Customer Reviews

Belly Dancing The Sacred Shapes with The Goddess Dancing

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Working with The Goddess Dancing's new videotape, Belly Dancing The Sacred Shapes with The Goddess Dancing, has been an enjoyable and meaningful experience for me.

Led by the members of The Goddess Dancing, Anita-Cristina Calcaterra, Cathy Moore and Karen Uminski, the program pursues an easy to follow format. Throughout the video, the teachers give clear instructions, as well as gentle proper alignment reminders.

Following a warm up, the three teachers take us through dance movements divided into five segments, each born from what the describe as The Sacred Shapes: the circle, the crescent, the figure eight, the shimmy, and the undulation. They do each shape in a variety of ways, one by one, with the hips, the heart, and the head. The shapes are described in relationship to both our bodies and the physical world. The teachers use poetic and scientific imagery to help the viewer to experience and draw the shapes with her body. With some of the moves, they explain which muscles are being used, which I found helpful. Here is a portion of the instruction given in the circle segment:

"Control you pelvis by imagining your hips are a shallow bowl filled with your essence. You are swirling your essence around in this bowl. Try not to spill a drop!... In order to keep level all the way around, the diaphragm works as a counterbalance for the hips. In the front the lower abdomen is expanded; on the sides the obliques around your waist are activated to pull the hipbone down, keeping the hips on a horizontal plane; in the back the lower back stretches down, rather than swinging out."

The tape ends with The Creation Dance; danced to a poem written by Anita-Cristina, which allows the viewer to incorporate all the shapes she has just learned.

The relaxed and heartfelt flow between and emanating from the three teachers, as well as the attractive set and beautiful music, create a mellow and uplifting mood.

Belly Dancing The Sacred Shapes with The Goddess Dancing gave me a fresh perspective and positively affected my belly dancing experience. In the past year and a half I have had the good fortune to take numerous classes and workshops with a variety of wonderfully skilled and talented Oriental dance teachers. I have also used several belly dance videotapes. Yet, the more techniques and moves I learned, the more frustrated I became. Not a frustration that practice and perseverance could remedy. I felt a disconnect within. My body wanted to move; it craved to be an instrument of the rhythm. Yet, something was keeping me from connecting to my inner dance. The Goddess Dancing's video was the breakthrough I needed. Awakening the shapes within my body realigned me with the natural energies that already live within and without. Some of the shapes that were so challenging before, particularly the undulation began to flow through me. My body breathed a sigh of relief. Now it could express itself from the inside out, rather than unsuccessfully struggling to do so from the outside in.

With this newly awakened inner resource, I believe that I will also be able to internalize and manifest many of the dance moves I have previously learned. For now, though, when I hear the music and my body wants to move, I simply remember the shapes and let the shapes moves me. Feels so good, so natural...

I loved the spiritual connection of the dance to the Goddess rather than learning to perform. Each section is proken down so a non-dance nonfit person can easily follow. I also loved how the three teachers were so in tune with each other. I belong to circle which is moving in that direction so it was a joy to watch.

I chose this DVD because I wanted to muti-task; combining meditation and exercise. Its harder than it looks!!! They did very well in how they introduced the movements and I absolutley adored the use of the Goddess poses and names.

I bought this video to learn how to bellydance with and found it very enlightening. I loved the spiritual descriptions of each movement, however, did not learn "how" to move as well from this video as I did from others (Jillians video was the other one I ordered) I think that this is a good video to learn the 'spirit' of the dance with, but not necessarily the movements. I would recommend buying this along with another video, that may not teach the 'spirit' but just the basic moves. I also found the women to be a little strange, but with good hearts.

Get a copy of the dvd ASAP!!! This is one of the best dvds for learning belly dance basics on the market today. The moves are taught in a simple, concise manner and demonstrated beautifully by the wonderful women of the Goddess Dancing. I got this quite some time ago and use is constantly to re-inforce what I learn in my weekly classes. I've been dancing for close to three years now but find "Belly Dancing the Sacred Shapes" an invaluable resource to keep me focused. Thank you Karen, Anita-Christina and Cathy - you are my Goddesses!!

I enjoy this tape very much and have found it very helpful in beginning to learn how to belly dance. I also enjoy the Goddess imagery used throughout. Its a great way to streatch out the kinks and get ready to face the work day.

Beautiful, professional and easy to follow . I appreciate how much you got into one video.