Product Description

The Fantasy Bellydance instructional series consists of 3 DVDs: Each program teaches 3 dances by 3 instructors. Dance styles presented range from Classic Bellydance to Fusion, Tribal, and Gothic. The instructional level of all three DVDs is intermediate-advanced.

Each choreography conjures up an evocative archetypal image, and emphasizes story-telling through dance. In addition to a full breakdown of every choreography, each segment includes a demonstration of each dance, as well as a full theater performance in costume.

Additional features enrich each instructor's section, such as tips on props use (hand veils, sword, Isis wings), conditioning for dance, expression and projection, developing meaningful dance, creating sacred space for dance, the value of dance as a personal ritual, and more.)

Instruction includes step-by-step breakdown of each dance and practice with music (or music and vocal prompts) for each combination.

1. FANTASY BELLYDANCE: MYSTERY - Transformation, secret realms, illusive mystery with a dark edge.
Dance 1: Serpent (Neon)
Dance 2: Shadow - Tribal Fusion (Sera)
Dance 3: Phoenix (Wings of Isis) (Ayshe )

2. FANTASY BELLYDANCE: DESIRE - Sensuality, passion, enticement, goddess.
Dance 1: Nymph (Blanca)
Dance 2: Salome - Tribal Fusion (Naraya)
Dance 3: Temple Priestess - Tribal Fusion (Darshan)

3. FANTASY BELLYDANCE: MAGIC - Regal presence, secret knowledge, powerful spell.
Dance 1: Enchantress - (Autumn Ward)
Dance 2: Warrior Princess (sword) - (Isidora Bushkovski )
Dance 3: Kali /Creator-Destroyer- Tribal Fusion / Gothic (Ariellah)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #67833 in DVD
• Brand: STRATOSTREAM
• Released on: 2008-03-25
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 120 minutes

Features

• Dance styles presented range from Classic Bellydance to Fusion, Tribal, and Gothic. The instructional level is intermediate-advanced. Each choreography conjures up an evocative archetypal image, and emphasizes story-telling through dance. In addition to a full breakdown of every choreography, each segment includes a demonstration of each dance, as well as a full theater performance in costume.

Customer Reviews

The Best of the Best, Vol. 1

One of 3 fantastic DVDs for advanced/intermediate dance students, this one is entitled "Mystery," and the instructors are masters in the art of belly dance. All 3 choreographic pieces are unique and whether you're learning the intricate, marvelous choreography, or just reveling in the intense beauty of the performances, this DVD is worth its weight in gold. It is wonderfully produced, with excellent lighting and backgrounds, as well as lovely costuming and music.

The first piece is "Serpent" by Neon. My admiration for Neon knows no bounds. Her technical skill, her grace and beauty, and her sheer intelligence and know-how in all aspects of belly dance and its production are amazing. Here in "Serpent" she looks like an exotic jungle flower undulating in the breeze, wearing a costume that seems as if it was created by nature.

The second piece is "Shadow" by Sera. Sera is stunning in this dance, with isolation movements that are executed to such perfection one almost thinks one is looking at time-lapse photography. This is an incredible piece of choreography, and a privilege to be able to learn it from such an expert dancer. You'll need a lot of patience with yourself though! Don't expect to look exactly like Sera even after a ton of practice! She is downright magnificent.

The third piece is "Phoenix" by Ayshe. This is a "Wings of Isis" piece with all is shimmering, glamorous magic. If you're using "wings" you'll love Ayshe's tips on how to make them work for maximum effect, and the choreography in this piece is meant to tell the story of the rising Phoenix and has a few props that Ayshe explains too. It's a beautiful work and a delight to watch.

This is a superb DVD, with a total running time of 2 hours, a wealth of instruction, and a feast for the eyes for anyone who appreciates the art of belly dance.

Let the story unfold......
Fantasy Belly dance
Mystery- this is one of a series of three performance dvds.
Three fabulous New York belly dance artists; each with their own story to depict their character. This is modern fantasy belly dance, belly dance taken into a theatrical approach with a story to tell. Each dancer has included a great bonus-section to include dance combinations and choreography broken down for learning! Ayshe includes tips on dancing with 2 sets of wings and choreography with and without the Isis Wings.

Neon-fabulous in a beautiful, slithery performance depicting the inner serpent in each one of us. Her story of the serpent is incredible, speaking of our secret self and our inner strength gained by all the challenges in life. Her dance tells the story vividly through her fluidity and combinations of accents.

Ayshe the Phoenix - A magical performance with Isis Wings; spell binding interpretation of the life of the mythical bird, who represents rejuvenation and good luck. The life stage of the bird are represented in three sections from birth, to flight , and the final resting and completion of the circle of life, bursting into flames, yet leaving behind new hope, in a next generation . Ayshe begins her choreography on the floor, her floor work, and back bends are impressive. Her dancing in wings is so much as a bird in flight; her spins are clean, and enviable!

Sera the Shadow - this is tribal and earthy performance in contrast to the other performances. Her story is powerful as is evident in her dance. Sera connects totally with mother earth also beginning her routine on the floor, and her floor work is fabulous, her staccato moves set to new wave/industrial tones turn her belly dancing into a signature all her own. I enjoyed immensely her interpretation of the power of "Shadow" as her body works in total isolation to define each move distinctly.

This is an enjoyable presentation with three beautiful, powerful dancers, each with a style of their own. A compilation of modern fantasy belly dance, sultry, mythical and alluring with the added bonus of choreography breakdown.

I may not use the choreographies BUT....
This is one of a 3 part series--each volume features 3 different dancers. In this case, Neon is the serpent, Sera the Shadow, and Ayshe is the Phoenix.

The pro's: The length is a great value for the money, the variety of dance is good, the costuming is beautiful, the instruction is solid. I did not care for the choreographies as much on this DVD as the others, but I could use SOMEthing--actually, several things--from each choreography, and isn't that what dancing is all about--interpretation and putting it together? Considering that if I walk away from a workshop with two things, I consider it good, I walked away with a list of things I said, "oh!! I like that" or "Oh! I can change that a bit!!", so that is incredibly useful. It is also geared for intermediate/advanced dancers, so that is such a pleasure. This is also a DVD where you can get cabaret-style, wings, AND a tribal fusion lesson in one place.

The con: The camera is a bit, on all three, hyperactive on performances, whipping about at times and changing angles. This is more of an aesthetic thing--you can see the sides of the stage, the lighting rigs, which is meant to be seen but my ADHD mind finds it distracting.

Neon's piece is first. Her costuming is unique and lush, as always, and her teaching is always clear. The dance is more arm intensive with the unfurling of fingers, decorative turns, etc. I honestly did not care for how the dance fit to the music, but her instruction quality is superb here and when I played a faster beat of music over the choreography just to see, I liked it very much. This is the one I found many pieces that I said, "well, if I alter that a bit more to suit me...hmm...I like this a lot."


The second piece is "Shadow" by Sera. Where Neon's is more fluid, Sera's is isolation driven. The previous reviewer was right--practice, practice, practice on this one. While the isolations may not be for everyone, they can be interpreted in so many ways and altered to fit a tribal fusion style, or even used as an experiment in trying something new.

The third piece is "Phoenix" by Ayshe. This is done with wings, so if you have no experience with wings, this is a good tutorial, and Ayshe also has a DVD on the topic. Her performance, as always, is artistic and more modern in style, and incorporates many aspects that can be taken from to enhance your dance.

Each dancer, by the way, gives the story behind the creation of the dance, which is a way to get a behind the scenes look at the creation of a dance as well as get inspired for ways to look at a song for your own choreography.

At over 2 hours, this is a great value for the money. Again, you may not chose to use the choreographies, but there are aspects of each dance choreography that are usable in many aspects.