{"id":4602,"date":"2012-12-15T18:40:19","date_gmt":"2012-12-16T01:40:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/?p=4602"},"modified":"2012-12-15T18:50:36","modified_gmt":"2012-12-16T01:50:36","slug":"martha-sandra-amar-dvd-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2012\/12\/15\/martha-sandra-amar-dvd-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Who’s the Fairest of Them All?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Enchanting Bellydance Choreography by Sandra<\/h2>\n

Captivating Bellydance Choreography With Amar Gamal<\/h2>\n

\"Placeholder\"<\/p>\n

DVD reviews by Martha Duran<\/a>
\nposted December 15, 2012<\/span><\/h3>\n

Fairies are enchanting magical beings that many mortals would like to have the gift of seeing, and while I haven\u2019t seen any fairies personally, I felt that I was one of the luckiest of mortals recently when I had the opportunity to become enchanted by two new DVDs from skilled, talented, and perhaps enchanting, dancers. These two dancers seem to have captured the attention of all who need help with choreographic and performance skills.<\/p>\n

\"Sandra<\/p>\n

Enchanting Bellydance Choreography by Sandra<\/p>\n

The term \u201cenchanting\u201d is defined as capturing interest as if by a spell; on this DVD, produced by Hollywood Music<\/span>, Sandra<\/a><\/span> presents choreography to the musical arrangement \u201cYasmina\u201d played by the famed Al-Ahram Orchestra<\/span>. The production will capture audience\u2019s eyes, and yes, it will enchant them. It is an Egyptian-style choreography that Sandra teaches, step-by-step, in 8 combinations. <\/p>\n

The choreography is fitting for beginner-intermediate dancers who have knowledge of the fundamentals of Oriental dance. In my opinion, it is a useful choreography to learn and to keep in one\u2019s repertoire as a backup for last-minute performance engagements.<\/p>\n

First, Sandra gives a verbal introduction to her DVD; then, she goes over some veil technique without previous warm-ups or stretching. She also shares some useful tips regarding how to keep the veil off the floor and away from one\u2019s face. Some of the veil moves included are: the \u201cover toss\u201d, \u201cfull over-toss\u201d (both clockwise then counterclockwise) and the \u201cwaterfall\u201d. Sandra proceeds directly into combination number one of the choreography and then repeats it. Next, she reviews it from the top and repeats it a second time – after adding in the music. This is a convenient format because it lets the viewer learn the choreography after dancing along with this DVD several times.<\/p>\n

\u201cBedouin Princess\u201d is the name of the next veil movement that she teaches; again, she runs over combination number 2, and after teaching it, she goes over it with music, then puts together combinations 1 and 2.<\/p>\n

Sandra gives some interesting tricks and tips for maintaining balance in steps like the \u201cPivot Turn\u201d. She teaches the \u201c\u00be Shimmy-to-the-Side\u201d (including some muscle contractions) for combination number 3. After dancing along with her, performing combination one through three, she teaches you how to do a \u201cHair Toss\u201d that you will use in this combination (and later on, other combinations as well). She emphasizes making well-balanced turns and also shares some techniques she learned from her jazz dancing teacher to maintain balance, stay centered while turning, and land with better control. She adds these steps to combination number 4, reviewing all of the choreographed steps from the top.<\/p>\n

\u201cChest Circles\u201d are taught, being done on the downbeats. Learning motions of the hip with basic foot work is also part of the technique that is needed for combination number 5; she also used some intricate footwork that she had not taught in the technique section for this combination. It was the Grapevine Step, done in medium tempo, which can be difficult for absolute beginners to follow. After practicing combinations 1 through 5 all together, I noticed that Sandra does some changes in choreography, altering it a bit by adding some flair and flourishes that are fitting to a higher level of expertise that comes quite naturally to a more experienced Bellydancer.<\/p>\n

Combinations 6, 7, and 8 are described directly without technique being taught specifically for these sections. Some \u201cHair Tosses\u201d (done while on floor-level) are used in combination 6. However, it is not easy to get up or down to floor level, using the specific steps that Sandra teaches for combination 6.<\/p>\n

Combination number 7 repeats many of the movements already learned, with quick direction changes added. In combination 8 (the last combination you\u2019ll learn) some big movements and lots of footwork gives you the option of several different poses for the end of the choreography.<\/p>\n

I thought that the lighting and production of this DVD and the selection of music was more than satisfactory. You learn the steps along with song with which you\u2019re going to dance; so, it makes it easy to understand and assimilate the musical content of the song with the repeated run-throughs of the choreography.<\/p>\n

Sandra performs the whole choreography in a striking blue costume and later gives a bonus performance to \u201cBatwanes Beek\u201d by Setrak Sarkissian<\/span>. <\/p>\n

Rating: 4 zils<\/strong>
\n \"Zil
\n produced by Hollywood Music
\n and available here
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t \"Amar<\/p>\n

Captivating Bellydance Choreography With Amar Gamal <\/p>\n

If we look up the definition of the word \u201ccaptivating\u201d, the dictionary would state: \u201cto attract and hold by charm, beauty, or excellence\u201d. This is definitely an attractive DVD by the sought-after performer and worldwide instructor Amar Gamal<\/span>. Its graceful and elegant classical Egyptian styled choreography is taught by the beautiful Amar, displaying her well-known charm and excellence while she teaches 13 brief combinations.<\/p>\n

Amar starts off this DVD by giving a brief verbal introduction and by demonstrating her choreography.<\/p>\n

She begins with a relaxing yet invigorating stretch, warming up your body during the first section. Then, she repeats it, reviewing posture and alignment. This is a brief section in which she discusses proper placement of feet and legs, demonstrating 6 basic arm positions in classical Egyptian dance. By the time this section is over, I have cooled down; so, I need to warm up and stretch just a little more.<\/p>\n

I disagree with the order of the segments; I would have preferred to address first \u201cPlacement and Alignment\u201d, and second, the \u201cWarm-up Stretch\u201d section, followed by \u201cTechnique and Combinations\u201d. <\/p>\n

However, for some reason, you warm-up first, then stand still for some minutes, posing and aligning yourself before going over some classical Egyptian style dance steps, learning the 13 different combinations to give form to a complete choreography. By the third time I viewed this DVD, I skipped the placement and body alignment part to prevent my cooling down.<\/p>\n

Amar Gamal emphasizes arm placement and footwork on the technique segment, teaching steps like: \u201cFront and Back Grapevines\u201d, \u201cCircles and Walks\u201d, \u201cHip Twist with Piston Hips\u201d and Arabesques. She is clear in how the step should be executed, movement-by-movement. For example, in the \u201cHip Twist with Piston Hips\u201d, she teaches you first how to \u201cHip Twist\u201d, then how to do \u201cPiston Hips\u201d, gradually putting them both together.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t Combinations 1 through 5 are simple and easy to follow, and you can learn them from the first time you dance along with this DVD. The format is simple: first you learn step-by-step the combinations; then, after each combination is complete, you have the opportunity to run over it with music. After that, you connect it with the rest of the combinations of this classical Egyptian piece and go over it with music.<\/p>\n

\u201cTraveling\u201d, \u201cBacking-up Saidi Step\u201d, \u201cBack-Grapevine\u201d with the \u201cHip Twist\u201d, Front-Grapevine with \u201cShoulder-Shimmies\u201d are steps used in the first 5 sections. I noticed that on combinations 6, 7, and 12, the combinations are named by the most prominent \u201cStepping Shimmies\u201d with layers of \u201cScissor Steps\u201d and \u201cHip Slides\u201d. Dr. Samy Farag\u2019s song, \u201cWa Marret El Ayam\u201d, is used for the performance. <\/p>\n\n\n