Thread: Hip-notic Belly Dance with Kaya

So has anyone seen a copy of this yet? I have Pops, Locks and Shimmies I, and II. I have both of Sadies DVDs as well. I wonder if she will have some good stuff on this one. Looking for some opinions, input, as with everyone else, money is tight and I need to make wise
purchases.

Thanks

Nice poster

I watched the trailer on the IAMED site.
I was positively surprised this is a very "cool-toned" presentational manner. I thought some of Sadie's and their common instruction had the "sexiness" factor shining through sometimes. Their stage persona, so to speak, at least that is the impression I somehow got from the trailers of the Pops Locks and Shimmies trailers.

This instruction looks neutral. I like Kaya's presentation in the trailer.
It seems to be a lot about posture and expression judging from trailer and description.

Also to my surprise: The excerpt from the performance does not have the "sex sex sex" factor I have come to expect from this duo. It looks rather mystical.

Anyways, this trailer is a nice surprise for me. The content looks interesting. The cover is nice.
I still am not sure I want to buy anything by Sadie and Kaya since their ultra-tasteless hip hop video.
But this trailer is way better and more "reassuring" than I would have expected.

I gotta say..... I love Kaya ( sans Sadie )!! I was initially skeptical when I signed up for a workshop being offered by Sadie and Kaya. But Kaya was the star instructor for me. Her instruction and breakdowns were very clear. Her energy was high AND she was sweet as pie. She walked around alot during the workshops offering everyone individual attention ( a tweak here, a tweak there ). She even mingled with the workshop participants between classes. Based on my personal experience with her and the general feeling I get from the trailer.... I will be purchasing this DVD.

Thanks for sharing your experience :) this sounds like a nice workshop you took!

I know this one will go on my list as well.

I've taken regular classes from both of them (back when their performance schedule allowed them time to teach local classes), and I agree that Kaya is just an excellent teacher. I know some people expect that she would act like a sex kitten or something, but I've said she reminds me in class of a cross between a professor of bellydance and a drill sergeant. LOL - I do mean that as a good thing. I remember when we were all milling around talking and comparing sparkly hip wraps, and Kaya was ready for us to focus on the next exercise, she would walk to the front of the room and call out, "OK Ladies, get into your lines and avoid choas!" ..l;,

I took a class with Kaya and she was fantastic. She really worked us. I want to invest in the new dvd as well as the Pops Locks and Shimmies.

Has anyone purchased Kaya'a DVD yet, would love a very honest review, if you don't want to post on-site. Let me know and I will drop my e-mail address. I just want to know if it is worth the money. Trying to spend wisely and well, thanks.

Alexanderia aka Kris

OK guys, I've just gone through about 2/3 of the video. Like almost all the IAMED videos, it's longer than my attention span, so I'll need one more session to finish it off, but I can give you some impressions.

This is a very all purpose head to toe bellydance technique and practice video. I get the sense that its target audience is people relatively new to bellydancing. The first parts spend a fair amount of time on posture, stage presence, and performance advice. The main teaching sections are posture, stage presentation, hands & arms, head and neck, chest, abdominal work, and hips.

The dedicated section on head rolls and hair tosses is a nice addition that I don't see on many videos. The abdominal section is extensive, with a lot of helpful drills. Kaya teaches flutters without using the breath, which is a little different technique than most instructors, and I think harder to do, but I know dancers who swear by doing flutters with abdominal muscles only. There are several variations on the belly roll such as with a diagonal or side to side emphasis.

One thing that surprised me is that there was almost none of the duo's signature popping and locking. This is very different content than that of the Sadie or Sadie & Kaya videos. The emphasis is on fluid and "snakey" movement and on incorporating your own creative expression.

I wouldn't recommend it so much to someone who wants a complete choreography or a collection of combos they can memorize to drop into their dances. I also wouldn't recommend it as a straight work out DVD since it is more like a workshop or extended private lesson with demonstrations and advice mixed in with the movement practice.

I'd definitely recommend this video to students who are relatively new and want a good overall practice video. I think someone who picked this up and used it on a regular basis would learn to dance, not just how to execute a series of cool movements and isolations.

I'd also recommend it to any level of dancer who really wants to focus on belly rolls or other abdominal movements.

Anyway, I wore out just as I started the hip section, so I will have to report back.

Oh, and I did skip to the performance when I first got the video. It's a candle dance piece with a lot of floor work. My one major annoyance with this section was that it's just a little on the dark side, and I mean the stage lighting, not that Kaya has gone to the goth side - LOL. I see this on so many belly dancing videos, that the producer is trying to enhance the mystique, so they go for the atmospheric mood lighting, and I end up wondering why I have to watch someone dancing in the dark. Anyway, this is one of my personal pet peeves, so maybe I need a better TV or just better eyes.

Originally Posted by dinavienna

I thought some of Sadie's and their common instruction had the "sexiness" factor shining through sometimes. Their stage persona, so to speak, at least that is the impression I somehow got from the trailers of the Pops Locks and Shimmies trailers.

I just borrowed PLS1 from a friend of mine and was pleasantly surprised. I preferred Kaya to Sadie when it comes to instruction, she was 'warmer' and more personable. I found Sadie to be disengaged. I personally don't care for their performance style BUT it doesn't keep me from enjoying their teaching style. I think if this DVD was released by WDNY (therefor a $20 price tag vs $40) it would be much more popular.

Back on topic, I hadn't heard of this new solo Kaya DVD but I'll have to look into it (aka buy it)

Hey all, I finished the DVD. There was more left than I thought. The hip section was quite long and included a lot of complex layering drills such as undulations or rib circles over mayas, different undulations and rib circles over pelvic circles, even pelvic circles over mayas. I take back what I said about this being more of a beginners video now. I certainly can't get the alternating vertical and horizontal chest circles over hip figure 8s and pelvic circles yet, at least not without it being a bit of a muddled mess once I get going.

There was a section to practice some of the hip and chest moves while travelling, and a lot of explanation and demonstrating of ways to make ones dancing more dynamic or to enhance emotional connection with the audience. The last couple sections of the video were more instructional and mental than drilling and practice.

Then I saw the performance again. It wasn't as dark as I remember it, maybe because I watched it in the evening this time with less ambient light.

So, I already said I'd recommend this video for ab work. Now after finishing it, I'd also recommend it for anyone who generally wants to work on taqsim dancing.