Customer Reviews

Bellydance for Beginners: Fat Burning [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This video features all of about three moves, and not even any simple combinations. There is no motivation--the instructors don't even instruct--this is all done via voiceover. Stretching is poor--areas that are worked out extensively in the aerobic portion aren't even stretched prior. No focus or direction on form, either. One section had you moving with your finger stuck to your forehead for about five minutes. Even if you're a beginner, I wouldn't bother. I also own the Goddess Workout and, while it's a little cheesy, it's alot more fun--and I had never bellydanced before in my life!

The description on the back of this video should have simply said, "You will hop around on one foot, then switch and repeat for a little less than a half an hour. All this will be accompanied by cheesy, annoying music. You will feel robbed of your money."
In all fairness, I haven't seen the other videos in this series, but this one sure doesn't make me want to give them a try.

Step aerobics. Been there, done that. Tae Bo. Been there, done that. I wanted a change in the usual workout. I'm slim but I wanted to be toned up more (especially for fitness & for my modeling work). I ordered the "Fitness for Beginners" box set.

First, I must say that all of these workout videos begin with a common warning you find on all videos: they're not responsible for injuries. Even throughout the video, they tell you to GO AT YOUR OWN PACE. This was especially important, because some of the more repetitive movements can be tough on your legs...but when I say "tough", it was challenging, but NOT painful for me. Further, if you're looking to learn bellydancing moves per se, get the "basic moves" video, or even the boxed set. The twins also offer videos that teach you how to do authentic bellydance routines. However, if you are just starting bellydance but want to learn how to do routines, I would suggest you get the boxed set anyways. You learn the basics, you get familiar with the most common moves in the 4-video set (arm movements, ab strengtheners & techniques, hips, buns & thighs combinations, and basic moves that you need to know) and then move on.

Further, these videos are a BREATH OF FRESH AIR. Not only do you feel sensual as you learn the moves, but you also realize that "HEY! I CAN DANCE!!" Further, Neena and Veena keep you interested with tips and ideas, while the music helps keep you upbeat and ready for more.

I strongly recommend this video to EVERY WOMAN who wants to tone up, get stronger and get more flexible--- all while being sensual and feeling feminine. What could be better???

I was disappointed in this video. It seemed promising at first, but the moves were extremely repetitive. While it is a workout video for cardio, not an instructional dance video, it is still listed as a "bellydance" video. It really isn't. It is a good cardio workout once it gets going if you don't mind the tedium of doing the same move over and over. It starts very slowly though. And as it is all up on your toes and hopping around, it causes a great deal of strain on the calves. I'm rather fit, and I was still so sore in the calves the next two days that I walked funny. In short, there are many many exercise videos that are more balanced, more interesting with variation, and not so straining on one particular area when it's supposed to be an all-over cardio workout.

I was very disappointed in this video, I have all the other Bidasha twin videos, but this one was very unimaginative. They keep doing one step over and over ..... this video is not worth it .... try any of the other bellydance videos ... just skip this one

I have this video and use it as an alternative when either I don't have a lot of time, or I'm just looking for a little change from my normal routine. These two sisters are obviously skilled dancers [as the small performance clips at the end prove]. The workout on this video is fairly simple, and what I like is I can do it barefoot. I can kick off my shoes and dance along. It does get the heart pumping and the 25 minute workout breezes by fairly quickly. On the down side, the beginning is slow. The steps in the beginning are too simple and go on for too long. I don't care for the finger on the forehead move. There is a long period where they just do the same folkloric step with one finger on their forehead. What I do like about it is I can exercise using bellydance steps and listening to middle eastern inspired music [not necessarily authentic]. I have been dancing for over two years and although this isn't a tape that teaches bellydance or its technique, it is a way to incorporate a little bit of bellydance into a daily exercise routine.

This is a great tape if you're looking to burn fat- just like the title says. There's not much actual bellydancing in it the way that most people think of belly dance, mostly because most people don't understand what belly dance IS. The movements are more of an Egyptian/African tribal movements and you don't do much dancing but a lot of sort of jumping. If you want to lose weight, this is great- if you do it daily you'll literally see your tummy melt away, the pounds will just fall off. It's a little difficult at first -not difficult to execute but it definitely will tire you- but if you keep trying it's a GREAT workout.