BellyDance: Show Basics for Beginners (REGIONLESS) (NTSC) [DVD]

A classic bellydance show in the American Cabaret tradition consists of 6 parts: entrance, veil dance, party dance, ciftetelli with or without floorwork, drum solo, and finale. While a typical show lasts about 20 minutes, Tanna offers a 6-minute mini-show for practice and performance on special occasions.

The music of Bellydance Show Basics is by New York s favorite Middle Eastern band leader and master Arabic percussion instructor Amir Naoum Chehade. It can be downloaded from iTunes or purchased on Amir s CD Bellydance New York. Together with the 6-minute mini-show, Amir s CD contains the full-length versions of each song used in the show, as well as other bellydance favorites you can use to improve your skills - or expand the mini-show into a full-length professional performance.

In a Concept section for each of the 6 parts of the classic show, Tanna Valentine explains the mood, the expectations of the audience, the image the dancer may seek to create, the ways she can project her energy, and interact with and manage her audience. Tanna teaches how to differentiate each part of the show through expression and dance vocabulary, and delves into the logistics of each segment, giving you the blueprint for a flawless and confident performance.

In the Step-by-step section for each segment of the classic show, Tanna breaks down a number of the steps appropriate for that rhythm and mood. These steps are rehearsed in the Practice sessions. Practice sessions can also be played as one non-stop segment with music and vocal cues or with the music only. The six Choreography sections offer a simple and elegant sequence for each of the six portions of the show. If you would like to practice your performance skills by following Tanna, you can play the choreography sections as one full 6-minute show with music and vocal cues or with music only.

Tanna also offers a rich array of resources to help you create and perform your own show.

Special sections of the program are dedicated to learning the basics of floorwork, and to playing finger cymbals. Staging your show is all about the logistics of performing a bellydance show in a public venue, such as a resturant or lounge, as compared to a performance in your living room.

In the Costuming section Tanna discusses traditional bellydance costuming, explaining the explaining the diversity of possible styles and how to obtain them (accompanied by costume demonstrations), and experiments with creating impromptu bellydance costumes from everyday items found in her closet.

In the Makeup section Tanna is joined by her makeup model, New York bellydancer Mary. Tanna demonstrates dance makeup application from foundation to the decorative elements such as rhinestones applied to the corners of the eyes. The demonstration offers meticulous step-by-step makeup instruction.

In the Performance variations section Tanna improvises to the music of the bellydance mini-show, demonstrating alternative steps, patterns and modes of expression.

I can only marvel at the vast amount of information, priceless to a dancer; a full three hours! This dvd teaches how to put together a tasteful, entertaining show for a public venue, or a special guest perhaps in your own living room. Rich in information including costuming tips, how to put together a costume with just what is in your closet, accessorizing, applying dance make up, enhancing your face with color in order to create drama under stage lighting. I recommend this dvd to those who want to entertain family, friends, or a public gathering.

Included are the following elements needed to perform your own belly dance show beginning with this sequence:

Entrance-Several varieties of traveling steps-toe ball heel, shuffle step, practice steps and choreography.

Veil- entering veiled, removing the veil, veil manipulation, a practice and veil choreography. How to discard the veil by twisting it tightly into almost a rope, retrieving the veil gracefully and dancing into it.

Party- the happy beat to get your audience motivated once you have removed your veil, it is time to entertain, use hip drops, chest lifts, traveling steps

Ciftitelli- the sensual segment of your show, all your sultry moves, done tastefully to captivate your audience; again with a practice mini choreography that is fun and alluring.

Drum solo- the earthy accents that define what the hips of a belly dancer can do, small tight moves with little traveling steps bring taste and even more mystery, a few hand claps to get the audience involved.

Finale- a short graceful choreography to end the show, with veil and just enough music left over to keep the audience wanting more.

This program includes excellent tips on entertaining for a special guest, such as a birthday honoree, or a public group, also audience participation, common ethics in dance, eye contact, so much more!

There is a section with voice cues which guide you into the choreography as if you were right there being instructed by the beautiful Tanna Valentine. The music-only section is great once you have all the moves engrained in the brain. A mini-class in how to play finger cymbals to add variety to your show, with basic elements of floor work to mesmerize your audience; the classic beauty of true belly dance.

This program is carefully put together, I cannot think of anything left out; there are all the elements needed for a show, guidelines at your hands.

Tanna's costumes are beautiful, the backdrop is breathtaking with beautiful rich flowing fabrics that set you in the mood for belly dancing. She connects directly with her audience without undue jargon and eased into her program with knowledge, drawing you in curiously. I took this course from beginning to end without stopping. Here is the structure with all the elements to prepare you for a great show, brought to you by professionals with experience and success!

What are you waiting for? --Amazon.com (US)