Customer Reviews

Rania's Exotic Belly Dance Workout [VHS]

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

 

 

This is a great video, it has a lot to offer, like a library that I keep going back to for reference. The warm up is actually a beginner bellydance class that took me some rewinding and replaying to get through. When I was more confident, I moved onto learning the combinations, which I think is more like an intermediate or advanced class. You learn three combinations and repeat them enough to be comfortable with them, then put them all together for the last song. I was definitely sweating by the second combination, and I am in good shape. (Even Rania was breathing heavy at points in the routine.) The music in this video is very danceable. Sometimes I put in the video and do one song before I go to work. My dancing has definitely gotten better. Rania's performance at the end was really good, particularly the drum solo.

As a fellow belly dancer, I love Rania. BUT, this video was not worth the money. She does a drum solo at the end, that is actually Jillina's (If you want to see a pro - get Jillina's DVD set). Her performances are much better at the end of her (fitness)other videos. There is, however, a great tummy section, and she does break down some of the moves well. I just don't think it was worth the $35.00 I paid for it.

I enjoyed this video, though I've paid alot less for her other videos that had the same material, just different outfits and background.
This is a perfect video for dancers/exercisers looking for something a slightly different from their regular routine. As a bellydancer, I would place its level at Advanced Beginners or Beginning Intermediates - for those who can really adapt to combinations and sequences without it being to challenging.
This video will probably bring your heart rate up for a slight cardiovascular workout, and most people, I believe, will enjoy the workout.
I do think that it was too pricey, but I was buying it for instructional purposes. It is perfect for those wanting a unique routine that may be integrated into any other exercise routine.
I think the location and sound were perfect.

I thought this video has a lot to offer for a beginner like me. It had more information than some of the other bellydance workouts on the market. I learned a good variety of steps and got a good workout. I liked the fact that the steps were taught separately in the beginning, then the workout was just pure dancing. I really enjoyed the performance at the end.

I honestly do not understand the negative reviews; I guess every one has their own taste when it comes to dancing. I think if you are a beginner like myself, you will learn a lot of moves and techniques and get a great cardio workout.

I did not give it 5 stars because by trade I am a video editor, and I was not crazy about the editing, but that's just me.

I was very happy with this video. It delivers everything it advertises: good basic techniques, combinations and traveling steps, and a short dance routine which I admit had me huffing and puffing as far as workout goes. And the performance is graceful and tasteful. I don't usually write reviews but I read the one from the woman who said that Rania's dancing was stiff, It doesn't make sense, Rania's dancing was lovely and very fluid. I think people just have different expectations. By the way I am Egyptian and my mother was bellydancer, I know what I am talking about. Enjoy this video.

O.K., yes, Rania is generally an annoying instructor and her dancing can be stiff at times, BUT if you can look past that and just concentrate on doing the workout, it really is a lot of fun. Her workout videos are some of my favorites because of the way that she creates a cardio workout sequence that is fun to do and keeps you moving. And if you have seen her Natural Journeys video series, I can tell you that her most annoying qualities in those videos (her slack-jawed expression while staring at herself in the monitor alternating with looking like an adult film star) are actually toned down quite a bit in this one. If I had seen this video first, I wouldn't have found her nearly so annoying. This video is also a little longer and is more of a workout than the 30-minute Natural Journeys videos, which I think is a good thing. Though the quality is amateurish, that doesn't take away from the workout itself. The setting is a beautiful walled garden and I really like the almost disco-style dance music. The video is a bit pricey, but I think those who take a casual approach to bellydance and just want to have fun and try something different will enjoy it.

I liked this video, especially the workout part, because I enjoyed the style of putting combinations together and actually dancing while working out. The music is very good also. The reason I didn't give it five stars is that, as a beginner, I felt that Rania maybe was under budget or time constraints, but she was trying to fit too much instruction into the warm up. I had to rewind several times to learn the travelling steps. Once I got past the warm up, I really enjoyed the workout, and eventually could do it without looking. The Step-Twist move is great for the waistline.

I can't believe *I* spent money on this! One of the worst belly-dance videos I've seen, and I've seen quite a few. Rania is stiff. No flow there. Her background dancers always seem to be better than she is. And who filmed this one for her? Her husband? The camera moves back and forth and in and out at such a rate near the end that I became seasick. Plus, how is anyone going to learn the steps if the camera is constantly focussed on her enhanced breasts? I was very diappointed in this video and found it unusable and a total waste of money. If you want better instruction and better quality better to go with Dolphina, the twins, or Suzanna del Vecchio's tapes.

Unfortunately I bought a package deal containing nearly all of her videos. She is stiff and I found myself watching her background dancers who portray by far better dancing abilities the she does. I was surprised as she has won awards yet the dancing I see is not the style of dance that I classify as belly dance, let alone what I know she is capable of. If she were to package it as aerobics and leave out the "belly dancing" it would be more accurate. Yes it will get you sweating and give you a nice little workout but there is little fluidity in her 'dance'. It is misleading to think you will actually learn anything from her....although the background dancers...hmmmm...watch them and you may find yourself at least learning a little. I'll stick to Delilah, Atea, and others whom know how to really dance as well as teach.

You might want to second-think carrying this video or any others by this woman...she is beautiful and sexy, but her dancing is laughable...which I would have done, except
I actually paid money for this video. This is one of the worst instructional videos I have EVER seen! Two of the background dancers are MUCH better than the "instructor".
The Veena & Neena videos are high quality with only a couple of questionable techniques...the "Goddess" instructor is a yoga person who took a few bellydance lessons...she sucks at bellydance. The Rania videos are a rip-off to the dance community. Even if I knew nothing at all about bellydance (I've been bellydancing for 25 years),I still would have been horrified by the stiff jerkiness of this woman's dancing. She has no business passing herself off as an instructor.