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Instructional Bellydance with Jillina – Level 1

Run time 55:50 minutes

This is an instructional DVD that includes technique and choreography. The video is formatted in a class room style with a mirror so you can see Jillina’s moves from both the front and back. She explains the move as she does it and does not use a voice over like you often find. The DVD is divided into several parts and you may either play the entire program or jump to which every section you would like to work on. As with many instructional DVDs the names used for belly dance moves by Jillina are not always the same as those I use; however it is easy enough to figure out what she means.

The first portion of the DVD opens with a performance by Jillina of the choreography taught later in the video. There is a voice over with a brief introduction to belly dance background as well as an outline of what to expect as you progress through the DVD.

The active portion of this DVD begins with stretching technique. This is not a full warm up, simply a couple minutes of stretches. A warm up, such as the one we do in class is recommended before you practice with this DVD. Jillina then proceeds to a focus on technique and includes a break down of rib cage circles, snake arms, wrist rotations, hip circles, hip bounce (un-weighted hip lift and drop with no accent on either end), hip figure 8 (forward direction only), vertical (upward) hip figure 8, Egyptian shimmy, shoulder shimmy, hip side hits (weighted hip lifts), soaz pull and camel (up to down undulation).

After the technique, Jillina moves on to combinations using the moves she broke down in the technique portion. She includes a slow break down of seven different combinations and then goes through each combination several times at tempo with music. In addition to the moves from the technique portion, she uses several moves that were not broken down including hip bumps, rocking step, traveling hip rolls, three point turn, traveling hip circle and chassez step.

Finally Jillina combines the various combinations with some modifications and a few additional steps into a short (approximately 2 minute) choreography to the classic Arabic song “Alf Leyla Wa Leyla” (this song can be found on the music CD A Tribute to Om Kalsoum).  The disc ends with a live performance by Jillina of three different choreographies including the one taught in the DVD. The credits role with out takes from the filming of the combination and choreography portions of the video in the background.

Overall I think this is an excellent DVD for intermediate students. It reviews moves taught in our beginning and intermediate level classes with breakdowns to help verify you are doing the move correctly. My only complaint is the cinematography occasionally does a tight focus on the wrong part to know if you are doing the move correctly. The music is a nice mix of traditional and pop with a good volume, it never drowns out the instructions given by Jillina. The set design has a Middle Eastern flavor and Jillina’s outfit compliments the colors nicely. The filming is of professional quality and not the “home video” style sometimes found. I would recommend it as a supplement to intermediate (and up) students’ regular practice routine.

E-mail Huraiva at huraiva@huraivaalimah.com