[DragonFlyTwentyFour]

Here are my deeper impressions, in 3000 characters: ;o)

I think most importantly, Zanbaka makes it very clear at the beginning that a book (as well as DVDs, videos, etc.), no matter how expertly done, is not a substitute for an experienced, well-trained instructor. IMO, this book is a study companion, much like massage handbooks are for massage therapists. No one book will serve every need. IMO, this book does an excellent job of serving the needs of the visual-verbal learning quadrant. (IMO, everyone benefits from stimulating all learning styles, regardless of personal preference.)

Given my personal preference for visual-verbal (or read/write), I found this book to be very exciting and a reference I am using daily. I also believe that *any* book, regardless of its quality, can provide helpful feedback, even if it's through negative information. With that in mind, if you are not a big book buyer, and you want a good bellydance reference book for fundamental movement, at this point in time, this is it. It's the most bang for your buck.

Yes, $50 is a lot of money for a book. However, workshops usually cost the same amount or more and this reference will last a lot longer than a workshop when it comes to being able to refer back to information.

I find it difficult to find any cons about the book. Especially since there are other volumes in the offing. I am looking forward to exploring my passion/obsession further through this series. The main con in my opinion is the book is terrifically dense. There isn't a lot of extra verbiage in the book, so every sentence is important. This can be overwhelming and the brain can glaze over if it's taken in too quickly. Personally, I plan on studying this dance form for the rest of my life, so I feel confident I will benefit tremendously from my tendency to read a book through, then go back and really go deep with each section. There is the danger of treating it like a self-help book or reading it once or only half-way through, then never referring back to it. I think the best scenario is taking classes from a great instructor who is open to continued learning and using the book to fill in the gaps and bring more awareness into the studio.

The bottom line: this book makes you think about bellydance. And invites you to rethink it, and then consciously decide whether to keep your current practices, slightly modify them, or completely relearn some things. It answers questions I didn't know I had. It brings up new questions, which is always exciting IMO. Even if you don't agree with anything in the book, that in and of itself will tell you so much about your own practices and give you confidence in your decisions as a dancer.

Hope that helps! :) Andrea.