Customer Reviews

The Goddess Workout with Dolphina - Bellydance Fitness 4 Video Box Set [VHS]

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I am happy I bought these DVDs, though I nearly didn't because of some of the other negative reviews. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, so I am here to add mine to the mix. I have many bellydance DVDs and craved more: more variety, more bellydance moves, more fun, more bellydance and The Goddess Workout filled my needs. Dolphina has a great personality, and makes bellydance more fun, interesting and sexy than any other dancer/fitness instructor. All her comments, tips, and instruction fascinate and motivate me. She is very charming and makes me laugh( like shimmies can cause earthquakes - She is being playful people). I really do love her style and found it refreshing to see Bellydance be sexy, afterall, why would you want to do bellydancing if it wasn't sexy?(there are plenty of other workouts). I love Veena and Neena's videos because they are very good instructional videos, but they are not sexy at all. Another great aspect to The Goddess Workout videos is she teaches a wide variety of bellydance moves, moves I didn't see in other videos, especially in Finger Cymbals, Veils and Warrior Goddess. The instruction in Intro to Bellydance is good and accurate. Most people have already mentioned, Dolphina's sets and costumes are superior to all others. Basically, I find the other negative reviews about these DVDs extremely harsh and to say there are no redeeming qualities in these DVDs is ridiculous. These DVDs are EXCELLENT and I think that you should give it a try and make up your mind for yourself.

I am a bellydancer who also likes to workout and I found these DVDs a great collection. There is an intro DVD that is great for beginners, but a fun workout if you are more experienced. There is also an advanced DVD that gives you something to look forward to if you are just beginning. I found the workout challenging on many levels and I learned some new bellydance moves! The advanced is called Warrior Goddess and it does encourage you to challenge yourself! The finger cymbals is a fun video and I don't know any other video/DVD that teaches this in a way that you can really learn to play them. The veil DVD was a great workout for the arms and as an experienced bellydancer, I did learn some new moves. The production quality is very nice, costumes are inspiring and they never get boring, no matter how many times you do it.

Wow, I did get a great workout from the video. I have to say it was a lot more challenging than I expected, but I totally agree with the other people who said it was difficult to follow. For an intro to bellydance, they focus a lot on her face, not on her whole body; there were times I could not figure out what I was suppose to do (were my knees bent? Was I stepping forward? How was I suppose to step forward? What was she doing with her arms?) A different camera angle is all I need to completely love it, though. I think they are tremendous fun!

Edit: I purchased Veena and Neena's "Discover Bellydance" set and found that it really helped with the basics of understanding what I was supposed to be doing. For more advanced moves, the "Warrior Goddess" and "Finger Cymbals" definitely cover areas that other instructional tapes don't. If you're advanced, you probably won't have any trouble with the beginning DVDs, and enjoy the whole set. If you're a bellydance beginner, I'd recommend purchasing "Discover Bellydance" to start and Dolphina's "Warrior Goddess" and "Finger Cymbals" separately.

Though Dolphina's persona is fabulous, the sets are beautiful, and outfits are great, this DVD can't give the viewer a clear understanding of how to do the steps being taught. Dolphina's instructions are good but she tends to rush from move to move, not giving you much time to comprehend and absorb the dance step. In addition, the camera direction is extremely distracting. For example, the camera tends to focus on Dolphina's face, when it should be focused on her body movements that pertain to learning the step. Also, the camera shot is pulled back much too wide in some scenes to include the beautiful backdrop, instead of a tighter shot on Dolphina's full body, so it's easier to see and follow her instruction.

On a postive note, the warm-up sessions are well done. Dolphina takes time to really get you into the mood to dance, both body and mind. I wish I could give this a better rating, becuase I do feel that Dolphina is a good instructor, but regrettably for anyone, much less a beginner, the poor camera-work interfers and overshadows the viewer's ability to understand and learn the steps easily.

"The Goddess Workout" is the only workout I've done so many times that I've memorized the whole routine, and I can do it without the video.

I loved it from the first time I did it. I showed three friends the video at my house, and they all went out and bought it.

"The Warrior Goddess" is more difficult, I tried too hard the first time I did it and hurt my hip. If you are a beginner, you should definitely do the "Goddess Workout" first, then try the "Warrior Goddess".

I haven't really done the whole zills (finger cymbals) routine, but the way she teaches it makes it fun and easy to learn.

The veil workout gives a good arm workout.

All in all, I love all her workouts, because it feels magical and when you're done and you've mastered the moves, you feel like a goddess, or at least like a bellydancer.

I'm not an expert bellydancer, so I can't tell you if the moves she's teaching are perfect, but I can tell you that these are the most fun and motivational videos I've tried.

Some people complain that she talks about shakras or about how many times she changes her costume in the 1st DVD, but I don't think either of these affected the workout. In fact, I recently got a hip scarf with coins, and I liked the segments when she had the coined outfits, so I could hear if my movements matched hers.

I've grown up with a variety of Belly Dancers in person and a wide variety of home instructional Videos. (The areas that I've spent the majority of my life are rural areas that frown upon things like Belly Dancing.) I recently bought the first two DVD's in the set after renting the second video (The Warrior Goddess workout). She teaches in a style that is different than most. She explains exactly where your hip[or insert moving body part name here] is going and breaks each move down into sections. Granted there are costume changes & lavish scenery, but compared to some of the older videosby other performers, its a great improvement!! And at about $10 a DVD or video, your not really spending a fortune on the products. (some sets of 4 VHS are $140 or more!) Also, everyone needs to remember that there are several styles of belly dance out there & everyone has their own interpretation of what the dance should or should not be. All in all, if your looking for a basic practice video/DVD to workout with after your belly dance class (with a real live instructor) - this will work for you, especially if you work & have children - its short, sweet & to the point.

I should've known by the stiff cover photos, but I got suckered in by the whole "Goddess" thing.

Pros: Beautiful teacher. Tranquil set. Very easy to watch as long as you don't pay too close attention. Lovely costumes. Relaxing. Her dance sequences are interesting in that you see her dance to please herself, not the audience.


Cons: Bad editing, and this makes her off-counting even worse 5.....6.....7..8. totally disconnected. Dolphina "shows" the viewer her style of dance, she does not "teach". She missed so many chances to teach proper technique, foot placement, muscle control, transitions, etc. She even missed several steps in her own choreography. And yes, she is beautiful, but please show her feet when she's talking about feet.

Not a good choice for newbies to learn from, although it would get them interested in learning more. Easy to watch. Easy to get bored and frustrated by.

I didn't care for this DVD when I first bought it last year, but I've kept at it and I must say I do like Dolphina's spirituality. It annoyed me at first, but she really adds to the DVD and helps you get into it (which is an integral part for the mind to be involved as well). Plus she breaks down the moves and puts them all together, great for beginners.

As for the negative, the camera man STINKS! When she is doing steps they focus on her face, you can't see anything! This doesn't happen once or twice, but frequently. It was (and still is) very frustrating.

In summary... spiritual, good explanation of moves, bad camera man loses you when learning!

I am an avid exerciser doing a combination of routines, this is the first time I have ever been exposed to belly dancing!! I purchased this video after developing an interest and reading the earlier reviews. I recieved the video today immedialtly did the introduction to belly dancing dvd, it was easy to follow for me as a beginner and a truely invigorating work out!! I felt fabulous afterward!! I am very pleased that this package comes with other workouts to add variety and to have a goal to work towards!! This is well packaged and performed. I have done all the DVD's except the Advanced and really get a great workout from all of them!! They are very positive and inspirational as well as informative. This is a great package!!

I'm a beginner bellydancer, and these dvd's have been really great! They have different and challenging levels, and I've had nothing but fun learning the moves! Every time I watch them I have a really positive workout and it always leaves me feeling energized the rest of the day. I highly recommend these to anyone that wants to learn bellydance!