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Product Description
The dance form known as Raqs Sharqi, or Oriental dance, has evolved over the past century, blending native elements of Egyptian baladi music and dance with Western artistic influences. Modern Oriental dance is shaped by many international influences, absorbing techniques from ballroom and Latin dance, ballet, jazz, even hip-hop. And yet, there still remains the feeling of Egypt at the heart of the dance: the openhearted emotion, the response to the music.
Modern Oriental dance is characterized by powerful technique, step combinations, floor patterns and a focus on choreography, as well as a contemporary musical sensibility. In this program, Ranya Renee, New York-based star performer and instructor of Egyptian style dance, teaches two Modern Oriental choreographies a beginner version and a longer intermediate/advanced version as the focus of this video program. Each choreography is broken into combinations that are taught step-by-step, with practice drills to get the movements of the choreographies into your body.
The two drills sections - beginner and intermediate/advanced enable you to repeat step combinations, built gradually so that you can climb the steps to mastery of a wide array of variations. A special section of the program gives you helpful hints on learning step combinations, so that you can build confidence as you learn more complex step sequences and integrate them into your muscle memory.
A vital part of Ranya's teaching method is its emphasis on musicality and on understanding the structure of Oriental dance music. Ranya points out important melodic and rhythmic features of the music accompanying each combination, helping you to sharpen your listening and counting skills, and learn how particular dance movements can express typical turns of melody and rhythm. You'll learn what to listen for, so you can respond to the music with feeling.
Ranya s holistic approach, focused on freeing your breath as you develop your physicality, will help you build connections between the music, your body, and your expression as a dancer. Special tips for performers are interspersed throughout, to coach you in relating to an audience, while executing the steps with a sense of drama and fun.
As part of the program, Ranya offers guidance in developing a strong dance posture and sense of alignment as a base for solid muscular support of new movements. Technique is described from the inside out, for a better understanding of how to fit the movements on your body, and to feel them in your core. A special technique review flow guides you through sequences of key bellydance vocabulary, classic warmup stretches, and exercises to condition the muscle groups used in Egyptian Oriental dance.
Review
5.0 out of 5 stars - Great Instruction for All Levels, March 21, 2009
By Alejandra Vernon (Long Beach, California)
(TOP 50 REVIEWER) (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)
This 165 minute Modern Oriental DVD is a marvelous way to learn the current Egyptian style of dance, with Ranya Renée, an internationally acclaimed performer and teacher, giving us a clear understanding of the technique, as only she can do. Ranya has a way of making her explanations visual. Her depth of knowledge and expertise combined with this clarity makes this a valuable bellydance DVD to own.
It starts with a Welcome that explains Egyptian dance and its history in an overview of what will be taught on this DVD, and then you get the basic posture, alignment, and technique in detail, as well as a good warm-up.
The choreographed piece comes in 2 levels. #1 is for beginners and is much simpler and shorter, #2 for advanced/intermediate. Both include a demonstration, a step by step breakdown and drills for practice. Ranya has a nice habit of saying left, right, left etc. so our feet don't get mixed up in fast passages and weight changes. The DVD concludes with a gorgeous costumed perfomance.
Dramatic and dazzling with her mane of red hair, Ranya is a delight to learn from and watch. She dedicates this DVD to her longtime teacher Yousry Sharif, who must be so proud of her! Music is excellent and authentic. --amazon.com (US)
5.0 out of 5 stars - A Must Have, July 30, 2009 By Anne-marie Sanchez, French Bellydancer, (Toulouse, France)
(REAL NAME)
Pour les amateurs de danse orientale égyptienne, ce DVD est fantastique.
Avec ce DVD, vous apprendrez une chorégraphie orientale moderne égyptienne.
Il contient toutes les informations nécessaires à l'apprentissage de ce style, à savoir la technique mais aussi et ce qui est caractéristique de ce style l'approche musicale et rythmique.
La chorégraphie enseignée « Layalina» comprend un large choix de mouvements typiques de ce style avec beaucoup de déplacements.
Elle est décomposée en 2 parties : le final (avec une version pour débutants et une version pour niveaux intermédiaires et avancés) et la chorégraphie en entier pour niveaux intermédiaires et avancés (final compris). 2 variantes avec voile pour l'entrée sur scène sont également proposées.
Pour chaque niveau, la chorégraphie est découpée en plusieurs segments avec une partie de démonstration, une partie qui explique pas à pas les combinaisons et une partie en musique pour pouvoir pratiquer ce qu'on vient d'apprendre.
Les segments étant de courte durée, il est facile d'apprendre au fur et à mesure.
A chaque combinaison de pas, Ranya Renéé donne un maximum d'informations sur la technique, la posture, les muscles sollicités, le rythme utilisé, la musicalité et l'expression ainsi que de nombreux conseils.
Pour chaque version (débutants et intermédiaires/avancés), une session d'entrainement reprenant l'ensemble des pas est également proposée.
Je suis danseuse orientale du style égyptien depuis 10 ans et je peux dire que la chorégraphie proposée est bien représentative de ce style.
La production de ce DVD est de grande qualité et contient énormément de matériel.
Le DVD se termine par la prestation en costume de scène de la chorégraphie enseignée.
Ranya Renée est une excellente danseuse et enseignante qui connaît et maîtrise parfaitement son sujet.
Spanish translation :
A todos los que aman el baile oriental egipcio, este DVD es fantástico.
Con este DVD, aprenderéis una coreografía oriental moderna egipcia. Tiene todos los elementos que se debe de conocer para este estilo, o sea la técnica pero también la descripción de los ritmos utilizados y el sentido de la música.
La coreografía se llama Layalina y esta compuesta de pasos típicos de este estilo con muchos desplazamientos.
Tiene 2 niveles de aprendizaje: uno para principiantes que aprenderán el finale y uno para intermediarios y avanzados que aprenderán la corografía entera incluyendo el finale con variaciones más difíciles. También se nos propone 2 variaciones de la entrada con velo.
Para cada nivel la coreografía esta recortada en varios segmentos con una parte de demostración, una parte que explica de forma detallada las diferentes combinaciones, y una parte de entrenamiento con música. Los segmentos son cortos de forma que se aprende fácilmente. A cada vez, Ranya Renée nos da un máximo de informaciones sobre la técnica, los muslos solicitados, los ritmos, la postura y muchos consejos.
Al fin de cada versión (principiante y intermediarios/avanzados) hay una sesión de entrenamiento que incluye todos los pasos aprendidos).
Yo soy bailarina de estilo egipcio desde hace 10 anos y puedo decir que esta coreografía representa muy bien este estilo.
La producción de este DVD es de grande calidad y contiene mucho material.
El DVD se acaba con Ranya Renée bailando la coreografía en traje de escenario.
Es excelente bailarina y se nota que conoce perfectamente el tema. --amazon.com (US)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase
I would agree this is a good Modern style Belly Dance instructional DVD. Unlike her Baladi one,this one does not get into the nitty gritty so much as it does go into drills and choreography. I prefer the Baladi one. Though, the beginners section in this DVD is very solid, the advanced in this DVD is actually a bit choreography dependent and actually modern cairo style is improvised. In places there are challenges but for the European market it can read as a bit unsophisticated and theatrical, leaving out the soulfulness and playful qualities.
A big complaint is the menu display, on both DVDs, they are untidy and slightly dyslexic in order and logic. It is a pain to use. Apart from that I do like Ranya's instructor delivery, explanation, fun element and physical break-down.
Ranya is a good dancer, there is quite a bit of American styling in her execution, and a good counter-balance with some Egyptian styling. I would argue that it is not entirely or authentically Egyptian - it cannot be - and that is part of the charm of the dance.
I would like to see people compare this DVD with those early 2000s DVDs of Raqia Hassan's, you will see similarities and differences. Both practitioners employ alot of Reda technique which differs from the Sha'abi and Raqs Baladi you find in Egyptian nightclubs, weddings and social occasions. And Ranya's American Cabaret Style Bellydance and theatrical roots can be detected in some of the execution.
A big complaint is the menu display, on both DVDs, they are untidy and slightly dyslexic in order and logic. It is a pain to use. Apart from that I do like Ranya's instructor delivery, explanation, fun element and physical break-down.
Ranya is a good dancer, there is quite a bit of American styling in her execution, and a good counter-balance with some Egyptian styling. I would argue that it is not entirely or authentically Egyptian - it cannot be - and that is part of the charm of the dance.
I would like to see people compare this DVD with those early 2000s DVDs of Raqia Hassan's, you will see similarities and differences. Both practitioners employ alot of Reda technique which differs from the Sha'abi and Raqs Baladi you find in Egyptian nightclubs, weddings and social occasions. And Ranya's American Cabaret Style Bellydance and theatrical roots can be detected in some of the execution.
Another great DVD by Ranya Renée. She is really the best at finding this fine balance between slowning down and explaining and then picking up speed and making you work.
This DVD focuses mainly on the choreography, so you need to have some basics: If you don't have her other DVD on the Baladi, get it now! It includes loads on technique and drills etc plus teaches about traditional belly dancing, which you should really know about before you get into the modern styles.
This DVD focuses mainly on the choreography, so you need to have some basics: If you don't have her other DVD on the Baladi, get it now! It includes loads on technique and drills etc plus teaches about traditional belly dancing, which you should really know about before you get into the modern styles.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
9 reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Great Instruction for All Levels
22 Mar 2009
This 165 minute "Modern Oriental" DVD is a marvelous way to learn the current Egyptian style of dance, with Ranya Renee, an internationally acclaimed performer and teacher, giving us a clear understanding of the technique, as only she can do. Ranya has a way of making her explanations visual, as in "your foot hitting the floor like your hand hitting a drum." Her depth of knowledge and expertise combined with this clarity makes this a valuable bellydance DVD to own.
It starts with a Welcome that explains Egyptian dance and its history in an overview of what will be taught on this DVD, and then you get the basic posture, alignment, and technique in detail, as well as a good warm-up.
The choreographed piece comes in 2 levels. #1 is for beginners and is much simpler and shorter, #2 for advanced/intermediate. Both include a demonstration, a step by step breakdown and "drills" for practice. Ranya has a nice habit of saying "left-right-left" etc., so our feet don't get mixed up in fast passages and weight changes. The DVD concludes with a gorgeous costumed perfomance.
Dramatic and dazzling with her mane of red hair, Ranya is a delight to learn from and watch. She dedicates this DVD to her longtime teacher Yousry Sharif, who must be so proud of her! Music is excellent and authentic, by Mohamed Ali.
It starts with a Welcome that explains Egyptian dance and its history in an overview of what will be taught on this DVD, and then you get the basic posture, alignment, and technique in detail, as well as a good warm-up.
The choreographed piece comes in 2 levels. #1 is for beginners and is much simpler and shorter, #2 for advanced/intermediate. Both include a demonstration, a step by step breakdown and "drills" for practice. Ranya has a nice habit of saying "left-right-left" etc., so our feet don't get mixed up in fast passages and weight changes. The DVD concludes with a gorgeous costumed perfomance.
Dramatic and dazzling with her mane of red hair, Ranya is a delight to learn from and watch. She dedicates this DVD to her longtime teacher Yousry Sharif, who must be so proud of her! Music is excellent and authentic, by Mohamed Ali.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Beyond Choreography
6 April 2009
Amazon Verified Purchase
Ranya Renee's "Modern Oriental" DVD is a single DVD focusing on Modern Oriental style of bellydance. The DVD is intended for intermediate dancers, or at minimum, beginner dancers with other classroom or DVD experience.
Ranya begins the DVD with a discussion of music for Oriental dance, and how it has changed over the years. These changes have affected how dancers respond to the music. The historical background provides the viewer with an understanding of what differentiates Modern Oriental from other styles of bellydance.
Ranya also includes a valuable section on how to best learn choreography. I put this into use already this weekend at a Yousry Sharif workshop (Ranya's dance mentor). This video, like her baladi DVD, includes a useful posture section.
Then Ranya teaches a choreography to Layalina by Yousry Sharif. First, she teaches the finale choreography, for beginners. Then she has an intermediate section with the entire song. Each section contains both choreographic instruction and practice, as well as drills to build ones skills. Ranya does not merely explain the movements, but she explains where your weight is, the "feeling" of the move, down to the angle of the head. Not only that, but she tells you why she wrote the choreography this way. She also discusses the music, and how the movements go with the music. The DVD is packed with so much more information than your typical choreography DVD, and Ranya's delivery is entertaining, never stiff or boring.
Ranya begins the DVD with a discussion of music for Oriental dance, and how it has changed over the years. These changes have affected how dancers respond to the music. The historical background provides the viewer with an understanding of what differentiates Modern Oriental from other styles of bellydance.
Ranya also includes a valuable section on how to best learn choreography. I put this into use already this weekend at a Yousry Sharif workshop (Ranya's dance mentor). This video, like her baladi DVD, includes a useful posture section.
Then Ranya teaches a choreography to Layalina by Yousry Sharif. First, she teaches the finale choreography, for beginners. Then she has an intermediate section with the entire song. Each section contains both choreographic instruction and practice, as well as drills to build ones skills. Ranya does not merely explain the movements, but she explains where your weight is, the "feeling" of the move, down to the angle of the head. Not only that, but she tells you why she wrote the choreography this way. She also discusses the music, and how the movements go with the music. The DVD is packed with so much more information than your typical choreography DVD, and Ranya's delivery is entertaining, never stiff or boring.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Great video for Modern Egyptian
13 April 2009
This is a fabulous video on modern Egyptian belly dance! It is for intermediate and advanced students, but it would be good material for a beginner to watch in order to understand the music and the dance concepts. I'm really looking forward to the next video in this series. The whole series will be required viewing for my students! These DVDs are packed with information! I like to watch DVDs through, take notes, then go back and work with them. You may want to do the same with Ranya's videos, because they have so much information that you will want to remember.
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