Customer Reviews

Pop, Lock & Shimmy: Drum Solo Technique & Choreography - Intermediate / Advanced Belly Dance

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Most people will call this a drum solo dvd, and that's what it is, but it's also MUCH more. Many of us have complained about a lack of "Drill" videos on the market. If you're looking to drill and sharpen your pops, locks, and shimmies, THIS is that video.

Think... SHARP!! This is a not a drill video for slow moves, or for any kind of specific technique. It's exactly what it says it is -- pops, locks, and shimmies. Sharp moves and how to make them sharper, and shimmies, plus sharp layer drills.

Yes, it teaches a drum solo choreography, a cute choreography! And you could perform the choreography if you wanted to. It's taught in combinations, which make nice drills themselves. Like I said, you COULD perform this choreography, but I think, after working with the dvd for a while, you'll be inspired to make your OWN choreography out of the drills and combos and things covered here.

It's sort of rare that a "choreography" dvd actually inspires you to abandon the choreography taught, for your own vision -- but that's what I felt like after watching this. I ran downstairs and grabbed Hossam Ramzy's Tabla Solo cds and started playing immediately. I can see I'm going to have LOTS of fun with this dvd. :)

This dvd is marketed to intermediate/advanced dancers. I put the dvd in the player and started it, went of to get a glass of water, and when I came back, it had already started, and she was doing a hip lift drill. I watched it for a bit thinking, "this is advanced? Hmmm...." but then the chapter changed and I see that this was the WARMUP! LOL. It gets progressively more advanced from the warmup. :)

I think what's going to get the most "airtime" for many dancers is the drill section. You can pick and choose from different drill sets, or do them all together, OR jump to a chapter where all the combinations are presented as drills, or jump to just the layer drills, or just the shimmy drills -- LOTS of options here.

And these drills aren't just "4 counts of this, 4 counts of that" for 30 seconds. These drills are DRILLS. Like Bootcamp drills. They go on for EVER! Okay, not forever, but long enough to actually be USEFUL as drills, and when you've done them, you KNOW you've done something! I believe the goal of the drills is to help you achieve SHARPER body movements. I know from working Suhaila's material that if you practice a lock long enough it gets smaller and tighter and more precise, and this dvd will certainly help with that.

Her layer drills aren't just layered shimmies either. They're similar to Suhaila's level 2 layer drills, where you're layering hip singles with side-to-side movements, or upper body movements. Tough stuff, and you really can't practice it enough.

I wasn't going to buy this dvd because I thought I wasn't interested in learning another drum solo choreography, but I'm glad I did because this dvd is WAY more than just another drum solo choreography. I would say this dvd could easily become a useful part of your daily practice. You can practice the combinations for the drum solo, even if you don't plan on performing the piece itself. They make nice sharpening drills in themselves.

Production quality is excellent, well-lit, good sound, and she teaches with a back mirror so you can see what she's doing from several angles. Additional performances and a short interview with Michelle about the great 2004 New Year's Riot in India round out the extras. The whole dvd is about 90 minutes, and most of that is instruction/drill time.

Overall opinion -- Definitely worth the money, and this dvd will be going in the "watch and work with on a regular basis" shelf. I would recommend it to all intermediate/advanced students looking to sharpen their technique, or as a nice series of drills to complement the yoga-based drills in many Tribal Fusion dvds.

PLEASE NOTE: Aziyade has already written a great review about this *excellent* DVD, but I figured another one with a bit of a different viewpoint wouldn't hurt :)

Title: Pop, Lock, and Shimmy
Instructor: Michelle Joyce
Level: Intermediate and Advanced Belly dancers
Info: 95 minutes

Mystified by the nuances of the drum solo? Or are you looking for a DVD that will sharpen your pops and locks? Maybe you'd like a new choreography or are you seeking a new drill set to add to your regular practice schedule? Believe it or not, this DVD covers all these bases and more. Michelle Joyce has created a DVD that will suit a variety of tastes and still manage to be one that many intermediate and advanced level dancers can return to use again and again.

Here's a breakdown of the DVD:

"Warm up:" From the very first part of the video, viewers can tell that Michelle Joyce is not only a talented belly dancer but also an incredibly informed fitness professional. The warm up portion of the DVD consists of gentle stretches and movements designed to get your blood pumping. During this section, Michelle gives excellent pointers that will benefit anyone implementing a workout plan. From explaining each stretch and emphasizing proper technique to describing the benefits of holding the moves for a minimum of 10 seconds, there are a lot of little informational gems in even this first section.

After first stretching the entire body, the warm up moves into a section designed to review and drill one the main movements that will be featured in the DVD: hip bumps. Michelle continues the warm up by offering a drill section that covers both traveling and stationary hip bumps, as well as interesting ways to embellish the move and a unique and challenging portion designed to improve balance. As with the basic warm up, these movements are clearly defined and explained. Michelle does an excellent job of describing the muscles that are driving the movement and continues to do so throughout the video. The overall pace of the warm up is very comfortable. It is one that certainly prepares the body for what's to come but is not so exhausting that it will prevent viewers from continuing on with the DVD.

"Warm Up Drill:" The final part of the warm up is the "warm up drill." Designed to prepare viewers for the movements and overall attitude of a drum solo, this is a great opportunity to practice a drum solo drill set. First, the entire drill set is demonstrated without music. During the breakdown, Michelle continues to share the secrets of snappy locks and pops, explaining just which muscles to use and even describing how *not* to do many of the movements. Then Michelle adds music and the fun begins! There is literally about 3 to 5 minutes of combination drilling. No mere 30 seconds of demonstration here! Instead viewers can really have the opportunity to *practice* the drills along with Michelle and reap the benefits of following drills that incorporate dancing along with repetitively challenging the body.

"Combinations:" After the warm up, the DVD moves into the combinations section. In total there are 7 combinations on this DVD (but there's much more, too, including various shimmy drills and other sections of the choreography that are broken down but do not necessary rate as a full combination). Michelle has cleverly created combos that, on their own, provide viewers with excellent stand-alone drill sets. Each combination can be reviewed and refined in order to improve one's technique. Overall, the combinations are both interesting and challenging enough to keep one intrigued even if they're being used in the standard drill format of repeating the movements over and over and over. The combinations work incredibly well together, too - in addition to working as stand alone drill sets or they can be strung together for a full drum solo choreography (and, yes, that *is* covered later on the DVD!). Combinations are executed with counts and feature movements that include many hallmarks of a drum solo. Certainly the pops and locks the title implies are included as are a variety of layers. Another nice touch is Michelle's construction of combos that utilize a variety of body views and speeds.

Each combination is divided into three parts. First, Michelle demonstrates the combo and then explains the movements used in it. The breakdowns are clear and concise. As this is an intermediate to advanced level DVD, it is assumed that dancers have a knowledge of basic movements so Michelle does not take the time to describe how to do a shoulder shimmy or execute a maya. Instead, time is spent offering excellent suggestions on making sure the movements are properly executed in a sharp and crisp "drum soloesque" manner.

After the explanation, viewers have the opportunity to practice each combination at both a slow and fast pace. The slower paced drill time offers a wonderful chance to really refine and improve each movement. And the pacing is perfect - right along with the music yet not too speedy to overwhelm the viewer. The faster pace is, of course, more challenging than the slower section but it is set at a speed that is still manageable.

For those dancers seeking to simply practice the combinations in succession, there is a "Quick Index of Combinations" that allows one to flip in between the combos and practice them in succession without any breaks for title screens. In the "Nonstop Practice" section, one can also review the varying speeds without stopping for any breakdowns.

"Shimmy Drills:" This section was quite possibly my favorite. Here Michelle presents three unique drill sets, similar to the warm up drill, designed to really get your body moving! This is where the "shimmy" comes in - while many of the combinations included shimmies these drills really utilize a variety of different shimmies along with different layers. Both the types of shimmies used and the included layers are fairly complicated and will definitely challenge more experienced dancers. There are three drills in this section: a shimmy drill, a layering drill, and a shimmy and lock drill. As with the combinations, these drills are first demonstrated and then clearly explained. And then, of course, there's time to put what you've learned into practice!

"Choreography:" Michelle's drum solo is a really cute, sassy piece that is comprised of the 7 combinations featured on the DVD as well as the shimmy drill and several other movement transitions. The choreography section allows the viewer to preview the entire piece in small sections and then in the entire succession. Since the combinations have already been broken down, there is not a particular step-by-step breakdown of the combination in succession.

A performance off the DVD "By Dancers for Dancers Volume 2" is also included on this DVD. The first performance is lovely and simply classic. The second includes the absolutely smoking drum solo and is great to see performed in a full, dazzlingly beautiful costume.


What worked for me:
* The DVD was VERY clear and easy to see with great sound levels - overall excellent production quality.
* Michelle not only breaks down the movements but also seems to be very well versed in the anatomy and physiology behind each one. However, she does not use overly technical terms or go into too much depth but instead gives viewers enough information to understand what is happening without becoming overwhelmed with confusing jargon.
* I'm a huge fan of drills, and it was wonderful to see an instructor create something that would work as drills that was beyond simply repeating the same movement over and over again. So far, most of the DVDs that feature "drills" simply repeat movements (ie 100 hip bumps on the right. repeat.). While repetition is certainly beneficial, it can quickly become boring. Michelle's take on drills in her warm up - the idea of drilling a combination of movements rather than just one single movement - is a fresh new approach and great to see on an instructional DVD.
* The descriptions of what a "sloppy" movement would look like contrasted with a crisp one that would be appropriate for a drum solo. It was great to hear just what delineated the two and how to execute one versus the other.
* As Aziyade said in her review, this is a DVD that has so many useful components (from the actual full choreography to the drills to the combos which can also be drilled) that it will get a LOT of play in my practice routine. This is an incredibly well-rounded DVD and one that will benefit any dancer looking to improve their locks and pops (and, yes, that would be BOTH cabaret and tribal style dancers!).

What may not work for you:
* This is absolutely, positively a DVD for more experienced dancers. While some "intermediate-level" DVDs are actually quite easy, this one is definitely a challenge. This makes it incredibly fun and useful to dancers who've been shimmying for a while, but for newer dancers this is definitely a video to use once you've become familiar with a basic belly dance vocabulary.

I recently ordered this DVD, Pop, Lock & Shimmy & I just LOVE it. The moves, the drills and the music are FANTASTIC and ENERGIZING. The DVD is broken down into segments of the dance and then combos of the dance. Michelle patiently explains the short combo of moves first a couple of times and then performs the same short combo of moves to the drum solo music and then performs the same combo of moves faster to the drum solo music (if you prefer). There are PLENTY of REPETITION DRILLS for each move in the segments so you have plenty of practice. There is also a bonus presentation of Michelle in custom performing this drum solo.

I am an intermediate belly dancer and perform a couple of times a month @ various restaurants and the pop and lock combos along with different shimmies and layering moves Michelle teaches in this DVD are GREAT and a GOOD WORKOUT. The DVD is set up so that intermediate and advanced belly dancers are challenged and it is also INEXPENSIVE.

This DVD is a MUST have for all belly dancers because many of the detailed pop & lock movements she teaches are needed in performances and are a big part of belly dance that are NOT often taught in class. They are also fun to perform as a dancer and MESMERIZING for audiences. I DEFINITELY would add this DVD to my belly dance collection as one that you will use regularly.

A small review of the video Pop, Lock & Shimmy from Michelle Joyce of Cheeky Girls Productions.

The video is 80 minutes long with very little fluff. There is an extensive warm-up section, focused around rib and hip stretches and moves, then a small shimmy combo to get you moving. Next Michelle teaches 7 combos and a couple of shimmy drills. After that she shows you how to put them together in a choreo. The choreo is broken down into sections without a lot of explanation but the material has already been broken down in the combo sections. Then you see the whole choreo, once in workout clothes and then the pro version in full costume.

A real strength of this video is the chaptering and menus. She has things very well broken down so you can access just the parts you want to work on without a lot of flipping around looking for things. So whether you have ten minutes or an hour, you can design yourself a workout. She also has the main drills with instruction and then just with music.

The combos were cute and did help with the "how do I go from movements to a sequence" feeling. I feel like I've seen improvement in just the couple of times I've used the video. I can see myself using this one for awhile.

This was definitely an intermediate video, as advertised. She assumed you knew most of the moves and didn't waste a lot of time on explaining a basic hip drop. The material was oriented towards the cabaret and fusion dancer.

The production values were good. Michelle was shown in a mirrored studio, so you could see her from front and back. The melo-type pants and halftop showed her movements, including knees and feet well.

I couldn't really find anything to gripe about on this video! And it's an excellent value at $19.95.

These drills are actually drills. Sure, you learn a drum solo choreography, but the drills she uses to teach the choreography will make you a better dancer (while some DVDs dont' make you a better dancer, only teach you a choreography).

The production is good, the instruction clear, the information very useful. And the extras at the end are great.

She is a patient and friendly instructor who explains stuff very nicely.

This isn't just a DVd that you will watch once and throw away. It is very very useful and you can work with it for a long time and still improve. She really understands how to teach sharp isolation and to drill them too.

I found this DVD good for developing new choreography in drum solo technique as it introduced a strong selection of combinations applicable to many situations. There was no attempt to focus on rhythm training, the context of movements within the music or a more holistic approach to working with rhythms, naming rhythms and appropriate steps to popular rhythm changes found in drum solos or how these can be approached in general. Nevertheless the steps and combinations introduced would add to the repertoire of any dancer and the clarity and methodical nature of the teaching was thorough and effective.

Well, I own several belly dance dvd's and I will start off by saying I like this one. But, and it's a big one no leg feet visuals. Why of why can't instructors remember students need to see the feet and legs. Unless your stable throughout bellydancing (yeah right) instructors everywhere please show feet. Throughout the dvd Michele wears this pea green pants with ultra flares. To make matters worse she had a pea green background to match, ugh.

Alright, so enough venting here is my one to five rating. One fantastic and 5 Blah.

Price: 2 if you could see her feet it would be more than worth it
Choreography: 5 I thought she did really well very thorough
Visuals: 1 just horrible it ruined the whole dvd for me
Replayability: 5 if you can live without feet and figure out what her legs are doing this would be a keeper. THis is for inter. or advanced so perhaps that audience wouldn't care about feet placement. I have FyI over 14 bellydancing DVD"s I would not rate this a must have due to the visuals alone.

I love the choreography, perfect for the intermediate to advanced dancer, very suitable for performing in restaurants or at haflas. The choreography is presented as short combos with an explanation and then a drill for each combo, so its good for working out to as well. Great combos. Good instruction and excellent production. Overall very good value

I would like to add my voice to the number of positive reviews here! I purchased Pop, Lock, and Shimmy because one of my friends said it really helped her with her drum solo. There are several drum solo DVDs out there, most teaching a choreography like this one. However, this DVD is different and has a lot of replay value. I'll explain that comment.

The DVD, like most choreography DVDs, presents each combination half-time and then provides opportunities to practice it, both slow and then full-time. Then, it runs through all the combinations together, and then the choreography. After learning the combinations, you can get a quick 30 minute workout by doing the combination practice followed by the choreography runthrough. The DVD is set up such that it is very easy to do this just by choosing the chapter at which you want to start. I would much rather dance than get on a treadmill, so I was thrilled to have a DVD that covers both dance instruction and dance fitness! Of course, Michelle Joyce is a fitness professional as well as a dancer, so it only makes sense that she would be thinking of that angle as well.

This DVD could be a little challenging to a new dancer, but it's not incredibly complicated. Or maybe it's just the logical way in which Michelle explains her combinations. A new dancer could benefit in seeing how these combinations fit into the whole choreography.

This DVD will have a number of benefits on your dancing. It is a good practice for shimmies, hip bumps, and pelvic locks. The up-to-down and down-to-up undulation is also used, and in a sharp, locking manner. I still have trouble getting that sharp look to my movements, and sometimes I blame that on my body shape and composition. I do think that drilling with this DVD will help, because it challenges me to make normally smooth movements (undulations) into staccato and defined movements.

I love how this DVD is laid out - first a combination is explained, then drilled to slow music, then drilled to fast music. When you feel you've got the combo's down, there's a practice section consisting only of fast drilling. And once you're confident with that, Michelle puts the combo's together into a choreography. By working with this DVD, I went from deer-in-the-headlights at the thought of doing a drum solo, to feeling confident I could put together my own choreography or improv with a live drummer. Will definitely buy more of her DVDs.