Customer Reviews

Belly Dance Your Way to Your Soul Mate [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This is a good DVD divded into segments to teach technique. In the video, Amira teaches how to do moves such as wrist circles, snake arms, head tosses, veil unwrapping, and bicycle hips. She also teaches how to do hip circles and figure eight's with floorwork, and how to do a kneeling back bend, which I thought was the most valuable move to learn. The veil work is very basic, but it would be more helpful to the viewer to have some experience with basic standing bellydance moves before purchasing this video. There is also a final section where Amira performs an improvisational dance, and the viewer can follow along with her while she performs.

Amira Mor is a dancer with a great deal of class and skill, which is evident, for example, when she performs the kneeling back bend without directly facing the audience (common sense). An excellent bellydance website, Shira.net, rated this DVD as "tastefully done", and I agree. This video is definitely geared towards those who would like to dance exclusively for their significant other. It is difficult than I thought to apply the moves to any other situation. One example would be the "Cleopatra Roll". This move in the video is just a simple roll on the carpet lying down. It would look strange performing a move like that in a professional setting, like a seminar performance. Amira Mor also has a very pleasant personality, which is fun to see. I favored the veilwork most of all, and Amira Mor is a positive teacher. The video can't really be compared to other instructional videos on the market because it is geared toward learning how to belly dance for a romantic setting. But, Amira Mor is a talented instructor.

This video is Cabaret or Turkish style bellydance. She teaches you how to "unveil" with a veil and then dance with it for awhile. This DVD does have backbends in the choreography, so please do not attempt if you do not have strong core muscles in your stomach and back. Build them up before you get this one. I recommend you purchase Neon DVD for abs, Neena and Veena's DVD for Abs and Arms, or Jillina, you could even start with Amira Mor's secound DVD Belly Dance your way to energy. Neon, Neena and Veena, and Jillian, are not cabaret, they are more egyptian and a fusion mix of bellydance, but they will work you out just the same, and get you ready for Amira.

Amira Mor's personal style in "Soul Mate" seems to mesh very well with standing and floor taqsim. I agree with the review by Ms Peel, however I really enjoyed this DVD, but *only* for belly dancers with training and experience, because of the issues with posture and presentation.

There are three ways to compare "Soul Mate" with other DVDs -- (1) with Mor's other releases, (2) with other off-the-shelf belly dance instruction DVDs, and (3) with other serious belly dance instruction DVD/videos (an "apples and oranges kind of comparison").

In comparing "Soul Mate" with Mor's other releases, her personal style for standing and floor taqsim is fluid. Her technique is solid, and she emphasizes line and form, which can be lacking in other "off-the-shelf" instructional DVDs. Her style in this DVD flows more than in her other DVDs. It's not geared towards club dancing and at least she's not wearing spandex bell-bottom slacks.

The caveat is probably also due to the approach of her series--it's geared towards selling to a general market. It also reminded me of the '60s and '70s approach. However, "Soul Mate" is more than just "a wiggle and a shake," becuse she approaches the subject professionally. Also, her fluidity and personal approach fits with "Soul Mate" more strongly than the other DVDs she has released, which is nice.

However, if you compare "Soul Mate" to other more serious instructional Belly Dance DVD/vidoes, then it does come up short. For example, if you view "Soul Mate" in comparison with Veda Sereem's excellent series, all of which are very, very solid in thorough dance instruction, the differences are quite apparent. Watching Sereem's DVDs is like attending a solid class with a solid teacher, where there is actual teaching in actually doing the steps, movements, and choreography. Or in another example, the Katia Presents Oriental Arms DVD/video is a realistic and solid teaching of arm and hand movements that "Soul Mate" doesn't have.

There's just not a comparison, between these DVDs and serious instructional DVDs, but that's OK, if you keep this in mind. It's as if these off-the-shelf DVD/video productions are a "demonstration," rather than a "class." If you've taken a class in something artistic, it's immediately obvious that there's a difference between a demonstration and a classroom experience.

Amira Mor is beautiful and a talented belly dancer. I enjoyed "Soul Mate" more than her other DVDs; it's "lite" and fluffy, but with a respect for authenticity, line and form, and the taqsim is fluid, but it's less than solid for serious instruction, and really best as an add-on for an advanced dancer.

Amira Mor hit a home run with this video. Her costumes are beautiful & her 3 performances are stunning.She expertly instructs the viewer during the middle of the tape, and ties everything in with a couple of performances in the end. The background, the music and instruction are all top notch. She is a world renowned bellydancer who's fans will attest to her performances as she talks to you with her body and seduces you with a look and a smile. For us fans who can't see her perform live, a performance video by this bellydancing Goddess would be heaven. But that said, this tape has something for those who want to study this ancient dance form and for those who enjoy watching this very sexy dancer seduce you with her hypnotic undulations are her charming smile.Five stars for Amira Mor....

This was the one of the worst belly dancing tapes I have ever bought.
My sisters and I are all in ballet and we do belly dancing. We tried very hard not to laugh at her as she tried to seduce the camera. I regret buying it.
She seems to have talent that has no control, choregraphy, or challenge.
Buy a Neena and Veena tape, you may not be able to do dance routines at first learning from thier tapes, but at least you'll be doing the ancient art form right.

SERIOUS BELLY DANCERS BEWARE OF AMIRA MOR, SHE IS HORRIBLE! Amira Mor is one unprofessional belly dancer (if you can even call her that). This is belly dance cheesecake at its best. Amira Mor has no talent, dignity or style, what is she doing? It is NOT belly dancing! A friend of mine gave me her DVD's because she was throwing them out so I took them. I am glad I didnt pay anything for them because Amira Mor sucks. Her obvious and bad plastic surgery is almost as bad as her lack of talent and timing.

If are looking for the real, beautiful Middle Eastern art (not a bad form of go-go dancing or stripping) of belly dancing and class dont buy these videos. If you are interested in the sleaze factor, stripping, and a sad low class parody of an ancient art then these are for you. Her DVD's do nothing to help this art form, it only makes a mockery out of it. Amira Mor brings belly dancing to an all time low and it is very sad. She cannot belly dance, has no rhythm and cant dance on the beat.

Avoid Amira Mor and stick with the professionals....

Aszy

Amira Mor is a terrible belly dancer, I still cant figure out what in the world she is doing! Do yourself a favor and save your money! This girl cant belly dance, she doesnt know any real technique, feeling, or have timing. Her music is almost as bad as her dancing and her costuming is tasteless and sleazy! THis is a digrace to this art. She needs to learn how to properly belly dance! As an Arabic woman it is sad to see. Amira Mor is not taken seriously in the field and after watching her videos, it is easy to see why!

Scary!

The title alone is a slap in the face to all serious belly dancers. On her website the video is described as thus: "will teach how to do a sexy improvisation that will mesmerize your lover and encourage passionate experiences you've only dreamed of." This seductress image does nothing to help our dance form. If Amira really loved this dance, she would not insult it by making a video like this.

Once more, it doesn't even accomplish what it says it will. I showed her supposed seductive dancing clip to my boyfriend and all he did was ask "what is she doing?". I told him she was seducing him and he just rolled over and took a nap instead of watching the rest. The dancing is so bad I don't think anyone could get off on it unless they REALLY used their imagination, or had a thing for bad dancing. You can see her performance here: [...]

This is not a great video for a beginner, but for someone who is already a little familiar with BD I think it's fine. I think it is worth the $20 I paid for it.

Someone who is brand new to BD might be better off with Magical Motion, or K. Furgesons beginner video.

There is a full review on this video at Shira's website if you need more info.

First, it's amazing to read the specatularly polarized reviews of her other videos (particularly "Behind the Veil"). People seem to either adore her or write her off! I will try to be circumspect...

This is an attractive woman who obviously knows raqs sharqi (bellydance) and is a capable teacher. This particular DVD is nicely produced. That said, it is NOT for everybody and I have some serious reservations about her technique that go beyond my stylistic differences.

Positive things: she demonstrates poise and grace, her instruction is clear, and she is very upbeat. She also has a sweet accent (Where is she from? Hungary? Turkey?) that does not impair her English. Her veil moves are a good intro to American style veil work, and she demonstrates some good hand/arm taqsim work. The tip about doing backbends parallel rather than perpendicular to the audience is a welcome addition.

Drawbacks: unfortunately, I think the "cons" outweigh the "pros":
1. Posture, posture, posture! Good posture was drilled into me by my dance instructors over the years, but Amira insists upon hyper-extending her back and sticking out her behind. Watching this video makes my back hurt! This problem alone would prevent me from recommending her videos.

2. I realize this is yet another "Belly Dance for your Husband" kind of thing (I thought those went out in the 60s!), but a beginning dancer might get the impression that everything in this video is for public performance.

3. There seems to be a lot of emphasis on showgirl type poses and hair tossing (again: ouch) and not a lot of serious raqs sharqi movement.

Summary: An experienced dancer could glean a few things here, but a beginner is going to learn some bad habits. I think you can find far better instructional videos out there for the money.