Why do we use dvds

[jenc]

Prompted by the many requests for a universal d vd for those without a teacher
1. To learn basic technique
eg Jenna Basics and Beyond

2 To drill basic technique
To perfect or revisit and perfect technique. Maybe take an easy day in the middle of pushing yourself.
eg Luscious

3 To learn layers, compound moves and combinations
Compound moves take elements of different basic movements and layer them togerther and move from one to te other fast enough to make an organic whole, generally within one or two beats. Combinations string together compound or simple movements generally to the length of one musical phrase.

4 To drill either complete combinatons,or movements that whilst not necessarily bellydance moves will facilitate transitions and the abilty to multi-task ( I knew there was a reason why more women than men bellydance!!)
eg Drills, Drills, Drills

5 To learn choreographies

To pick up stylisations

6 To learn about rythmns and appropriate steps
eg Heartbeat of Bellydance

7 To increase stamina - the increasing phenomeon of bellydance for stamina - some of which I can atest fulfill other categories above
eg Neon's Rythms which will also teach you about drum rythmns, and is very useful for drilling to increase flexibility and muscle memory.

I have not even begun to touch on specialist dvds - learning folkloric, props, or arms, entrances whatever.

but if you are thinking of buying a dvd or just asking for recommendations from forum members - please consider what you want or need!!

 

[PracticalDancer]

One thing I have found is that if I attend a workshop, I often quickly forget what the instructor tried to teach me. But, if that instructor sells a DVD that has the same combinations, choreography, or technique, then having the DVD allows me to "take the lesson home." It won't offer the real-time feedback or correction; but, it does offer a reminder at least.

Regards,

Anala

 

[shiradotnet]

Some people use DVD's to learn skills that their teachers don't teach. For example, if someone wants to learn performing skills but has a teacher who doesn't really teach those, they might want to buy DVD's that teach it such as Michelle Joyce's Secrets of the Stage series.

 

[kayshier]

Some people use DVD's to learn skills that their teachers don't teach. For example, if someone wants to learn performing skills but has a teacher who doesn't really teach those, they might want to buy DVD's that teach it such as Michelle Joyce's Secrets of the Stage series.

agreed.
but just for general informatin, is that dvd series worth buying?

 

[PriscillaAdum]

Where I live, 98 percent of the instructors have never taken classes from a qualified instructor themselves, and yet many of them are teaching within six months. I've been one of the fortunate students in my area who has taken regular weekly classes with such awesome dancers as Suha Azar, and more recently Yemaya (of Oregon), neither of whom are teaching in my area anymore. So, I buy DVD's to keep me motivated and to learn new or innovative technique. I'm not a big fan of workshops. I've been to many of them, but I find that I can't learn much in just a couple of hours in a room with 100 other people. I would rather buy a DVD.
I have to say also that while I find the more advanced DVD's helpful, I don't know how beneficial begginer DVD's are. I've seen students who've learned to dance solely from DVD's and in many cases their technique and posture are atrocious, since they've had nobody to correct them. It is my opinion that all begginer level DVD's should include a disclaimer that says they are definitely not a substitute for a live instructor.


Regards
Priscilla

 

[jenc]

Well my first teacher (with whom i am doing her second year class after missing a year and going elsewhere) is proud of her record of workshops with the great and her 14 years experience. BUT she has never mentioned posture. When I asked about it in first year, she said beginners didn't want too much texchnique - they only wanted to learn a choreo.

If i hadn't gone to dvds, I wouldn't have a clue about posture (and other things)

 

[teela]

1. Due to living so far from any instructor, DVD's help me continue learning.
2. I am able to attend workshops with instructors such as Dr. Mo that I might night be able to go to under normal circumstances.
3. It allows me to experience a variety of instructors and methods to find the one that I would want to take workshops etc from when I get the chance.
4. It allows me to see different interpretation of certain pieces of music.

 

[Kashmir]

None of the above.

I use DVDs to follow up after taking workshops - that is I do the workshop with the tutor then use the DVD to jog my memory. (I can't imagine picking up a DVD from a teacher I haven't done classes or workshops with and "teaching myself" - DVDs are limited and 2 dimensional resources)

I also use them for background information (ie non-movement related) and watching good performers. With the latter I look for stylization, transitions and arms mostly.

 

[PriscillaAdum]

I've heard that from a couple of bellydance teachers too, that posture is no biggie. But the truth is that it is important in any form of dance. And so is learning proper technique especially at a begginer level. While it is true that DVD's are a great tool when they are used to complement live classes, they do have the drawback that they cannot correct the mistakes that many students make when they are just starting out. I know I did, and alot of things that I had learned from begginer DVD's were later corrected by live instructors, much to my surprise and dismay.

Regards
Priscilla

Well my first teacher (with whom i am doing her second year class after missing a year and going elsewhere) is proud of her record of workshops with the great and her 14 years experience. BUT she has never mentioned posture. When I asked about it in first year, she said beginners didn't want too much texchnique - they only wanted to learn a choreo.

If i hadn't gone to dvds, I wouldn't have a clue about posture (and other things)

 

[jenc]

If you have good natural posture, then BD posture is no big thing but I have seen students whose hips were wooden because they were not lifted enough in the upper body.

My teacher is petite. i imagine she has always stood up straifght. I am in my larte 50s and have alwaysslouched, so that i have a much better line when i stand up straight, not to mention the moves come easier. I had to figure that one out for myself though.

 

[kayshier]

when you don't have the luxury of a good live teacher sometimes the dvd helps.

i have found myself buying more performance dvd's recently rather than instructional though.

 

[catwomyn]

I'm a rather slow learner for many things and find dvds useful to drill something until I really know it.

I've been working with zills lately and most musically savvy people will go ok, here's the pattern, here it is again. Let's all play it and by the way here are half a dozen variations. I need to go over and over the pattern and play it with movements and then the music and then both before I'm halfway competent with it. With a dvd, I can watch Michelle Joyce play zill patterns 50 times in row. In person Michelle would long ago have bopped me over the head and run away, lol!

 

[da Sage]

when you don't have the luxury of a good live teacher sometimes the dvd helps.

i have found myself buying more performance dvd's recently rather than instructional though.

Me too. I love seeing new dancers, and some of the best dancers.

I think this is especially valuable for me as we have a strong regional style, and I can't travel much to learn from non-local dancers.

 

[Nabila Nazem]

Sorry to rant, but "posture no biggie" ... WHAT??? Criminal! And these folks call themselves teachers? This makes me SO sad ... posture is one of the most fundamental issues in ANY dance form.

Okay, done ranting!

 

[adiemus]

I have to add that if you're a visual learner (like me) it's great to use an instructional DVD to review the movement sequence (breakdown) of a movement, especially if you can play it in slow motion.
I also like the ability to go over and over and over a segment until I can visualise it in my mind (this can get boring in a teaching session!).
And finally, sometimes it's helpful to get another metaphor or a different breakdown of the movement from someone else.

I also have a bunch of DVD's with performances by dancers - better than YouTube ANY day! They're much more for inspiration and because I love to watch dancing.

 

[PriscillaAdum]

You'd be surprised at the number of teachers who don't emphasize correct posture in their classes, and sadly it really shows in their students. In my area, we can pretty much tell at a glance who has taken classes with whom just by looking at their posture (or lack of it)

Regards
Priscilla

Sorry to rant, but "posture no biggie" ... WHAT??? Criminal! And these folks call themselves teachers? This makes me SO sad ... posture is one of the most fundamental issues in ANY dance form.

Okay, done ranting!

 

[jenc]

I have always assumed that my teacher never had posture issues cos she is tiny so doesn't see why we should!!

 

[alosha]

i remember asking my first teacher if i was supposed to feel a crunching sensation in my back when i did chest circles. she said it was normal, and would go away in time.....

...just one of the reasons i quit dancing for so long...she was the only teacher here!

 

[Strawberrysmoothie]

I think DVDs are a great idea. I've just purchased Ariellah belly dance drills over christmas and I've learned a lot more from doing that DVD than from my class. Don't get me wrong, my class is great and I think my teacher is very dynamic and makes the class fun. Still, she never told us the basic thing of the correct bellydance posture and how this stops you hurting your back. Those are things every belly dancer needs to know and its pot luck if you actually get that information in a live class setting.

Also, the great thing about DVD, like another poster, I'm a very visual person and like detailed instruction as 'what and why' I'm doing a particular drill - frankly you don't get that in 60 minute dance class. I think if anyone wants to sharpen their techique they need to do this outside of the class room setting, dvd's for me are the way to go.

Sorry for the rambling, I'm pretty hyper from my kickboxing class.

 

[gisela]

Interesting to read. I know that lots of people depend on dvd's and they seem to get a lot out of it. Personally, I have never been able to relate to a tv/computer screen the same way as with a live teacher. Maybe I just haven't tried a really, really good dvd... I doubt very much that I would have taken up bellydancing if real classes weren't available, don't think I even would have gotten the idea in the first place. (BTW this is not at all meant as a put down to dvd's, just another perspective.)
Our troupe were learning a dance through dvd, because we don't all live in the same city, so the choreographer filmed it and sent out to us. I learnt the steps, but didn't REALLY get it until we were able to meet up and practice together. There were sooo many things I had missed. I am also a very visual person but maybe too visual, like needing 3 dimensions to understand, so maybe a screen takes away something for me?
bla bla bla sorry rambling...