Info on Hadia DVDs

[micamica]

Has anybody tried any of these? I really have enjoyed what I've seen of her dancing style, so I am hoping somebody has seen her DVDs and could give me their opinion. For one thing, where does a person start-there are so many of them!!
Nikki

[Aradia]

She is one of my favorite dancers! I have her Sahara choreography DVD, I haven't gotten through it, probably won't get back to it until the end of September when my life slows down some, but I really love her dancing! What level of dance are you at? Does she offer different levels? The one I have is a bit advanced, It's more of her style than just a technique video.

[Adishakti]

I say, get 'em all and start with the ones that interest you most. I have quite a few of hers and really enjoy them. (Don't forget her performance vids, too)!

[zumarrad]

I have several. They rock.

[cbarros]

Well, if you have a few dollars to spend ($124Can but with exchange rate almost the same in USD now), you might want to start with her 4 DVD Complete Oriental Bellydance System . . . it has some of the basics to get you started plus a couple of choreographies. Description from her website:

This is the Ultimate complete system and inlcudes 4 DVDs, sold as a complete set.
Disc One: Hadia's revolutionary new warm-up routine and 10 point alignment check;
Disc Two: Basic level steps and techniques and a full Egyptian style "Shaabiya" choreography;
Disc Three: A more complex intermediate technique and fun filled choreography to Hakim's "Talakeek"; and
Disc Four: Hadia's easy-flow cool down based on her favorite Yoga, Pilates and Jazz exercised to help you mobilize, stretch and strengthen your way to ideal muscle balance!!

Seriously, all these will keep you occupied with dance for quite awhile. And worth the investment to jump-start you into her style. I have those plus a few others and started out years ago with her Raks Sharki series which she has now put out on DVD.

Disclaimer: I am an unabashed fan of Hadia and just hosted her at my house during her Level I Teacher Training in the Dallas area. So, yes, I do like what she does!

[micamica]

Thanks everyone! I am still a beginner, but I work best in classes which are just above my comfort/knowledge level. Otherwise, I tend to get bored mentally =( I can handle all the "basic" moves, but I definitely need work on layering, and building my dance vocabulary. It's hard to find a good video for me, almost anything marked for beginners I already know 90% of (and expect to eventually learn the rest from my weekly classes), but I am definitely still in the "tip of the iceberg" phase of my student career.
Cbarros-do you think Disc One and Disc Four are a necessity, or can Two and Three stand alone? Quite frankly, I can warm up and cool down on my own, although the alignment check sounds interesting.
Thanks again to everyone! This really helps!
Nikki

[zumarrad]

Micamica, the four-disc Ultimate bellydance System comes as a set, so the warm up and cool down are included. You will learn a lot from them too - Hadia's material is very thorough and she is a physical therapist so she knows bodies and how they work. I *am* aware of some dancers hurting themselves via Hadia's warmup - I am not one of them, but I'm pointing it out. I think awareness of what your own body can and can't handle is helpful.

You are likely to find the two choreo/technique DVDs in the set more challenging than you think - the work is not necessarily *hard*, you're not layering shimmies all over everything, but it may be different to what you've done before. I had been dancing quite a lot of years when I bought mine and found the way Hadia teaches you to generate moves is quite different and challenging in its own way. (And bear in mind, I was taught by someone who sucked the marrow from her well-worn Hadia tapes after a short period of training with her, so a lot of Hadia's combos from her old tapes etc were very familiar to me.)

[Nepenthe]

sorry to piggyback on the thread, but the choreography instruction - does she break it down much(like Jillina's dvds) or is it more just a follow-along (like Nourhan Sharif's dvds)?

[zumarrad]

I haven't seen Jillina's DVDs but she does break moves down quite a lot, yes. However, some DVDs don't have a full "dance" per se - Tales of the Sahara teaches you the intro and beledi section, but leaves you to do your own taqsim and drum solo and erm, other slightly masmoudi but not quite bit, if you're dancing to the whole track in question. I get the impression her intention there is to start you off, inspire you, and give you some homework! From memory the Ultimate System DVDs have full choreos (they are only short).

The format is: you see Hadia dance the piece. Then, she goes through step by step and teaches you the choreography. Then, there's a repeat of the piece shot from the back. You can use the front and back views to practice with over and over - they're good.

[Trina_Dance]

Yikes! People have hurt themselves doing Hadia's warm-up? Wow, I actually found that her warm-ups and cool-downs are the absolute safest and most effective I've come across...interesting...

I also have the four-disc DVD set and I think it's fantastic! My favourite discs are actually 1 and 4 because of all the very useful exercises that keep your body (or at least mine : ) safe during warm-ups and cool-downs. There's a whole theory behind Hadia's "system" and I think that the 4 disc set is definitely the best way to start exploring that. The choreographies at first seem quite simple, but I find the challenge is in using your muscles and your entire body effectively (and safely) in executing each movement in the piece. And they're really cute choreographies too!

[zumarrad]

Yikes! People have hurt themselves doing Hadia's warm-up?

So I've been told. I don't know how injured they were previously or whether the warm up was the real issue or something else they'd been doing. They were not young. I found aspects of it challenging since my lower back is a bit evil and I am paranoid about certain movements, but not challenging in a bad way. In fact, I think I need to get that DVD out again and revisit it...

[cbarros]

Originally Posted by zumarrad

So I've been told. I don't know how injured they were previously or whether the warm up was the real issue or something else they'd been doing. They were not young. I found aspects of it challenging since my lower back is a bit evil and I am paranoid about certain movements, but not challenging in a bad way. In fact, I think I need to get that DVD out again and revisit it...

And don't forget . . . if you have any questions, email Hadia, because she is always happy to answer questions . . .particularly when someone has a problem doing some of her warmups/cooldowns, etc. She has told us during the Level I training that her knowledge is continually evolving and that she has changed a few things presented since the DVDs were first created.

Yes, backs can be evil . . . and if you do have problems showing up in that area, it could be time to re-visit alignment. I know how bad my lower back was before I got into the better posture habits for dancing . . . starting first with Shareen's methods used for Egyptian style then Hadia's reinforcment based on anatomy, etc. It is amazing how I can be 15 years older and have my lower back survive workshops better due to this major change in posture/alignment.

[badriya_al_ahmar]

Originally Posted by Trina_Dance

Yikes! People have hurt themselves doing Hadia's warm-up? Wow, I actually found that her warm-ups and cool-downs are the absolute safest and most effective I've come across...interesting...

I also have the four-disc DVD set and I think it's fantastic! My favourite discs are actually 1 and 4 because of all the very useful exercises that keep your body (or at least mine : ) safe during warm-ups and cool-downs. There's a whole theory behind Hadia's "system" and I think that the 4 disc set is definitely the best way to start exploring that. The choreographies at first seem quite simple, but I find the challenge is in using your muscles and your entire body effectively (and safely) in executing each movement in the piece. And they're really cute choreographies too!

I second everything you said about the four disc set--her warm up especially had a real impact on my dancing. I'm not sure how somebody could hurt themselves doing the warm up and not also hurt themselves just plain dancing

[micamica]

Interesting, looks like I will take the plunge =) Thanks for the advice about emailing Hadia too, I never of that!