Customer Reviews

The Art of Belly Dancing with Joynan [VHS]

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I have read all of the reviews and I guess everyone has a right to their opinion, so here is mine. This video is clear and concise in it's instruction. Joynan has a very open and easy to follow teaching technique. She obviously has a lot of experience. The three performances clearly show her individual style and technique and are an inspiration for beginners. I have six belly dancing videos in my collection so far and this one is by far the best. I'll buy anything else that she puts out in a second.

Finally! A belly dance video worth adding to my collection. This video has challenging moves for all levels and performances that are inspiring and entertaining. I have purchased three other belly dance videos (one from Amazon) and was a bit disappointed but The Art of Belly Dancing was worth the purchase and I look forward to an advanced video from Joynan.

I like all the dance routines but my favorite is the special dance. I was in awe with the movements and just uttered one word after watching it and that was "WOW".I actually ended up showing it to a friend who doesn't have any interest in bellydancing.Joynan also showed basic movements in all areas, from hips circles, arms movements, undulations etc. But if you intend to use it as workout video you will be dissappointed bec. it's not meant for that.In between showing the steps and putting it together is her dance routines.This video will be helpful if you want to use it as guide to creating your own routine. She also included the use of the cymbals and double veils on her dance routines. Joynan is an inspiring figure in how to age gracefully, she looks great for being in the fifties and my desire to learn more about belly dancing intensifies just so I could look great when I reach that age. But I don't use it that often bec. I'm into working out and I use Shamira's senseous workout, The goddess workout and The Badisha's slim down video workout.Those videos will give you a good bellydance workouts!

I am new to bellydancing, having taken my first live class this past year. I am in love with this form of dance - the hypnotic movements, the way it works even the very small muscles in the back, the flexibility it encourages and the way it makes me feel during and afterwards. "Languid" is the best word I can come up with for it. I received Joynan's video very recently and am enjoying it immensely. She gives wonderfully clear directions concerning the basic moves, and shows them at a variety of speeds so you can see what it looks like once you have mastered a move. I also like that she puts several moves together at the end of each segment into a little dance allowing you to see it as you might use it. I also love her lessons in the use of zils and veil - areas where I really wanted some instruction. I am really looking for more of her tapes with some of the more advanced moves to add to my library. This tape was well worth the price!!

This video is extremely helpful to anyone who is interested in learning how to belly dance. Joynan explains in detail how you should position your body so that your movements are fluid and beautiful. SHe explains the movements clearly and calmly and does not rush through any of the motions. This video is very informative not only in teaching the proper technique in belly dancing but also in how to hold your veil and how to time the rhythm of the music. It is very beneficial for any one who wans to learn. It is the best video that I have seen on the suject so far.

While Joynan does seem to be a nice, pleasant person, I really can't say that her video was for me. I have never done any belly dancing in my life, and I found it difficult to follow along with her. In the first segment (which is the only part of the video I viewed) she wears a long navy blue skirt which makes it difficult to see her hips, legs and feet and what she is doing with them. I think this video would be better for someone who does know the basic core moves of belly dancing and just wants to improve or refresh themselves on it. Probably not good for a person attempting to learn belly dancing for the first time.

Joyan's instruction is thorough and easy to follow, however, I would prefer less of her performance and more instruction in this beginner's tape. The veil dance is lovely, but not something I could hope to copy for many months; her first performance is something I would never attempt. I feel a simple beginner's routine incorporating the steps she teaches would be so much better. This is the first belly dancing tape I've seen, so I can't compare it to others. I definitely will continue to enjoy using this tape.

Joynan breaks down the basic bellydancing moves very well. You'll learn proper posture as well as executing the basic moves at varying speeds. However, she does not show how to combine basic upper body movements with the lower body movements you just learned...a very important part of bellydancing!! She wears a long skirt while teaching hip movements, which does not allow you to clearly see what she is doing with her legs. Also, while her dance routines are lovely, there's no way you'll be doing them by using this video! And, unless you happen to have finger cymbals and a veil lying around the house, the second half of the tape is basically useless to a beginner. If you're looking for a decent quality tape, this is not the one. You can barely hear the music, if at all, and the picture is blurry.

I bought this is as a beginner video. She does explain things well, but the cabaret dance is real cheesy, so I always fast forward through it. The production isn't the greatest either. A good way to watch this video once you have the basic moves is to put on real belly dancing music and mute the sound on the video. But overall still a very good beginner video to learn the basic moves. I think putting an actual dance together requires another video that I'm in search of.

I was a skeptic. I had seen other unfavorable reviews. The video starts out slow and basic, but it gets better. It si informative and interesting. I am glad that I bought it. The routines are wonderful and the instruction is helpful-Even for me and I am a seasoned dancer. BUY this video! Its the best bellydancing video I have seen.