Thread: Classical Oriental DVD - Discontinued???

Today, I went to Amazon.com to purchase a DVD called, 'Bellydance Egyptian Style: Classical Oriental' by Ranya Renee. However, there was a note that said "this item has been discontinued by the manufacturer". What happened? Does anyone know why? A few months back Amazon was accepting pre-orders for this DVD and now its considered discontinued?

I have two of Ranya's other DVDs called "The Baladi" (which was SOOOOO AWESOME) and "Modern Oriental". So, needless to say, I am quite bummed that I can't add "Classical Oriental" to my collection.... :(

Amazon has a track record of marking things "discontinued" when they are just out of stock. Especially when they are items that come from an independent producer instead of a big distributor.

I believe I heard that production was slowed down by a fire in Ranya's building. She's on Bhuz; maybe she'll drop by this thread to give an update.

I received an email from World Dance NY and they let me know that production had been stopped. I had pre-ordered a copy and they offered me a refund or 2 dvd's of my choice as a replacement.

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

I believe I heard that production was slowed down by a fire in Ranya's building. She's on Bhuz; maybe she'll drop by this thread to give an update.

Oh my goodness! A fire?? I really hope no one got hurt.

Really? Production is stopped?
I did hear filming was delayed due to the fire (where both Ranya and her two cats were not harmed, fortunately :) ) until January next year.
That would break my heart if the production were stopped altogether :(

I also heard it was delayed until January...

I also pre-ordered all three DVD's. I changed my email address since then though. I think I bought mine directly from her website. Has anyone else done that and heard what she intends to do?

I pre-ordered directly from Ranya via her website, and in her last email she said the final shooting was delayed until January. So we will see it eventually!

I got an email from her saying the same thing...about 3 weeks ago. I cant wait!!! But I'll wait.

I saw Ranya this past weekend at Sahra Kent's Cairo I certification in Philly, and it was great to meet her!

She is still working on the dvd and mentioned it a few times. Hopefully she'll jump on here but I have a feeling that her apartment fire interrupted her schedule, but she was discussing material last weekend. So I don't think production will stop altogether.

Oh I am so glad she is still up to doing it! WHEN is not so important as THAT. I so want Ranya to make this dvd!!

Sounds like she is doing well after all that has happened (Thank God!). And, its good to hear that production has only been delayed and not completely cancelled altogether.

I just can't say this enough. I am so looking forward to this new DVD. I am quite surprised that I've learned so much just from the other two DVDs! I find myself really connecting with her teaching style; unlike some other instructional DVDs where I watch the DVD once and then place it back on the shelf only to collect dust. Ranya Renee is definitely an excellent teacher and a great dancer! I can't wait to see what she has in store for all of us with the new Classical Oriental DVD! :)

i was wondering the same thing myself. i own both of her dvds as well and totally love her style. cant wait for the classical oriental dvd to come out :)

I also have modern oriental and the baladi and I was soooo looking forward to this one!!!
what a bummer!!!
I can't wait for it to actually come out...Judging by the modern oriental and the baladi dvds, this one is bound to be a gem too!

Don't sleep on Ranya Renee's dvds guys!!! If you don't have them yet, get them!!!!

Dear Bhuzzers,

I've been overwhelmed by the positive response to my first two DVD releases, and I'm so thankful to the bellydance community for your tremendous support of these projects. As many of you know, I experienced a major fire in my New York City apartment building this spring. While luckily everyone got out OK, my temporary relocation and fire-related hassles caused delays in many of my projects, including the Classical Oriental DVD, which I know so many of you are eagerly awaiting. I am grateful to you for your patience, especially those of you that pre-ordered a long time ago, even before you saw the first of the DVDs.

There has been a change in the production, in that I'll be creating the next DVDs myself with my own production company. It will be easier for me to arrange filming on my own timetable, fitting things in around my travels and performances, and I’m pleased to say I have several new titles in the planning stages, in addition to the Classical Oriental. I'm most grateful to World Dance New York for producing the Baladi and Modern Oriental DVDs, and for helping me get my work out into the wider world this way. Neon of WDNY, who is so artistically gifted, technically savvy, and supportive, has set a high standard for me to follow in these releases, and I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to work with her. WDNY is kindly providing me the remaining footage we have filmed already, to include as part of my next DVD release, and they have done a beautiful job with it. You may have seen some clips from that already, featuring me in my light green Eman Zaki "sea princess" costume--the footage includes my performing a full Oriental show with the live 6-piece band, along with interviews with the musicians, demonstrations of the Arabic instruments and some ways of dancing to them, and demos of the different maqamat (Arabic melodic modes) that give color and nuance to the moods of the dance.

This filmed material that WDNY is providing me actually lends itself well to a DVD focusing on Arabic musicality for dancers, and the art of taqasim, or improvisation, since what we have filmed is not purely "classical oriental" in nature. Hence I intend to produce a musicality/improvisation DVD first, most likely completing filming in late December, and then film all-new material for the Classical Oriental after that DVD is finished. I plan for the musicality DVD (title TBA) to include musical breakdowns to hone your listening skills as well as technique practice drills to hone improvisational skills and physical response to the music. The Classical Oriental DVD would then focus on "Golden Age" technique and styling from the black and white era of Egyptian cinema (think Samia, Naima, Tahiya...), old-style musicality, and structured improvisation work or a choreography. I’d like to hear what my DVD fans would most like, so please contact me and share your views, or chime in on this forum.

...I’ll be sure to update you when my crew and I have completed filming and have a release date set, so you can pre-order the next DVD on my website.

For those of you who have already pre-ordered Classical Oriental directly from my website, I can offer you a refund if you wish, or you may apply your pre-order payment to the upcoming musicality/taqasim DVD, or the Classical Oriental which will follow, or to any of my other DVDs (and you will keep your free or discount shipping). You may also use the credit towards one of the online group classes or teleconferences I'll be offering over the next several months. Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions or concerns about your order. If you don't require a refund at this time, you don’t have to do anything--I'll keep your order on our list, and please stay tuned for e-mail information about the next products. Then you can let me know if something catches your eye before Classical Oriental is ready, and we'll happily adjust your order so you'll get what is super-fresh! If you have contacted me with your interest or already purchased from me and have not yet received e-mail from my list, please re-confirm your subscription to my list.

For the Baladi and Modern Oriental buyers, fyi, I will be offering some additional teleconferences before the end of the year, and will e-mail the dates once they are set.

Thank you all for your support and encouragement, and I’m so touched by your kind words about the DVDs. I wish you all very happy dancing into the holiday season!!

Ranya Renee
New York City
Bellydance New York City - Ranya Renee & Company - Belly Dance Classes and Peformances

This sounds fantastic Ranya!! All thumbs and big toes up ;)

Good googly Ranya, I'm still hacking through the goodness of the Modern Egyptian DVD!
I, for just one, am actually extremely happy you'll be doing a "musicality" DVD, and await it with all the patience I can muster whist holding my breath. ..l;,

I'm glad you're landing on your feet with more awesome ideas, and best of luck to you, as well.

I was just about to order the 3-release set through your website, but held off because I didn't have the $$ in the right account yet. I'm sorry your filming plans have changed, but I'm glad you're going ahead with the project! I've heard so many great things. :)

Re: WDNY...they've put out so many fabulous new classic instructionals at reasonable prices and I love them for it. I remember another project they had that never panned out...The Pin-up Workout? What a tease of a title! And it never materialized *pout*.

We have such an involved community that we are anticipating these videos before they're even shot. I think that says a lot about how the love and dedication that we (collectively) have for the dance and our favorite dancers, as well as the video producers that help make it possible for dancers in the back of beyond to learn from world-class teachers. ..g.:

Originally Posted by da Sage

I was just about to order the 3-release set through your website, but held off because I didn't have the $$ in the right account yet. I'm sorry your filming plans have changed, but I'm glad you're going ahead with the project! I've heard so many great things. :)

Thank you! It's still possible to order off my site, we haven't updated it all yet, but if you get the 3-dvd package you'd be able to specify which three dvds you want. (like, the next available--aiming for late March release, or the Classical, aiming for summer release).

I am appreciating all the feedback people are sending me about what they want to see on the next one, folks, keep it coming. ..g.:

wow I can't wait for March and summer then :)
Signature moves of star dancers would be awesome, and maybe after the classical moves your own interpretation or your modern interpretation.
Or some choreographies by the Golden Age dancers to classics like Zeina, broken down or modernized maybe. That would be great!

Hey, anybody heard how things are going on this one? :)

Originally Posted by dinavienna

Or some choreographies by the Golden Age dancers to classics like Zeina, broken down or modernized maybe. That would be great!

That would be amazing, with accompanying original footage, discussion of context, contemporaneous styles and influences... no modernizing, except maybe at the end of it all to show what elements are still going strong today. that would be so completely, utterly amazing!..g.:..g.:..g.:..g.:

Originally Posted by Avradoorn

Hey, anybody heard how things are going on this one? :)

Yes! Saw this in an email from Ranya Renee 12/29.

"UPCOMING DVD RELEASES
The DVD filming was the first film shoot with my new production company, and I'd like to thank video director Mario Gonzalez and crew, assistants Salit, Nabila, and Sultana, makeup goddess Jade Elhaddad, and the great musicians who joined me for the day. We plan to put out two DVDs from this filming, one on Arabic musicality, maqam and the emotional moods of taqasim and improvisation applied to the dance, and one on more dance technique approaches to finding creativity within improvisation, also dealing with taqasim, from a slightly different perspective. So the two DVDs will really complement each other to give a full treatment of the art of taqasim and how we can apply musical improvisation to dance improvisation and feeling. I'm excited! The DVDs should be ready around late March or so--more updates to come! And don't worry, dance fans, my Classical Oriental DVD will be next on the filming schedule, in the spring. :-)"

Originally Posted by badriya_al_ahmar

That would be amazing, with accompanying original footage, discussion of context, contemporaneous styles and influences... no modernizing, except maybe at the end of it all to show what elements are still going strong today. that would be so completely, utterly amazing!..g.:..g.:..g.:..g.:

that would be my dream come true!! ..l;,

Looking forward to all of these!

Hmm, we're into May now, anybody know how this is faring?

Hi everyone,

I'm still traveling but will be sending an email update to my list within the next week with more details of the DVDs that are coming out soon--so please join my email list at ranya.net if you are not on it already and want news. :-)
I apologize for the delays--these are the first big projects with my new production company, and our video editor had some family things come up and so we had to move the projects over to another editor. What will come out first are two dvd releases on musicality and taqasim, and at least one of those trailers should be ready within a few weeks. Things are almost edited but I need to still record the voiceovers.... it really is a long process to make dvds, folks! I'm doing the best I can. :-) And I'm a perfectionist, so you know how that can go...

After these current projects are completed and off to press, I'll begin work on Classical Oriental--I know everyone is waiting for it! I am hoping to finish that work over the course of the summer, provided all goes well with crew scheduling and all the other variables.

If you have pre-ordered from me and are tired of waitin', you can definitely contact my office for a credit towards one of the musicality DVDs or for a refund until we have the merch ready!

Thanks for your patience and for your support of my work!