Customer Reviews

Bellydancing : The Sensuous Workout with Shamira [VHS]

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I recently purchased both this video and two of the Bellydance for Fitness (Neena and Veena) videos (the Basic Moves one and the Fat Burning one). Those two are good (and not at all boring) workouts, but I find the Shamira one to be a lot more like actually dancing rather than working specific movements.

I really like how the video is divided. First, she shows you the basic moves (wearing black leggings and a sports bra, with a non-obscuring skirt so you can see very easily exactly what she does) Then she guides you through a warm up, and then focuses on three different basic types of movements, such as circles. However, for each section, she starts with very simple movements, then builds them into more and more complex combinations, so that they both get more challenging to do, and feel more like you're dancing. (an example might be doing two large hip circles, three small ones, then three hip circles, before changing direction, then you do that on the other side. Combinations like this are usually repeated at least once, and then varied somehow, so you aren't doing the same thing all the time, but also aren't trying to remember how to do three different moves all at once.

If you're looking for something more specifically aimed at exercise with less 'dance' feel, I recommend the Bellydance for Fitness videos. If you're looking for something which allows you to feel like you're dancing and moving and doing interesting things with your body, I recommend this video. If you're brand new to the basic ideas, I'd strongly recommend both this one and the Bellydance for Fitness Basic Moves tape, as that has very clear instruction and it's much easier to see all of their bodies throughout.

I found Shamira's costuming to still allow her to be easy to follow - though it took me watching the basic moves section once just to watch and once while trying it to be sure I had everything down. When she's actually showing you the sequences, though, the only thing I'm having problems following is figuring out what to do with my arms while doing things with my lower body (and that's my lack of coordination so far, not her fault - she does lots of different things, I just can't manage to do them usefully while moving my lower body yet) As for the comment about there being turns and other dance moves that don't have any obvious fitness benefit - this *is* more of a dance tape than the Bellydance for Fitness, and those turns and other movments are part of the dance. They're not excessive, and if done correctly should help you with balance, not detract from it. Of course, you could also always just not do those sequences if you have problems with turns. They're a relatively small portion of the overall video.

At the beginning of Shamira's video, we hear her tell us about the mysteries of belly dancing as we watch her in a mesmerizing silhouetted performance. We know we're in for something special. She follows this by going through some of the basic moves that makes up this exotic form of dance. I thought her pacing was superb as she starts with simple exercises and introduces more complex ones as the video progresses. I also liked the feeling that Shamira is letting us in on the secrets of her art by showing us each move in isolation. She provides so much more than just a good workout, but if that is what you are looking for, you certainly won't be disappointed!

I am very disappointed to have spent so much money on this videotape: 1) It is neither a "workout" nor an instructional videotape about bellydancing!!!!!!! It might lightly tone your lower body, at best -- with very little cardiovascular benefit. Bellydancing moves are introduced VERY preliminarily, so you won't get a solid foundation in bellydancing from the tape either. 2) As others mentioned, it is VERY, VERY difficult to see what Shamira is doing from the waist down -- which is of course what you need to see in order to learn bellydancing!!!!!! Even in the beginning of the tape when she supposedly demonstrates the basic maneuvers, she is wearing a strange half-skirt which makes it somewhat difficult to see what she is doing. IN THE MAJORITY OF THE TAPE YOU CANNOT SEE ANYTHING FROM HER WAIST DOWN AT ALL!!! Not even her feet, hardly! This fact alone makes the tape almost useless to me. If we had been able to see her body, I am quite sure I would have given this tape at least a two-star or three-star rating. She does look absolutely stunning in her full costumes, and her dancing is beautiful -- but that is not why I bought this tape. I also bought Veena & Neena's tape -- the sensual dance set -- and although they are not quite as impressive in their technique as Shamira, at least you can see them demonstrate the moves clearly!!! 3) ... The production is not particularly good. The set is "authentic" but the lighting is fairly weak and it's a bit difficult to see her.

There are a few good things: If you already know some bellydancing, I think this would be a nice supplement in order to learn a few sequences and to learn how to put some moves together and to start learning to improvise a bit. But this tape is *definitely* not for beginners!!!!!!!! I might find this tape a bit useful once I master the basic foundations.

Overall, however, I am boggled at all of the glowing reviews written here. All i can say is, Shamira must have a lot of friends!

One last note: I agree with the reviewer who said that this is more of a dance tape than a workout tape -- if you are looking for a workout that incorporates some bellydance elements, this is not what you are looking for. This is more like a bellydance practice/refresher tape for intermediates.

I am not plugging Veena and Neena, but so far (after a week with both tapes) their "basic moves" tape is a lot more useful to me, as a beginner. And a hell of a lot less expensive.

I own over 20 belly dance workout/instructional tapes and this is the best I have seen. You not only get a workout but are introduced to combinations in an natural way that has you doing them before you relize it. I did not get that from 1 year of lessons. I believe that this the tape for you if you are interested in getting into belly dancing since it goes beyond the basics. It is also just fun.

This is a really well put together video. I am a extreme beginner with bellydancing, and this video helped me to get some of the basic moves down. The best part of the tape, in my opinion, was that it always showed her whole body while she danced. With a lot of workout or instructional dance videos you get a lot of close ups of the teacher's face. For me, it is very difficult to get the moves without seeing the legs, arms and feet do the whole thing. It is not terribly high intensity workout, but you do work up a sweat, and the tape goes by very quickly. Almost 40 minutes goes by before you know it.

I just bought this video and wish that I had bought it earlier. It was very well designed and put together. The instructions are very clear and provides for a continuous workout. I also liked the fact that each move is repeated several times and not just demonstrated once. If you follow along, you feel that the instructor is talking directly to you. Also by having the dancer in full costume and not in practice clothes allows you to see the full effect of each sensuous move. This is the best video I've seen and I am going to buy more like it.

I am fairly new to belly dancing and LOVE it! I have taken some classes, attended a workshop, and have purchased a couple of videos. I found Shamira's video to be the best of the ones I've seen. I do not understand why anyone would give this tape a negative review...it is easily the best of the instructional tapes that I've seen...and I've seen some of the ones mentioned in other reviews and they are NOT anywhere near as good as this tape.

Shamira clearly demonstrates each move and her use of combinations is excellent. The video is well produced and well worth the price. I hope to some day dance half as well as Shamira!

Happy dancing to all!

I'm always trying to combine dance practice with a cardio workout. This video does just that! This is a great video for beginners and those in the know. Shamira gives a great preview of technique and movements covered in the workout. Great combination of movements to isolate specific body parts while keeping up with cardio. This is the real deal folks. Shamira is a pro with lots of performance and teaching experience to share.

Shamira's instructions were absolutely clear. I like the way the entire tape is designed to be an easy-to-follow, step-by-step workout. Unlike another tape that I also bought that tries to teach many things in one tape, this one emphasizes on the basic elements such as hip work and steps and spends more time reviewing the fundamentals with the audience, which I personally think are the most important foundations for people who are serious about learning more of belly-dancing. I could follow the instructions thoroughly.

The only thing I didn't quite like about it is the last part of the video. I had expected Shamira to present a short dance, but instead it was like a short MTV of her in various circumstances -- restaurants, garden, sweeping the floor! That was the only part that I found weird.

But as an overall, it is a VERY GOOD basic instructional tape. I plan to purchase more instructional tapes by Shamira.

This is a lovely video and I'm sure new(er) people who buy it and try it will learn some solid fundamentals of belly dance.

As a negative, it's titled as a "workout" tape, yet, it seems to be paced as in instructional tape. I found that very disappointing. I was hoping to get my heart rate up following the tape, and that didn't happen. Also, Shamira wears skirts that conceal her legs through most of the workout. Since much of the "hip" work in belly dance is actually "knee" work, that made it difficult to follow certain moves.

On the plus side, Shamira is a beautiful, graceful, and sensual dancer. She has a good motivating sense of humor in both her dance and voice-over narrarion. Her arm work was almost hypnotic. And, she packed a phenomenal amount of both repitition and variation within the 50-ish minutes of dance time.

I definately recommend it as a keeper if you want to learn to Belly dance. Just don't buy it as an exercise tape, and be warned that some moves may be frustating to learn if you haven't been exposed to them elsewhere.