Serpentine: Belly Dance with Rachel Brice - Bellydance Technique & Yoga for Strong, Relaxed & Sinuous Movement [DVD] [NTSC]

There are two DVDs in this set. The first concentrates on the different techniques Ms Brice uses, showing very clearly how to achieve the movements and how to practise them. The second DVD shows the choreography of her dance, both as costumed performance and broken down into sections in the rehearsal room.

Both sections are filmed in a large and airy room, mirrored floor to ceiling and very well lit so that it is easy to observe Ms Brice's movements from all sides. The practice dress she wears allows us to see exactly what any part of her body is doing at any time. The first disc begins with warm-up exercises and yoga practice before progressing to isolation drills for each part of the body. The drills (shoulders, torso, hips, etc) are accompanied by simple music, for the most part a drum, and this threads together the different exercises. At the end of the lessons there is a yoga cool-down section and some suggestions as to how one can make a practice schedule to fit the learning/practising into one's week. I found that particularly helpful. As Ms Brice observes, not everyone has three or four hours daily to devote to dance.

The second disc has two performances by Ms Brice, and what a pleasure it is to watch her! The count of the dance is explained and her routines are taken apart like jigsaws so that we can see how each dance is being built from the lessons shown on Disc One. There are sections on feet movements (to avoid being glued to the spot) and on arm movements. All the demonstrations are done slowly so that we can understand how they link, and then, if necessary, faster.

Ms Brice suggests (very sensibly, for my money) that we become comfortable with the body movements before we include the feet exercises, and then when we are good with those two, we add arm movements. I find this much easier than the insistence of some teachers that we try to do everything at once from the very start. How to breathe is also addressed; one thing I used to forget during a new exercise was the need to breathe regularly but there is no fear of this here.

The pacing of the DVDs suited me very well, neither too slow nor too rushed and it really feels as if Ms Brice wants us to learn, and that we can learn. Her approach is friendly without any jollity, businesslike without brusqueness and her attitude is very down to earth. There is not any cultivated mystique or glossing over a movement. Only Ms Brice appears on these DVDs so one is not distracted by a screenful of other dancers. The camera work is well-considered and makes what is shown very accessible.

This set is excellent value for money; even if you decide belly dancing is not for you, to see her dance is a real delight. I am so pleased I bought this.

Awesome DVD, but not for the bellydance beginner at all. Serious drills and beautiful routines to learn. The work on layering with the shimmy is great fun and although some of the yoga is a little too advanced for me at times, and I have to use my own stretches, you can see and feel why she has included them. Thoroughly recommended for the Intermediate dancer.

Definately not for the beginner, you have to have a good understanding of the basics to be able to keep up with this DVD. It should say ADVANCED beginner or intermediate. However it is something to aspire to and the DVD is fantastic, she is a beautiful dancer and I like her teaching style; lets be honest though you have to have some idea of what you are doing to get the most out of this DVD or you could injure yourself!