| | |  | REGGAETON VIDEOS | Home » » Introduction to Bellynesian | | | | | | | Description: | | Talented bellydancer Sonia presents some easy-to-follow instructions on the art with this informative program.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: HEALTH/FITNESS UPC: 894169002605 Manufacturer No: 9416900260 | | | Features: | |
• Talented bellydancer Sonia presents some easy-to-follow instructions on the art with this informative program. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: HEALTH/FITNESS Rating: NR Age: 894169002605 UPC: 894169002605 Manufacturer No: 9416900260
| | | Product Details: | | | Actors:
| Introduction to Bellynesian | | Director:
| na | | Format:
| Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen | | Language:
| English | | Number of Discs:
| 1 | | Studio:
| CIA - COPELAND INT'L | | Run Time:
| 68 minutes | | DVD Release Date:
| September 11, 2007 | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 6 reviews |
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- Mint | | | $19.08 | New | | | $49.99 | New | |
| New | |
| $12.40 | New | | | $12.41 | New | | | $12.94 | New | | | $13.12 | New | | | $13.43 | New | | | $13.43 | New | | | $13.90 | New | | | $14.27 | New | | | $14.40 | New | | | $14.51 | New | | | $14.71 | New | | | $15.41 | New | | | $16.13 | New | | | $16.49 | New | | | $16.77 | New | | | $17.95 | New | | | $17.99 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | New | | | $19.08 | New | | | $49.99 | New | |
| Used | |
| $17.97 | Used
- Mint | | | $19.08 | Used
- Mint | |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 6 customer reviews )
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22 of 22 found the following review helpful:
 Nothing Original hereNov 19, 2007
By Amanda Niehaus
I gave this DVD a chance because I was hoping for a good introduction to Polynesian dance for people who already bellydance. For some reason, that's what I got out of the description. Well, that's not what it is at all.
It's a list of very basic bellydance moves, with a few of what I assume to be basic Polynesian dance moves tacked on at the end (Although they look just like bellydance moves like hip circles and figure 8s.) (???) There is no real TEACHING of these moves -- they're really just demonstrated. So I kept having to ask myself, "what's the difference between this and a figure 8" or "what's the diff between this and a pelvic circle? It looks slightly different, but what is it?"
Is there a difference between the Polynesian step she teaches and a plain old generic hip circle? I still don't know. Is the accent different? Does it use different muscles? Don't know! That's never covered. All the moves "taught" on this dvd are common to any beginner level bellydance dvd, including the one the BDSS produced! If you have that DVD, you don't need this one.
I also expected there to be a section about common Polynesian rhythms or something about the drumming and music. (We know how important the rhythm is to bellydance, so I assumed the same might be true of Polynesian.) I still don't know because nothing like that was mentioned.
The dvd ends with a series of "combinations." I think this is probably the lamest part. It was like she threw out a deck of cards with moves written on them and just grabbed a handful from the deck. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason to the way they were put together, and there was no discussion about the movements fitting the music/drum beats.
Of the Bellydance Superstars dvd instructors, Sonia is my least favorite. You can't create a beginner level DVD and just expect to throw out terms like "glutes" and expect people to know WHICH part of the glute to use, or even how to do so! I spent months trying to figure out how to use my "glutes" for hip work -- without a live instructor poking you, it's hard to know which muscles to use.
This could have been a REALLY good dvd, but they didn't go to the effort to make it so. Too bad.
16 of 16 found the following review helpful:
 Not at all what I had hoped forOct 08, 2007
By Farah
I really had high hopes for this dvd but, sadly, it failed on all levels. The instruction is presented the completely outdated "follow my hips" format with Sonia doing a move but offering few - if any - descriptions of exactly how one is to DO what she just demonstrated. She also zips along from one thing to the next at a rapid pace. There is very little repetition making it it impossible to get anything into your muscle memory. This means keeping your dvd controller handy at all times so you can hit reverse and go back over the moves. Again and again and again. This is a major flaw in almost all of the BDSS instructional dvds and is extremely annoying.
One of the worst aspects of this dvd is the inability to distinguish what style Sonia is actually dancing in. One would think there would be a way to tell which dance style is which by watching Sonia cooly demonstrate the moves but there is really no way to do so. I've been belly dancing for 5+ years and ALL of the moves look exactly like belly dance moves set to Polynesian drums. Thinking I was just being my usual hyper-criticle self, I showed this dvd to a friend who is a professional Hula/Polynesian dancer and SHE couldn't tell the difference. Boy, did I ever feel vidicated!
Was are also never given any in depth explanations as to which moves are bellydance, which are Polynesian and which are "bellynesian". Nor does Sonia offer clear descriptions as to how the dance styles differ from each other. The subject is skimmed over as if it is of no importance whatsoever. Something that couldn't be farther from the truth. If you are going to "fuse" two vastly different dance styles and do it WELL, one needs to know exacty what it is they are fusing. Without knowing the distinct difference between belly dance and Polynesian dance all you are going to have is confusion not "bellynesian fusion". You are also in danger of insulting another culture. Here is a link to an article concerning just that: [...]
BTW, just throwing in my two cents here but enough of the "belly-fusing" already. Just because the world is full of varying dance styles doesn't mean they should all be combined with belly dance. It's getting bizarre. I mean, what's next "Belly Square Dance Fusion" or "Belly Clog Dance Fusion"???? I'm sorry to go off on a tangent but I had to get that off my chest.
Anyway, back to the original subject of this review: the "Intro to Bellynesian" dvd. When it comes to getting a chance to practice what Sonia has "taught" we are offered some combos to work with. Unfortunately, the combos follow no clear or sensible pattern. They seem like nothing more than random dance moves, chosen without rhyme or reason and strung together haphazardly. (Amanda described the combos best in her review) Yes, the combos will get you moving but they would have been much nicer they had a smooth flow. As presented, the combos felt jumbled and out of synch.
While Sonia is a talented dancer and certainly lovely to look at, she seems totally detached and uninvolved in the dance. There is simply no passion in what she is doing. Sonia's lack of expression makes it hard for me to relate to her as an instructor or become emotionally involved in her performances.
And speaking of the performances; this dvd lists TWO dance performances by Sonia but, in reality, it is the exact same dance performed in two different settings (one indoors and one outside in a lovely, palm grove). Thinking I was imagining things, I made my husband watch the performances twice just to make sure my eyes were not deceiving me. He agreed that both dances are completely identicle. All I can say is what a rip off! Mile Copeland certainly could have included a couple of different performances by Sonia instead of offering a rehash of only one dance. I'm quite sure that Sonia knows more than one "bellynesian" routine so what gives??
It also would have been nice to include at least one or two authentic Polynesian dance performances (done by real Polynesians!) so the viewers could see the how TRUE Polynesian dance varies from this new fangled "bellynesian" fusion thing. I guess that was too much to ask for.
The best thing about this dvd was the bonus cd of lovely Polynesian music that was included so at least I got something for the rather hefty price I paid. I still listen to the cd frequently. The dvd was donated to the Thrift Shop long, long ago.
 Own 100+ dancing videos....Apr 26, 2011
By Twiggy
"Lux"
This is a down to earth, gorgous intructor! I have been focusing primarily on exotic dancing/belly dancing/tribal/ etc,. and I love the energy in this video! She's got the edge I've been needing to incorporate in all my routines....
 new choreography and bonus cdSep 14, 2009
By Marie
first let me say that I ordered this dvd on another site - it is listed for the same price here and has some cover. my dvd came with bonus interviews and a cd of music from the ballet de tahiti -tamatu's polynesian dance ensemble. with these added features I feel this dvd is a good value, since the cd alone would probably cost $10 or more.
Sonia, a bellydancer, takes you through several tahitian dance moves, sometimes explaining how the movement is similar or different than a bellydance move. she also explores this further in a bonus interview with one of the ensemble's dancers. the main section has a warm up, takes you through different key steps, as mentioned above, and then you learn a choreography, strangely she has you do a cool down before you practice this choreography in its entirety, once in the studio and again with sonia who is in full costume. if you study tahitian dance and are determined to obtain all the dvds out there, get this because you will have another choreography to practice.
6 of 10 found the following review helpful:
BellynesianOct 04, 2007
By Terri Thompson
"World Fusion Dancer"
Nice dvd to add to your collection. There's nothing really new, but it's a nice reminder that all dance forms have common moves, and moves that can be used in other formats. Polynesian dancing has moves that can easily translate into belly dance to add dimension and variety.
Great footage of the islands and some beautiful scenery!
See all 6 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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