Bellyqueen: Bellydance Jam

Rating:
Summary: To Basic
Review: If you had any basic belly dance class then you already know the moves taught on this video. It seems to be marketed for a younger non-bellydancing audience, which is why I gave my copy to my teenage niece and she and her friends just loved it.
The plus sides is that the instuctions is clear and the quality of the video is superb and the music cd that is included has some nice cuts.

Rating:
Summary: Lots of fun!
Review: Like the rest of the world, it takes a lot to pull me out of my chair in front of the tv and actually move around. This DVD is a lot of fun and actually does that. I'm totally awkward at it, I admit and I can't do half the moves, but that doesn't matter as I'm having a good time and getting my heart beat up. One night, some friends and I went to a middle eastern restaurant with bellydancing and came back home after and put this on to see if we could get down the moves we'd just seen. It was a crowd pleaser. I definitely recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Intro To Dance
Review: Not all bellydance DVDs are workouts, some are just designed to teach the art of dancing with a workout being secondary. Bellyqueen: Bellydance Jam falls into this category. Not purely traditional, the title and front cover of the DVD alone should give away the modern bent on bellydance. This one is designed for the younger generation and or those completely new to bellydance who don't foresee themselves as the next headlining act at the local Mediterranean restaurant but are still interested in learning how to dance better for parties, club, and the like. Bellydancing is the epitome of feminine movement; it's no small wonder that learning some simple bellydance moves with styling tailored for the modern girl is a great way to learn how to club dance. Teaching bellydance moves appropriate for the club floor is the focus of this DVD.

Where this DVD really excels is in the teaching. Amar Gamal of Bellydance Superstars' fame and her Bellyqueen partner Kaeshi Chai, a member of The Desert Roses, are excellent teachers for dancers so young. Moves are all shown full body and if needed, from multiple angles. Instructions are voiceover style and lots of pointers abound on what muscles to relax, what body parts to isolate, and sometimes even when to breathe. All dance descriptions go much further than "just lift your hip and drop it." They have one of the best descriptions of the Camel, an undulation move, that is difficult to teach women whose learning style doesn't fall along the lines of `monkey-see, monkey-do.' The clear and concise description of this move as well as several others, a backward moving horizontal figure 8, for example, are clear enough that even an absolute beginner to all forms of dance could eventually get with some practice. If you've had trouble with other DVDs in the past not being clear enough for you to `get' the moves, this is the one for you.

The section on "How to Improvise" in the Improvisation section is absolutely priceless for both the newbee and the intermediate dancer. This is a topic rarely covered by instructors in any form of dance. You'll learn how to listen to the music and then choose which moves will appropriately fit the song. The knowledge you'll gain here is transferrable to all forms of dance. In "Partner Combinations" Amar and Kaeshi teach you how to dance with a partner in much more dynamic and interesting ways than the basic routine they provide in the instruction. "Guided Improvisation" also gives you the chance to practice.

Those of us who have been dancing for a while will probably be a bit disappointed at the length of the DVD. 115 minutes sounds long but consists of a 37 minute technique section with only 25 minutes devoted to instruction, 5 minutes of guided stretching and loosening (which happens to be excellent), 3 minutes devoted to practicing the "BQ Boogie" -- a dance routine best described as a cute, belly flavored version of the electric slide, and a 3 minute cool down stretch (again this one is excellent.) Other than 10 minutes devoted to learning to improvise, the rest of the DVD is bonus material. However, the included 12 track CD is alone worth the purchase price of the DVD. Twelve groovy belly tunes by Mission to Mars (Vin Scialla) and Turbo Tabla -- the classically trained Karim Nagi, provide the Arabic House soundtrack. Some fun and excellent stuff is found here -- some of it exclusive to this DVD. In the Special Features section, each girl has a solo bellydance performance in traditional costume. "Call of The Drum with Mal Stein" is a Drum Solo Performance By Amar Gamal, and "Dunyavi Gypsy Passion" is a solo performance by Kaeshi Chai in a Folk or "Gypsy" style. There are two video montages -- "Bellyqueen Around The World" is of Bellyqueen performances and "Bellydance Superstars" is the Bellydance Superstars promo montage you've probably seen before if you own any other Bellydance Superstars DVD. The rest is interviews with the dancers and musicians from this DVD. All of this is available in English or Espanol on the same disc. The Spanish translation is accessible from the Main Menu and includes Instruction, Menus, and Bonus Material.

*Foundation moves taught on disc:
Shoulder Circles, Vogue Arms, Shoulder Thrust, Shoulder Shimmies, Chest Lift and Drop, V-Pop (Chest Lift and Drops in a "V" Shape), V-Strut (V-Pops while walking forward and backward), Hip Twist, Inward Figure 8, Hip Shimmies, Contraction and Release, Omi (Small Hip Circle), Medium Hip Circle, Chest Circle, Undulation -Upper Torso (Chest), Undulation - Lower Torso (Pelvis), Undulation - Whole Body, Hip Lock, Hip Lift and Drop, Walk to Side, 3-Point Turn
*Transition Steps:
Hip March, Step Touch
*Partner Combinations:
Mirroring, Synchronized Call and Answer, Opposites, See-Saw, Back and Forth
*Improvisation Section (Freestyle)
Lean how to: Listen to the Music, Dance to the Beat, Dance to the Melody, Dance to the Accents, Dance to a combination of the Beat, Melody, and Accents, Add variety by changing the movements: Circles, Undulations, Shimmies, Change Levels

Bonus Bellyqueen Music CD Track Listing:
1. Turbo Tabla Two - Turbo Tabla
2. Full Circle - Mission on Mars
3. Where Do We Begin (Hikaya) - Said Mrad
4. Queen Saidi On Mars - Mission on Mars
5. Mofongito Maksoum (Qanun Remix) - Mission on Mars
6. Telegraphin Telleri - Turbo Tabla
7. Shall We Shimmy - Mission on Mars
8. Azziza - Turbo Tabla
9. Exhale (Chiftetelli) - Mission on Mars
10. Turbo Zaar - Turbo Tabla
11. Mofongo Maksoum - Mission on Mars
12. Shall We Shimmy (Qanun Remix) - Mission on Mars

Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: Terrific, fun, excellent production values, seamless voiceover. This is NOT a video to learn true bellydancing, but it's a great cardio workout that incorporates bellydancing moves. The segments lead up to a "dance routine" that's performed in a nightclub of all places - a bit cheesy - but you're bellydancing in your living room, what do you care?

Rating:
Summary: Kathy Smith is better
Review: The instruction is good and the tips on how to incorporate the simple routine into a 4 step dance is okay which earn the dvd a 1 from me, but overall, I found the workout slow and simplistic with no sweat whatsoever. If you want a good bellydance instructional base as well as a good workout combined with a dance you can learn, buy the Kathy Smith Flex Appeal Bellydance workout. You'll learn the basic moves from Superstar Ansuya and get a good workout from an exercise instructor who is a guru in the industry.

Rating:
Summary: Exactly what I want
Review: This DVD/video is exactly like what I have been wanting! I started bellydancing a few years ago, but am not currently taking lessons around my area. I am not interested in performing at all, but all my instructors have emphasized performing and learning choreographies. I'd rather improvise a few basic combinations to various middle-eastern rhythms. I dance for fun, and "social" dancing is just the direction I would like to go. No one else seems to have pursued this avenue, personally I know many people who would still be taking lessons or dancing for fun, if the performance orientation wasn't the only one emphasized.

Rating:
Summary: Omigosh!!
Review: This is an awesome bellydance DVD!! Two beautiful girls tell women like me, how to dance socially and get into shape at the same time! They teach us bellydance steps that aren't so far out that I can't learn or use them while I'm dancing! I won't look foolish, because they've simplified the teaching process, so even a little, old, clumsy person like myself, can learn the steps. If I can do it, anyone can!! I know I won't look as good as they do,but I won't feel like a clutz!! They're obviously intelligent, verbal girls (listen to the interviews)! I also love the fact that they're wearing dance/workout gear instead of bellydance costumes--makes it seem more like aerobic exercise, while having fun! I wish I'd had this way back in '75, when I tried to learn bellydance at the YWCA!!! Bravo, Kaeshi and Amar!! I'll be looking for the next one!

Rating:
Summary: Good but TOO easy!
Review: This video is very clearly presented in several easy-to-understand sections. It has a warm-up, step instruction, cool down, a (club modern) dance to learn, improvisational help, performances, interviews, a CD and merchandise. Unfortunatley, it is way to easy for anyone who already knows how to bellydance.
The performances are not stellar, the interviews are with the instructors and their musicians, the dance is not anything amazing - I don't think I'd use it in a club, and there are not many steps to be learned.
This video seems to be aimed at a young, non-bellydancing audience. Sort of the type who have had no actual dance instruction but like to have fun. This DVD would be good for them! But as for serious dancers, and/or those who have experience, I do not recommend this.