Customer Reviews

Bellydancing: The Sensuous Workout 2 "Pure Technique" with Shamira

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I mostly wanted to thank the other reviewers for recommending this. It is the best one I've tried and the most used. And I feel myself improving each time I work with it. As a beginner I have seen everything from the impossible to the purely annoying. Shamira, a trully "sensuous" dancer, had a great idea in breaking down bellydance moves into many segments, to portion it out. And this is about learning the dance, not just doing a fitness workout with bellydance moves. First I must emphasize that I can't get over how much the mirror images helps one like me, who often gets dyslexic about rights and lefts. If you're a beginner too don't be intimidated. The mirror imaging makes it much, much easier. The camera is always where it belongs. You will be glad to have this in your collection. It's an invaluable encyclopedia of belly dance. I want to work on routines but also want something that's a reference. Each "chapter" has the move/moves broken down slowly, then Shamira picks up the tempo and lastly provides variations. She also incorporates arms and hands very gracefully with just about everything. I find this important since it makes the beginner look less amateurish. It's very user-friendly. With repetition you can work on a chapter until you've gotten it down. I go through the whole technique section then go back and repeat what needs work, varying it so it doesn't get boring or frustrating. I just know that between classes and this DVD I will get it. Her descriptions are inventive and tips helpful. She doesn't assume you know anything about what she's teaching but she also spices it up with variations which keep it interesting. And although it's no substitution for lessons she does cover a lot of ground and makes it accessable. You may get frustrated but you never feel like throwing in the towel. Then there's the carrots on the end of the stick -- the three dances merging what you've learned into 3 different routines of increasing challange. They are beautifully performed with clear instruction. These are really in the realm of possibility once you've mastered the moves (although the last, which is a drum solo looks light years away for me). It's also nice to be able to pick and choose what you need or want to work on. The other reviews have said it all nicely and I won't repeat. But since I appreciate it so much I thought I'd chime in with five more well-deserved stars. There's plenty for everyone whether you're just starting out or have been bellydancing for a while. Enough to keep busy with for a very long time. Even if I have to repeat and repeat a chapter it's shown and explained so that almost anyone can eventually get it. And Shamira is anything but robot-like. She's elegant and happy and creative. While the chapters could be considered drills it doesn't feel like you're drilling. It is fun and Shamira's joie de vive shines through. This is certainly worth every penny. It is quality and quantity.

This is an excellent dance workout. This dance workout contained Pure Technique with 22 chapters of movements, dance workout routines/combinations: Chiftitelli (beginner to advance). This is a slow sexy number and it runs over 9 mins. Second is Saiide (intermediate to advanced but I think beginner can do it too as well). This one is a bit upbeat tempo and it runs over 7 mins. And the last one (my most favorite) is the Maksoum Drum Solo (intermediate to advance but beginner can do it too). The drum solo runs over 7 minutes. I like this the most because I like drum background music personally. All the dance movements in the routine(with a variation) are in pure technique chapters.
Shamira delivers a clear voice over that match the movement. I never get confused plus Shamira has you mirror her movements. Unlike other workouts which they tell you right but they are doing left on the screen. The background is simple and not distracting.
For the first week, I practiced the pure technique part then the second week I combined a pure technique then a routine. Now, I just skipped the pure technique and I just combined the three dance routine and when I finished my heart beat is accelerated and I am sweating!
One can practice and combine any part of the DVD and you will get a good nice dance workout.
The music soundtrack (Shamira is the model on the cover!) of the DVD is one of the best also. I actually bought the CD first before the workout and love it that I listened to it in my vehicle when I am on my way to work.
I love this one and will keep it along with some of my bellydance collections. Highly recommended!

The Good: Don't let the title or cheesy cover art fool you; this is a serious drill-oriented workout designed to let you focus on which of the 22 addressed movements you most need to perfect. The production quality isn't all slick and professional looking, like some of the newer videos out today, but is definitely sufficient for our needs here. Each of the 22 movements has its own chapter on the DVD, making it very easy to skip around within the movement. Shamira gives very concise explanations for each movement, and demonstrates clearly first in ½ time, then in full time. You are working to music throughout the instruction, which gives you an idea of how the tempo of your movements with the same music can give you a totally different look. The movements are also demonstrated from both the front and the back, and even early on she is moving towards building combinations; something you don't see enough of in instructional videos without a complete choreography. She also offers some arm movement variations for most of the traveling movements.

Next, Shamira links these 22 movements together into 3 different combinations named after the rhythm to which they're performed. Each combination tells you which movements will be used in it. The Chiftitelli is noted as "beginner / intermediate level," the Saidi is "intermediate / advanced," and the Maksoum drum solo is "advanced." Each of these "combinations" gives about 7-8 mins of drilling on different movements, although with the absence of any upper body work or layering I'd hesitate to call any of it "advanced."

The Bad: For the most part, Shamira's movements are fluid and completed, although she does have a tendency to lose the "isolation" of the movement. I see her ribcage and shoulders moving quite a bit during the "Hip Circle" demo. Having this problem myself, I'm inclined to be understanding about it. ; ) She also uses a more skeletal movement than muscular. You won't find anything relating to upper body movements here; no chest or ribcage circles or locks, no snake arms (except as an accent), no shoulder shimmies.

The Ugly: Shamira teaches a shimmy technique that she calls "her famous Buns of Jello;" aside from the icky visual I got when she said that, her standard Egyptian shimmy lacks any isolation whatsoever. It could have been called the Egyptian Seizure. She also demonstrates something she calls a diagonal shimmy (posed on the diagonal, weighted-leg shimmies) and the choo-choo shimmy. Also in the "ugly" category - Shamira performs the individual techniques in workout gear and a hip scarf, which is great - but she changes into a lovely lavender bedlah for the Chifitelli which she layers over - black lycra capris. No, I'm serious. The Saidi outfit is cute, but she does the same "bra and belt over lycra stretch pants" to us again for the drum solo workout.

All in all - definitely worth what I spent, regardless of the unintended humor in costuming and technique names. I'll be using this video to practice zilling while dancing.

I often recommend this video for anyone who wants to get dancing quickly. Shamira has a way of making things rather easy. She's relaxed and comfortable and so are her moves.

If you've been working on the basics for a little while and now want to see them as simple moves, this is a good video to try that out with. It isn't very technical (there are other options for those who are looking for in-depth technique) and work with it for a few days and you'll you're dancing. There are 22 chapters of basic moves on this video, taking up hip circles, double figure 8s, hipwalks, hip locks, lifts, drops, kicks etc. What's nice is that arm moves then added to the movment--which makes them into a dance move you can go off with. Each of these 22 movements is later used in the three choreographies on this video.

The three choreographies on this video are set to the slow sensual chiftetelli, the saidi and the lively danceable maksoum rhythm. The choreographies use the 22 movements in different sequences. Shamira runs through the choreographies without stopping, from beginning to end. No breaks to review or breakdown moves which have already been taught. That gives it a nice momentum and is also a nice lesson for a beginner in how to connect and flow moves.

Overall, Shamira keeps the moves simple. She doesn't take up the more challenging belly dance moves or go into layering and so on. The choreographies are elementary as well.

Shamira doesn't give a warm up or safety tips about posture etc though she does remind you to keep breathing. Good idea

You will have to acquire the music if you want to informally perform the choreographies. Actually, even If you want to practice them. The music available on the Yallah Ya Helwa CD may not be exactly the same as the pieces used on the video since those have been edited somewhat to prolong the practice.

The production quality isn't what I'd call stunning--though it is entirely workable. I've seen better and I've seen worse.

You know, I often wonder why people have to write things like "you are best off getting" when writing a review... I don't think it's about "what you are better off getting" it's about what you got or get.

As a bellydancer and a bellyrobics fan, I have lots of dvds and this one is in my collection as well as Shamira's first to this "Sensuous" set. A Sensuous workout is exactly what you are going to get when working out with this dvd, it's by far not slow paced, Shamira really picks up the pace toward the end of the 2nd and 3rd dances, beginning with a slow warmup then slowly picking up the pace. If you're getting this for a bellydance workout you're going to use muscles that you never would normally use, "Sensuously" :-) I love this, the use of circles and hip drops and lifts..... Cool

This is also good for those who want to learn to bellydance too. It has 22 chapters of how to do, that will strengthen your muscles for the challenge of the 3 dances that you are going to learn/practice or workout to at the end.

I've written a review for Shamira's first "Sensuous" workout and I'm going to use the same frame of words I wrote there here.

Lots of circles, hiplifts and "sensuous" figure 8's, all are muscle toners. Circles are fantastic on the upper thighs and the lower bottom while the figure 8's work the hips and upper bottom. In fact the lower the impact of the workout the more fat you will burn, the higher the impact, you lean more toward sugar and fluid loss thus dehydrating, so, as soon as you eat, the weight you lost during your high impact workout will be gained. So, "Sensuously", dance your way to fitness. :-)

The music is seriously cool too.

This is a fun workout for anyone, and a nice practice video for us dancers. It works all the right muscles for belly dance, covers a wide range of movements, and keeps your brain working too. It's also a nice tool for learning some new combinations.


This program is broken into two main sections: instruction and the workout. The instruction breaks down the movements and teaches the combinations used in the workouts. Most are shown both from the front and from the back, and Shamira is always mirroring you, which makes it much easier to follow!

Unless you have some belly dance experience (preferably advanced-beginner level), I _strongly_ recommend that you work with the instructional section several times before trying the workout, so you can get the technique down.

The instruction is about an hour long, but the DVD is organized in a way that lets you pick and choose which movements you want to practice. The instructional section itself could be considered a workout, although the intensity varies within and between sections. It's the kind of exercise you'd get in an actual dance class.

The workout section incorporates the movements and combinations into three routines ranging from 7-9 minutes each. I think it's 25-30 minutes total. It's a nice medium-intensity workout, and it feels much more like dancing than working out. This is great for me, since I bore easily when doing regular "exercise". Shamira does the workouts in costume, with well-timed voiceover queues. It is also fun to watch.

The combinations were adorable and suitable for performance. As another reviewer said, they're not complicated, but effective and stylish. I couldn't agree more: audiences will "get" and enjoy them.

I especially liked that Shamira gave many different options for the arms; they gave the combinations very different looks. Volume 1 also has beautiful arm work, but they aren't broken down, so you have to learn by copying; in this version, Shamira explains them, so they're much easier to pick up.

This program leverages the DVD format very well. One problem I've always had with most dance and fitness videos is that the most repeated part (the workout/practice section) is always at the end! Pure Technique's organization makes it very easy to pick and choose which technique or workout sections I want to do.

I also liked that the workout was divided into three mini-sections. Mini-workouts are good when I'm short on time, or when I'm not feeling motivated and need something commitment-free to get me going.

I also recommend the Sensuous Workout Volume 1 in addition to this DVD. It uses fewer combinations and doesn't cover the technique as thoroughly, but it could be alternated with Volume 2 when you're in the mood for a change.

I love this DVD. Shamira is a good teacher and the camerawork allows you to see what she's doing. It's usually full body shots. I only have two small problems with it: she spends zero time on proper posture (this is sooo important in order to keep your lower back safe)...she reminds you once in a while about posture but never fully explains, so if you are a beginner please be careful and do some research. Also Shamira moves a lot, as in: she doesn't stress isolation too much, so keep that in mind, too. When all is said and done, though, this is a great DVD as long as you know and remember to use proper form!!

Shamira has put out yet another great DVD. Shamira's "Pure Technique" DVD is Jam packed with great combinations. The DVD is set up very well and is very easy to navigate through. Finally no more having to stop and rewind to play back a great move you want to learn. If you want to work on a particular move longer just watch that one section over again, or watch all the combinations put together.
Shamira explains the movements perfectly and gives you alot of great ideas for new moves to add to your dancing
This DVD is filmed very well and great for learning and improving the technique in your dance. I love this DVD and must say it is the best bellydance CD in my collection.

I bought this DVD a little while ago based on the great reviews I read here, and I am happy to say that it lives up to every one of them. The Sensuous Workout 2 is a such a well-conceived, intelligent video, and gives beginners a spirited, heart-felt introduction to this beautiful dance form.

I am a long-time belly dance fan and did Veena and Neena's "Arms and Abs" tape on and off for a couple of years, but I had no idea what I was missing! After following Shamira through her routines for the first time, my eyes were opened. Whereas V and N's program can feel mechanical and repetitive and is really more about exercise than anything else, Shamira's tape radiates a genuine desire to share the joy and beauty of belly dancing. She is both a real dancer and a real teacher, qualifications that shine through in her video and set it apart.

The 22 technique sections at the beginning of the DVD are brillianty done. Each mini-lesson is thorough, succinct and dynamic and includes variations on each move and several different accompanying arm motions. (plenty of stuff to get creative with later). Shamira explains clearly what your body should be doing and starts her demonstrations at an easy tempo, working up to a good clip by the end of the section. As she teaches the different elements of a move, she combines them into little patterns and combinations that keep you mentally awake while serving as great practice. Her instruction is so fluid, and there is such a spirit of improvisation in her choreography that you're actively engaged with the music and the movement the whole time, responding with an open, creative mind instead of just mimicking. She never has to remind you (as Veena and Neena do), that this is about dancing. In fact, to boil my review down to one sentence, Shamira's DVD is the difference between a workout video and a dance class. Really, given what an excellent, high-quality DVD it is, it's an astonishing value. There's enough material in the 90 minutes of video to keep a person learning for months.

To this let me add that Shamira is such a sweet person and dedicated instructor, and she answered my email very promptly when I wrote with a question about hip-locks. That's right!!! You can email wonderful Shamira herself for tech support! Ridiculously cool, isn't it??

Come on, people, what are you waiting for!

I liked this very much. This is a intermediate instruction that works on technique. For example, she tells you the correct way to do a hip lock is to tighten one of your butt cheeks. What I like most is the way she tells you how to move your arms and hands, which I have trouble with. Her dance routines are very nice and she is very graceful.