I'm looking for dvds that focus on the following topics:

-dancing with sword
-veils (single and/or double)
-learning (cabaret) floorwork (maybe even some yoga for the belly dancer if that would help with the flexibility)
-candle
-feather fans
-poi

I'm also interested in the concept of putting types of gymnastic moves with bellydance, although I don't expect to master that based solely on dvds hehe But some sort of introduction would be nice

Most of these are just to learn for the sake of learning so I don't really care if the dvds are just solely technique or meant to be used for workout--as long as it does what it's supposed to do.

What are your guys' faves & recommendations??
posted by:
Zana
offline Zana
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  • Carol
    Carol
    offline 44

    Re: any suggestions for the following?

    Tue, July 8, 2008 - 8:00 PM
    There is a very good fan veil DVD by Mahsati Janan. She has a video clip on YouTube that samples the DVD. I think her website is www.mahsati-janan.com.

    There is also a good Isis wings DVD by Ayshe at www.wingsofayshe.com. I'm not sure if there are clips of that anywhere as I have had it for a while and just don't remember how I found it.

    As they said above, Michelle Joyce has a lot of good DVDs. I liked the Sarah Skinner veil one as well. Petite Jamilla has a double veil DVD that I purchased recently. However, I was disappointed by the skimpiness of the actual double veil movements. She spent a lot of the video on warmup, cool down, and turn technique. All of those are important, but not on a DVD that is supposed to focus on double veil.
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  • Zafira
    Zafira
    offline 51

    Re: any suggestions for the following?

    Sun, July 13, 2008 - 9:35 AM
    "Mezdulene's Balancing Act" was chock full of sword information. Don't know if she ever put it out on DVD or not, I have the video.
    I think that the is the editor or publisher of Jareeda Magazine.
    You should be able to google her.
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  • Shira
    Shira
    offline 400

    Re: any suggestions for the following?

    Thu, July 24, 2008 - 9:37 AM
    There are reviews on my web site for some videos in these categories. See www.shira.net/videocenter-instruct.htm which organizes the reviews by category.

    For floor work instruction, I recommend Anaheed's video, which is produced and sold by IAMED at www.bellydance.org . There's a review at the above link. If you already know floor work basics and want some exercise/drills to build strength and flexibility, I recommend Tanna's Bellydance for Body Shaping: Floor Work video, which is reviewed at www.shira.net/videocenter-alphaf.htm

    For sword, my favorite of the ones I've seen is Princess Farhana's. See the link at the top of this message for a review. That one also covers shamadan (candelabrum), so I don't know if that's the style of candle you had in mind or not, but it's on there.

    For veils, it kind of depends on what style of veil work you like. I like the single veil videos by Amaya and Dunia. I don't recommend Petite Jamila's double veil.
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    • Zana
      Zana
      offline 38

      Re: any suggestions for the following?

      Thu, July 24, 2008 - 11:16 AM
      wow was Jamilla's dvd that bad? (I haven't seen it yet but I was just about to buy it though). What was wrong with it?
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      • Shira
        Shira
        offline 400

        Re: any suggestions for the following?

        Mon, July 28, 2008 - 9:47 AM
        I'm referring to a DVD that Petite Jamila released around 2004 or so. I think it was called Petite Jamila Tells Secrets of the Double Veil.

        The "instruction" was poorly presented. It would show her going into a veil effect while spinning at full speed while voiceover said what to do. Then it would keep re-showing the same video footage in blurry slow motion. There was no attempt to show how to put multiple veil effects together into combinations, nor how to transition from one to another. The instruction was short, and a big chunk of time was taken up with a "how to meditate" section that had nothing to do with how to do double veil.

        The performance segment gave me a headache - too many artsy-fartsy special effects preventing the viewer from seeing the actual dance. Stuff like superimposing one camera angle over another so that both end up blurry and impossible to discern what the heck she is doing. If anybody who had worked with the instruction was hoping the performance would show how to put it all together, they'd be disappointed.

        I haven't seen the new one.
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  • Re: any suggestions for the following?

    Sat, August 23, 2008 - 8:22 AM
    Meleea at beledi.com has several dvds available - they are not "professional productions" as they are shot at a home studio. But they do have good content.
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    • Nicole
      Nicole
      offline 79

      Re: any suggestions for the following?

      Sat, August 23, 2008 - 10:26 PM
      For poi, there is a great set of instructions on you tube by Nathaniel Everist. Nick Woosey's tutorials are also exceptional, but assume a certain degree of competency.

      If you're just starting out, I recommend checking out Nathaniel, or the Pele's Element DVD (it's a great introduction.) Mind you, these are not veil poi, but if that's what you want to do and you already have a basic grasp of dancing with a veil, then I understand it's pretty easy to put two and two together, though I've only fooled with one for about 5 minutes.

      Good luck! :)
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