Thread: Instructional DVD's for complete beginners

Does anyone have any opinions on some of the new DVD's to learn strong fundamental movements too? I started out with Atea's Magical Motion back in the day, but a woman I work with is having a hard time with it because it looks dated to her (she was born in 1985!) All the DVD's I own are too advanced to lend her. Ideas?

Magical Motion was my first video too! Actually, I thought it was pretty great and I still do, though I haven't watched it in a long time. I like Zahra Zuhair's Middle Eastern Dance Basics.

http://members.aol.com/zahra/video.html

Oh, Hannan Sultan has a very good instructional video out. I've only seen the first one so far, still waiting for vol 2 to come back in stock. But it is really good and very easy to follow. She says what you should be doing (posture-wise) and what you should not be doing. And she is very pleasant throughout, witha warm smile and soft face (her opposite being Rania ;P). In fact she reminds me a lot of my teacher, which I found to be a relief. She does sort of echo Aziza, as in they sort of have the same techniques. And theres a lot of information covered. Some parts were a little slow and it can be a little repetitive, but thats what she says will make your brain remember it. If you would like any more info, let me know, I'll see what I can come up with.

Neon's Instant Belly dancer series is good, despite the silly name. I haven't seen this myself but Jenna's Bellydance Basics and Beyond has gotten good reviews and her drum solo dvd is good.

There are reviews of a bunch of elementary videos on my web site at www.shira.net/videocenter-instruct.htm

I just gave Virginia's videos to a friend.

I wish though I had had Nourhan's Introduction to Bellydance DVD (or whatever it is called) as a beginner. I actually didn't lend it out because I still crack it open and use it for practice!

I kno this thread is kinda old but I would say Discover Bellydance series by Veena and Neena. There the first instructional Dvds I bought and the series was awesome in my opinion! They went over the moves very well and at a good pace!

have you tried belly dance for wimps? it is really basic. I recommend it to my students: http://www.maqam.com/cgi-bin/cdtest....tashaSenkovich

Originally Posted by Mila2005

have you tried belly dance for wimps? it is really basic. I recommend it to my students: http://www.maqam.com/cgi-bin/cdtest....tashaSenkovich

I would never recommend Bellydance for Wimps to my students. The way Natasha explains moves is different from the way she actually does them in her performance segment, which is very confusing. Plus, I don't think she explains things well at all.

I stand by it. everyone I recommended it to found it easy to follow and it is a very good video for those with no experience who want to learn the basics.

Originally Posted by darkangel7631

I kno this thread is kinda old but I would say Discover Bellydance series by Veena and Neena. There the first instructional Dvds I bought and the series was awesome in my opinion! They went over the moves very well and at a good pace!

I agree! But would like to add: IF going w/Bellytwins series, need to start with this trio of videos from 1st to 3rd/Basic Dance-Beyond Basic Dance-Mystic Dance. Also, the Bellytwins' book, The Way of the Belly, is a fantastic read and includes a (bare-bones) basics bellydance DVD. I really like that it also stresses posture with one twin pointing out the proper posture alignment on the other twin, who is standing sideways for the viewer. They also include yoga/deep breathing tips. Can you tell I'm a Bellytwins fan? ..g.:

I'm a Bellytwins fan too Lesgemini_Zafirah! Right now I'm hoping to hear a relseas date for their new video that they annoucened a couple of months ago, It called Ancient Essentials...its advertised that you learn to bellydance from A to Zills, I found out about it through their newsletter they send out once a month.

has great DVDs for beginners and intermediate. Less known, but her videos are jammed pack with moves and steps. Great for the teacher library also.
Tammy