With her new video, Autumn Ward aimed to bring in the sophistication of the dance from the foundational level. Her objective has made this video different from most other basics videos, which focus on giving the beginner the full repertoire of moves.
The sophistication objective also means that this video is very “talky’. You don’t just start dancing from minute one. That’s both good and bad. Absolute beginners won’t have the patience because they don’t yet care deeply enough. On the other hand, if someone is serious enough about wanting to learn belly dancing in all its elegance, perhaps to get to performance level, then the instruction here will help build clean technique. That means detail detail detail. Even without doing a full-ish repertoire of moves, this video is long. If moves such as the one-hip circle, vertical eights, upper body moves and more had been included, this would have had to be a double disc set. Not a bad thought, in my opinion.
So really, the focus is on form here. Every aspect of form rather than every move known to bellykind.
And so we begin with a Foundation section, probably the most important on the video. Most instructional videos will take a moment to explain correct posture. Not so here. We go through complete head-to-toe guidance including the alignment of the hands and arms, feet and legs, the orientation of the whole body, balance and weight, overall stance and alignment and breath and flow.
`What Autumn does is to explain the rationale behind each concept, demonstrate how it works, how to do it, how not to do it and she also gives you a practical exercise to check or practice. I have rather weak ankles and dreadful balance, and found her advice on how to ensure you place your feet properly and how to improve balance really useful.
My own way of working with this section would be a) bring it into the regular warm up I do and b) sometimes work through any one part of the section and immediately implement it in the dancing I choose to do after that. For instance, I worked with the feet placement aspect and then when I did a round of Bellydance Rhythms, I paid deliberate attention to the placement of the feet all through. This makes the moves come out more confidently, I must say.
The Foundation section is really like an enhanced lecture. Learners may find it tedious all at one go unless they’re dead serious. Breaking up working with it might make it easier. See, implement, come back and check.
The Arms segment is also foundational, which is perhaps why it follow next. It’s still within the explaining and demo’ing portion of this video. Here, Autumn goes through some basic arm positions, variations, and technique. She basic technique and broken line technique. Autumn actually uses her arms a lot and very prominently and this contributes a lot to the energetic and fully-present feel of her dancing, in my opinion. It’s my belief that following her tips here could make all the difference to how lifted and elegant you could look. The focus is more on energy and stength and how to use it rather than on giving lots of different arm paths and styles. So, for those looking for a mini encylopedia of arm and hand moves to pick from – this is not it. Rather, it’s information and demos on how to get the simplest positions look elegant and dancerly.
We get to another big section now: Building Blocks. This section opens up with a big menu of its own. The description of what is taken up is different from what you’ll typically see. There’s “Full Shift Side” which we also know as a large vertical slide. There’s side to side tilts, lengthen forward and back (forward and back slide), isolated shift side, and released shift back. Yes, you’ll find these on most other basics videos but Autumn takes these up in greater detail, changing weight and urging you to pay attention to certain aspects of form. So again, it’s for those who want a lot of finesse but perhaps not for those who would rather just get on with it without so much depth.
The building blocks are now taken to the next level. Tilts, shimmies and drops, 8s and circles, forward hips, undulations and twist-and-shift are all taight in detail, with each of these having its own menu of further broken down secitons. Many of the movements are advanced. The weighted drop, for example, is something you won’t often see on an absolute basics video. Also double drops, off-center circle, forward hips, and many variaitons on undulations. The basic undulation is taught with great care in what is the longest explanation I’ve ever seen before. I’m definitely going to correct and align my basic unduation with this section. But no reverse undulation has been taken up. I really would have liked that.
The Twist-and-Shift section is also, I believe, a fairly advanced move and difficult for a beginner to do cleanly. The basic twist-and-shift is taken up in three variations.
It’s here that we actually get into the do-along phase. Autumn explains her approach, and then gets into a medium-length warm up. It’s more of a warm up than a conditioning program like Asharah’s. There are many moves I’ve worked on with Sera’s East Coast Tribal, though it’s a shorter warm up on this video.
There’s an Arms flow and warm up now. You need to know what’s in the previous arms technique section to work along with this one. This isn’t a reetitive drill but a flow, so you need to be familiar with the seauence to keep pace. I’m not very good with flows that involve quick-changing instructions so I would need to watch many times before I can do exactly what she’s doing at the same time. The section will help improve transitions but you have to be nice and alert to catch the nuancing.Don’t forget to also follow the gaze.
Practice time! The practice flow section has seven little flows of about five minutes each. These are not dance-ready combinations though they do involve coordinating witht he msuic. These do increase in difficulty level as they go up to the more complex moves. While the first flow-bit is easy enough for me, the rest need to be carefully done if this beautiful form is to be maintained. When I tried it, I too wore a bra and hip scarf, as Autumn’s suggested, and this definitely helped me see if the move and stance was turning out neatly or not. Each of these flow-bits is to a different piece of music. You can choose to do the entire set of seven with music and no voice cues.
The choreography is meant to see the movements taught in context; technique transforms into dance with the music of Solace – Azure from Iman. I must admit though that I’m not very fond of this piece of music. It’s too peaceful for me. This is a full-fledged choreography and it isn’t broken down a lot. You will get voice cues for moes that have the moves. You dance to both melody and rhythm. There are patterns in the choreography. The focus is on what Autumn refers to as stylistic integrity. This will be difficult for an absolute beginner to follow because choreography learning skills will not have developed. But otherwise, it’s not overdanced or brimming over with gimmicks – it’s clean and simple – which means it must be done with perfect technique to be worth looking at.
Again, you can choose a music-only option.
Autumn performs the choreography in costume and also another Autumn-style passionate performance on this video.
Autumn has an entire guide to this video. Links to excerpts:
http://autumnward.com/blog/?p=26
http://autumnward.com/blog/?p=41
http://autumnward.com/blog/?p=53
Hi Mala,
I got my dvd and booklet in the mail from Autumn today. (I bought from her website, got both including shipping for around $17. I think… I’ve watched the entire tutorial section, read a few pages of the booklet, and started the first flow section. It was about 15 minutes into that the school bus arrived, and my teen age sons came in and ewwed me so I quit. I look forward to getting acquainted with the program soon.
Wow Mala,
You’ve really outdone yourself with this review. This sounds like a must have in any dancers library.
It’s a biggie. Clearly, she has a lot to teach and not enough space to do it in! I get the feeling she could break it down further and further. Whew.
Yes, I do think it’s a good video for all dancers to have. If you’re a half-serious beginner, use it in combination with other basics videos to take little bits out of it and polish the basics as you learn. If you’ve moved way beyond beginner, the program will make better sense and you’ll be able to understand and make corrections. I began to enjoy the look of my circles and slides while working with this video, though I’m not yet on an all-out study with it. I need to finish some of my pending things.
One thing I’m enjoying doing is the hip tilt – or what we’ve called vertical hip slides, piston hips? Trying the totally unweighted one is so much fun because it looks juicy and different. And I like combining it with weighted ones.
hmmm Mala this is a great review of what seems to be an outstanding dvd!!
My copy arrived super soon, just a couple of days after the release. Unfortunately it was damaged, but Autumn was fantastic in immediately sending an exchange copy without me having to send back the damaged copy first.
Now I can’t wait for it to arrive
That’s a great review, Mala. I haven’t finished watching it yet, but (having watched the Foundations and Arms sections and skimmed the Building Blocks), I’d say that there is gold in this DVD, but you really have to mine for it.
I think Autumn or WDNY have done themselves a disservice by giving it a title that implies it’s a beginner-level video. Not only will most beginners not have the patience to absorb the (huge amount of) detail and wisdom in this video, but most also won’t have the context/experience for it. Many of the concepts that Autumn introduces (in terms of line, muscle engagement, etc.) won’t make a lot of sense unless you have previous experience with belly dance at an advanced beginner level, or, at very least, experience in another dance form.
Many of the (incredibly powerful and subtle details) are also easy to miss. Many are introduced in one or two sentences without enough examples and drills to help cement the concepts. (They may come into play in the flows, which I haven’t watched closely, but by then, are they likely to be remembered?) Autumn mentions that she uses the same method in her classes, but I suspect her students have months of classes to absorb this information.
This DVD has a lot to share, but I think that it would be shared more effectively in a longer program with more drilling. Even if it were a 3- or 4-volume set, it would be well worth the money.
Intermediate through professional dancers looking to add polish, however, will get a LOT out of this, although it may take watching, rewatching, and more rewatching to absorb everything that’s thrown at you.
And, in all of that, I completely forgot to mention that she approaches this with an analytical approach after my own heart.
That’s true – A beginner can take something from it, but a knowledgeable learner can make something of it. And she IS nalytical in the way that you are! Very clear-thinking and systematic. Take a look at the guide excerpts, if you don’t have that.
I hope Autumn WILL do more levels!!
She s kind of announced it in Mala s interview for later, and also in the booklet she suggests what might be left for future volumes..
NEON PLEASE MORE AUTUMN!!
I think if we want to help them we should absolutely spread the word everywhere, especially at Amazon, that more advanced dancers should not shy away from this because of the title.
As for her pupils have months to absorb: We actually have that too with our dvd
I think this is one dvd I would recommend to every serious student, even if she was taking 6 classes a week, simply because it’s a great reference guide. Can’t wait for more of Autumn’s dvds!
Ya for sure right.. maybe in one and a half years or even longer than that we can hope for a new one
awe, but the hands and arms one I d love to have ASAP!!!
What?? Have you exhausted this one already? It’s got plenty of instruction for arms, alignment, position and so on. Then watch performances of her to see how she puts her the concepts into practice.
It sounds good, did you get the booklet too, Mala? I’m wondering if it’s worth ordering direct from Autumn to get this, the (worldwide) shipping is soo much more than Amazon though.
It sounds like a great dvd either way, I’m definitely going to put it on my list. As a fellow analytical dancer I’m sure it will be just my cup of tea. There have been a few WDNY dvds recently that have had beginner-ish titles, but turned out to be multi-level, and I agree, they are doing themselves a disservice.
HiRuth!
Autumn calls her guide a user’s manual to the video. She documents every move there – sort of like choreography notes. It isn’t like you can’t use the video without the manual – the guide just puts everything down for clarity and gives additional tips and advice on some things.
I’d say base your decision on the type of learner you are. If you really like referring to notes and very analytical – you might want to consider buying direct and getting the guide. It’s not a tiny booklet. I have an unbound version which Autumn sent me on loose A4 size pages. But the actual one is different, I think.
I’m in the strange category of person who feels insecure not having the guide and yet I don’t really end up using them. If you’re a knowledgeable dancer – and I know you are – you will probably be able to see well wht she’s doing and make the most of it quite easily.
Noooo I have not exhausted this one yet because I have not yet received my replacement copy (my dvd had a defect, it would not play properly)…
I just realize Autumn said in your interview she planned on doing one for hands and arms, that s what caught my attention.
You re right, I ll need to see this one first
Oh yes, that’s me too! Aw, it’s a tough one, because if I don’t get it I’ll always have that nagging feeling that I’ve missed out on an important part. And if I do get it, it’ll end up under a huge pile of stuff on my desk, never to be seen again.
Anyway I’ll need to hold off until I get paid next, so I’ve got a bit more time to make this MASSIVE decision.
Even though I’m ‘trying’ to be a lot more selective I still keep buying dvd’s, so I already have a lot to work with. But this is another one I definitely need. LOL!
Well… whenever that is, looks like you’re getting it directly from her!
WOOOW
WOOOW
WOOOOW!!
I received my copy yesterday – should be reading and writing, but cannot resist watching Autumn’s dvd.
I’ve watched the foundational chapters of balance and arms – BEAUTIFUL! AMAZING!
A revelation for someone with no ballet nor jazz nor any other dance instructional background!
This dvd is a must-have for anyone interested in becoming graceful in movement I’d say.
Absolutely right Mala, I just ordered it direct!
I was curious to see how she writes her choreography notes, and also I find it easier to remember if it’s written down. Well that’s the excuse I’m using.
Ruth… and others… do share what you think of the guide’s usability once you get it. It’s really thorough, well laid out and analyzed. The rest will however depend on what one does with it. You’re a knowledgeable and intelligent dancer, so it would be interesting to see how you use it.
Oh oh oh -I just got it!
The booklet is a4 sized, (well a3 folded in half and stapled in the centre) fairly basic (black and white) in feel, although it is neatly made and nicely laid out. I haven’t had time to look at the content yet, it seems packed at first glance. I’ll let you know what I think after I’ve read through it properly and watched the dvd.
If I ever finish painting snails -darn day job always getting in the way!
Yes, do tell when you get to it, Ruth.
Why do you paint snails? Are they alive?
Ha ha, no they are not alive, I illustrate children’s books.
If you are interested you can see some of my books on amazon, just do a search for “Ruth Galloway” and they should come up.
Oh my, that’s cute! Tickly octopus and all.
What a nice ob you have.