Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #114205 in DVD

Customer Reviews

Thank you Ava Fleming
After owning nearly 30 instructional dvds, taking some classes and seminars from a variety of instructors, each one claiming to do it the "right" way, I can say that I have probably taken at least one thing from every one of them, but this dvd finally makes some sense of it all. Ava Fleming explained that there are different levels of skill, and fundamentals using a "skeletal" move or a "muscular" movement that intiates with muscle contractions that are much more subtle,and when I applied her methods I amazed myself at what I could actually accomplish using her well explained techniques.I was blown away with the variations I was capable of after watching this just one time! All I can say is, Thank You Ava Fleming for making this all clear for me. This has been the most valuable addition to what I have purchased previously. She is able to communicate very well and demonstrates with enough time to absorb and apply the techniques. My only criticism of this dvd is that the segments are not broken down enough within the program so you can't skip to the sections that you want to review and concentrate on easily. I got the Sizzlin Torso also and same applies!!One viewing and I could isolate my chest (slides)at "Level 3" just expanding the rib cage on each side by controlled breathing-Holy Cow!Her DVDs were a revelation. Awesome!

Finally -- an explanation about isolations!
I really appreciated Ava's explanations of skeletal- and muscular-driven movements. Even though I've studied Middle Eastern dance for more than six years, I didn't fully understand why certain moves looked so different when performed by different dancers. For example, when some dancers do umis the move looks strong and bold. When other dancers do umis, they look more fluid and soft. I was always envious of dancers who could create the softer, sinuous movements within their torsos. Thanks to Ava, I now know that those dancers must be using muscular-driven movements.

My only complaint with the video (and the reason I rated it 4 stars and not 5) is that I would've liked to learn a final choreography that used both skeletal- and muscular-driven movements. I think this would have helped bring things full circle. Ava does some brief combinations at the end of chapter 8 but doesn't explain how she's driving each movement. She also does a final performance in costume that is mesmerizing, but again, doesn't explain the movements.

This video is ideal for beginners who have a basic Middle Eastern dance vocabulary and would like to understand more about how each move breaks down, especially if they've been struggling with one in particular (Ava covers mayas, figure eights, hip twists, and umis). It's also good for more experienced dancers who want to add greater nuance and style within their performances.

A must for bellydancers and teachers!
This is not a workout dvd
This is not a drill, drill dvd

This is a very serious dvd that contains a very important information about the different ways we can move our body in order to improve our dancing.

Este dvd contiene informacion muy valiosa para estudiantes de danza arabe y profesores que deseen entender de una manera mas profunda las diferentes vias que podemos utilizar para realizar determinados movimientos, obteniendo diferentes resultados.