Product Details

• Actors: Leilainia
• Directors: James Wvinner
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Acacia
• DVD Release Date: March 23, 2010
• Run Time: 57 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002VJVCO6
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #74,132 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Burn calories and gain muscle tone for a sleek, slim physique

Elegant, sensual, and graceful, belly dance is an ancient form of artistic expression--and a fun way to a great physique. Lose weight and tone from head to toe as you build core strength, coordination, and muscle definition.

Led by Leilainia, a second-generation dancer who has been performing all her life, this program provides the ideal introduction to a unique dance style. Learn the basics from the tutorial, then try one or all three of the 15-minute dance combinations. Pick from a high-energy routine for major calorie burn; a total-body toning segment; and a flirty fusion of modern and traditional moves.

From shimmies to snake arms, these exciting moves work the quads, glutes, arms, and back--and create an incredible midsection. You’ll feel strong, sexy, and powerful as you burn fat and get fit. Embrace your own style, have fun, and start slimming down today!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars not for beginners - or anyone else for that matter, June 18, 2010

By 

Farah (Davy Jones' Locker) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Step By Step Bellydance (DVD)

Lovely dancer + beautiful set = terrible bellydance dvd

First let me state that I have been belly dancing since 2004 (working extensively with live instructors as well as dvds) and do not considered myself a bellydance expert by any stretch of the imagination. That said, over the past years of my dance journey I have come to realize good instruction from bad.

I have an extensive collection of bellydance dvds - some good, some great and some just downright horrible. Unfortunately, "Step By Step" bellydance falls into the last category. After watching this (in it's entirety) on a local fitness channel and being left totally agast at what I saw, I determined that this dvd would NEVER make it into my collection - even if someone gave it to me.

One thing is for sure, this dvd is definitely NOT for beginners (or anyone else) since the moves are presented at such a break neck pace as to be completely dangerous to joints and muscles. Worst of all, Leilainia jumps at light speed from one move to the next with no sensible transitions. Again, risking injury to anyone trying desperately to follow the "bouncing butt".

Leilainia's wildly variating posture, jerky transitions, strange/unattractive arm positions and overall poor execution of moves make her appear as if she is barely above beginner level herself - despite the fact that Leilainia is professional bellydancer and a member of the "The Shimmy Sisters" duo. The instruction is scant at best and inaccurate at worst. Even the dance routines by Leilainia are remiscent of those you would see at a beginner recital i.e. - too much going on at a disjointed, frantic pace. If I went to a live class and the instructor moved/taught this poorly I would never return to that class again.

I'm sorry if I offened any anyone who liked this dvd because they believed that it offered good beginner instruction. I urge anyone wishing to explore bellydance to check out the many titles offered by World Dance New York and Cheeky Girls Productions. Both companies have many, many quality, inexpensive beginning instructional dvds available that will teach you how to execute bellydance moves CORRECTLY without risking serious injury.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Beginners need not try, June 17, 2010

By 

Virginia Mercurio (Halfmoon, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Step By Step Bellydance (DVD)

I thought this would be a great addition to my (admittedly very small) collection of belly dance DVDs. I'm an absolute beginner with absolutely no dance experience. Boy was I wrong. Have I mentioned that I'm an absolute beginner with no dance experience under my belt?

There are a few pros to this DVD though. The music is great, and Leilainia is obviously enthusiastic about dancing. She seems to be having a heck of a lot of fun and is plenty encouraging. Leilainia is certainly very engaging and made me want to try, but I just couldn't. Remember when I said I was an absolute beginner? I need a slower pace so I can get it all.

I wanted to like this DVD, honest. But I think this one is geared more toward people who have some sort of dance experience behind them, and want to branch out into bellydance. Not for people like me who have never taken a dance class in their lives.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dancers, break out your guns, March 25, 2010

By 

T. D. Dunn (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Step By Step Bellydance (DVD)

To start off, I have been belly dancing for about two years, and have taken classes for nine months. I'm not exactly a beginner, but I'm not a professional, either. In general, I find most belly dance DVDs to be instruction that someone did in their basement and charge a pretty penny for you to buy it. I stick to following "Shimmy" or the belly dance episode on "All Star Workouts" on FitTV. When I saw that Acacia was offering this DVD, I was excited. I already have Hemalayaa: Bollywood Dance Workouts, Hoopnotica Hoopdance Beginning Level 1 and Shiva Rea - Fluid Power - Vinyasa Flow Yoga, and liked them a lot. So it seemed like a good idea to get it.

Here's my breakdown of the 57 minutes of instruction:
1) Tutorial: It's brief, but it familiarizes you of the basic moves and terminology Leilainia uses throughout the whole workout. It also emphasizes posture and how to place weigh your weight on your feet properly.
2) Warm Up: Again brief but helpful. The multitasking moves, like seated forward bends while crossing your wrists, are nice and you get prepared for the workout. I highly recommend you does this before trying out the rest of the DVD.
3) Workout 1: Get ready to go fast. This segment is heavy on the cardio, and if you skipped the tutorial on your first try, you will get lost after three minutes. It deals with the basic moves uptempo with hip pistons, turns and shimmies layered with arm frames. I wasn't really out of breath after the 16.5-minute workout (it lists it as 15 minutes), but it was faster than what I'm used to.
4) Workout 2: Dancers, break out your guns. This segment, Toning Angels, emphasizes the torso, hips and thighs. Leilainia laces three combinations featuring chest pops, hip lifts and hops. The moves are a cross between the Charlie's Angels poster (yeah, you break out the imaginary guns as a hand position) and the Bangles' "Walk Like an Egyptian" video. I felt silly at first during this segment, especially during the Egyptian arms part. But all three combos work well together, and I could tell that my thighs were getting a workout. Of the three workout segments, this has the best choreography. The counts and movements fall in line, and I find myself continuing the moves even when the segment ends.
5) Workout 3: This is probably my least favorite. It introduces the grapevine, and you will repeat it a billion times. If you have never learned the grapevine, then this segment is for you. Leilaina keeps it interesting by layering shoulder lifts, hip pops and a turn-and-shimmy move, but for the experienced dancer, you may start rolling your eyes after the fifth attempt. The second half of the routine returns to a basic move from the first segment. If you want to start out slowly or just need a routine that burns calories after a long day at work, try this one.
6) Cool down: Like the warm up, it's brief and multilayered. Yet, there are so many belly dance instruction videos that do not include a cool down, so I was glad to see it here.

The DVD is designed for a 30-minute workout by picking one workout with a warm up and cool down, or you can do all three. I do all three, but by the time I get to the third segment, the fun wears itself off with the repetitive grapevine.

PROS: Great production values (not basement home video work), energetic instructor, multilayered moves that are not included in most beginner belly dance DVDs, fast pace workout, great background music, Toning Angels segment, bonus features.
CONS: Arm moves are sloppy for my taste, no figure-8s or hip circles (essential belly dance moves), grapevine.

Given the market for belly dance DVDs, this is one of the better ones. I definitely see myself using this again. Leilainia is highly entertaining, and she looks like she's having as much fun as you are in the workout.