Customer Reviews

Contemporary Bellydance and Yoga Conditioning with Ariellah

5 star:		(62)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm as impressed as everyone who's reviewed this video before me. Being unable to resist belly dance videos (and having only those for instruction) I've ended up collecting a shocking number of them. Of these, at least 90 percent must be belly dance isolations. So you wouldn't think I needed any more. Well think again.

I immediately loved Ariellah's two fantastic drills -adding up to 75 minutes of hard work. I haven't managed 75 at a go yet but am notching up to about 40 minutes so far. That's separate from all the yoga. Ariellah has selected yoga poses and very thoughtfully, there's a short session for those who are not yoga-familiar and a longer one for those who are.

There are no distractions during these drills. Nothing comes in the way. Not the music, not too much talking - nothing. It's an intuitively put together set of drills in which she gives tips I haven't found anywhere else in all my videos and reminders on posture and breathing. Her timing with these is impeccable. Just when I find I'm getting tired, she says "Go on for a bit longer" . That comes from being very well tuned into what her dance students must feel.

Ariellah is all about control right down to the micromovement. If you've seen her elsewhere, you'll know that the seems to take the music, reroute it right through her body, and by the time it reaches you, you're seeing the music as well as hearing it. Her drills begin to give you the foundation for that control In just a few sessions I've found a visible difference with the sharpness of my hip and rib cage movements. The arms? A long way to go for me but I'm relentlessly sticking to the especially solid arms section. All I can say is that I can finely shimmy one shoulder at a time now. Well, the right one, anyway.

The combinations are versatile and for me, make a fantastic collection when combined with similar ones from other tribal fusion videos like East Coast Tribal and Tribal Fusion NYC. Also Bellydance for Beautiful Freaks.

I also like a lot of the music on this video, though the lyrics of one or two are nothing to dance about. Something about a plane about to come down. I'm not so sure about that. But the most-used song, Stiga, by the group Lumin, is very sensual and addictive.

Well, I got this as a gift, and I was really excited to try it. I consider myself pretty coordinated and not easily frustrated with dance, but I was easily discouraged with the bellydance drills. There is not a lot of explanation regarding how to move body parts a certain way. I kept at it and by the third or fourth time, I started to figure it out. I still can't do a lot of the moves at the fastest speed, but the drills always start at a slow tempo, so I can stick to whatever speed works. Even doing that, I really feel my muscles later, so I know it is working. So, after an initially frustrating experience, I have learned to enjoy this DVD. The yoga session is awesome! It's energizing and relaxing at the same time.
If you already know bellydance, this is a great DVD. It's probably not recommended for true beginners to dance or if you are not that coordinated.

Ariellah is a petite dynamo who in her "Welcome" on this excellent DVD tells how yoga and belly dance can be related, and how yoga helps one to do the isolations, which Ariellah teaches in slow motion and with exact precision in her Technique Drills. She says that yoga also brings strength and energy, and heightened awareness that can be applied to belly dancing. All the yoga and bellydancing is done slowly on this DVD, and gives the impression that it is easier than it actually is, though even if you are a beginner, and you listen to your body and only do as much as you can, you will find the exercises and drills challenging and rewarding.

The DVD is well produced and takes place on a bare stage setting that is a good contrast to Ariellah's black leotards, making it easy to see each movement; you have the choice of a Short or Full yoga warm-up (the "Full" isn't necessarily harder, it is just longer and has a different selection of movements) and there is also a wonderful "Yoga Cool Down" at the very end. After the Drills there is Choreography to learn, and then Combination Practice, repeated so you can practice until perfect. Best of all perhaps are the performances, With Ariellah in her unique and fantastic costumes, spellbinding with her incredible agility and technique in 3 aesthetically beautiful numbers.

Whether you just want to have a terrific yoga workout, or learn the basics of bellydance isolation taught by a master, or get the best of both worlds, Ariellah's Contemporary Belly Dance and Yoga Conditioning is 150 minutes of a winning combination and a great addition to anyone's dance instruction DVD library.

This DVD is excellent for improving technique IF you don't mind the music and IF you like to drill.

I really like this DVD. I personally don't care too much for her modern goth music. I prefer to dance to more traditional sounds, but her music is unoffensive and fairly easy to ignore.

Let's face it, the only way to really get a move down well is to practice. This DVD is all about practice. Ariella drills each move for a couple minutes, giving you plenty of time to explore and improve. She adds some variations and level changes to keep you challenged, and there are 2 different drill sections. The moves are well explained, and she seems to know when my posture is slipping and gives me a nice reminder.

There are 2 yoga warm ups, short and long. If yoga isn't your thing don't worry, there is plenty of other content on this DVD. Just be sure to do some other warm up and stretch before you begin. Personally, I liked her yoga warm ups, but I tend to use the short one so I have more time to practice dance.

I like her choreography, and she explains it clearly. She then performs the choreo to 2 different songs to show it's versatility. This is good for those who don't like her music, you can pick the least offensive song.

I liked her performances at the end, even if I'm not a fan of the music. (I actually like one of the songs she performs to.) If you don't like goth, then I doubt you'll like her outfits, but again, there is a lot of other content on this DVD. I borrow what I like and ignore the rest.

Ariella is a VERY skilled dancer. Her moves are crisp and clean. I can always tell what move she is doing. She doesn't wiggle, she dances. Practice with this DVD has improved my control and endurance.

For those who do like goth, I recommend this over the other goth belly dance DVDs. Ariella does a better job of explaining the moves, and then adding variations and layers. She gives you time to explore and absorb a move before going to another one. She drills with precision, and teaches you how to achieve it. She practices in plain clothes and you can always see her feet. Her choreos show you how to put it all together.

If you really want clean moves, then this is the DVD for you.

Ariellah was already one of my favorite dancers before I bought the DVD, but having missed the Durga Tour when it came through my area, I wasn't sure how she would be as an instructor. As it turns out, she can teach as well as perform, and she does both very well.

There is definitely something for both new and experienced dancers alike on this DVD. As has already been stated, there's 75 minutes of drills (not including the yoga) and about 45 minutes of choreography and performances. The drills are actually broken up into two sections, the second being for more advanced students. The choreography is also broken down into two sections, and she even goes over the counts (a godsend for someone like me who can't always get the moves "in sync" with the music without endless repetition). Aside from getting my left and right messed up a few times (something I've always done), I actually felt that the choreographies were quite "doable" right off the bat (something I am not often able to say, as I'm one of those women who usually take weeks to get a choreographed dance down).

I felt everything, from the selection of yoga poses to the music, were well thought out. I think the thing that impressed me most was when she seemed to know when I was starting to make certain form mistakes ("make sure you aren't doing this with your neck") and would have the viewers check with their bodies to make sure that they were still in proper dance posture several times. Lastly, if you need motivation, just watch the performances at the end of the DVD. Those three performances should provide plenty of it!

Not only did I REALLY want to like this video, but I've given it every opportunity to prove to me that it's great. The truth of the matter is, it's the little things that keep it from a five-star.

The majority of the music is awful (think operatic Depeche Mode and worse) and it is terribly distracting from Ariellah's generally thorough instruction; so-much-so that I can't concentrate on the drills (which is why 2 stars were deducted - it's THAT distracting)! This is supposed to be a video for contemporary belly dance (as is stated in the title) but the majority of the music suggests that it is only for the Gothic style.

Other than that, there are just a few places where I think the instruction could have been clearer, but overall I'd say Ariellah's instruction and explanations are clear and well thought out. In fact, I'd go so far as to say she has the clearest explanations of how movements are made than any other instructor that I have encountered.

Long story short, for the money, this is a great value! Ariellah's yoga practices alone are worth the price of the DVD but the amount of drilling (75 minutes!) are phenomenal, that is, if you can get past the music.

The first thing i loved about this was the music. I love gothic music, but i think it's mild enough to have mass appeal even though i noted some other reviewers couldn't deal with it. It sets the perfect mood for the movements.
The other thing i loved about this was that i actually felt like my body was really working. Though i might not have gotten the movements down pat i could still get the workout. I love the fact that my arms were aching by the time i was done drilling.

I also love that Ariellah gives not only the "how" of movement, but the "why" as well. By that i mean she often says things like, "You'll want to do it this way because when we work on chest movements you can do them more easily at the same time." That's great incentive to get the movement right if you're a little discouraged. She also continually goes over common mistakes, and reminds you to check your posture just when you need it most. There's also a short intro to basic bellydance position and posture which is a must for beginners.

I absolutely LOVE the yoga warm up and cool down. I mean, i like yoga anyways...but no matter what workout you're doing nothing beats a sun salutation variation/warrior pose to get you in the right mentality to begin a workout. And the stretches! I love the stretches!! I feel the need to again emphasize i love the music. It blends so perfectly with the movements.

Lastly, i love Ariellah as an instructor. I'm not a bellydance expert, but her technique to me is exquisite. She is also a classically trained dancer. Wonderful and inspiring to watch. Asharah put out a similar video for this tribal bellydance line...and the one thing I noticed right off the bat was that her movements seemed so much sloppier compared to Ariellah.

I live in a geographical area with few "live" belly dance teachers, so I rely on DVDs for instruction. I have about 25 different titles, and I have learned valuable lessons from nearly every one of them. However, I have gained more strength and flexibility in my arms, chest, back, and hips by regular practice of Ariellah's techniques drilling. I feel and look better than ever and have gained mastery over movements I could not do before. Yahoo!

I am a beginner who is out of shape. I purchased several belly dancing DVD's and I could work through all of them, except this one. It was just way too difficult. She instructs too quickly and many moves are just not made for anyone not in great shape. I can see that I would probably like this down the road when I get in much better physical condition and more experienced at belly dancing. Since it claims to be a training and conditioning system, I felt it was a little misleading. This DVD is not for the beginner. If you are new to the art, then I highly suggest either Luscious, the Belly Dance Workout or East Coast Tribal with Sera. Both are challenging, but doable with persistence... even for us out of shape grandma's that want to rediscover our inner Goddess!

After several years of practicing bellydance in classes and workshops, I've only recently started trying to build and perfect my technique at home. This DVD is an excellent choice for that, whether you're into Tribal Fusion/Gothic or not. Useful for advanced students to perfect moves and continue drilling as well as for beginners to begin practice. Everything is very well-explained, with helpful comments during drills (ie "check in with your chest", etc.), and endless drills (75 minutes of drills alone!) to make it feel just like a class or workshop taken one-on-one with the teacher. Thank you Ariellah! This is a wonderful DVD that I will come back to time and time again! Please come to Paris soon!!!