remember it was Hadia who criticized the over-tucked look of today's bellydancers. I must say the overly tucked position at all times during the dance according to my excellent physiotherapist (who healed my knee) is pretty dangerous. And NOT good for the lower back nor pelvis nor the knees.
So if I quote her correctly she absolutely deserves credit for speaking against the current bellydance mainstream opinion.
Else I would love to hear more opinions on Hadia's method. If her method is very complex I guess injuries using the dvds only are more at risk. Then of course live classes would be mandatory. Unfortunately I most likely will not be able to take them, geographically!

I second the Michelle Joyce for Drill Drills Drills. Also Aziza's Practice companion is really good.

My advice - find instructors that speak to you. For me, it is Suhaila, Delilah, and Aziza (of Montreal)

Delilah's Belly Dancing Workshop volume 1 was a great refresher for me.
Delilah's Belly Dancing Workshop Volume I - VHS

If you can - take a weekend and do a workshop. When I first started teaching my own class in 2006 (after subbing for many years), I got my Suhaila certification. This helped me with my foundation for teaching. I still keep up with the cert.

Teaching is a huge investment. Paying to travel to workshops and things is just part of the job.

Good luck!

I concur. Delilah's videos are great. As far as isolations go, I don't think anything beats her Volume 3. Atea has some good videos out as well. Avoid anything Dolphina related :)

If you are a new teacher try reading some of these articles:

Dear Shira: Any Hints for Someone New to Teaching?
Preparing to Teach by Anthea for the Gilded Serpent
Aziza Sa'id's FAQ - Dance Styles
Starting to teach

And this thread:
http://www.bhuz.com/forum/belly-danc...ant-teach.html

I'm sorry to sound grumpy, but a teacher should be willing to make more of an investment in her own learning than a single dvd which will teach her to dance as well as to teach, and should be willing to take the trouble to drive even an hour in order to develop herself.

OK my favorite DVD workshop series is by Visionary Dance. It is a great bang for your buck! Jam packed with useful information about the dance in general ie floorwork, zills, fast and slow work, veil and costuming along with lots of fun dance footage. The best thing about it though is the whole writin explanation she gos through. It really is great for learning a some type of American/Turkish mix style.

I agree beafarhana!! I would think the one hour commute to memphis would be nothing to perfect your craft. Gesh, I travel upwards of two/three hours to study with instructors I admire and I only dance in class. As a student, even as a beginner student, it was clearly evident which instructors were vested in their craft and not. Video's are a questionable supplement, but is by no means an alternative to live, professional instruction for a TEACHER.

i get letters etc. all the time saying my dvd's taught them how to teach. but we work in a certain format, but it is how we teach and learn here. guess i am glad it work for others, not just us.i have 15, they were shot for here only, so students could practice,but years ago i realized i was selling all over the world.

This isn't a dvd but a teacher training program that might be worth investigating:
The Belly Dance Trainer Certification Program

If nothing else, look at her syllabus. It will give you some idea of what you need to know to offer a good class to your students.

Originally Posted by dinavienna

I think I remember it was Hadia who criticized the over-tucked look of today's bellydancers. I must say the overly tucked position at all times during the dance according to my excellent physiotherapist (who healed my knee) is pretty dangerous. And NOT good for the lower back nor pelvis nor the knees.

Did we have a thread on that? I would like some more information about this subject.

I think I remember having read it somewhere on here!
will try to find it. Most likely "Hadia's system" or "Hadia's program" or "Hadia's complete set" would give results.
I'll look into it.

I unfortunately cannot share more information. This is what my physiotherapist told me. She was advocating a somewhat tucked position on some machines (gymstick) when doing upper body movements with the stick for me, though. I was doing therapy after a knee injury, but we did pretty much entire body strengthening after a while as my knee got better.
I should say I have a tendency of curving the back "backwards", so tucking for me gives more of a neutral stance, not entirely tucked as some bellydancers demonstrate it. This pose on me would HURT! (Not to diss anyone - Ansuya for example tucks VERY much when demonstrating posture; I could not stand in her tuck without damaging my lower back, but I have the impression she doesn't either, when she's dancing; maybe it is a body type thing - I am unfortunately not qualified to give any more detailed information on this! Also I am not seeing the physiotherapist at this point, luckily :) )
I know one very famous bellydancer/physiologist (?) - I believe it is Hadia - criticized the overly tucked stance, and I felt confirmed. Also it really does not feel good nor healthy on me. But as I said maybe it s a body type thing.

P-s- Ayshe on her Core Bellydance Fitness says the natural curve should not disappear completely, as some dancers show (I ve seen it on some IAMED volumes for sure, and probably elsewhere too), but be straightened slightly only. More like getting away from a hollow-back to a neutral stance. This is also what my therapist advised me.

Hope some more qualified people here can explain these things in some depth :)

P-s- Ayshe on her Core Bellydance Fitness says the natural curve should not disappear completely, as some dancers show (I ve seen it on some IAMED volumes for sure, and probably elsewhere too), but be straightened slightly only. More like getting away from a hollow-back to a neutral stance. This is also what my therapist advised me.

Hope some more qualified people here can explain these things in some depth :)