DVDs, but I don't have lots of money. Ideas?

[jaziri]

I know, there are a bazillion dvds out there, but I'm in need of pretty much any, so long as they are not too costly. Does anyone ever loan them out? (yeah, sure, to an anonymous internet user) Or is there a loaning library somewhere?

I checked out local library and it is slim pickings. There was some godawful one a few yrs back that got disappeared, now they are up to Veena and Neena. A couple of us gave them some suggestions, but that is what we have.

Inexpensive dvds, vhs, or ideas would be very welcome. I'm in neeeeeeeeeeddddd!

[Taj]

Do you belong to either Netflix or Blockbuster? They both have a few belly dance idvds you can rent.

Also check out Bhuzzer Michelle Joyce's series: Belly Dance DVDs - Cheeky Girls Productions

*Very* reasonable prices on great instructionals!

[jaziri]

Originally Posted by Taj

Do you belong to either Netflix or Blockbuster? They both have a few belly dance idvds you can rent.

Also check out Bhuzzer Michelle Joyce's series: Belly Dance DVDs - Cheeky Girls Productions

*Very* reasonable prices on great instructionals!

Thanks, I'll go check our Cheeky Girls. I used to do Netflix, but quit a couple yrs back. No Blockbuster (am small town) and the local vid store doesn't carry any. Thanks for the Cheeky Girls thought.

I checked them out and they look good. I'll probably get a couple from them, looking at Pop, Lock, Shimmies for drill and Secrets of the Stage also looks interesting as can always look at other ways of dealing with adrenaline issues. They have youtube clips too.

[catwomyn]

I second the recommendation of Michelle Joyce/Cheeky Girls. Also World Dance New York has some interesting material at a reasonable price.
Dance : Bellydance : World Dance New York

You can also look at the swap meet, sometimes you can pick dvds up used fairly reasonably.

[Taj]

Just curious, what style, if any, are you looking for?

[steffib]

Ditto on Cheeky Girls and (some of) WDNY. Big bang for the buck.

And, Inter-Library Loan can also be useful, if you know what you want/what other libraries have - and if you have a lot of patience. ILL can be slooooooow.

[tabitha]

What about just trading with people?

[jaziri]

Originally Posted by Taj

Just curious, what style, if any, are you looking for?

Hmmm, not East Coast Urban Tribal, but other than that I'm open. I've been dancing for a long time, am in a rural area and just wanting to watch others. I would call myself more of a traditionalist, maybe old style, classical? I don't Do modern egyptian or the hip hop/tribal fusion, but otherwise, dance.

Nothing with 30 minutes of warmup, as I do that on my own. Looking for inspiration to get up and get moving. Not much help there, except for what I don't prefer, hard to define it.

[Sanaan2]

I get most of my DVDs for Amazon, they usually offer the new or used option on the page, and you can get some really good deals even on the new ones. They have the worlddanceNY and Michelle's stuff on there. I have built up quite the collection thanks to Amazon!

[damariz]

Just a few tips:

* Free Bellydance Video Order Form You only pay for shipping on these Sharif Titles.

* Turquoise International You can find videos for $10-$15 (plus shipping). Great deal, especially if you're into Egyptian style. I highly recommend Raqia's workshops and technique video.

* Check your city's public library website. They may have more belly titles than your local library. If another library has it, you might try asking if they can send it to your local lobrary.

* Borrow from friends.

* Join Shira's bellydancevideo group. There's tons of reviews that will help you decide which videos to buy.

* Netflix is awesome! I believe they have over twenty or thirty bellydance titles. Be sure to type in a dancers name though. Some do not come up under "bellydance". For example, I typed in Samia Gamal and Voila! The dvd "The Fabulous Samia Gamal" was available to borrow. See? ----> Netflix Online Movie Rentals - Rent DVDs, Classic Films to DVD New Releases

[jaziri]

Originally Posted by tabitha

What about just trading with people?

Want to trade? I've got FCBD beginning and intermediate instructionals, Dynamic Combination Del Vecchio instructional and Kathy Ferguson Dances performance, all VHS though. I was dragged kicking into dvds but whoa, they are GREAT. Not many people want vhs's. Also have some of Morocco's old vhs videos, am keeping them with the thought may be able to put on dvds some day.

[jaziri]

Originally Posted by damariz

Just a few tips:

* Free Bellydance Video Order Form You only pay for shipping on these Sharif Titles.

* Turquoise International You can find videos for $10-$15 (plus shipping). Great deal, especially if you're into Egyptian style. I highly recommend Raqia's workshops and technique video.

* Check your state's public library website. They may have more belly titles than your local library.

* Borrow from friends.

* Join Shira's bellydancevideo group. There's tons of reviews that will help you decide which videos to buy.

* Netflix is awesome! I believe they have over twenty or thirty bellydance titles. Be sure to type in a dancers name though. Some do not come up under "bellydance". For example, I typed in Samia Gamal and Voila! The dvd "The Fabulous Samia Gamal" was available to borrow. See? ----> Netflix Online Movie Rentals - Rent DVDs, Classic Films to DVD New Releases

Thank you for these ideas. I'm checking out the first one now. Interesting. Have you used them? I've never heard of them. Thank you.

[tabitha]

Originally Posted by jaziri

Want to trade? I've got FCBD beginning and intermediate instructionals, Dynamic Combination Del Vecchio instructional and Kathy Ferguson Dances performance, all VHS though. I was dragged kicking into dvds but whoa, they are GREAT. Not many people want vhs's. Also have some of Morocco's old vhs videos, am keeping them with the thought may be able to put on dvds some day.

Would love to, but I don't own a TV, so I watch all of my media on my laptop. (Another thread topic here, but I feel so much healthier without the tv telling me what to look like/wear/buy.)

Maybe you should start a VHS/DVD swap thread?

[EveRabie]

I can give you recommendations of WHAT DVD's to get but not WHERE to get them cheap, other than maybe used on e-bay, nor do I know of place that loans them. Maybe someone at your dance studio will let you borrow, if you're in one?? Just an idea. You can see my blog for a link to my multiply website where I have several reviews of some of my favorite DVD's.
Peace, Eve

[damariz]

Originally Posted by jaziri

Thank you for these ideas. I'm checking out the first one now. Interesting. Have you used them? I've never heard of them. Thank you.

I really enjoyed Nourhan's Cane technique video as well as the choreography for Hazar Fazar(which I think may be over 9 minutes long). I also bought Layali Yasmina but I found the music to be unbearable. I have not seen the rest of the videos, though I might buy the 5th awards solely for Aida Nour.

Note: Nourhan does not break down the movements in the choreographies nor in the cane video. She assumes you already know how to do them.

[*Shira*]

If you join WAMEDA, you can rent videos from their lending library. I don't know which ones they have on DVD versus VHS, but you could contact them and ask. Their web site is Washington Area Middle Eastern Dance Association: Index

[jaziri]

Originally Posted by *Shira*

If you join WAMEDA, you can rent videos from their lending library. I don't know which ones they have on DVD versus VHS, but you could contact them and ask. Their web site is Washington Area Middle Eastern Dance Association: Index

Thanks Shira, I totally missed WAMEDA. I just checked the website and this is the east coast one, right? I saw there was a BC MEDA of some sort, hoping for a NW USA one.

[Rahil_al_Zarqa]

Check out Saqra. Saqra's Video (& DVD) Series - Choreographed Belly Dance Routines
She has several "no frills" dvds. I have her veil technique reference, which is a reference of different veil moves, but done in a way where you can string them together in to a choreo if you want. She also has about 5 solo choreos and 2 or 3 troupe choreo dvds. Also several other reference dvds. I have also viewed her beginner reference and one of her solo choreos.
I personally like her style, it is easily transferable to other stylings, her breakdowns are clear and precise and you don't have a bunch of warm up and cool down taking up disc space, it is all just straight dance. There aren't any fancy sets or backdrops, but the info is solid and there is a ton of info on each dvd. There are also choreo notes that come with the dvds.