Customer Reviews

Bellydance! Magical Motion

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I know some people give this video/DVD a hard time because it's a little lacking in production. But a small budget does not always make a bad result. I have lots of BD videos and DVDs but this is probably my favorite. I thought the instructions were clear and demonstrated well. Even if you've never belly danced before, it never feels like they're moving too fast. I think this is one of my favorites because they teach a move and then let you do your own thing. You don't have to follow choreography. They basically teach you some moves and then show different ways to BD freestyle with them. You never feel overwhelmed by new moves. The instructions progress naturally. I also like that this one has not only moves/variations but also veil work and how to use finger symbols. And at the end all the dancers, one by one, show what they can do.
So don't be fooled by the not-so-professional looks. It's content more than makes up for lack of fancy lighting and sets. If other videos/DVDs start to make you feel like you can't walk, let alone dance, this will make dance fun again.

Yes, A Bellydance instructional video for the rest of us who are not trained dancers or athletes, or under age 20! Pop the first of this classic series in your video player,stand back & actually start dancing right away by following these patient, detailed, & logical lessons.Pretty, feminine ATEA explains it all to you & her friends get up to join her & have a blast dancing. I follow these videos one lesson at a time until I really understand & can do them myself. I hope that you benefit as much as I do.

A friend recommended this to me as the best instructional video to really learn bellydance and she was right. Atea's Magical Motion is unique compared to other bellydance DVD's and videos I own and have tried. Atea starts with a brief, informative history of bellydance, which reveals a few facts that I know I wasn't aware of, including its health benefits.

This DVD appeals to the type of learner that I am. Even my instructor has commented that I take my time to learn something before moving on. Atea teaches in small segments, showing us 3 or 4 related movements at a time. Her analogies work very well for me; for instance, imagining that I'm tracing a figure eight on the floor or a clock on the wall. She takes time with each movement and encourages us not to focus too hard or get frustrated, pointing out that bellydance should be relaxed and fun, and that perfection will come in its own time.

Some other reviewers felt that Atea is a bit "stiff." I think that this is because she spends a lot of time explaining the movements verbally and sometimes the visual has to wait catch up. If you watch the beginning segment closely, you'll see that Atea and the other two dancers are trying not to burst out laughing because they're standing in stance for such a long time waiting for the narrative to finish.

While Atea reminds us of the health and fitness benefits of bellydance, she is also teaching real, genuine bellydance with all of its joy and freedom. While it will work you out because bellydance is great exercise, this is not a "workout" video. Personally, I'm experiencing positive changes in the shape of my body while having tons of fun and without really trying, a great bonus.

After each segment, Atea basically says, "Okay, now let's dance," showing us how to put the moves together with other dancers, who rotate with each section. This is one of the greatest strengths of this DVD. Rather than teaching choreography, Atea immediately teaches you how to improvise, a skill that every dancer needs to develop. In addition to learning and practicing the basic moves, watching other dancers is another important part of learning. Atea shows us a variety of dancers with many different styles to inspire us.

Following segments on staccato hip movements, taxim, arms and a little taste of veil work and zills, we are treated to an incredible costume fashion show with dancers of all shapes, ages, sizes and ethnicity. Both the veil segment and the costume piece will give you lots of ideas for putting your own moves and look together. And the music is fantastic!

The end is my favorite part. Atea points out that the heart of bellydance is really about friends getting together to share fun, joy and creativity and we are given a glimpse of a hafla. All of the dancers in the video show us their stuff. This is how my instructor teaches, encouraging freestyle dancing during breaks, after class and at weekly hafla. We learn from and encourage each other.

I am not a "member of Atea's group" - I live on the other side of the country and have never met her. I do "actually use" the practice and find it especially helpful for isolations. I was drawn to my own instructor due to her passion and and love for bellydance, a passion that Atea seems to share. Dance historian and instructor Morocco says that the dance is about expressing joy. The first time I saw my teacher dance, she was smiling like she was having the time of her life. I've met other instructors over the years and none got me motivated enough to actually show up at their studios. I called her at The Hippie Shack in Tulsa, OK less than two weeks later to enroll and have been taking at least two classes per week for about seven months. Bellydance has literally saved my life after the loss of my husband almost a year ago, bringing enough joy and passion back into my life to keep me from drowning in depression.

If you attend classes as a beginner, Magical Motion will help you supplement what's being taught. If you're not interested in classes or can't attend, this DVD is one of the best for learning bellydance in the absence of professional instruction.

I've also found that I got so much more out of all of the videos and DVD's I own after I started taking professional classes. If you prefer to learn on your own, at least try to take a few classes to get the most out of your home library.

As far as learning from this DVD as a beginner...it's not as easy as I remembered. I found a VHS copy of this about 9 years ago. It really inspired me to bellydance.
PROS:
This DVD is cool because it covers a little bit of everything. history, basic moves, veil work, finger cymbals, costuming (80's style though) and performances.
CONS: She doesn't really verbally explain what she is doing very well. I have a harder time following her moves now than I used to. Maybe I'm just stiffer at the age of 23 then I was at 14...

Overall this DVD is okay. Not the best. But not terrible either. The production is about the same. Not the best, but not the worst i've seen either. It doesn't look like someone took a home video in the garage or anything like that. It's just not the most professional quality either. HEY! It was the 80's! They did the best they could!

Not bad, but not my first choice.

I have had super success using this video with many of my belly dance students. It formerly was on VHS and I am so thriled that it came out on DVD. Truly exceptional for the very basics all the way to advanced combinations. Excellent for all dancers and all levels - couldn't recommend it more !

The production quality was good for back then,good lighting, many different costumes. Basic teaching of hip circles, hip bumps, hip lifts, vertical & horizontal figure 8s, chest lifts, circles, rib slides & undulations & little on belly rolls (could have had better teaching on that.) She also touches on veils & zills, but not enough while dancers just dance.
Atea is very stiff in teaching & looking at cue cards or something off camera 75% of the time. There is a short vague history to start with & several minutes of freestyle dancing after every learned move. Since there are usually 2 backups with Atea when teaching, you cannot follow what they do since the camera zooms in to just hips, or just chest, face, etc. back & forth between all three & not sure who you are looking at for a minute nor are they in sync.
The makeup was horrible & covered up all the woman's beautiful features, much less the overly sprayed feathered hair. They all looked like rich, bored housewives.
The dancing I found was flowing in some but sloppy, or was stiff but better controlled. None of the dancers inspired me like the Bellytwins (Neena & Venna), Neon, Jillina, Jayna, Blanca & many others. The only bellydancers with their own DVDs I'm not as impressed with is Rania (very controlled, well executed, but stiff) & Dolphina.

I love, love, LOVE this video! Though made back in 1985, this tape stands the test of time (even if the costumes and music do not!). The moves are presented in a clear, easy-to-follow format and are presented in such a way that they build on each other and allow for improvisation. This video gets you dancing right away! With a little practice, you'll be improvising and dancing all over your living room! After first viewing this program as a tape that I got from the public library almost 10 years ago to finally buying it and many other beginner instructional videos on bellydance, I still come back to this one time and time again. I sometimes use it in conjunction with FatChanceBellyDance's Tribal Basics vol 1, as a good foundation on the origins of bellydance as well as a review on where those tribal moves came from. I highly recommend this video over almost all others (save for FCBD) to anyone starting bellydance or interested in it. Swirl on!

If I could reccommend only one DVD or video for a newbie to learn bellydance, THIS WOULD BE IT. Atea and friends not only teach the basic moves of bellydance, but she also emphasizes proper posture, something that is done in NO OTHER bellydance instructional video that I have seen. Atea has a sweet voice and a gentle presence, and the moves are executed simply and easily with fairly good descriptions on how to do them. Also the moves taught are appropriate for total novices. The camera always sticks right where it should be, instead of wandering all over or swooping in fancy camera moves like many of the other "learn to bellydance" videos.

I like the performance before and freestyle dance after each segment to show how the moves just learned could be incorporated into actual bellydance routines. I also love the "mini-hafla" at the end and the costume switches throughout the video, which could give someone interested in performing a lot of costume ideas. I especially like the portion at the beginning which teaches the history of bellydance.

If you're looking for an aerobic workout, I suggest looking elsewhere. But for those who really wish to learn the art of bellydance, this is an awesome beginner's tape. Be sure to check out Atea's other videos as well, they're great compliments to this one!

It was informative but for me I would need to go to an actual class. I kept having to stop and rewind it over and over. didnt really feel I was getting it. But I am a begginer

Bellydancing is an ancient art form. Its origins can be traced to India, Africa and Polynesia. This dance is suitable for all ages and body types. The fluid graceful movement provides focused exercise for the pelvic, hip and stomach regions. When you add the arm movements, this exercise is expressive and creative. The first section of the video gives some of the historical background to this dance.

The arm techniques will give you more flexibility and strength. As you move your entire body, the natural movements will exercise every muscle in the body. It will especially strengthen the abdominal muscles. While you are dancing away your belly, you will also notice improved posture and self-confidence.

For this workout, you don't need any exotic costumes, although the ones the dancers wear are absolutely the best I have ever seen. You may want to buy a scarf for one of the latter sections to learn veil techniques. Finger cymbals are also used, but you can just pretend you have them.

This exercise video begins with a warm-up, then Atea shows you all the basic moves. The 5 dancers featured in this video show you how to incorporate the basic moves into a more free-style dance. There is no fancy footwork and the dancers are quite good. All the moves are easy to learn, but will take time to incorporate into your own dance routine.

Bellydancing is a low-impact exercise, yet you can feel you are getting a great workout. You will start with stretching, head rolls and some basic warm-up exercises. Then you move a section where you learn basic hip movements. You will then learn to isolate and control various muscle groups. If you wear comfortable clothing, you will be able to accomplish all the moves. There is music in the background, but it isn't the focus.

Bellydancing is healthy for the mind, body and spirit. If you want to put a little oriental spice into your exercise routing, this is not at all a traditional workout. It is very enjoyable and not at all fast paced. Take your time and enjoy the dances that were born at the beginning of time.

~The Rebecca Review