Thread: What DVD has your FAVORITE basics on it?

I've got a stable full of dance DVDs. I'm wanting to add a little more dance into my routine by doing some warm up, cool down, and some very basic moves in between. I'm going to start going through what I've got but... thought I would inquire of the Hive Mind!

Do you have a DVD you like that has excellent dance-based basic movements drills on it? I don't need a super-beginner dvd, as I don't need 15 minutes of explanation per hip drop , but I was hoping to find one that has a nice range of movements in it. I can do my own warm up and cool down as needed.

I rather like Jasmine Jahal's old Reach for the Stars 1, if you're familiar with that.

Any thoughts? Love to hear them...

Hadia's 4 disc Ultimate Oriental Dance System DVD!!!!!!
So much great content: warm-up, technique, 2 choreographies, cool-own, quick warm-up version, alignment. She is so awesome!!! She really doesn teach effortless and flawless technique. I love her.

My absolute favorite practice DVD is probably 'Aiziza's Ultimate Bellydance Practice Companion'. I still do the drills from it to this day on a weekly basis. I find it the perfect length to pop in and follow the whole way through. You feel like you are in the class with her and the other girls and you go through the whole range of motions. It's great for improving the quality and range of motion for your whole body.

As a VERY close runner up and almost dead tie, I really like 'Drills! Drills! Drills!' by Michelle Joyce. I find the stuff on that DVD is a real butt kicker and I just love it! She gets me thinking a little more outside the box for practicing stuff, and incorporates a few different fitness items in the DVD that I haven't seen before. She also provides a choreography, zill work, combinations and of course great drills and some other exercises too.

Both are excellent, it just depends on what sort of mood you are in. :)

Aziza's Ultimate Dance Companion!!

Ooh, more votes for Aziza. I don't think I can do her 20 minutes of shimmies at this point, but... goes off to dig through DVDs...

I'm signed up for a Leila Gamal workshop tomorrow, but I've been out of class for a month due to my health. Wish me luck, I'm likely to collapse 45 minutes in.

What a great topic! I think I'm kind of the master of basics, since I'm always falling out of my dance practice and trying to get back in. So I've worked a lot more with my basics videos than I have with my more advanced or choreo vids. I have a bunch of recs I found just by reviewing my own blog (I'll include links to my reviews), but when I get home this evening or tomorrow I'll look at my collection and see if there's anything else that springs to mind.

Really, super basic: Shamira's workout 1. It's just a very light, short workout. You won't break a sweat. But I've used it when I had back pain and wanted to do something for my body without aggravating my back. Good for when you're really out of practice.

atisheh: dance and fitness views and reviews: Review: Shamira's Bellydancing: The Sensuous Workout

Also basic, but good for stretching every bit of body out: Jehan's Sacred Bellydance. Again, when I've done it I've enjoyed it more for the stretches, using bellydance moves, than for the danceyness.

atisheh: dance and fitness views and reviews: Review: Jehan's Sacred Bellydance

Has good short warmup and drill: Sera's East Coast Tribal. Again, little instruction in the basics, but I liked the warmup and drills. (I'm not hugely into tribal, but I think that doesn't matter for warmups and training, and I think Sera's a gorgeous dancer anyway.)

atisheh: dance and fitness views and reviews: Review: Sera's Bellydance East Coast Tribal

The surprise: Rania's Belly Abs. This actually is a workout using bellydance moves, and is super short (just over half an hour), but you do really feel something. Rania's Natural Journeys vids were among the first ones I ever bought, and there are many things about them -- and her on them -- that I didn't like. Don't ask me why I bought Belly Abs anyway, but I did, and was surprised at how good it was. It's also very cheap. Just writing this now makes me look forward to being postpartum enough to work with it again, and with the others in the set.

atisheh: dance and fitness views and reviews: Review: Rania's Belly Abs

Hope this helps!

Oh yeah, and I echo the Aziza love!

Thank you, philoclea!

Originally Posted by tigerb

Thank you, philoclea!

I live to serve...

My favorite is "Tribal Basics Vol. 1 Dance Fundamentals" by Fat Chance Belly Dance. (you can buy it here: http://www.fcbd.com/)

I was fortunate enough to take a day-long workshop with Caroleena some time ago and it was completely amazing! if you ever get the chance to study with anyone from this troupe I highly recommend that you do.

I also really love "Totally Turkish - Belly Dance" with Ruby, lots of fun. And she is a great teacher in person too.

My favorite Dvd
Bozenka - Every Shimmy Book
Randa Camel - Masters of Egyptian Choreography
Ava Fleming - Sizzlin Torso
Amar Gamal - Supreme Shimmies
Hannah Sultan - put the Belly Back

I just got Hadia's 4 disc " ultimate oriental belly dance system" Only had time for the warm-up, then ran to my class, came home and did the cool down. As class is only 1 hour I think this is perfect , and I can do it with the other parts on days I don't have class. I really liked it.