Search - Frehel :: Java Bleue

I like it...

Amira Rayne | 10/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I actually really like this dvd, even though they had a couple days to throw things together, I think it's really good, the moves they showed really help me practice at home, I only go to bellydance classes once a week, and this dvd shows me everything I need to practice for class, I think it's really helpful for anyone who is starting bellydance, but already knows some basics. Plus they break down moves that I haven't figured out, to where I finally have them figured out! So if you are a beginner, or just looking for practice, I would recommend this dvd."

Bit slow, but good instruction & a lot of content for beginn

Lena, LMT | Nassau, NY | 11/29/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Even though this was thrown together, the lack of choices in the chapters & sometimes the background music is so low, you can't hear it, the immense content of basic moves is great. You get about an hour of pure instruction. Luckily if you choose music only, it's different then the ones with the narration so you can always hear the music.

All the women narrated over their teaching. All did the movements in 1/4 time, 1/2 time & normal speed at least 2-3x if not more for all movements & did both or all directions & both sides of the body.

Sonia was overcareful, over enunciating so she made it feel slow w/slow/relaxed music that was boring. Bozenka was good pace, but you couldn't hear the music at all, so seemed a bit slow. Amar Gamal from Bellydance Jam was awesome with faster pace in teaching then the rest, but still complete & easy to follow & used the fast beat music that was fun. Saida was also taught well & the music was interesting, but not fast & the music was low.

The warm-up & cool down was good & done well. The final after the cool down was all of them dancing slowly for a while & then normal speed so you can follow, but the music was very energizing with a fast pace that made you want to move faster. They showed some hip movements, but mostly traveling steps some w/hip movements as well.

I did see a few things I'd never seen before or rarely see on bellydance instruction/workouts - crescents, 3/4 shimmies, hagala shimmy (circle movement w/hip like thought extra step on stairs but there isn't), sit circle (half the circle you sit back), 1/2 wide hip circle w/full torso swing.

Considering it was thrown together, I think these women did a wonderful job & you do get a lot of teaching even if there is lack of music. The pace maybe a bit slow, they really make sure you never have to hit that rewind button by teaching you the moves so slow in 1/4 speed (too slow even for me, I think 1/2 speed is perfect).

I think they showed almost every basic move: undulations of the ribs only, hips only, rib slide, hip circles, hip bumps, hip lifts/drops w/kicks, figure 8s vertical & horizontal, hip twists, hip circles, omi, snakes arms, shoulder shimmies, hip shimmies, etc. & they showed at least 4-5 traveling steps in the final part.

Again, this is for beginners & the pace is too slow for a workout. For anyone else, you will be bored with it.



You can find previews on youtube under "Introduction to Bellydance Technique BDSS" & "Saida, Bozenka, Sonia y Amar Gamal en Montecarlo""

Strange and uninspiring

Shell | 10/26/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I don't recommend purchasing this dvd at all, if you're curious, rent it first. Thankfully I know all of these women are fantastic dancers, because you wouldn't know it by this dvd. And I'm sure they are good teachers in person, but on this dvd they come across as bored and unhappy.



The entire thing is dubbed, and not that well, in fact at times it seems like the voice track might be off especially with Sonia's incessant counting. The set was ok, girls dressed in black (when will producers figure out colors are easier to see?) but the lighting was so harsh that it left the girls looking washed out to the point of distraction on Saida's lips.



It ended with a final dance (after the cooldown) that I'm assuming is meant to be followed along with, there are no verbal cues but it's so slow and basic that it's not hard to follow. No costumed performaces, the bonus footage is bizarre behind the scenes mixed with interviews during a day on the town, half in Spanish.



Instruction itself was so-so, definitely slow paced, but there are so many better dvd's on the market I would skip this one."