Product Details

• Actors: Veena and Neena Bidasha
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Goldhill Home Media
• VHS Release Date: November 16, 1999
• Run Time: 30 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (138 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00002AFWT
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #113,385 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

"Belly dancing provides us with a way to stay healthy and fit, and a way to stay relaxed and open," say professional belly dancers Veena and Neena Bidasha. They start by teaching the isolations that they'll incorporate into dance movements later: moving the head from side to side on an imaginary line as if separated from the neck, "snake arms" that seem to float in the air, "shoulder punches" (as if your shoulders have fists) that turn into shimmies when speeded up, "rib slides" (using your torso muscles to push your ribs from side to side), and a variety of hip moves. Then you put it all together and voilà--you're belly dancing! After too short a dance, you get down on the floor for stretching.

Of the four tapes in this series, this one will make you feel the most like a belly dancer. It's not really an exercise routine as much as a 30-minute class of basic belly-dancing moves, though your abs and hips will certainly get a workout from all that rib-pushing and hip-rolling action. --Joan Price

From the back cover

Welcome to the World of Bellydance Workout!

This ancient form of artistic movement has been practiced for thousands of years and remains exceptionally popular throughout the world. Once performed as entertainment for royalty and common people alike, these beautiful movements evolved with strong links to womanhood, sensuality, and even fertility. But Bellydance is also one of the safest, simplest, and most effective ways to achieve lasting fitness.

Join Veena & Neena Bidasha for a wonderful introduction to the extraordinary benefits of Bellydance. They have practiced Bellydance since childhood and traveled throughout the Middle East and India to perform and develop their techniques. They teach popular classes for a wide variety of folk dances from around the world and have performed in film, television, theater, music videos, and even during the Academy Awards. Their amazing talent and delightful style will keep you captivated and totally motivated.

In this production, you will learn the basic moves needed to use bellydance for fitness. The program is easy to learn, will thoroughly exercise your body--from head to toes, but is low impact, relaxing, sensually stimulating, and fun. You will also find that the Bellydance Basic Moves are a delightful way to express yourself, fully and joyfully. Combined with the Middle Eastern rhythms of the original soundtrack, you will find Bellydance Fitness the most pleasurable workout you have ever experienced.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

150 of 154 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Workout is Good, but the Title is Deceptive, January 8, 2002

By 

S. D. Shaver (San Clemente, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bellydance Fitness for Beginners - Basic Moves & Fat Burning (DVD)

The "beginners" part of the title is in reference to the DVD in question offering instructions on how to bellydance for someone who may never have done it before. It teaches basic moves and exercises the various areas of the body that are used during bellydance. DO be able to get through the first workout if you aren't in shape -- but do NOT expect the same with the second workout (hence my reason for refering to the title as deceptive).

The basic moves section of this DVD is good for someone who is out of shape (like me) and looking for something that stretches and challenges at the same time. It doesn't really burn fat or get your heart rate going like, say, a Tae-Bo workout would, but it does get your body moving and teaches you some unusual dance moves at the same time.

The fat burning section is something else entirely. Intermediate users who have some tone and strength to their muscles might be able to deal with the constant up-down-up-down movement, but even after a month of fairly steady exercise with other titles, I still can't get through the first part of this workout. The constant bouncing in particular seems to agitate my knees and ankles.

So, in short -- the first workout is good for stretching, coordination, grace, and learning a little bit about bellydance. The second is good if your knees and ankles can take it and you have the endurance to tough it out. That person isn't me, but it might be you :)

DVD options include sound type (Dolby 5.1 or Dolby 2), editing out the commentators's voices, and information about the benefits of bellydance. The dance footage that was originally part of the credits on the VHS versions of these workouts is also included, and I would almost say that they're worth the price of admission. As difficult as I found the second workout to be, I find watching Veena and Neena dance to be awe-inspiring. They are very good at what they do, and their costumes are incredible!

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THANK YOU NEENA AND VEENA!, February 21, 2002

By 

"savedacowz" (Denton, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bellydance Fitness for Beginners - Basic Moves & Fat Burning (DVD)

This is an excellent workout for someone who hates to work out. I have been doing it twice a week for three weeks and its been fun. My belly is noticable more defined, so are my legs and arms, and I've lost about 8 pounds. My boyfriend has especially noticed the change in my body and says he loves it that I look like a belly dancer. Its a very sexy workout.

I have more energy and i acctually look forward to working out now, instead of dreading it. It is not strenuous, instead it is more relaxing. I feel good when I am done instead of worn out.

Neena and Veena have a lot of enthusiasm and thier attitude makes you feel good about working out. They are so graceful and fun to watch. I find myself doing the moves to music as I clean the house because they are enjoyable.

If you are not in shape when you get it, take your time learning the basic moves section before you try to move onto the fat burning. If you stick with it, which i'm sure you will want to after you try it, it really works. My body is so thankful for Neena and Veena. :)

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Workout for a Beginner, November 1, 2000

By 

S. D. Shaver (San Clemente, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bellydance for Beginners: Basic Moves [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I disagree with the people who say this workout doesn't teach you to dance -- a lot of what I've learned from just this video I've used while dancing. The two times I've gone dancing, in fact, people have turned and cheered me on when they saw I was shaking my hips like there was no tomorrow.

But it probably is a poor video if you're looking to create dances out of what you learn here. It's an EXCELLENT video, though, if you want something unusual and fun to add to your workout routine, which is why it's called the Bellydance Fitness WORKOUT.

If you don't have a lot of money, go with this video first. If you're out of shape (like me), it WILL get your heartrate up and stretch your limbs. Then when you get to a point where you're able, go for one of the other three.

I recommend it for a workout. There are moves in here that make a woman feel sensuous and sexy, even if she doesn't have Neena or Veena's body :)