Customer Reviews

Bellydance With... Jillina: Shape Up n' Hip Out!

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In my utter Jillina fandom, I bought her latest 4 DVD set, and with a little bit of time before my rehearsal with Lilya, I popped in Shape Up or Hip Out. Now, this is a bellydance workout video, better than I have seen on the market before, aside from Aziza's Drilling DVD. This one was really intended simply as a workout, not a drill or technique video. and it is far better than Dolphina's "Goddess Workout" or the Bellytwins or - and perhaps especially better than Rania's.

There is a warmup on the DVD. I could only criticize it in that it doesn't seem exactly safe for all people. There are some deep knee bends that seem ill-advised, and I'm not sure if it's the best way to warm up. Also, she uses yoga-inspired moves, but without the yoga-inspired cueing, people may miss the point of the stretch. Overall, I would do my own warmup and move on. Good thing it's a separate menu item.

Next is the Slow Moves. I admit I skipped this one when it started with a very slow broken-down snake arm. I don't ever want to do a slow broken-down snake arm again because every damn belly-fitness class or video has them and, well, I know how to do snake arms and there is nothing to be gained for me in breaking them down into their components.

The second workout was a bit more upbeat and the third workout, while no marathon, was the fastest. I became mildly warm, although I did not sweat through the whole forty minutes. The format was this: breakdown two movements slowly, then do it them fulltime. Then repeat the entire sequence from the beginning, stringing all the pairs of movements together. Jillina puts an emphasis on the muscles, talking about obliques, abs, and glutes. She even modified her normal technique. For example, camels include the chest - whereas on her other videos, she teaches them excluding the chest. Later on in the video, she uses hip shimmies, with bent knees, rather than Egyptian knee-driven shimmies - and she adds an ATS-style arm pull to her hip lift walk. Many more of her movements are flat-footed rather than releve. All this is a sign that Jillina understood this was to be a workout video, not a technique video, and she took the most athletic ways of doing things from a variety of styles and combined it.

A beginner could easily follow this video, although some movements would be difficult for them, such as the haggalah. The 'choreography' such that it is was simple, 8 counts of each move like any aerobics class. This would teach the beginner a lot of movements, in a basic choreography that is more exciting than a drill. Plus, remembering the steps in sequence is preparation for choreography. For the intermediate dancer, the challenge would be adding the arm movements that accompany. Finally, the advanced dancer could focus on her posture and smooth transitions. All dancers could use this "workout time" to strengthen their muscles.

How I like to use this video: after using a different video for warming up, I go directly to "Rhythm Hips" and turn off the instruction--I use the music only option. Jillina is easy to follow, she is right on with the beat, and the music is fabulous. The routine is easy to learn and is fun. I don't really like to exercise, but with this tape I am motivated to exercise every single day. I am in my forties and not in the best physical condition, so it is a workout and yet it is gentle. Not only is it exercise, but it works to help alleviate my stress level. If you enjoy bellydancing you will love this workout!

This was a great video for working out using the basics of belly dance. If you're looking to learn how to belly dance at the same time as you get your exercise though, this video probably will disappoint you. To fully understand how to perform a specific exercise from this video, you do have to know at least the basics of belly dance before you start so that you can concentrate more on the exercise than what exactly it is you're trying to do. Great video, and lots of fun!

I really enjoyed this. I own all of Dolphina's early Bellydance DVD's but her latest really let me down (too slow, no exercise here). I, also, own all of Rania's but her latest also let me down (poor film quality, no increase in heartrate and if I hear her say "shake it out" one more time I will scream) so when this was recommended as a real "workout" video I had to try it as I do love bellydance. This was my first experience with Jillina and I was not disappointed. Here were all my old "bellydance favorite moves" and my heartrate did rise and Jillina is an excellent teacher. I think I learned more from her in this one video than I did in all my Dolphina/Rania experiences. This is fun, and is categorized as EXERCISE and I wish she would make more DVDs along these lines rather than just choreography ones. I would recommend this to anyone, beginner to intermediate.

I own three of Jillian instructional Dvds, she is how is started my love for bellydancing. I had been waiting for her to make a bellydance workout tape. This is it!!!! Jillina has done it again!!! I look forward to doing this tape 3 times a week. I have many bellydance tapes including temple of Jehan(also a favorite) and sensuous workout with Shamira, an many more the list is too long to mention. I look for a certain type of dvd, one with step by step instructions and this one gives just that. Jillina starts off with the warm up (certain moves are not recommended, especially for knee or back problems), but you can skip that part, there are different sections incorporating different bellydance moves (not the same ones over and over again like some dvds) after each workout you have the option of doing it again without instrutions just the music(thats nice). You do sweat, but you enjoy it. Jillian has taken ALL Types of Bellydance moves put them together to make you burn calories with a smile on your face and dance girls dance.

Shadow dancer

Beatiful set, Jillina is a good dancer & 3 women behind her. Music is real & several songs, best I can describe is very Engima like. Good beat/drums, fast, with light sporadic singing/chanting. It's great, although the music is the type I use to meditate, so even with a fast beat it didn't always work for me. Audio choices are with or without instruction.

Intro: 90 seconds
Warm up: 7 min
Incorporates a lot of yoga standing fwd bends, chair & lunges & other basic stretches.
Slow & Smooth: 32 min
Here, Jillina goes slowly so you can really feel the muscle isolation the whole time & feel your muscles working, she also teaches here instead of assuming you know how to do them. Snake arms, chest & torso circles, hip bumps, chest lifts, undulations, hip lifts, hip circles (& also while walking), vertical figure 8s, lower abs only undulations. She then does the workout again, not quite a routine, but not as instructional as previous, but she doesn't speak at all here.
Rhythm Hips: 32 min
The same moves, but at a really fast paced & adds some twists, shoulder shimmies, step twists, a couple other traveling steps, basic/common arm poses/movements, horizontal figure 8s, hip lifts to the front & back, This is also done as a routine but with a lot of practice before the next move.
Turbo Hips 38 min
Here is the same thing again w/fast pace & she adds hip shimmies, hip shimmies with travel, double twist step & more.
Cool Down 15 min
Mostly seated/reclined basic stretching.
Live Performance 40 min
2 solos of Jillina, Heather Quinn, Louchia Tchoukri (wings of Isis), Ahava, Denise Arias (red & gold outfit w/sword balancing on head, chest, foot & hand at end)
Behind the Scenes 5 min

Video trailer on youtube under "Shape Up 'n' Hip Out - Intro"
"Shape Up 'n' Hip Out - on stage" (Jillina)
"Heather Aued - Double Veil" (Heather Quinn part 1)
"Heather Aued - Drum Solo" (Heather Quinn part 2)

I had never heard of Jillina but when I received this video her calm personality came across. She is excellent. She has very good dance skills and teaching skills. I loved the music for each section. My favortie section was "Rhythm Hips". That music was fun an so stimulating! She is in great shape and knows what she is doing at all times. Her confidence comes across and it seems to project onto you. I truly hope she makes more videos like that one. It is just the best. Also, at first the workout doesn't seem like you are 'working out' but as the different stages progress you know that you are working your body. When I finished, I knew that I had achieved something. Also, I am never bored with the video as I exercise to it over and over. To me that is the sign of a good product. Keep them coming, Jillina!

I really like Jillina. She gets a lot of crap in the bellydance world, but I think she is a no-nonsense dancer and a good teacher. This is a good workout geared towards beginners( she says that in the intro), but as an intermediate I enjoyed it too. Good for working on your posture and polishing simple moves.

I bought this bases on the reviews and everyone was right. It is a great work out Dvd. The instructions were really easy to follow. I would recommend this video to anyone who wants to have a great workout while having fun.

Like other reviewers have stated, this is not an instructional dvd. It's a great workout for bellydancers that already have some classes under their belt. The choreography is nice and fun, and I love Jillina's style of leading the workout. Plenty of good verbal cues and reminders. I highly recommend this one.