Bellydance Fitness for Beginners - Basic Moves & Fat Burning

Rating:
Summary: Very entertaining but not exercise!
Review: The basic moves portion of the dvd was great in order to learn the movements in bellydance, but I would not consider it real exercise. The moves are definately sexy and I think the video is an excellent introduction. The cardio portion was not as much fun and consists of a lot of jumping back and forth on your toes and putting your finger to your forehead. It felt pretty silly and not sexy at all! The extra footage of the sister's dances were really motivating and beautiful. The dvd is worth the purchase, only if you are not expecting to work out!

Rating:
Summary: Bellydance Fitness for Beginners - Basic Moves & Fat Burning
Review: This combination certainly runs the gambit of easy and not so easy.
The beginner moves are too easy for anyone with dance experience,and you won't really learn anything ot get much of a workout. It's a great way to go over fundamentals though, and everyone could use that every now and then.
The fat burning portion burns fat, that's for sure. It's a bit repetative, but then again aren't most aerobic workouts? At least this is a little more fun.
I would add that if you're looking at this series to learn how to bellydance, then you have the wrong series. This DVD is a workout, and not much else. An experienced dancer may borrow a few speific moves, or general ideas, but that's about it for instruction.
Also, in defense of the N&V videos I would like to say to anyone who gave this, or any of thier videos marks for being "dangerous" because the twins are barefoot: *Oh my God! It's not like your feet are for walking on or anything like that.* Why is it that in Asia nomads walk for hundreds of miles barefoot, but Americans wear houseslippers to protect thier feet?

Rating:
Summary: I Love It
Review: I love this DVD ever since i got it, i've used it everyday, i'm sure weight loss isn't far behind. That wasn't one of my issues. But this is very fun and easy to follow. I highly reccommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Fat Burning Segment dead boring
Review: After reading all of the positive reviews on this DVD, I had high expectations when I popped it into my DVD. The beginning is very promising, showing Veena and Neena performing a beautiful, exotic belly dance. This is not what you will be doing.
What you will be doing is repetitive, simple movements. Underline repetitive. During the beginning moves segment, I did feel it in some muscles I haven't used in years. However, the workout does not resemble the dancing they do in the introduction and again at the credits.
I was extremely disappointed in the fat burning segment. Yes, I was sweating at the end of the workout. However, the moves were so repetitive and unchallenging it was about as engaging and fun as jumping rope.
I expected to be able to do a belly dance routine, or at least a series of 5 or 6 moves to make up my own routine, by the end of the DVD. This DVD will not teach you enough to do so. If the workout was closer to the belly dancing seen during the intro and credits, I would have been thrilled. It was not. I am going to rent before I buy another belly dancing DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Its harder and more effective then it looks!
Review: (If your looking to buy a dvd where you can learn bellydance chorography, do not buy this.)

I bellydance and this dvd is a great dvd! It tones and strenthens the muscles I use while bellydancing, such as my thighs and hips. I love this DVD. I especially love the special features. In the commentary, Veena and Neena reveals more information on the specific moves done in the dvd and some background/history of some moves etc...Also In the special features are EXTRA DANCE FOOTAGE. It is my favorite part in the special features section. Five seperate dances are shown, and I must say, VERY beautifully done. Each dance shows different forms of Egyptian bellydance (dancing to a drum solo, with a veil, cymbals, a sword, and a cane.)

Basic Moves is a slow, non-impact workout that is so much fun!!! It was hard for me to believe, just by watching the dvd, that the workout could have any effect on me. But it did. This workout doesnt build bulk, instead it tones the muscles and trims the fat on your body.

Fat burning is very hard for me. Its hard to keep up really. But its IS a good workout. There is lots of jumping/bouncing in this part of the DVD, so there is lots of emphasis on the calves.

Rating:
Summary: A nice, low-impact exercise program
Review: I recently rented this video because I wasn't sure if I wanted to actually buy it. I have a bad lower back due to a work injury, so I was asking around for something low-impact. Well, this is it! I haven't had to quit because my back was hurting too much to continue. That's great! I've only done the Basic Moves part so far and I've only done it 3 times. I like the way the exercises move down your body, and no part is worked out too much. I also really like the music. The best part is I can already tell that my muscles are toning up. Everyone I know has commented "have you lost weight? Are you working out?"
I'll be the first to admit I usually don't do the whole workout video thing. Mostly because they're boring, not fun, they hurt too much, etc. The production value is not as good as I would have liked. The narration threw me off the first time I did it, but after that I just ignored it. Unfortunately, tuning the narrator out is almost essential.
Other than those two complaints, I'm extremely impressed with this DVD and will be buying it once I have the money.

Rating:
Summary: One routine is very easy; the other is very hard.
Review: Fat Burning (25 mins) is a good workout, especially for your calves. There is a lot of hopping, which you can make easier just by stepping through the moves, or by slowing down. This is a challenging workout--even at 25 minutes. My calves ache for 2-3 days after completing it. It is fun, the time goes by quickly, and the cooldown on the floor is enjoyable.

The other segment, Basic Moves (30 minutes) would not be a challenging workout for most. The most difficult part that I found was in keeping my arms raised for extended periods. You will get some upper-body toning due to the "shoulder punches," shimmies, and by keeping your arms raised. The moves learned in this segment don't really transfer to the Fat Burning workout, either.

Basic Moves, as many reviewers commented, is a terrific workout for exercise initiates ... but, if that's the case, new exercisers would have no use for the Fat Burning segment, which is quite challenging. This is an interesting video (my first bellydance workout video), but only one routine will actually work you out.

Rating:
Summary: Very fun, difficult if you're heavy
Review: A refreshing change of routine. Not only am I toning muscles but learning to be graceful as well. However the jumping in the Fat Burning section can become difficult if you're carrying extra pounds.

Rating:
Summary: Covers the extremes of the spectrum
Review: Basic Moves was the first Bellydance VHS I bought; I absolutely loved it because the moves were broken down so extremely well that I never felt discouraged and rather was motivated to learn more and buy more tapes. I continue to love this tape because now I use this routine to keep my fundamentals strong. Also more recently, I purchased the Fat Burning VHS and, well, Veena and Neena weren't kidding. This is definatley an awesome cardiovascular workout: the moves are simple and involve TONS of jumping (which i think is terrifically fun). I would die to try this on a giant trampoline just for the laughs!
Now that I've been upgrading to DVD, I noticed that these two workouts were on the same disc. Wow. This defines the difference between Lo Impact and Hi Impact better than anything I can think of. I tell you this: both programs are amazing no matter what level bellydancer you are, but definately be careful with Fat Burning if your fitness level isn't too high.

Rating:
Summary: Silly People
Review: I love how seemingly the only complaints people have about the DVDs from Veena and Neena center around the fact that they aren't dance instructional videos. Duh people. They are workout videos. It says that right on the box and in the reviews. You want dance instruction, go buy a dance instruction video, and the twins do have several.

And as workout videos go, the whole series is great, including of course this one. I'm easily distracted and its hard to keep me entertained but these workouts are fun. Sure, its cheese and everyone else is saying the same thing, but that's because it's the truth. I only wish there were more videos by these two women. They are fun to watch and I enjoy the gentle guiding voice that gives the instructions. I don't feel like an idiot by watching or using these DVDs. It's a far cry from my mothers 80s workout videos! (Oh the pink spandex horrors!)