Rating: 
Summary: Not impressed.
Review: Let me start by saying that I will continue to use this workout DVD occasionally, because the workout was OK, but I was not impressed. Here are the things I did not like: 1) the word "Ultimate" is displayed along the left side of screen during the entire workout, which is distracting & takes up quite a bit of room; 2) I did not like all the chanting, though the music itself was alright; 3) the DVD looks cheaply made, meaning that the camera is unsteady & a little out of focus at times, plus there is just a plain white background; 4) NONE of the movements are ever explained, they are just called by name -- I have done some bellydance videos before, so I could usually figure out what to do, but there were a few times when I really couldn't determine how to do what they were doing; 5) the workout is not really challenging -- I didn't even break a sweat (though it does require some coordination); 6) the camera did not always focus the area that was being worked -- I mean, if I'm being told to do something w/ my legs, and the camera is focused the instructor's face or upper body, how am I supposed to know if I am doing it right? And last but not least, and I know this will sound fickle, but the appearance of some of the instructors was just not what I would expect -- the ladies were, at best, average looking (as most of us are), and that is all I'm going to say about that. This workout seems to focus more on the spiritual aspect of bellydance, as opposed to just the straight out physical benefits, and I am more interested in the seeing physical results. If you want results, I would recommend some of the workouts by Veena & Neena or Rania, as those are, by far, much better workout routines.
Rating:
Summary: Not impressed.
Review: Let me start by saying that I will continue to use this workout DVD occasionally, because the workout was OK, but I was not impressed. Here are the things I did not like: 1) the word "Ultimate" is displayed along the left side of screen during the entire workout, which is distracting & takes up quite a bit of room; 2) I did not like all the chanting, though the music itself was alright; 3) the DVD looks cheaply made, meaning that the camera is unsteady & a little out of focus at times, plus there is just a plain white background; 4) NONE of the movements are ever explained, they are just called by name -- I have done some bellydance videos before, so I could usually figure out what to do, but there were a few times when I really couldn't determine how to do what they were doing; 5) the workout is not really challenging -- I didn't even break a sweat (though it does require some coordination); 6) the camera did not always focus the area that was being worked -- I mean, if I'm being told to do something w/ my legs, and the camera is focused the instructor's face or upper body, how am I supposed to know if I am doing it right? And last but not least, and I know this will sound fickle, but the appearance of some of the instructors was just not what I would expect -- the ladies were, at best, average looking (as most of us are), and that is all I'm going to say about that. This workout seems to focus more on the spiritual aspect of bellydance, as opposed to just the straight out physical benefits, and I am more interested in the seeing physical results. If you want results, I would recommend some of the workouts by Veena & Neena or Rania, as those are, by far, much better workout routines.
Rating: 
Summary: Dance as a Prayer
Review: My body is the temple and dance is my prayer. ~Jehan
Jehan is a highly creative Bellydance instructor who has performed in the great concert halls of the West and the temples of the Far East. She teaches in New York City and also holds dance workshops around the globe. In this workout, 7 dancers (Elisha, Neon, Blanca, Tanna, Kim, Ayshe and Layla Isis) display a sacred form of bellydance. Dance becomes a prayer and there is a more spiritual element to this exercise video.
Jehan has composed, arranged and recorded original music for this workout. Mystical affirmations boost your confidence, encourage sensuality and enhance your emotional and spiritual well-being. This DVD is divided into 7 sections: warmup, strength, sensuality, joy, passion, energy and a cooldown.
If you have yet to try Bellydance, I must say this is an advanced workout complete with advanced dance routines and it can provide an intense workout for anyone who has already learned the basic Bellydance moves. I'd recommend starting with something like: Bellydance Fitness for Beginners or Bellydance Fitness for Weight Loss.
Throughout this entire workout, the rhythms progress to a level where you are not just enjoying the dance, you are actually engaged in an intense workout that burns lots of calories all while taking you to a place where you can express your feminine side in sensual waves, spirals and infinity loops.
Highly Recommended for anyone who is intermediate to advanced. You will find yourself highly inspired and this workout took my dancing to new levels.
~TheRebeccaReview.com
Rating:
Summary: The best: real dance and real fitness
Review: This DVD is all it says it is and more, a real dance and a strong fitness program. It's really good. I've bought a number of belly dance and fitness tapes and been VERY disappointed. I think all the instructors are real dancers and that makes a big diff, becuase when you follow a strong, trained dancer, your body makes an extra effort to imitate the instructor's technique and energy. In the other dance fitness videos I bought the instructors were not real dancers. In fact they obviously didn't know anything about dancing. They had no technique, they don't finish their movements, they lack articulation etc. I felt I was exercising with a dancer who was not really a dancer. But this DVD is really the real thing. All seven girls are real dancers, the music is great the energy is great and its really dancing, not some aerobic steps trying to look like dancing. So this is real dancing and real exercise too. GREAT DVD!
Rating:
Summary: It's incredible!
Review: This DVD is really incredible! It will teach you many of Jehan's earthy movements from top to bottom as well as give you a terrific workout. The movements are presented clearly, the music is wonderful and I love the periodic change in instructors. As a beginner, this is a great way to get started, and as a professional, it's a wonderful chance to brush up on your old skills as well as learn something new. Definitely worth the money.
Rating:
Summary: Best Bellydance Cardio Around!
Review: This is the finest bellydance cardio workout available to the mass market, and may be the finest available anywhere. The setup is the best I've ever seen, with the workout divided into seven distinct and progressively harder segments. This feature makes it easy to repeat a segment and to "mix-and-match" segments creating your own personal unique workout. The warmup is the best I've ever seen on ANY fitness video, and has become one I use every day even with other fitness videos. The moves are interesting, getting most of the cardio from layering rather than traveling steps like Rania's series uses, which is a boon for those of us with two left feet. The combinations are beautiful and elegant, and unlike the combinations on other cardio videos will quickly find their way into your personal dance routines. The music is an upbeat techno-Arabic world dance sound that has me wanting to buy Jehan's cds. There's a little dance routine included in the extras, and a useful talk from a fitness instructor on assessing your personal cardio needs.The moves are called out but not really explained, so I wouldn't recommend this video to absolute beginners, although an absolute beginner could get a good workout buy just repeating the early segments and doing the cooldown. Two of the songs used in the segments have Goddess-positive lyrics, which is great for us Goddess-positive people. ;) So go on and buy the DVD already! And Jehan, use the money to put your highly recommended instruction and performance videos on DVD for the benefit of those of us with toddlers and without VCRs!
|
