Customer Rating: 
Summary: Great video for beginners with no experience
Comment: This video is really great for those of us (like me) who have little or no experience in belly dance and want to get a taste of basic moves. I have been reading reviews that say this video is "not worth the money" because it doesn't raise the heart rate or the scenes are not "seamless" and it seems "too instructional". Well....DUH! This video is NOT an exercise video, it IS an instructional video in basic belly dance moves! If you are looking for this video to raise the heart rate like an exercise video, then don't buy it because it will not do that and you won't achieve that. But it can be great exercise and does wonders for toning and honing muscles in your body, so there is wonderful benefits from doing bellydance, period. Of course, it is always best to go to a studio and be taught for real but if you are very new and have no teachers in your area or want to learn basic stuff, this is the video for you. If you are an experienced dancer, than you will more than likely be bored with this because it is stuff you already know to death and use in your daily routine but it is still fun to look at! As for Atea, yeah, the video is pretty dated and she acts like a robot on screen and very stilted but the video has what are now top bellydancers, who now have their own websites, videos and studios/dancers. To see them perform and do the moves with her is a plus in my book! Plus the techniques/moves are really taught well, in my opinion and I have yet seen another video that teaches quite as good, especially leg placement and being able to see how the legs and the lower body are supposed to move. I also like the group dances and the demonstration of costumes in the video, that no other videos seem to have. And the section where she does examples of choreography and how you can put together your own, is a great part of the video for those who have no clue on how to choreograph their own moves. To me, that is worth the price alone. The video does have lots of value and I love it despite the issues many people who commented, had with it. It should be part of every dancers collection; beginner, advanced, and professional! The only wish I have is that Atea update the video and put out some more because she really has a knack of teaching the moves well!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Another Amazing Performance from Guest Dancer Dahlia
Comment: I first saw Dahlia, a guest dancer, on Atea's Slow Moves tape and was so impressed by her graceful dancing that she inspired me to study the dance. On this tape she gives another wonderful and inspiring performance.
This tape, like Slow Moves, is another good tool for helping students of the dance to move into a stronger beginner and towards intermediate level with its faster moves, turns, and traveling steps. It is best to study with a live instructor when possible, but these tapes are great for review or if you can't take classes.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Not a very good video
Comment: I bought this video in hopes that it had new moves on it, to go along with other DVD's that I have bought. It was a complete disaster. My Husband even fell asleep during it. This video is as basic as you can get and gives you no real good instructional value. I have all of Neena and Veena's, Dolphina's, and Jillina's Dvds, they are far better to learn from and teach a nice variety of moves. Don't waste your money on this one. It is not worth it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great for Beginners and Real Time Review/Practice
Comment: I have studied belly dance seriously for several years. I got this video (and Atea's Belly Dance Slow Moves) over a year ago. I often use this one when I want to practice, exercise, and concentrate on the basic structure of my moves. It's nice to have someone set the pace and remind me of the proper forms. She breaks the moves down and does them slowly. Doing any move slowly is an excellent way to concentrate on doing it cleanly. Atea's style is very clear. Her moves are distinct and precise. This makes learning from her much easier than from other dancers whose moves are not so clear. I totally diasagree with some critics who find her too stiff. This is a teaching video, and she has her own style. The dances by other dancers (at the beginning and end of the tape) are all excellent and give the viewer a chance to see differnt styles and approaches - as well as a variety of costumes. This video combined with her Slow Moves video make a good set for a beginning student or anyone who likes to practice with a video.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Fast Moves
Comment: This is the best by far of all the instructional tapes on learning to belly dance. The series is done very professionally and the teaching is clear and is well demostrated. Top Notch!
|
