Ansuya's Finger Cymbal DVD

[ejaghana]

I know the DVD is old now, but I need something that will really help me with my finger cymbals. I am pretty much and advanced dancer, but I don't dance at all with finger cymbals, and when I first started taking classes, I didn't use them at all.

I have Mesmera's finger cymbal DVD, and it was really helpful, but I need to move a little more. I can play them quite well if I'm just standing still.

Also, are there any other "less known" finger cymbal DVDs that you think are more helpful than Ansuya's, or is that the best there is?

[*Shira*]

One thing you might consider is learning the choreography taught on the Hahbi Ru video, Level 3 which is titled The Cymbal Dance. The finger cymbals are choreographed to go with the dance moves, so you learn a combination, add the cymbals to it, and do it together. And you learn a bunch of them, so that by the time you're through you have a finished dance complete with cymbals. There's a full-length review on my web site at Belly Dancing: Shira's Reviews of Instructional Videos, Alphabetical List

[jasani]

F.Y.I. - I bought both these dvd's and I started out with Ansuya's dvd. I really liked her teaching as she taught cymbals with drum beats which helped me learn the rhythms quite easily. Hahbi Ru's video was a "counting" method, which I found quite hard to follow since I had already learned Ansuya's method (which btw, and imo, better)

[kat]

Originally Posted by ejaghana

I can play them quite well if I'm just standing still.

And there's your problem. Unless you are a member of the band, you should never be standing (or sitting) still when playing zills. It's just like any other type of layering -- you have to actual layer it. So, start by walking around the house playing your patterns and rhythms. Then add playing cymbals to a simple choreography you know well. Whenever you are practicing, make sure you include playing cymbals while dancing to at least one complete number.

The Hahbi Ru video is great (Compton can play some pretty amazing things with his finger cymbals!). I'd recommend Saqra's finger cymbals video. Do I remember that Ansuya has two finger cymbal videos out -- one more advanced than the other? So you might look into both of those.

[ejaghana]

Originally Posted by kat

And there's your problem. Unless you are a member of the band, you should never be standing (or sitting) still when playing zills. It's just like any other type of layering -- you have to actual layer it. So, start by walking around the house playing your patterns and rhythms. Then add playing cymbals to a simple choreography you know well. Whenever you are practicing, make sure you include playing cymbals while dancing to at least one complete number.

The Hahbi Ru video is great (Compton can play some pretty amazing things with his finger cymbals!). I'd recommend Saqra's finger cymbals video. Do I remember that Ansuya has two finger cymbal videos out -- one more advanced than the other? So you might look into both of those.

I know! That's why the Mes DVD didn't help as far as my playing AND dancing skills. She did some step touch stuff, but other than that, there wasn't much movement.

I think I might get both the Habibi Ru and Ansuya DVDs. They both sound like they have some strong points.

WAAAAAA this is getting very costly!

[jasani]

Trust me, if you get both you will see that they are two totally different animals - or fruits... whatever, two totally different teaching styles really. Well, it would be good to know which style works for you as both do teach you how to play while dancing.

Oh the H.R. one, you'll need to get dvd's 1 and 2 because they go through steps on vol 3 that are based from 1 and 2 and don't break those steps down in 3, so you will be left with a "WTF" feeling if you buy just 3. Saqra's video really sounds good and along the lines of how Ansuya teaches. I'm not an advocate for Ansuya, I just know that from experience learning cymbals through the drum rhythms (D, D, T, tk, tk)really helped me learn more than 1, 1, 123, 1, 12345, 12.

[ejaghana]

Oh Saqra! I didnt even see that one. I'll have to take a look at it.

[Zana]

Does anyone have experience with the WDNY DVD "Bellydance with Zills"? I just ran across it on the Ocean State Media site. (Link should go straight to this DVD.)
OceanStateMedia.com - Dance Instruction - Action Sports - Fitness & Excercise, Self Help

I don't know the dancer, Elsa Leandros, but I like what I've seen/heard of drummer Raquy Danziger elsewhere -- both her excellent playing and her clear explanations.

[steffib]

When it comes to the Hahbi Ru DVD, it may be a good idea to practice (while walking around) with Jamila's zills CD first. John Compton uses the same zill patterns as Jamila, which I had not been taught elsewhere before.

In contrast to Jasani, I find that for an intermediate dancer, the steps from the previous volumes of the Hahbi Ru instruction are introduced with sufficient depth. But, of course, that all probably depends on one's personal learning style - everybody has their own preferences.

[steffib]

I like Hadia's Rhythms DVD - she does not explicitly teach zills, one has to be OK with rhythms and how to play them on zills (which it seems you are). She shows movements that go with the rhythms, and plays along. Depending on what one likes, that may be useful. I have enjoyed that DVD very, very much.

It's yet another way of looking at zills, to add to the number of choices ;-)

[kat]

Originally Posted by Zana

Does anyone have experience with the WDNY DVD "Bellydance with Zills"? I just ran across it on the Ocean State Media site. (Link should go straight to this DVD.)
OceanStateMedia.com - Dance Instruction - Action Sports - Fitness & Excercise, Self Help

I don't know the dancer, Elsa Leandros, but I like what I've seen/heard of drummer Raquy Danziger elsewhere -- both her excellent playing and her clear explanations.

Another look at the same dvd:

YouTube - Bellydance with Zils - DVD - Amazon.com...

[ejaghana]

Ok. I'm going to start with Ansuya's DVD, and then I might do the habibi ru one. I do find it easier to learn with drum beats than with counting, so that's probably best for me. I'd rather get both but I had to get real about my funds. (Or lack thereof)