worst instructional DVD I have ever seen

[Zara_dancer]

Where can I find this Estelle person's vids??? I must see this!! Pleeeease help!

[Megan_Jane]

Originally Posted by Zara_dancer

Where can I find this Estelle person's vids??? I must see this!! Pleeeease help!

Yes, please help! It sounds like a gem! I'm so intrigued. I feel like I'm really missing out!!

I haven't seen Janie Rabitt's either. Am I missing out?

Speaking of bad videos, I had a dream about one... I dreamed that Denise Austin released one... I remember seeing her do these incredibly ugly hip circles and cooing "feel the ancient power of bellydancing!" (I think this was inspired by a yoga DVD of hers I own...)

I've heard that the Tina Hobin DVD is bad... does anyone know?

[gawaher]

Originally Posted by Zara_dancer

Where can I find this Estelle person's vids??? I must see this!! Pleeeease help!

Belly Dance Video

[t-dancer]

I'd be more than happy to sell mine!

[Megan_Jane]

I looked for it on youtube, but no luck *sigh*
Anyone know where I could see a preview?

Estelle will lead you through the dance form in elegant style.

In spite of her level of professionalism Estelle manages to bring to life the basic steps in a simple form for all to use and enjoy.

I wonder why it has an M15+ rating?

[lizajuk]

Originally Posted by Megan_Jane

I looked for it on youtube, but no luck *sigh*
Anyone know where I could see a preview?

Estelle will lead you through the dance form in elegant style.

In spite of her level of professionalism Estelle manages to bring to life the basic steps in a simple form for all to use and enjoy.

I wonder why it has an M15+ rating?

As long as your IQ is 15 you're OK to watch ! (SMACKS OWN HAND)

[azahara]

Maybe if we did not say: anyone can do it ? everyone and anyone would not think they can or should teach it.

[VFlower]

Lol...me too....

Originally Posted by Adishakti

Come on guys... like I really needed another thing to spend my money on.

Now, I wanna see these!

[jewelbellydance]

I am so proud! Apparently Estelle is from Australia!!!

While searching her site out of curiosity, I came across the following classic paragraphs. I particularly like the bit about 'head cracking' in bellydance. What???

"The Beledi form of belly dance is divided into four basic classes: Abdomen (belly rolls and flutters); Lower abdomen (hip jerks, figure eights and circles); Isolations (rib cage movements and head cracking); and Poses (stance, arching, arm positions and turning). A dance sequence combines many different elements from these four classes. Each position or pose is an Egyptian archetype and must be kept pure in style and form. Arching or bending backwards is the most important ingredient. Although it takes time to learn, small degrees of arching are possible an the first attempt. Perhaps the most spectacular movement is the hip left, which is nearly always executed in pairs or triplets.
The basic movement is the hip circle and the hip figure-eight, both of which usually produce a mesmerising effect on those watching. A great belly-dancer will usually perform a floor mount towards the end of her dance. This is executed In two stages, starting from an arch, then leaning backwards to reach the floor. As an art-form, Beledi is technically described as 'Arabesque', from the French ballet meaning 'bent-legged position'. A belly-dancer will ride her heels at times, then mount her toes, but the back leg is nearly always hidden and/or bent, either in costume or 'Arabesque'. The hips are the centre of gravity, not the navel, and hip circles and figure-eights are made by tipping the body weight, using the outstretched arms for balance. More than any other dance form, Beledi uses weight manipulation - little muscle strength is required. "

[meissoun]

OK, so English is not my first language, but I think that's not the reason why I can't understand half of this!!!

MEISSOUN

[Razia]

As someone who has actually seen the Estelle video, I have to say that the reason it gets an M15 rating is because she performs one dance--I believe a pharonic inspired one--topless. Yep, topless.

[ssipes]

Now here's a dance lesson for ya (from Estelle's website) red comments mine

Egyptian belly-dance was originally, called 'Beledi', which translates as `native dance'. Some of the oldest hieroglyphics in the great pyramids of Egypt, dating as far as 3000 BC, portray women In traditional. Beledi poses sorry, no they don't. The Egyptians created the dance form, and surrounding countires like Greece and Sicily Belly dancing Sicilians, uh huh! adopted it. The original belly-dance was highly organised, combining hip, shoulder and walking movements. The `tummy rolls' were added the Turks, while the Arabs added the 'shimmy'. The Greeks contributed the zills, the finger cymbals that belly dancers use. what is the evidence for this??Since its inception, belly-dance has been linked with Middle Eastern music - It's virtually Impossible to perform without it! Some of the traditional Instruments that create this hypnotic sound are the 'def', an Egyptian tambourine, the 'kemanche', a three-stringed violin, the 'tabla' or 'dumbeki', a conical drum, and the 'bazooki', a Greek stringed instrument. Unlike other dance forms, the belly-dancer does not dance on the beat, but rather just behind it to accentuate the rhythm wtf?.

The Beledi form of belly dance is divided into four basic classes: Abdomen (belly rolls and flutters); Lower abdomen (hip jerks ouch!, figure eights and circles); Isolations (rib cage movements and head cracking double ouch!); and Poses (stance, arching, arm positions and turning). A dance sequence combines many different elements from these four classes. Each position or pose is an Egyptian archetype sorry, noand must be kept pure in style and form. Arching or bending backwards is the most important ingredient sorry, no. Show me an Egyptian, Turkish, or Lebanese dancer for whom backbends are the most important ingredient in their dance. Although it takes time to learn, small degrees of arching are possible an the first attempt. Perhaps the most spectacular movement is the hip leftnot to be confused with the hip right, which is nearly always executed in pairs or triplets.

[ssipes]

Estelle's lesson part II

The basic movement is the hip circle and the hip figure-eight, both of which usually produce a mesmerising effect on those watching. A great belly-dancer will usually perform a floor mount *beats head sightly against walltowards the end of her dance. This is executed In two stages, starting from an arch, then leaning backwards to reach the floor. As an art-form, Beledi is technically described as 'Arabesque', from the French ballet meaning 'bent-legged position' no. A belly-dancer will ride her heels eep!at times, then mount her toes eep!eep!, but the back leg is nearly always hidden and/or bent, either in costume or 'Arabesque'. The hips are the centre of gravity, not the navel maybe for folkloric; its the solar plexus for oriental, and hip circles and figure-eights are made by tipping the body weight, using the outstretched arms for balance. More than any other dance form, Beledi uses weight manipulation - little muscle strength is required this is true if you are dancing incorrectly!.

When a dancer has a fall grasp of the basics of Beledi, her costume will be the next consideration. Styles have remained the same through time oh really?: there is the bikini style, with bra and a full skirt attached to a belt; the full dress, usually sequined; the ethnic 'bathrobe' *laughs*, or Aba; and the well-known `harem pants' otherwise known as underwear. All the costumes should be accessoried with plenty of veils and coins or seqeins needs more cowbell, er, I mean veils!, while zills should be used to heighted the mood of the dance.

[Zana]

Originally Posted by jewelbellydance

head cracking

Time-tested technique for dealing with hecklers. Cane helpful but not required -- in a pinch you can use an Abla bra.

[emijane]

Originally Posted by Zana

Time-tested technique for dealing with hecklers. Cane helpful but not required -- in a pinch you can use an Abla bra.

LOL oh the mental images....

[emijane]

Not to continue bashing this woman who I've never actually heard of, but according to her website: "The video cover (if desired) can be signed by Estelle at no additional charge."

[gloworm25]

Originally Posted by emijane

LOL oh the mental images....

Believe me the mental images don't even come close to the video.

[laura 2]

Originally Posted by Razia

As someone who has actually seen the Estelle video, I have to say that the reason it gets an M15 rating is because she performs one dance--I believe a pharonic inspired one--topless. Yep, topless.

Well, I've seen it, thanks to Shira, and can confirm the toplessness. I think the thing that surprised me the most was that her boobs were way nicer than mine!

[mish_mish]

Since I'm already going to hell:

Shayla and Yanni Look-Alike Gallery
The upside?
Not an instructional video.