Search - Belly Dance Party: Bellydance combinations you can learn tonight! on DVD

Katie M. from SUFFOLK, VA
Reviewed on 1/17/2009...

10 fun belly dance combinations- easy to learn, easy to teach to a group of firneds, great as a basis for a "belly dance contest" at a party!

Detailed breakdown of the dance moves
Practice in 3 temps with instructor (concurrent front and back views)

If you are not yet familiar with belly dance, this program will introduce you to the belly dance vocabulary, and it is a great mini exercise routine.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Real dancing, real fast

gloria19 | New York, NY | 07/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This DVD goes with the two other Neon DVDs from her "Instant Belly Dancer" set, "Curves" and "Hipwork Plus". It uses the same teaching method and visuals, the geometric shapes that follow "trajectories" of bellydance movements. Unlike the "Instant Belly Dancer" DVDs, geometric illustrations are given only for more difficult movements. What I like most about this DVD is that the cute "Belly Dance Party" routine consists of 10 separate mini-dances that are particularly easy to learn and show to others. The whole idea of the DVD is not only teach you the dances, but to enable you to teach your friends how to do these dances too, instantly. To test out this idea I actually took the two easiest (for me) combinations (they all look really sexy and impressive), learned them the best I could on a Sunday morning, and just went out and started dancing them at my girlfriend's wedding reception that same afternoon. You can dance them to any music. It absolutely worked: I ended up teaching the same moves to all the women at the reception including grandmothers. The "instant gratification" aspect is real. Neon teaches real dancing, real fast. If you are a fan of the Instant Belly Dancer DVDs, this one is for you."

Great Building Blocks-Great Production!

Jill Fazio | Nashville, TN | 10/13/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What is different and wonderful about this DVD is the way it is set up. Most DVDs take you through a main choreography, or a series of movements without drilling the way that the movements connect. I was happy to see the building block system, since that is how I teach beginning classes.

The DVD is divided into ten different mini-routines, which can be quickly learned by beginners (there are some intermediate movements, but they can be easily substituted). There is also a practice section, where you get to dance along with Neon as she goes through each mini-routine, at three different paces. This is a DVD that won't get dusty on your shelf!

Neon's teaching style is also very explicit and easy to follow. She mentions both the way to properly execute the move, and also which muscles to focus for maximum effect. The production is wonderful here! The lighting is clear and bright, and handy diagrams are placed over each move to show direction! Fabulous!

Neon is also one of the most fluid dancers I have seen in some time, and there is a lovely section where you can sit back watch her dance with a balanced tray of flowers. I didn't even mind the swirly background, it seemed to work somehow--I'm sure this is a credit to the editing."

Neon makes it easy!

Alejandra Vernon | Long Beach, California | 11/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Belly Dance Party" is a fantastic way to learn the basics of belly dancing, with Neon giving precise and clear instruction, as she demonstrates in this well produced DVD. She stands before a completely black background, so one can perfectly see every move, and one is also aided by the occasional graphic in the form of circles and arrows. Neon is an exquisite dancer, with a sculpted figure, incredible grace, and a technique that is a marvel. Born in Moscow, Neon speaks with a softly Russian accented English, and has a very pleasing voice, which adds to the overall enjoyment of learning to belly dance with this DVD.

The Combinations:
Neon gives us 10 combinations to learn, which we can learn individually or sequentially, and the choreography is well balanced and uses the entire body, so that no single part gets overly tired, unlike some belly dance instruction DVDs I have tried by other teachers. One can learn these combinations alone or in a group, and they can also be a marvelous body workout. The total time for this instruction is approximately 63 minutes.

The Practice: There are 3 speeds one can practice the combinations in, and in this section, Neon dances with us facing front as well as back, which is very helpful. This section runs in a loop, so you can practice for as long as you like without needing the remote control to replay it.

Extras: "Welcome," where Neon talks about the combinations, the various ways you can learn them, and what belly dancing can do for your life, by increasing your coordination, and much more. "The Arrival," where Neon shows her artistry in a number where she dances with a tray of lit candles on her head. Her body control and liquid movements in this piece are amazing, and to see more of Neon in this type of dance, watch her "Stellar Body" DVD.

There are many reasons to try belly dancing; it is fun, and it's great exercise. It is also remarkably adaptable: One can do it in anything from jeans and a T, to one of those sparkly, sensual costumes the pros use, and also barefoot, or in high heels. It takes very little room to do, so if you're in a small apartment, you won't have to move all the furniture to practice your movements, and it will also work with any type of music that has a steady beat. A really nice thing is that belly dancing looks good on those of us who have more than 2% body fat, and is a terrific form of exercise that plus size gals can shine in.
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