7 Comments to 'Belly by Sandra'
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Belly by Sandra
Posted By Mala
I have an entire arsenal of basics and isolations videos, some of which I hven’t even got to yet. So you wouldn’t be blamed for thinking I don’t need another. Not so. Like many dancers, I like to go through the basics with different instructors, in different styles, moods, formats and music. I chose to work with Belly by Sandra today – and loved every minute of it.
First things first: Sandra moves beautifully. So beautifully that when she shoes you something you should not do, even that looks good! She has lovely poise and form and frankly, the smallest movement looks great on her.
On top of that, she has great advice to give. I thought I’d heard all the tips I could take, but today I caught several mistakes I’ve been making and took many points of advice to see immediate improvement in the look of a move when I adjusted. I was impressed enough to quickly get down to writing my thoughts down to share them with many of my friends who, like me, have similar collections of basics videos and may not be considering another.
Another reason I totally enjoyed working with this video was the beautiful music. Many of the moves are done slowly to the lovely Nay Taxim track by Samir Siblini. The sound on this video seems to be particularly good and that only made it a greater pleasure to review basics with.
So, on all these counts, I pretty much recommend this to dancers who already have some isolations videos.
On this video, you begin with a short warm up. I think I’d have liked something to get the blood flowing first, but as it happens we get into some deep stretches. The collection has some of my favorite ones. For absolute novices, I would have had some warnings against right-to-the-floor sweeps and bends. A surprising number of young people have back-related problems these days and it would be best to explain more carefully how to get into flat back positions. Be that as it may, I myself am entirely comfortable with these stretches.
The format followed on this DVD is very comfortable and natural. The instruction is well-paced and flows from one thing to the othre without forced breaks. We learn an isolaiton like the hip slide, the vertical eight or a chest circle and we move into a short practice session. For some of the moves, Sandra gives you a variation. But for all of the moves, Sandra gives you fantastic explanations and the rationale behind why a movement should be done a particular way.
A surprising amount of good advice has been squeezed into the instruction on each isoltion. When you’re ready, you do along without vocal cues to the prettiest music ever. Somehow, the packaging ensures that you don’t get bored for a moment. Sandra is not lighthearted or leisurely here; she is focused and pleasant.
I was beginning to wonder whatever happend to the large hip circle, undulations, one-hip circle, variaitons with hip lifts etc, when I realized this was Vol 1 of a series. I have no idea how many there will be in this series and when the next one is coming, but I think it wll be wonderful to have them around together. Vol 1 is 90 minutes but it feels like it ends too soon. It may have been a good idea to leave the learner with something to do by way of putting the isolations together to dance. Until the next one comes.
Well, whenever it does come, there are enough concepts and muscle-wisdom in this one to make me want the rest.
Apr 1st, 2009
Ooooohh Mala I am so glad you like Sandra’s video!!
Believe it or not – i was somehow nervous having recommended it. who knows, what if my enthusiasm had created expectations too high for a beginner instructional for a seasoned dancer like you? I was worried for you to be disappointed.
SO glad you like it
I’m no seasoned dancer.
Only a seasoned learner perhaps.
Sandra’s DVD is really filled with excellent advice. apparently it’s much like her actual classes.
Oh my, now I gotta have this one too!! I was trying to avoid getting Sandra’s dvd on the grounds that I simply don’t need another one that teaches beginner isolations but, thanks to your review Mala, I think I’ll give this one a go. Since I’m barely more than an advanced beginner, I suppose I can use all the help I can get with my isolations so Sandra here I come! I can only wonder if my bellydance dvd collecting ever end???? Probably not – especially with Sandra Volume 2 in the works and all those delicious upcoming releases from dear Neon at World Deance New York! I I think I’m gonna need a bigger shelf!
Joy, you are definitely more than an advanced beginner and you know it.
Sandra’s DVD being useful will depend also on what other isolations videos one already has. By now it looks like every dancer has her own basics video and it’s a question of nuancing. I find her advice useful and i like the slow pace to pretty music; but am not sure if it’s a 100 percent essential if you have a battalion of other basics videos. This one IS one that I’d pick out to work with evry now and then because it’s so pleasant.
LOVE POTION YAAAAY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgMkkCDR78o
I love that there are some slow motion demonstrations in this DVD! I was surprised that she called an omi, a vertical hip circle, a small hip circle, which I have always been taught is a horizontal move, but no matter, different instructors use different names for moves. What seems most important here is that she talks about the muscles involved in the isolations in an easy-to-understand way (no one ever taught me to cough to feel my oblique — it works!) and thoroughly breaks down the moves.
I agree, the moves are taught quite carefully and informatively. Only odd thing – and it’s a big thing – is the incomplete feeling of the DVD. All basics are not covered. One expects the entire range of basics to be there, but i this case you have to wait till vol 2 comes out. Actually, just covering 2 or 3 more would have done t.
The moves are also sequenced strangely. I haven’t looked at this again recently but there was something – maybe a maya? – that usually comes further down the line.
With these two flaws fixed it would have been one of the most highly recommended basics DVDs. The music is also very very nice and altogether, the package has that certain quality I call “inspiring”. You can have DVDs with a lot more to them and yet they’re just not inspiring.