Having never watched a “how to” type DVD before, I was unsure what to expect from this World Dance New York production, however, I was pleasantly surprised. Beautifully presented and easy to use, I found this very enjoyable.It contains some beautiful performances, with clear and easy to follow sectioned choreography tutorials. The performances include a lovely veil piece and drum shimmy as well as the pieces which are in the tutorials. I was impressed with the little asides in the choreography, which included some quick breathing exercises and a few notes on various movements. These notes were useful not only for the choreography at hand, but also for use in other pieces as she clearly describes various uses. I found these helpful and spent quite a bit of time dancing in front of the TV! The format is an excellent learning tool, with a demonstration, the step-by-step guide, and then the step-by-step to music.
The section on costuming is also great, and, despite what the cover says, is not brief at all! At almost 16 minutes, it is interesting all the way. It was good to see a belly dancer encouraging tastefulness in dress. I particularly enjoyed Ms Skinners explanation of the historical significance of various items – something which I have since used myself in one or two performances, to the enjoyment of the audience!
The music sources are in an easy to find section (always good for those who want to perform the choreographies!)
Overall, I found this a wonderful learning tool and very entertaining. I would recommend it for dancers who have a little performance experience and are looking for new work. Well done StratoStream, World Dance New York and Sarah Skinner, this is great.
INFORMATION
Title: I LOVE TURKISH BELLYDANCE with Sarah Skinner
By: StratoStream – World Dance New York
When: 2007
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