I remember when I was learning to type, oh so long ago, I was using a software tutorial that encouraged users to spend just five to ten minutes a day on typing with the correct fingers. Apparently, that’s all it would take. They must have been right because pretty soon I found myself touch-typing at high speed. I manage to unnerve a lot of people by talking to them while my fingers are flying on the keyboard.
I suspect it’ll be much the same for learning shimmies. If you want to get them into your muscle memory, spending five minutes on shimmying is a great idea. Just add it to your regular practice. Sarah Skinner’s new DVD is based on this thought. It’s also built on the idea that shimmying always brings a smile to your face – and your audiences’ for that matter – and that it’s a joyful activity. So, better than over-working it or obsessing over the nuances of technique, make the practice or drilling fun.
The heart of this DVD is in the six five-minute shimmy sessions. There’s a very nice (shortish but varied and full-body) warm-up, and a cool down. There’s also some stretches and strength exercises for a minute or so before each shimmy workout-let. Obviously, because it’s designed to let you pick up any individual session to work with. Or play with, I should say.
Each session starts straight off and picks up pace. I must describe a session in some detail here. It isn’t just plain ole shimmies you do here. There’s a lot happening and it changes from one moment to the next. In fact, I don’t know what dancers will do with the only-music option because I can’t handle that. I’ll go for the cued sessions any day. You can also access each session separately in its own chapter. So anyway, I did the Egyptian shimmy session today. The moment you get with it, you have to change something: switch between singles and full-time, layer it on a simple horizontal eight, alternate with a ‘big-knee’ shimmy, weight shift, one-leg shimmy, layer arm patterns, etc. And DOES put a smile on your face – straight off. I haven’t done the full lot yet, but totally enjoyed the workouts I’ve done so far. Strangely, I also found I could do some of the layering that I otherwise agonize over.
Through the session, you get egged on by Sarah – and that’s really important. I think this will be even more fun for a group to do together. Like they are in the video.
If you want a huge workout, do the whole lot together. Thirty minutes of non-stop shimmy. She takes up all the basic variations: regular, choo-choo, ¾, shimmy, Arabic hipwalk etc. No terribly fancy or unusual ones.
There’s a separate tutorial section, but really, it’s not the place for anyone to learn these from scratch. Not if you want to learn them very seriously. Understand the movements elsewhere, and review them here. Even so these short 30-second lessons squeeze in some good tips. They’re meant more for users to identify exactly what is being done in the workout and follow along.
So again – not the video to learn shimmies with, but an aid to practice and workout with. In that sense, it’s not a critical addition to your collection, but it’s a nice-to-have, specially as it is likely to be used quite often.
This is a simple not-very-long video (100 minutes) with not even the usual performance included. I’m used to seeing videos that are over 200 minutes long from WDNY, but then, how much shimmy can you do. Also, those cost more.
Overall, I feel the strengths of this video are:
- Breaking things up into short richly varied sessions
- Keeping it moving, fun and invigorating right through
- Sticking to simpler shimmies while still doing basic layering
I also think it’s a good idea to separate the tutorials from the workouts. I’ve just been exploring another video (on drilling hip work) which has about 8 minutes of talking to 2 minutes of drilling. It’s truly annoying, considering you want to use the video repeatedly and can’t very well stand there listening to lengthy explanations each time – including why she will now show you the move from the back view. But that’s another story.
A small disclaimer. You’ll see my name in the credits. Yes, indeed! I’m thrilled. But my inputs on music have been very minimal and Sarah is a generous and sweet person by the looks of it!
This dvd DOES look like an awful lot of fun! Sadly, I think I’ll have to put off getting it until I drop some of the pounds I gained over the winter. I’m afraid that, at my current weight, I might set off an earthquake if I started shimmying…
Congratulations on being included in the credits!! You DO make the most wonderful music suggestions and I’m happy to see that you are being recognized for your contributions!
Oh no… I think it will help you drop weight. It’s the pace — no let up. You’ll have to do several of the workouts if you want to use it to drop weight.
I have been looking forward to this one, I’m so glad it lives up to expectations, I didn’t know you had music input, congratulations Mala!
I love that they keep the tutorials separate too, I rarely use them more than once, so I hate having to zip through to find the workout. It’s usually straight to the back of the shelf if they are hard to navigate. WDNY have really mastered the art of making their dvds user friendly.
Not sure I could do 5 mins of choo choo shimmy though -phew, even thinking about it is making my legs feel tired!
Short sessions are what made shimmies finally click for me. When I was an advanced beginner, I did a three and a half minute drill every day. It didn’t matter which shimmy I did or how I varied it; I just had to keep shimmying for the entire song. I saw a SIGNIFICANT difference in the first month alone.
I’m still debating on getting this one. I’ve all but stopped belly dancing and I’m not sure I want to add any more dvds to my collection at this point. On the other hand, having grown rather tired of Pilates, I am in desperate need a workout dvd that will inspire me to get moving.
What to do, what to do….
What are the others that are tempting you at all? There’s an Autumn Ward coming (2) and a nice one from Neon. If you’re on a budget, choose. If not, then consider this one strongly because the short sessions are quite nice for someone who isn’t doing a lot of dancing. You have to add it to other things, of course, not use it as a standalone dance session, but that should be easy. You could easily do portions of something from the Luscious series and then round it off with a shimmy session. It’s fun enough.
I’m very entranced and taken up by Sera’s Lunar Bellydance these days.
Thanks for the input Mala! I think I will get the Shimmy Workout dvd after all. Short shimmy sessions may be just the thing to reawaken my desire to dance.
Sera’s Lunar Bellydance has been on my radar for awhile. I don’t know why I keep putting off getting it. I love Sera’s style and she is a wonderful teacher. I love the whole Lunar bellydance concept – it seems so peaceful. And, boy, could I ever use a little tranquility right about now.
Uh, oh. It looks as though I’ll be ordering two WDNY dvds instead of only one…
Lunar Bellydance actually IS peaceful. I even put some blue paper on my lamp to try and capture that effect. It’s meditative and rejuvenating!
dear mala, thank you for your reviews. how about zoe jakes? sorry to put this here but don’t know how else to contact you. p.s i did get the sarah skinner shimmy dvd and love it.
Nadira, do you have any idea why that is? I had no clue that short sessions could be really effective.
I don’t deserve those thanks as I’ve really neglected my blog and reviews and you all for so long! Sorry sorry sorry! I’ve just had too much to write.
I do have Zoe Jakes. The set arrived a few days ago and needless to say I haven’t managed to go through it yet. I started on the first (viewing, that is) and after a regular but nice dance-preparation warm up she got straight into he rough stuff. This looks like it isn’t for beginners at all, but has a whole lot of meat for those looking to seriously seriously advance. But don’t go by this first impression — I still have 3.5 of 4 videos to see!
Is this enough cardio to be suitable to add into a weight loss program? Does doing the whole 30 minutes get your heart rate up?
Not quite, Khadija. In my opinion. It’s got lots of strengthening moves and your heart rate will surely go up as you do things like shimmy during a lunge, for example. The choo choo is also always good to wake up everything and make you catch your breath. But the momentum is not sustained. In between the vigorous 5 minute sessions, you have stretches.
You could, of course, do all 5 shimmy sessions and get something of a workout, but I think that a fast choreography will give you more actual cardio. Jillina’s pop choreography comes to mind. Or even her first drum solo. I think you need to pick something that makes you move across the floor and step around a lot. Something that has some footwork. Go a few rounds of one of those, and you’ll surely have got a good cardio workout.
What do others think?