Thread: Shamira Sensuous Workout II - sooo good!

Hi everybody,

In spring someone here said they enjoyed a beginner's view on practice videos for they felt as advanced dancers and teachers they could not judge them well with a beginner's eye.

Well after a painful and persistent toe joint injury caused dancing break since March I was HAPPY to do a full practice session today.

I chose to do something completely new, well something I'd had, watched and liked, but never danced to: Shamira's Sensuous Workout II.
I know a dear friend of mine with extensive practice experience and progress and an online dance diary (malabhargava.com) loved this video a lot years ago for its "danceability", so I decided to begin my practice with something that is FUN aside teaching technique.

IT REALLY IS. I have never liked a technique section as much as this one. The reason for this is Shamira makes even the technique section more "dancey" than other videos, with little combinations and tempo changes.
The slight con for technique couch potatoes like me: I fear I am not keeping perfect form, nor engaging the muscle groups sufficiently, but rather dancing happily and enjoying myself. I will combine this video with the more muscle focused one's by Sadie and Sandra from now on again.
So if you have students who hate to do the "dry" moves and cannot motivate themselves this is the video to go for to start home practice. Feeling my form is not ideal it actually makes me want to do more "serious" technique drills too. So a win-win situation.

Shamira does many moves that you would use in social dancing, but are hardly ever taught on beginner videos. She really shows a million moves, and that with nice arms, which is rare.
Overall I can follow the technique section well, but I am not getting the moves done as nicely as she does the first time, well not even close of course ..l;,, and especially the many variations of arms she shows combined with the moves still give me trouble. she moves relatively fast, too.

So for someone who really wants to dance at home rather than drill, who is either a somewhat advanced beginner or a beginner who cannot motivate him/herself to do the more ambitious and focused technique videos this one is perfect.

Instruction on technique including many variations of hip circles (also on one leg), hip lifts and drops (also travelling steps), shimmies and twists, camel (a strong focus on hip and full body moves, and hardly any upper body isolations included) is more than 1:10 hours, and then she presents 3 mini choreographies, one taksim, one saidi, one drum solo. They look quite easy from watching them, but are not broken down a lot.
I will do the technique section for several times until I will try the dances.
The dances are quite nice - I was not sure I was "feeling" her saidi dance in some movements, but she probably made the dance easy for an absolute beginner, and therefore chose to do movements in ways she may not do usually I guess.

Overall this is the most FUN beginner practice video I have ever done. The "danciest" one.

I hope Shamira does more videos in the future!!

(Where I am coming from to help you judge this review with regard to your students: I've taken classes occasionally, or rather sporadically, over the past years, on and off due to a sports injury on the knee. Technique wise I therefore never left the beginner stage I'd say. Also I attended classes by a Persian woman, who very much had the approach I liked (or thought I liked): "Just" dancing and having fun, with some correction or suggestion here and there.
When I purchased most of my bellydance videos one and a half years ago I was shocked technique wise I really wasn't good ..l;,
I worked with Amira 101, Sadie Complete Bellydance and Sandra's Isolations for about once per week for 6 months, and saw nice improvement in technique. Then the toe injury interrupted practice - I am somewhat knowledgeable beginner I'd say.)

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaWhiK-Scd4]YouTube - Sensuous Workout 2 "Pure Technique"[/ame]
Found a snip of it from her youtube site....it's taking forever to load on my sloooooooooooow computer. Your review left me curious and I want to see it!

oh thanks that's flattering :)

I forgot to say - it is a totally home made look obviously. I guess you are in Shamira's (perfectly tidy and lovely decorated Armenian (I think)) living room :)

It is GOOD quality visual and audio wise. better than many studio produced ones.
I love the look of the dancer in her living room talking to you in your living room. Like a video conference :)
But obviously there may be people who do not like that.

I did not know there was a video clip when I purchased it!! but the amazon reviews were pretty overwhelming.
I so full heartedly recommend this video!!
The Sensuous workout 1 is good too, "only" technique no choreographies. She actually made this video because people wanted some more in depth explanation on how to move the arms and how to string the moves into combinations. I like Vol 2 way better, but Vol 1 is a very nice beginner video by an extremely proficient, elegant and authentic oriental dancer. I think she is my all time favorite on American produced videos judging from her dance style, movements taught, and style/warmth.
Also she was SUCH a sweetheart in emails!
A full package :)

Shamira is a total sweetheart. And she makes great hummos!

Ok, that was a lovely clip and I think I need to add this to my Amazon wish list, but one question. Is she giving the Vulcan "live long and prosper" hand sign there at the end at approximately 7:19?

Originally Posted by coffeegoddess

Ok, that was a lovely clip and I think I need to add this to my Amazon wish list, but one question. Is she giving the Vulcan "live long and prosper" hand sign there at the end at approximately 7:19?

Yes it sure looked like it, I thought it was cute.

I really enjoyed that clip and several of her other clips. What a beautiful dancer.

I adored this dvd when I first started out! Nothing compared. With scads and scads of new beginner offerings, I still think this is an excellent purchase. I still have my copy and have no plans of selling.

Originally Posted by coffeegoddess

Ok, that was a lovely clip and I think I need to add this to my Amazon wish list, but one question. Is she giving the Vulcan "live long and prosper" hand sign there at the end at approximately 7:19?

I had no idea what it was called but I also thought her hand position was a "Trekkie" thing or something like that.
She may be into the fantasy or sci-fi stuff - on her other video, Vol 1 there is a video clip with her dancing, and it has some time travel futuristic component. I wish I could remember more clearly I guess I have to look it up. Particularly on whether there are UFOs ;)

Originally Posted by dancerose

I adored this dvd when I first started out! Nothing compared. With scads and scads of new beginner offerings, I still think this is an excellent purchase. I still have my copy and have no plans of selling.

It's a shame I have not used it in the almost 2 years I own it now! I will make up for that. The dances she does are COOL, there is no repetition, she calls out the moves and you follow. I actually prefer this to a strict choreography breakdown. I have not danced to her three dances (which are actually long the chiftetelli is probably 7 min or so, saidi and drum solo each 5 min I'd estimate), but they are SO nice for a beginner to intermediate dancer. She incorporates many great moves into the dance you will not see on any of the other American produced bellydance instructionals on beginner level.
I now remember why I was so happy when I got her 2 dvds, for having more authentic dance IMO than many of the other US based instructors - and I could beat myself up for not having used it for so long!! ..l;,
(I wonder what other treasures I will be discovering on my dvd shelf in the next few months! ,r:;)

Originally Posted by dinavienna

I had no idea what it was called but I also thought her hand position was a "Trekkie" thing or something like that.
She may be into the fantasy or sci-fi stuff - on her other video, Vol 1 there is a video clip with her dancing, and it has some time travel futuristic component. I wish I could remember more clearly I guess I have to look it up. Particularly on whether there are UFOs ;)

Ok, then it's definitely going on my Amazon wish list.

Did you take this up during the Fun versus Technique beginner debate thread? I pushed for Shamira II and I think you took up for Sandra and then Mala put up those beginner reqs on her site...

Hmmm... could be! I put my top 5 picks for beginners into a thread once (which was Sadie, Sandra, Amira 101, Luscious and this Shamira dvd - I knew from watching it it was great, but just like Luscious I never danced to it..), and got attacked by - say - another dvd producer/instructor in a pretty below-the-waistline manner.
Was that the thread you are talking about? Or maybe an earlier one?

or was it the one on tribe?? the one with Sandra (in person)? if yes then you certainly put Shamira's dvd back into my head, because at that time I had not properly watched it yet (shame on me!!)
Anyways I'm sure you guys made me aware of this dvd, because I have several dozen beginner dvds I have not used from the time I purchased Shamira's (almost 2 years ago, sheesh!), and I still have to unpack them ;)

Originally Posted by dancerose

Did you take this up during the Fun versus Technique beginner debate thread? I pushed for Shamira II and I think you took up for Sandra and then Mala put up those beginner reqs on her site...

Oh btw - I am not sure I'd file Sandra's so much under "fun" as under "useful"/rock hard technique. I LIKE doing her dvd, but I must say I never have real fun doing technique videos ,r:;
This dvd is actually the only one so far I am having fun and ONLY fun doing. Luscious and the likes are probably great, but I tried the Luscious tutorial once and it moves pretty fast. I'll need to step up the level a tiny bit before I can finally indulge in this lovely "dance-out" as Mala says!

Shamira has a lot of homemade "no-frills" demo & choreography dvds. Check out her website:
Welcome to Shamiradance - Bellydance with Shamira I have taught several of her chor to my classes & troupe (with her permission & blessings, she really is a sweetheart). I have no affiliation with her, I just enjoy her teaching DVDs, she breaks down the movements really well, good teaching style for me.

She unfortunately discontinued most of them.. She said she'd made them before the flooding of the dvd market with high quality produced videos, and felt it was not the time for her to sell such "no frills" videos anymore. A pity because I like the 2 or 3 I got from her back then!

BUT she said she may be producing a high quality choreography dvd sometime next year. Not 100% sure but she is considering it.

Definitely her videos are good workouts.

Is it just me or does she Shamira not look an awful like Phoebe from friends, with dark hair, in this video?? I keep waiting for her to pick up a guitar and play 'Smelly Cat'. Definitely looks like a good workout.

That was a great clip! I am going to have to check this one out now. It didn't look like a true beginner choreo tho, perhaps the technique section goes over all the moves really well I hope.

it does.
I'm all into it still - the technique part is long (about 1 hour 20 min), it moves fast - it is reasonably attainable for an absolute beginner, but some classes or an absolute beginner dvd would be better to accompany this one.
She teaches the moves, and often adds combinations that will later appear in the 3 dances. So you do practice all she later does in the dances in the 1hour 20 min technique! it is very well thought out.
the three dances are no real choreography, but you follow her as she calls out the moves. It takes me a couple of times to be able to follow her, but it is worth it because a. it is a nice challenge, b. I prefer the "follow along" way of learning to the strict 1-2-3-4 choreography learning. Feels more "organic".
But definitely, all you see in the dances she teaches in the technique session. also she teaches many extremely cute moves that are very natural and important in the dance IMO and the other mainstream dvds never go over. Kind of "missing vocabulary" for someone who has not learned the dance in a social context I'd say.

Originally Posted by coffeegoddess

Ok, that was a lovely clip and I think I need to add this to my Amazon wish list, but one question. Is she giving the Vulcan "live long and prosper" hand sign there at the end at approximately 7:19?

She mentions being a trekkie in one of her "no-frills" video, AND dances to a life size cut out of ... one of the crew...Picard maybe?..g.:

DinaVienna:

Thank you for your detailed information about this DVD--very helpful.

Does Shamira also list the title of the song/artist that she uses on her DVDs? It's so frustrating when dancers don't do that, especially if you want to encourage students to get the music (legally!) and practice outside the studio.

Hechicera

you're welcome :)

It says in the "concluding" credits all of the songs are on her cd "Yallah ya Helwa" from yallahdance.com
Instrumental Bellydance Music CD - Yallah Ya Helwa

It also says they have been "specially edited" for the dvd.. so one would have to figure out which parts have been cropped to do the dance as it is, be it in class or at home, I guess!

Good to know. Thanks for the speedy reply. Happy Dancing!

ya have fun :)))

Originally Posted by dinavienna

you're welcome :)

It says in the "concluding" credits all of the songs are on her cd "Yallah ya Helwa" from yallahdance.com
Instrumental Bellydance Music CD - Yallah Ya Helwa

It also says they have been "specially edited" for the dvd.. so one would have to figure out which parts have been cropped to do the dance as it is, be it in class or at home, I guess!

There's 2 CDs..."Yallah ya Helwa" - with songs & such, routines, which is excellent. Then there is a special edited one she made, with loops & extended tracks from "Yallah ya Helwa" to match the DVD. Great teaching or practice tool!
Email her, she'll help you where to find it. Tell her Liesa in Plattsburgh sent you..l;, She is very helpful & sweet.

cool thanks!!

Right guys, I had to collar Annoying Ex for this one- the Annoying Ex who once tried to dress me up in a trekkie uniform thing, asked me to call him Lieutenant-Commander, and spent one of his birthdays proudly wearing the ear-points I bought him as a wind-up. Carefully typed out with no regard for personal un-trekkiness for your delectation from "Trekkers- True Stories By Fans For Fans"...I hand you over to Shamira!

The Sensuous Influence of Star Trek- by Shamira

I began watching Star Trek at a young age, and little did I know then what an impact it would have on the rest of my life. The green Orion dancing girl who mesmerized Captain Pike in “The Cage” and “The Menagerie” also mesmerized an impressionable girl. I always knew I would grow up to be a professional dancer. At the time I was studying ballet. To see this sensuous, exotic woman writhing around enticing a starship captain somewhere in outer space while big-headed aliens watched…let’s just say I never forgot it! Years later I began my career as a bellydancer. My dream had come true, I had become “Vina” (Er…except for the green part. And the happily-ever-after-with-a-handsome-starship-captain-living-on-another-planet part. But hey, it could happen!)
I believe Star Trek is a cosmic dance. It paints a romantic, exciting design in the universe, in human thought, in my mind. It directs my perceptions away from the mundane and points me toward grandeur and endless possibility. I am drawn to both Star Trek and bellydancing for the same reason- they are fascinating, glamorous and mysterious.
I am now a bellydance instructor and performer, and teach sold-out courses in the New York City area. While it has been a lot of hard work, it has also given me the opportunity to meet an extraordinary variety of people. I have danced in Lincoln Center and Radio City Music Hall, and I have danced on a bowling alley and in a tire garage. All my students know that I am a Trekkie, and they get a kick out of it. I made a bellydance instructional video called “Bellydance- the Sensuous Workout”. One of the cameramen was a fellow Trekkie, as was the graphic artist who designed the cover (he used the Trek font on the back cover). The instructional/workout part of the video is in several sections, the last section is called “Shimmies”. At the very end of that section, as it is fading to black, I do the Vulcan hand salute.
As a bonus on the video, I included a music video, a montage that fuses Trek and bellydancing. It starts out with me as a little girl, played by my goddaughter, watching Star Trek on TV. Little Shamira falls asleep reading a book about bellydancing. As we enter her dreams, she is “beamed down” into a nightclub and she is a swirling bellydancer. Then all of a sudden she is grown up and dancing with Pickard, Riker, Worf and Seven of Nine- anything can happen in your dreams! And anything can happen in real life! This entire music video could not have existed without Star Trek.