Product Details

• Actors: Veena & 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: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00002AFWU
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #156,997 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Attractive but repetitive video best suited to beginners, January 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Bellydance for Beginners: Fat Burning [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Cheerful, attractive dancers Veena and Neena appear on a beautiful, well-lit set. This promising beginning, however, gives way to an extremely repetitive, rather uninspired routine.

Most movements are hops and bouncy steps (from Egyptian folkloric dance); arms are generally held in one position for long periods of time. One step was repeated 28 times (on the same leg!) before there was any change at all -- I found this tedious and a strain on my knees. I also wished for a more thorough warm up. The music is new-agey middle eastern music -- pleasant but perhaps a missed opportunity to share authentic Egyptian folkloric music?

Intermediate-level bellydancers and aerobics enthusiasts (I count myself in these groups) may be bored and may not get a vigorous cardiovascular workout. Beginners of either groups, if they have no joint problems in legs/hips/ankles may enjoy the novelty of the tape and find it appropriately challenging.

Surprise gems: the two short performances by the instructors during the credits at the end of the tape. I really enjoyed seeing these lovely ladies perform -- I only wish they had brought more of those fine moves to the actual workout!

The Bidasha sisters have impressive credits and dance well -- perhaps sharing anecdotes or styling/posture notes during the steps would reduce monotony of repetitions. Another improvement would be to offer advanced variations (what a perfect setup -- twins! -- to do this. One can do advanced variation while other maintains simple version). This would broaden the appeal of the video to exercises of various levels and give more depth to the tape.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Beginners Exercise Video, January 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Bellydance for Beginners: Fat Burning [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I felt it was necessary to speak in defense of the video. The previous review may have given too negative an impression. Read the title: Fitness for Beginners! It is not a dance instruction video. It is a workout video. It is not intended for experienced dancers. It is for beginners.

Personally, I think it is a wonderful video especially for those of us who want a fun, low-impact way to limber our bodies in a very feminine way. It is perfect for women like me who are not in top shape but want to exercise and need something more motivational than "one, two, three, feel the burn."

On a more esoteric note, Bellydance is a wonderful way to connect with the power and beauty of the feminine body, and the instructors on this tape are perfect examples of the grace and sensuality expressed by this system of dance. Just watching them was very inspiring, and I felt motivated to try the moves myself. Also, nothing is too difficult or too stressful on the body, which is the point of a beginners workout. It is also perfect for those of us at an age where we are liable to dislocate something trying to do Tae Bo.

As the previous review stated...this is probably not a video for experienced dancers, but it is a terriffic tape for beginners and for those of us not wanting to become cabaret performers, but rather looking for a way to improve our health, feel good and have fun at the same time. I highly recommend it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Boring, except for the end, if you can make it, May 31, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Bellydance for Beginners: Fat Burning [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I rented this video from the library so thankfully I lost no money. I was expecting a fun belly dancing video. Instead, I found myself slowing moving, repeatedly and bouncing on one leg. You never really get to dance, and it is not an instructional video. I was extremely bored with it.