Customer Reviews

Belly Dancing I: Beginning Instruction with Mara [VHS]

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

 

 

If you want to learn to dance and you want clear, simple instructions this video is an excellent choice. You won't find fancy effects, flashy sets or glitzy production, but you will learn how to do twelve basic moves, clearly explained and clearly shown. At the end of the video Mara includes a short performance using just the moves she has taught, so a beginner can get ideas for putting a dance together. One unusual feature of this video is the music. Mara's instruction and dancing is accompanied by a single guitar playing simple "Moorish-Spanish" inspired melodies. For a beginner who may not be very familiar with the rhythms and instruments of Middle Eastern music, this approach can be very helpful, since it lets you focus on the main rhythm and learning the moves. When you are ready to move on, or when you get some "real" dance music, you will find it easier to listen fot he rhythms that match the movements you have learned. I've given this video to 3 friends who wanted to get an idea of what belly dance is, and they all have been enthusiastic about it.

I had previously purchased the Neena and Veena videos and was pleased, but I was having trouble coreographing my own moves to music. I ordered the tapes with Mara, and I couldn't be happier with the instruction provided. Some of the steps with Mara were similar to Neena and Veena, but the style was markedly different. The tremendous thing about this video (and its follow up) is that Mara really teaches you how to put the moves to music in this beautiful free-form dance style. I just hope that more videos like this will be in production - and soon.

Hi, I've been studying belly dance with Mara for two years. Her video is really good, both for the beginner, or for the intermediate dancer who really wants to break down and refine the core 12 belly dance moves that Mara explains in her video. I've bought this video for four of my friends, most of whom have never studied belly dance, and they've found it to be a great introduction to this dance form. I've seen other belly dance videos, and Mara's is much more clear, concise, and easy to follow. Check it out. :-)

I was really impressed with this video. Mara gave excellent instructions that were easy to follow and the dance sequences performed after each step were very helpful in giving me ideas on how to tie all the moves together. I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to create my own routine after watching this video. I would highly recommend this video to anyone looking to learn the basic steps of belly dancing.

My other bellydance experiences have been the Neena and Veena tapes (I've viewed all of them) and a short, simple community ed class. Mara's tape is a bit pricey for the lenght and production quality, but I really like her teaching style. She breaks down the moves so they are easier to learn. I found it easier to learn from her than from my instructor and other tapes. I've been happy enough with the tape to order her second edition.

I've been dancing for approx. six years. Over time I've collected several instructional videos. This is one of the most concise instructional videos I have seen. It's short, sweet and too the point. Mara gives the viewer the movements, an explanation of it and then gives a short demo of the moves taught in that segment. At the end she dances to the music used in the instructional portion and uses only the movements taught in that video. Again, short sweet and to the point.

Her explaination of the moves were good, but I was looking for something more repititous..more like an "do it with me" instruction and not a "here is what to do"(only one time)

I learned what I had to do, but I didn't have the creativity to put something together with just the few moves she showed me.

I think something more like a "workout" bellydance would be good for me....then at least I could get a "real" feel of what I was doing.

I think Mara is a good dancer and teacher; She has a very clear way of teaching and all...but this tape is too short. Mara's bellydancing tape I and II should be just one tape!

Besides she dosn't even mention about torso movements like flutter or belly roll. I prefer that classic magical motion by Atea.

Mara presented a splendid and well-done analyses of the specific pieces and components that comprise a belly dance, and I did learn some basic steps of the dance from this video introduction.
However, the instructions were delivered a little clinically and in only one verbal and demonstrative style. The instruction of her movements were thorough, but a little isolated; she didn't really show how to coordinate them all together into a dance... She could have connected what she was teaching more until we were able to do a beautiful, fluent dance as she could.

This tape is very well done. Mara shows 12 different steps in an easy to understand format. Each segment is followed by a dance segment. Great for beginners.