Thread: Unmata Instructional DVD?

The Unmata DVD on Suhaila's site looks great. Has anyone tried it yet?

I love UNMATA but I would have really, really liked to have seen more of the instruction in this video. I don't really give a damn that Amy hasn't waxed any part of her body ;)

DVDasi - Amy Sigil / UNMATA Instructional DVD

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkNSSxRmF7U"]YouTube - Amy & UNMATA Instructional DVD Promo.[/ame]

I sure hope this dvd becomes available on Amazon.

I just wish I knew the length of the DVD and more about the dance presented. I have to admit, the truth or dare segment makes me want to buy it regardless.

Amy is so pretty. that looked more like a clip of a reality tv show though, lol!

I broke down and bought it. I'll let you know how it is when I get it. I'm pretty excited because she has such unique high energy style. It makes me curious to try the DVD.

Originally Posted by bellybellygood

I broke down and bought it. I'll let you know how it is when I get it. I'm pretty excited because she has such unique high energy style. It makes me curious to try the DVD.

Yes, please do. I was once backstage with Amy - she's like a racehorse at the gate. Incredible energy!

I would be interested in knowing more about it. It looks as if it was filmed in Suhaila's dance studio.

Im very interested in the actual content?... drills, combo's, ect? Let us know how it is!

I just got it yesterday and didn't think it would arrive so quickly. I didn't get a chance to do it yet, but I previewed it. My DVD player doesn't have a clock, so I don't know how long it is. I like what I see so far. Amy leads drills and she adds very cute touches to the drills so they become very short combos. She drills things slow, fast, and then back to slow. In the very beginning she has this cute shoulder roll section where you change up which shoulders are rolling forward and back, sometimes their double, sometimes singles. Then she adds a lean into it so it feels like a cute combo. She does this for all of the typically drilled bellydance moves. She drills them, but adds a twist to make it more fun and interesting. The last part of it is putting the combos together for a dance, but it doesn't feel like a separate choreography. It's more of a bridge piece between drills and choreography. I personally like that because I tend to dislike the choreography piece that normally comes on the end of a DVD. I like it to flow together more with the moves I've learned. The music is great. It makes you want to dance. It sort of reminds me of a cross between Jason Mraz, Neptunes, and Black Eyed Peas. So, it looks like it's got some very cute and creative drills that will inspire you and improve your dance. The moves are really adorable and funky. Amy is a good instructor and it looks challenging, but not impossible. I'm glad I bought it and can't wait to try it.

Originally Posted by bellybellygood

I just got it yesterday and didn't think it would arrive so quickly. I didn't get a chance to do it yet, but I previewed it. My DVD player doesn't have a clock, so I don't know how long it is. I like what I see so far. Amy leads drills and she adds very cute touches to the drills so they become very short combos. She drills things slow, fast, and then back to slow. In the very beginning she has this cute shoulder roll section where you change up which shoulders are rolling forward and back, sometimes their double, sometimes singles. Then she adds a lean into it so it feels like a cute combo. She does this for all of the typically drilled bellydance moves. She drills them, but adds a twist to make it more fun and interesting. The last part of it is putting the combos together for a dance, but it doesn't feel like a separate choreography. It's more of a bridge piece between drills and choreography. I personally like that because I tend to dislike the choreography piece that normally comes on the end of a DVD. I like it to flow together more with the moves I've learned. The music is great. It makes you want to dance. It sort of reminds me of a cross between Jason Mraz, Neptunes, and Black Eyed Peas. So, it looks like it's got some very cute and creative drills that will inspire you and improve your dance. The moves are really adorable and funky. Amy is a good instructor and it looks challenging, but not impossible. I'm glad I bought it and can't wait to try it.

Thanks for the review. I am definitelly getting this one ! !

The promo video is proof positive that the cult of personality is the driving force behind so many dance icons these days.

Don't get me wrong, Amy Sigil is fab. She is worthy of having an instructional video, and I have complete confidence that it will be a success that is deserved.

But this promo video ties into some of the frustrations I have with selling the "cool girls club" in workshops and videos, and the trappings of personality-as-marketing.

I'm glad you said that, Tribal Dancer, because I have been thinking the same thing and I've been wondering if it was just me.

I'm surprised there hasn't been more discussion about this event and Suhaila's endorsement of it because everything about it was so absurd that I laughed out loud (in a rueful kind of way) and wondered if they hadn't all gone a little nuts.

Albertina, are you talking about the Rodeo show? I think this instructional video is a separate animal, although there is supposed to be a documentary coming out about the Rodeo...

But, yeah, um...I thought the Rodeo concept was a little...creepy...

Originally Posted by GenevieveOfAtlanta

Albertina, are you talking about the Rodeo show? I think this instructional video is a separate animal, although there is supposed to be a documentary coming out about the Rodeo...

But, yeah, um...I thought the Rodeo concept was a little...creepy...

The Rodeo thing seems like something they should be pitching to the fetish market instead of mainstream bellydance...although perhaps they are trying to make the point that they aren't mainstream bellydance? I feel like they got their BD mixed up with their B/D...

I think Albertina thinks it's weird how Suhaila is endorsing Amy's instructional video. I think it's weird myself...as though Suhaila thinks her students need her permission to go study under another teacher/program. And the implication is that all other teachers/programs/videos are *not* endorsed.

Yeah, I can see how one could think that was weird, too.

I think--though I could be wrong here--that Suhaila actually produced the Unmata video. So maybe "endorsed" is just a poor choice of wording?

Originally Posted by da Sage

The Rodeo thing seems like something they should be pitching to the fetish market instead of mainstream bellydance...although perhaps they are trying to make the point that they aren't mainstream bellydance? I feel like they got their BD mixed up with their B/D...

I think Albertina thinks it's weird how Suhaila is endorsing Amy's instructional video. I think it's weird myself...as though Suhaila thinks her students need her permission to go study under another teacher/program. And the implication is that all other teachers/programs/videos are *not* endorsed.

I'm curious - what's the connection between Unmata and Suhaila? I find it interesting that Suhaila is endorsing/producing the leader of a group that is so far out on the edge stylistically - how does this fit in to her methodology and philosophy?

Is Suhaila saying that the future of belly dance is to move beyond belly dance into creating something "other"?

I don't think Suhaila has ever been one to tow the authentic line. She loves good fusion and good entertainment, and she likes shocking and pushing envelopes, and was doing it long before Unmata hit the scene. Add to this that the technique between the styles is very compatible, the geographical proximity, and the $$ to be made by anyone who bets on the Unmata ponies (pun intended) and Suhaila being a really savvy businesswoman, and you have a match made in heaven.

Suhaila recently moved back to her old studio and set up a rather elaborate video system in the studio to film online classes, and has a setup to produce videos by other dancers. I don't find this any more strange than Michelle-Joyce making videos for other dancers, save for the fact that Suhaila is only doing it for dancers she actively endorses/backs and will make money from the sale of the videos and her endorsement, one would assume.

Thought this might help: Here's an exerpt from Suhaila's blog:

"I have paid my dues. I have tried to keep my art in tact for my family legacy and daughter. I have tried to own all the art I produce, spending time and money trying to buy back masters (with my image on them). I have tried to make quality products for which I can hold my head up high.

As an artist we feel lucky when someone wants us on their next DVD. “They want ME?…. little old me?” and we think it’s such a compliment and big break. We do our best and tell all our friends about this great opportunity. Most producers have a line up of DVDs they are producing in a limited amount of time, and each artist has to fit into that schedule (usually with only one or two “takes” only). The artist doesn’t really get to help design the set, create personality, or have the video truly represent herself. As viewers, we might learn a few good moves, but do we really “feel” anything?

It has been my dream to produce other artists and create an empowering foundation for them to grow. I want the artists to have a product that really represents themselves. I want artists I produce to own their own masters in a few years. I want each DVD to have a different look and feel that will have the viewer able to get a look inside the process. I want to offer artists the ability to create within the process of making the DVD and not just the “dance moves” in the DVD. I want to help artists the way I wish someone helped me.

Together with my co-producer, Luka Dziubyna, we have set out to create a platform for artists never been done before. With great pride, we present the first “Suhaila Endorsed Line” DVD featuring Amy Sigil and UNMATA!"(...continued in next post)

(continued from previous post)

"I saw Amy Sigil and UNMATA perform a few years ago at Tribal Quest in Oregon. I had been working on a choreography to a drum line for some months, and then Amy and her crew came out dancing to hot drum line music from a CD. It was hot and fresh, and I remembered that performance.

A year later, someone sent me a youtube link of UNMATA performing their Pony dance/choreography and asked what I thought. I think that people see me as a “traditional belly dancer” because I am either Jamila Salimpour’s daughter (meaning the daughter of the woman that inspired Tribal Style in America) or that I’m the woman that performed in the Middle East and night clubs for a decade (or that I’m the chick in the DVDs). So how could I like this Pony choreography? As I watched I knew that Amy was a performance artist with huge talent and potential.

Not long after that, Amy and I became friends. Not only did I hire her to teach that drum line piece to my dance company for our Rakkasah 2008 performance, but I was the Lion in her 2007 Blood Moon show, her Rodeo Queen in the UNMATA Rodeo this summer (to be released soon), and the producer of the first Amy Sigil DVD. Which, by the way, Amy only had one request for the DVD. . . to film out takes/behind the scenes at my house after the filming. I agreed and we played “Truth or Dare” and “I’ve Never”. So at 3am, totally exhausted from filming all night and with no make-up on, we snacked on Taco Bell and had a blast.

And this is just the beginning of our story. Amy and I are now talking about her next instructional DVD since this experience was so much fun."

Originally Posted by TribalDancer

The promo video is proof positive that the cult of personality is the driving force behind so many dance icons these days.

Don't get me wrong, Amy Sigil is fab. She is worthy of having an instructional video, and I have complete confidence that it will be a success that is deserved.

But this promo video ties into some of the frustrations I have with selling the "cool girls club" in workshops and videos, and the trappings of personality-as-marketing.

I agree. The clip was selling personalities not dance. The clip would be completely useless as a marketing tool if one hadn't already seen Unmata's style or already knew who Amy Sigil was.

Originally Posted by ouroboros

I agree. The clip was selling personalities not dance. The clip would be completely useless as a marketing tool if one hadn't already seen Unmata's style or already knew who Amy Sigil was.

As it is, it's still useless, because unless you are just a fangrrl who'll buy anything with a certain person's name on it, it still helps to know what material will be covered on a DVD you are looking to purchase.

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

As it is, it's still useless, because unless you are just a fangrrl who'll buy anything with a certain person's name on it, it still helps to know what material will be covered on a DVD you are looking to purchase.

This.

I agree. In fact, the description of the dvd on the website even does not indicate what exactly to expect:

". . . the first lesson Amy teaches is “fate favors the risky”. The fun, the funky, the hip-hop, belly, pop, hula, modern, rare breed fusion of Sigil Style will have you from the first beat!"

The assumption is most definitely that the buyer of this dvd knows exactly who Amy Sigil and UNMATA are. I'd say they are not doing much to target outside of the already established UNMATA and Salimpour markets.

I've heard the name UNMATA but I have never seen even a clip of them performing. I really like Suhailah so her endorsement means I'd like to at least look into it. I think it was a fun cute clip and I want to know more. I don't do any kind of Tribal or Fusion but I'd like to see what the hype is all about.

The truth is that personality is a big part of this dance. You have to like your teacher to spend so much time and money with her. That's the way the cookie crumbles.

Originally Posted by ErikaOH

“fate favors the risky”.

What an odd motto. I just keep thinking "STDs also favor the risky!"

Originally Posted by ozma

What an odd motto. I just keep thinking "STDs also favor the risky!"

..l;,

I was referring to the Human Rodeo thing and not the instructional DVD in my earlier post. I was under the impression that Suhaila was producing the documentary of the Human Rodeo silliness. Sorry for the unclarity.

I almost typed up a whole thing about the Human Rodeo stuff - but it just makes me so tired to think of beating that horse again. ..cr.:

I think Suhaila *is* producing a documentary of the Human Rodeo...thing...but this one isn't it.

I saw a clip (on Suhaila's youtube page, I believe) from what I'm guessing will become that documentary. To be fair, Amy Sigil said very clearly in that clip that the Rodeo had nothing to do with belly dance, and I was glad to hear her make that distinction. There were, however, a number of interspersed clips of dancers dancing in costume during the event.

Originally Posted by GenevieveOfAtlanta

I think Suhaila *is* producing a documentary of the Human Rodeo...thing...but this one isn't it.

I saw a clip (on Suhaila's youtube page, I believe) from what I'm guessing will become that documentary. To be fair, Amy Sigil said very clearly in that clip that the Rodeo had nothing to do with belly dance, and I was glad to hear her make that distinction. There were, however, a number of interspersed clips of dancers dancing in costume during the event.

If it has nothing to do with belly dance, then who is the intended market?