Let's Work With a DVD!

[Amanda (was Aziyade)]

So welcome to the video practice thread. It might be helpful if we were all working with the same video, but for now tell us which one you're working with, and comment on the exercises/choreography. What's working for you? What isn't? Are you skipping any sections? Why? Are you adding anything or changing anything?

Discuss...

Since I've been away from dance for a while, I wanted to get back into drilling and getting my technique back the way it was before I had my baby. So I chose Cheeky Girls dvd "Drills Drills Drills" by Michelle Joyce.

The dvd starts out with some strengthening drills. I love the standing glute strengthening exercise, and I find myself doing this at home a lot. It seems to help my low back. The one that kills me is the series of exercises based around the Pilates position "The Plank" -- I can't seem to hold my own weight up for very long at all anymore I don't skip this section, but I really want to!! lol.

Next is the individual movement isolations drill, where you vary your foot positions while doing a series of basic moves: hip lifts, figure 8s, pelvic circles, etc. The specific isolations in this dvd are familiar to anyone who's studied Suhaila method or Tribal, but the concept you can use with any movement. There are two speeds to do these drills, and if I'm short on time, I've been doing JUST the slower speed, to really focus on form and good technique.

The zig zag drills are good, as are the layering drills. I'll jump around and do different ones on different days.

There is a finger cymbal practice session which I have been skipping. One, because I'm already pretty good with cymbals, and two because the only time I get to practice is when the baby is asleep, and finger cymbals and sleeping baby are not a good combination! I also sometimes skip the shimmy drills because that's not a target area for concern for me.

Also there is a choreography of drills, that I'm ashamed to say I've never actually done all the way through! Maybe I'll make that my goal for the weekend!

 

[Yame]

The only DVD I'm interested in working with right now is this: Independent Movies Delivered to Your Doorstep - Film Baby

I've long ago lost patience with DVDs and have found myself unable to work with them. It's not that I don't like practicing. I love practicing on my own. But the slow pace and the breakdowns of DVDs, while wonderful in the beginning, nowadays only bore me and I end up just wanting to go off and do my own thing.

I really want to work with this DVD, but I haven't been able to get past my current DVD boredom yet. If anyone else is interested in working with it, please let me know, let's set up some goals so I can push myself to work on it. I'm thinking of doing one section per week, then rotating them. So week 1 is dabke, week 2 khaliji, week 3 saidi, week 3 sufi and then going back to dabke on week 4 and so on and so forth.

 

[Amanda (was Aziyade)]

The only DVD I'm interested in working with right now is this: Independent Movies Delivered to Your Doorstep - Film Baby

Karim's folk dance dvd!! That's on my list to buy. I'll bump it to the top and get back with you when it arrives.

I've long ago lost patience with DVDs and have found myself unable to work with them. It's not that I don't like practicing. I love practicing on my own. But the slow pace and the breakdowns of DVDs, while wonderful in the beginning, nowadays only bore me and I end up just wanting to go off and do my own thing.

Wait a minute -- aren't you on a dvd?? lol!

I know what you mean about the pacing. I like the dvds that offer the instruction or tutorial as a separate section or chapter.

I'm thinking of doing one section per week, then rotating them. So week 1 is dabke, week 2 khaliji, week 3 saidi, week 3 sufi and then going back to dabke on week 4 and so on and so forth.

I think that's a great idea! One question -- is the Sufi section common zikr movements, or is it whirling?

 

[Yame]

Wait a minute -- aren't you on a dvd?? lol!

I know what you mean about the pacing. I like the dvds that offer the instruction or tutorial as a separate section or chapter.

Why yes, I am! LOL

The funny thing is, in theory I do prefer DVDs that are packed with information, instruction, and breakdown. For a really long time as a beginner and intermediate student I longed for that, and it took a while to start finding DVDs that are as thorough as I'd like. But I think by the time I started finding them, I was already getting bored with DVDs, so I ended up working with them once or twice and then never again.

I think that's a great idea! One question -- is the Sufi section common zikr movements, or is it whirling?

I haven't even looked that far into the DVD yet, I'm ashamed to say. I'll let you know for sure once I have.

 

[Ariadne]

Since I've been away from dance for a while, I wanted to get back into drilling and getting my technique back the way it was before I had my baby. So I chose Cheeky Girls dvd "Drills Drills Drills" by Michelle Joyce.

I'm kinda the opposite of you Aziyade. My teacher has given me plenty of drills to work on between classes so I need a DVD that is just follow along dancing to just get me moving and inspired. I have about 10 DVDs I've purchased for just that purpose (overkill much?) but I think I'll be starting with "Cocktail" with Tanna Valentine.

Alright, now to actually DO it.

 

[Shanazel]

It has just at this second occurred to me that I now have a computer that will (GASP!) play dvds. That means...




...a dangerous new shopping item

 

[lexiconlush]

I'm kinda the opposite of you Aziyade. My teacher has given me plenty of drills to work on between classes so I need a DVD that is just follow along dancing to just get me moving and inspired. I have about 10 DVDs I've purchased for just that purpose (overkill much?) but I think I'll be starting with "Cocktail" with Tanna Valentine.

Alright, now to actually DO it.

If you need a buddy to work through Cocktail with, I'm in. It definitely gets you moving and thinking about how to interpret the AmCab classics.

 

[Ariadne]

You're on.

I used the beginner practice flow yesterday since I didn't have my class notes (loaned them to a friend). I think I'll want to review her movement descriptions again before repeating. It's been to long.

 

[lexiconlush]

If I remember correctly, the hipwork and travelling steps sections of the movement section were the longest. Reviewing is a good idea, the actual workout is a few notches up from the beginner practice flow.

 

[Ariadne]

Yep, I've reviewed it before I'm just having trouble remembering her vocabulary so I had to watch her to figure out what she was talking about before following.

I should probably mention that I have lousy health so I'll be working it in slowly. Two years ago I could have done this without even thinking. Eh, that's life. My goal right now is to get myself dancing more then my drill homework.

So what is your goal with the DVD? How can I help?

 

[da Sage]

I've been putting this off, but I'm posting here just so I'll be subscribed to the thread, and for accountability reasons.

I believe I have both the "Cocktail" and the "Drills Drills Drills" videos. I'm seriously behind with EVERYTHING, but haven't belly-danced at all for a few weeks, so my goal is simply to do at least 10 minutes of either one at least 5 days a week - starting tomorrow (Tuesday).

 

[lexiconlush]

Yep, I've reviewed it before I'm just having trouble remembering her vocabulary so I had to watch her to figure out what she was talking about before following.

I should probably mention that I have lousy health so I'll be working it in slowly. Two years ago I could have done this without even thinking. Eh, that's life. My goal right now is to get myself dancing more then my drill homework.

So what is your goal with the DVD? How can I help?

The very short term goal is to not look sloppy for a mini-workshop I am going to this weekend. The long term goal is to feel comfortable dancing again. My ankle strength needs to be re-bulit after an accident.

I've been putting this off, but I'm posting here just so I'll be subscribed to the thread, and for accountability reasons.

I believe I have both the "Cocktail" and the "Drills Drills Drills" videos. I'm seriously behind with EVERYTHING, but haven't belly-danced at all for a few weeks, so my goal is simply to do at least 10 minutes of either one at least 5 days a week - starting tomorrow (Tuesday).

I'm cool with 10 minutes a day. How does starting with the beginner flow sound for this week?

 

[da Sage]

I'm cool with 10 minutes a day. How does starting with the beginner flow sound for this week?

I'm guessing that we will all have different time goals...I'll jump in with you on the beginner flow.

I hope your ankle will be back up to par soon...joint injuries are never fun.

 

[Safran]

Hmm, I'm getting my Drillsx3 DVD back on Monday, maybe I should join in :think:

 

[da Sage]

I started with the Cocktail beginner flow today...I feel tired and awkward. In the future, I must discipline myself to pull it out earlier in the day. But still, it's a start!

My earlier self-righteous statements that "if you *really* want to dance, you will MAKE the time for real classes (or at least self-study)" have come back to haunt me. So for me, it's a fresh start. Even though it will be tough, I will get my dancing in five times a week.

 

[Ariadne]

Even though it will be tough, I will get my dancing in five times a week.

:clap:

Thank you for inspiring me even though I have to restart next week. There is a cold going through that has "slain" everyone.

 

[da Sage]

:clap:

Thank you for inspiring me even though I have to restart next week. There is a cold going through that has "slain" everyone.

Getting sick can really knock you down. I had something NASTY first thing in January, which put a temporary damper on my plan to get more physical in the New Year.

I danced my 10 minutes of the beginner flow again tonight. I'm finding that I feel a need to de-emphasize my hand/arm work so I can focus on my lower spine posture and the (relatively simple) footwork. I really am Not Good at footwork; what Tanna does is Not Hard, but I still feel awkward.

 

[atisheh]

Getting sick can really knock you down. I had something NASTY first thing in January, which put a temporary damper on my plan to get more physical in the New Year.

I danced my 10 minutes of the beginner flow again tonight. I'm finding that I feel a need to de-emphasize my hand/arm work so I can focus on my lower spine posture and the (relatively simple) footwork. I really am Not Good at footwork; what Tanna does is Not Hard, but I still feel awkward.

10 minutes! I like the idea... sounds like what I do when I try to get writing done.

I suck at footwork too. It's the thing that's absolutely the hardest for me to pick up in class. I can follow along with isolations, but I trip all over myself when it comes to footwork. So maybe it makes sense to work on that with videos?

 

[Safran]

Haha, this thread is prophetic... some time ago I lent out my first Drillsx3 DVD and it went missing. I had another, also lent it out (this time in a trustworthy way) and was about to retrieve it today...

..and on Saturday the missing DVD miraculously turned up!!! I guess I have no excuses any more, now that I am a proud owner of Drillsx6 :lol:

 

[da Sage]

After today's stint I feel SLIGHTLY less awkward and stiff. Tanna's stylization looks great on her, but might look busy on some other dancers; right now I'm still focusing on posture and isolation (I used to be great at isolation...now I have to work hard at it). Perhaps next week I'll feel ready to "pretty it up" more, and decide how well Tanna's style works for me.

How is everyone else doing? You are probably all practicing more than I am (or at least pulling off the movements better), so speak up and let me know what you think!

p.s.: You might assume that I was still practicing on days that I didn't post...but really I've *not* been practicing every day. I practiced and posted tonight just to get "back up on that horse". So do your 10, 30, or 60 minutes - and post in celebration!