Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Utterly Entertaining, August 20, 2005
As a booking agent and multi-cultural dance choreographer, I found this video a delight to watch. Most Mid East videos show an endless parade of similar dances and after a while, no matter how well they are performed, it becomes rather ho-hum. In this video there was a LOT of variety, the dancers were obviously friends, and everyone was having fun! My two favorites were skillful, classy Anisa (Bev Pogreba) who can sustain a shimmy backbend longer than anyone I've ever seen, and the beautiful black girl (don't know her name) who, among other things, performed a rock solid shimmy solo and hit every beat without breaking a sweat! All the dancers had rhythm, knew what they were doing, and weren't trying to impress anyone -- just a demonstration of various cultural dances for the fun of it! The order of the choreographies was right on, the content was fabulous, and that inner passion for the dances shined through. All in all, one of the best videos I've ever seen!
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
NOT the best of Middle Eastern dance, April 4, 2005
While this video does has many examples of not often seen folkloric styles, I just personally didn't like this video. The folkloric dances are well executed and performed by dancers who obviously understand the cultures and styles they are representing, but I found many of them rather contrived, over long and boring.
The opening Cabaret dancer - Kaya performs a drum solo and has some excellent isolations. If I practiced constantly for the next 5 years straight I don't think I could achieve that level of crisp isolation. I will say however, that I also found her cane dance to be too over the top for my taste. There's a fine line (in my opinion) between being sensual and or flirtatious and taking it too far, and as I watched her dancing, I felt she had just gone too far. It didn't look like a belly dance to me, it look like another kind of dance (one that usually involves a pole.) The other cabaret dancer wasn't as good.. She is beautiful and has an excellent physique but frankly I thought her costuming seemed to be contrived not to display her dancing skills, but rather to show off her physique. The costume for her drum solo - I felt - was all wrong. It left nothing to the imagination - and by that I mean that there are movements in a drum solo that are executed by the legs but seen in the hips. Her sheer skirt took away the mystery and illusion. Kind of like being able to see the wires when a magician does a levitation trick. Although she has good extension and obvious dance training, I didn't see much layering or combinations..
There are a few worthwhile sections to the tape - the double veil routine was wonderful, as ws the Indian dance There were also a few outtakes at the end of the tape - especially the ramp rampi that were delightful. The ironic thing is that there is a short clip of the same cane dancer performing a different cane dance and frankly I liked the outtake cane dance better and would have liked to have seen the entire dance.
However the overall flavor of the video to me seemed to be that this is a compilation of performances from workshop shows (for those of you who are not familiar with that term - bellydancers frequently hold and attend workshops where a well known teacher is hired to come in and teach various aspects of the art form. There is usually a show in the evening - usually featuring the better dancers who paid to attend the workshop and starring the teacher in a grande finale).
I gave this video one star because there was no lower score. Save your money - there are tons of GOOD dance videos out there showcasing talented dancers - this isn't one of them.
Note; ***As the other negative reviewer wrote, I too edited my review (on July 7, 2005,) after my personal contact information was also sought out online by someone affiliated with this video who did not like my earlier review. In an attempt to not be contacted again personally for writing a review at Amazon-I am editing my review to "elaborate" on my likes and dislikes of this video. My rating of 1 star, however, remains the same.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Comments on each dance performance in video, August 30, 2007
KAYA:
This was her first recorded dance performance (2001) before joining up with Sadie. Now they are a well-known Dance Duo with videos of their own. Kaya choreographed a very exciting and jazzy drum solo with well-defined technique and strong chest and hip pops. She is clearly a strong dancer and what I would refer to as All American, in the best sense of the word.
ANISA & BILLY WOODS:
Few folks know about Central Asian dance and Anisa displays Persian, Uzbek and Tajik style movements in a long, flowing dress. Billy Woods plays a Central Asian frame drum and follows her movements, then she follows his. Very elegant and classy.
EVA CERNIK:
Performs a lively solo debke with sword. Suited in harem type pantaloons and boots, Eva has great energy and knowledge of Middle Eastern music. Her sword work is also very impressive.
NAILA:
Performs a wonderful Cabaret Belly dance Sword dance. Naila shows a lot of fun in her personality and captures the audience's attention in taking her time with each movement and balance of the sword.
SIOVANA:
Performs a Kuwaiti folkloric dance with authentic technique (I have been to Kuwait and saw these same movements by men and women). She feels the music as if it's a part of her, like she grew up with it, which is unusual for western dancers. Very cool.
ADIBA:
This dancer is from Tajikstan and I heard received a scholarship in Ethnic Dance to attend a school in the U.S. Her dancing is natural and looks both trained and a natural talent. A similar costume to Anisa's but a heavier fabric and included the long braids and pillbox hat. Beautiful and feminine!
EVA CERNIK:
This was the longest dance in the video: a Solo Whirling Dervish dance. And it was interesting and captivating the whole time. It draws you in and is hypnotic. Eva must be truly spiritual to have the ability to do this whirling dance, which is also something rarely seen on videos as it is a spiritual dance not performed as entertainment. A must see!
HAND MAIDENS TROUPE & JOYNAN:
This performance seems like a simple troupe dance until the end, which I won't divulge so it can be a surprise. Well choreographed and a beautiful short solo by Joynan, teacher and choreographer of the Hand Maidens of Isis troupe. Great job!
ROOSHANA:
A nice traditional Candelabrum dance by Rooshana in a gorgeous metallic-looking Gold costume: Straight skirt and vest with long bell-sleeves. This dance is often performed at weddings in Egypt and is also known as Shamadan.
SHOBANA:
Perhaps one of the best classical Indian dances I've ever seen. I don't know the name of the type of dance this is but it is from Southern India. Every movement was perfect in timing and execution. Beautiful costume and complex music, which was performed live.
KAYA:
Performs a cane dance in her own American style: Sexy to be sure, but again, great technique and well choreographed. Guys will love this one!
SIOVANA:
Wearing a beautiful yellow costume, Siovana performs an exciting drum solo and plays great zills. She owns this dance!
NAILA & BILLY WOODS:
A fun and traditional Tunisian Pot dance by Naila and live drumming from Billy, this time on a large drum, similar to a marching drum. Naila has a fun costume on with many layers of great colors. She is truly a fun performer as she plays up to the audience so well.
EVA & PAUL KLITE:
Eva wears an Eastern European attire in this performance: Short skirt and vest to resemble a gypsy type of costume and Paul follows her with solo violin music. A playful piece that shows improvisation from both performers.
ANISA:
She performs a Cabaret Drum Solo in a colorful harem pant and vest costume. Anisa's dance includes great zar movements and a shimmy backbend.
EVA CERNIK:
Performs a Khaleegy Dance and, once again, portrays authentic and traditional movements to a nice version of "Layla, Layla." Her long red hair is great for this piece as she sways it side to side to the music.
HIGHLIGHTS:
It's easy to miss the highlights, but don't! INcludes more dances of India, Tunisia and Cabaret belly dance by Rooshana, Naila and more.
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