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It seems that a new belly dance DVD is produced every day, and most of those DVDs are produced in the U.S.A., and I consider this a positive change from the times when VHS tapes were hard to get. Information is available now for anyone who\u2019s willing to learn. However, I sometimes wonder how dancers are supposed to choose in the face of this overwhelming amount of information. For decades, the general consensus on intelligent choosing was reading the reviews written by other belly dancers. That would help you decide on the quality and content of the VHS\/DVD, but here are a couple of reasons why this method is not working as well as it used to:<\/p>\n
DVDs made by Producers:<\/p>\n By comparing the vision of the producer, it is easier to determine whether their products will be valuable to you. Considering my personal DVD collection, the recording and sound quality of each disk is acceptable to excellent. What I need to know before buying a product is: what kind of information is on the DVD and what is the thought behind this information? The vision of the producer creates the framework for the format. Reading up on the vision is faster and easier then reading the reviews of the DVDs one by one. As an example, here are five different viewpoints from producers:<\/p>\n Some companies specialize in belly dance while others have a broader view and create fitness DVDs. One company chooses local dancers nominated by fellow artists, while another wants to give recognition to the international stars of belly dance. There are pros and cons for every one of them and you can use this information to narrow your search. <\/p>\n DVDs made by dancers:<\/strong><\/p>\n There are several DVDs that are used repeatedly. They contain information that is interesting for belly dancers, regardless of level. They are easy to use and put in a format that makes them suitable for short or long practice sessions. Not surprisingly, professional dancers have made most of these DVDs. My absolute favorites for practice are:<\/p>\n These give me a good crossover between belly dance and working out, and they contain information to which I constantly return. Remember: just because they are my<\/i><\/b> favorites won\u2019t necessarily make them your favorites too! The dancers themselves produced these DVDs, and it shows! <\/p>\n I will have to admit that the producers who are run by dancers, like IAMED, Cheeky Girls and World Dance New York also create good products that are geared toward dancers. To be able to sell a large amount of DVDs the producer has to make them attractive to non-Bellydancers. For me, this makes them less suitable for the Bellydancer who is not specifically interested in fitness, pleasing her husband, or looking for a way to feel sexy. <\/p>\n Production companies that are run by dancers understand what dancers are looking for and know how to create valuable and useful products for the dance community. I applaud their initiative, and I hope that they will continue to produce DVDs in the future! Remember to ask yourself each time you consider a purchase: who made this product and what was their motivation?\n<\/p>\n Have a comment? Use or comment section at the bottom of this page or Send us a letter!<\/a> Ready for more?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n![\"what?\"](\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/graphics\/snakeconfused.gif\")
One of the solutions is reading reviews for several similar DVDs written in one composite article, like some recent reviews appearing in the Gilded Serpent<\/span>. This is not a solution to the problem, merely an attempt to get a grip on the amount of DVDs out there. There\u2019s another way to determine the importance of a DVD for your collection that will save you valuable time: you can look at the source where the DVD was made and the vision behind the product. Most DVDs are produced by dancers, producers, or entrepreneurs who are both.<\/p>\n\n
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\nCheck the "Letters to the Editor<\/a>" for other possible viewpoints!<\/p>\n