- Instant Belly Dancer
- Jenna’s Belly Dance Basics and Beyond
- Shamira: Sensuous Workout I
- Shamira: Sensuous Workout II
- Sadie’s Complete Guide to Belly Dance
- Belly by Sandra
- Virginia: One on One
- Jehan’s Sacred Bellydance
- Hilary Thacker: Beginner’s Guide to Egyptian Belly Dance
Instant Belly Dancer
The absolute queen of beginners’ DVD, translated into many languages, uses a unique, effective system of graphic overlays on screen to teach the precise way to do a move – safely. This is a two DVD set covering every basic in the dance. The fabulously creative Neon doesn’t leave you in the lurch without actual dance moves, but gives combinations at the end of each move explanation, so that you have something to work with immediately, if you chose. Includes more material than almost any beginner’s DVD. This video set has done a lot to bring new dancers from the general public into belly dancing.
Pros Simplified anAd friendly gentle instruction, totally ingenuous in the way it ueses little moves that you can dance anywhere, at the club or at a party even before you master isolations fully.
Cons Purists complain about the style not being traditional belly dance and being too club or party oriented.
Recco Too much content for a beginner to ignore. Use it to get your precision and combine with a more traditional belly dance video if that is what you’re after. Usable by someone who wants to take the moves to the dance floor without getting deeply into the isolaitons because the graphics and explanations tend to stick visually in one’s mind and keep the moves safe.
Jenna’s Belly Dance Basics and Beyond
Encylopedic. Makes up a complete syllabus. “Beyond beginners” will also find it a great reference and move-corrector. Painstaking detailed instruction with the dancer giving it her all.
Pros Covers all basics, drills, combinations and features a choreography one can pick up from – all on one DVD. Very thorough and analytic. Leads beautifully to the next in the set “The Next Level”, also a massive resource.
Cons Totally “talky” with music and dancing only entering towards the last 25 percent.
Recco Serious dancers-to-be don’t miss out on this one but combine with something with more actual dancing and music. Should make a refreence if you’re taking classes as well.
Shamira: Sensuous Workout I
Even today, this video is unique in its selection of content and could, if marketed more, give more recent DVDs a run for their money. Shamira authoritatively leads learners trough a warm up and the most fundamental basics. But, she uses little combinations and beautiful arm workto move you through a pretty dance workout.
Pros: Dancey right from the start. You use your arms from the beginning. Enjoyable, inspiring and wonderfully cued and instructed.
Cons: None.
Recco: Anyone looking for an easy-to-do introduction to belly dancing should consider this. For more serious, comprehensive and in-depth belly dance instruction, choose something else, but even advanced dancers have tended to like this relaxing, feminine dance basics session.
Shamira: Sensuous Workout II
Independent of Workout I, this too is a DVD that would hold its own on content, instruction and ease of working. Shamira leads you through 22 little chapters, each of which takes up a belly dance basic movement. A few repetitions are included within each for practice. Three choreographies put all the moves to use. These are not performable as such because of the repetition, but they’re almost there and give the learner very real choreography learning skills.
Pros: Filled with content. Well instructed and cued basics, very nice choreographies of different types to different rhythms. You get basics, some basic rhythms, choreography learning skills, and a workout.
Cons: Leaves out the maya and some basic upper body moves. These could have easily been included.
Recco: Beginners find this video very easy and Shamira wonderful to relate to. Advanced dancers love working with this video when they want a drill or to be led through the isolations without too much hard work.
Sadie’s Complete Guide to Belly Dance
After many advanced instructionals, impressively skilled Sadie Marquardt covers the main basics, including traveling steps. Three combinations make up the practice session.
Pros No nonsense, efficient, focused. Includes safety tips. Anticipates learner’s problems.
Cons Dancing to learning ratio sub-optimal. Too brief on some moves. Claustrophobic studio and oppressive lighting. Combinations set to an uninspiring practice track. Missing in fun.
Recco Better for those considerably serious about belly dancing. Consider combining with simpler more fun combinations practice.
Belly by Sandra
Inspiring, beautiful music, very watchable instructor This video is fun and unhurried. But it’s only half the lesson and an arbitrary selection of moves.
Pros Fantastic to watch. Relaxing and unstressful to work with. So many moves done a touch differently by Sandra. The music makes a huge difference. Sparkling picture. Nice practice moves.
Cons Deeply unfair to the learner in that it has broken the instruction into parts and there is no sign of the remainder months after release. IMassive syllabuses fit – so why make the learner wait?
Recco Would be well suited to a beginner if one knew when the rest of the lesson will be available. Sandra explains moves beautifully and uniquely. She makes you want to dance.
Jehan’s Sacred Bellydance
This two-disk approaches belly dance from a holistic point of view, making it interesting for both beginners and intermediate dancers. It’s absorbing, unhurried and involves dancing with your whole body and mind. It’s also earthy, goddessy and culturally rooted, in Jehan’s style.
Pros Encyclopedic, teaches fluidity and depth of movement, full of flavor and richness, quite unique
Cons Not quite the dance-along that gets absolute beginners up and dancing, no practice combos or choreographies to play with. Overdose of mother goddess feel.
Recco For serious to-be belly dancers, this is a great set. Even watching will show you how your whole body works in a dance move. It’s an encyclopedic reference. For “light” dancers, it may be overkill.
Virginia: One on One
Virginia is pleasant enough but a little self conscious and staccato as she instructs you through the basics of belly dance. She covers all the primary basics fairly well. She pays more attention to weight changes than most others. There are enough nuances to make the moves very much her own style. She also has a good warm up and stretch section.
Pros: Comprehensive, moves at a good pace, replete with tips on weight changes and more.
Cons: It would have been nice if some short combinations had been included.
Recco: No particular reason to either recommend or de-recommend it. Not inspiring, but will definitely do the job.
Hilary Thacker: Beginner’s Guide to Egyptian Belly Dance
Covered here only because dancers who have started out with this video may recommend it. Now too dated to stand up against more modern competition.
Pros: Completely outweighed by cons at this point.
Cons: Dated, terrible sound quality, bad production, black costume against dark background, delivered with flat passivity and perfect lack of expression.
Recco: Forget it.
thanks for your reviews. I found you on Amazon, commenting on a bellydance DVD and another commentor mentioned your website.
As an experienced exerciser but new to bellydancing, your reviews are so helpful. I’m currently experimenting with what is available at my local library to figure out what works for me. I’ve liked Rania’s Cardio Shimmy because I like something that starts off quickly, is easy for the beginner, but can give me a good workout in 30 minutes as I don’t have lots of time to spare. That said, I’ve tried other videos that seem to have very little bellydance instruction, though they may be a great workout (I did one that was practically all hoping for 30 minutes). It’s so hard to find that exact combination of what works in my life! And I imagine that as I become more intrigued by bellydance, I might want more instruction.
Anyway, your website is a great find! Thanks again.
Hello Marjorie! Thanks for being at my site. I used to review regularly for Amazon but got distracted by my blog and never put in an email alert request so I often miss comments for a long time – so I’m glad you traced me here.
Deciding on DVDs for belly dance and fitness is just no joke whatsoever. I’ve amassed some 400 of them before getting some crude idea of what’s good and what isn’t.
Are you looking for something for fitness or for learning belly dance? A lot depends on your goals and the weightage you give to different aspects. One really has to breakdown the precise needs. Are you looking for any beginners bellydance videos? Are you taking classes as well?In the fitness domain, are you looking to lose weight, tone, strengthen or gain flexibility?
Once you have answers to some of these, one can find some good options for you.
I have Cardio Shimmy but haven’t looked at it. At least I think I have it… I’ll check that one out.
Mala, do you possibly have the DVD “Belly Motions – Beginner Bellydance by Portia” and could review it? There are no videos and no reviews on the net. I’m wondering if this is a good dvd or not. Greets from Germany, Fancypants
I do have it but haven’t been able to make the DVD work. I’ll be getting a new laptop soon and I think that should play it. If so, I’ll surely do a review.
Hi fancypants we’re very close, geographically
)))) (Austria)
Hello sweet Ladies!.
@Mala: Thank you so much! You’re a treasure! *big kiss*
@Dina: I know.
Have told you before, even texted you some german speaking messages on bhuz before, do you remember? 
My best girlfriend lives in Villach by the way, you don’t live anywhere near Klagenfurt by chance? 
hi
yes I recall your pseudo
I know Carinthia a bit, but do not live there
I have two of Portia’s dvds by the way, Vol 1 and 2.
Will see when I can look into them!
They look nice, and it’s a massive plus to have 2 volumes out by the same instructor to keep going in the same style from absolute beginner to somewhat more advanced beginner.
Dina, how about you describe and review them for us. I looked in my “archives” and don’t have any by her.
Ya I’ll do that!
I hope there will be a second part to this blog post coming in the near future?
Hey Dina, did you have the time to watch the Belly Motions DVDs and review them?
Lots of love,
fancypants
There are actually several more halves to come! I must get to this. Perhaps I’ll plug in a few more before doing any more reviews this time. Thanks for reminding me.
thank you mala for your great reviews! Hugs and Kisses from Germany,
Silvia
Aw, thank you! Now that you’ve got me started off, i’ll be adding to this section until I have a nice big fat guide ready.
Hi Mala, hugs and well wishes from Australia! Like Marjorie, I’m an experienced exerciser (mainly yoga) but a bellydance novice. Your reviews are wonderful and so helpful.
Majorie, if you’re looking for a “beginner” bellydance DVD but also want a good conditioning workout, try Sera Solstice. My most used bellydance DVD is Sera’s East Coast Tribal (awesome warmup), but I think her new DVD is even better. She has you moving and dancing and working so many different muscle groups.
Hello Annie! Welcome here!
So, what bellydance DVDs do you have? I like both Sera’s East Coast Tribals but am more familiar with the first, since I’ve now used it for a long time. The warm up remains one of my favorites. it has a lot of things going for it: warms up everything, is gentle enough to not leave you vulnerable to injury, and is just the right length. The second one is more active and a quicker way to get on with it, but in my opinion novices will be safer with the first one. Sometimes I wish I could join parts of both. Anyway, there are more videos coming up from Sera, very soon. Can hardly wait!
I have mainly WDNY DVDs. I love Luscious, Love Potion and Hard Candy. Luscious is my favourite, probably because of Blanca’s lovely moves, and I really feel her absence in the newest DVD. I use Blanca’s gorgeous DVD a lot!
As a yoga girl, I first started buying bellydance DVDs for their yoga content, but I was disappointed with how yoga was presented in these DVDs. I didn’t need sun salutes and lunges – I was hoping for more specific stretches for dancers, and that’s why I love Sera’s DVDs so much.
Hi Annie! Why would you need to buy belly dance DVDs for their yoga content? There’s a ton of yoga DVDs out there, different flavors, different programs. Do you have any of them?
You’re right Mala – I’ve learned not to be tempted by words like “yoga isolations”.
I love yoga and I do have enough DVDS to keep me busy!
Tell us about a few good yoga DVDs, Annie. Which ones would you say are recommended?
Recently I’ve been using Elena Brower’s Element Yoga DVDs (Beginners and AM/PM) a lot. Great instructor with a very soothing voice, gorgeous scenery, lovely music. The only reservation I have recommending these DVDs (especially the “beginner” one) is that they require some flexibility (especially hips) and some of the poses are held for a long time (which can put pressure on the knees if you don’t do the poses properly).
Check out Esther (Yogatic) on YouTube. She’s fabulous at explaining poses and also puts together some lovely routines (like her moon salutation).
Yogatoday also has lots of good routines on YouTube.
I also recommend Jason from Yoga Journal, a very clear instructor. The Yoga Journal website and iTunes have lots of free routines.