Bellydance Fitness for Beginners: Fat Burning

Neena Bidasha, Veena Bidasha
Year Released: 1999

Categories: Bellydance


There are sevral reviews of these videos at collagevideo.com, most of which are overwhelming enthusiastic. I however, have not been thrilled with these videos. I am reviewing them together because basically they are the same video. I found the set quite pleasant and the camera work was fine, even if it did focus a lot on the twins' breasts, stomaches and hips. It did feel a bit porno-ish, but I think maybe since these are marketed as bellydance videos, the camera folks thought they should focus on these key body parts of bellydancing. I think these videos don't really know what audience they want to appeal to. In Fat Burning, you jump around a gazillion times with your finger on your head. After 30 bounces, I stopped counting. No advanced exerciser will be motivated to try such a boring sequence, and many beginners can't jump around with no break for such an extended period. There's no variety in arm movement or positions. Many of the bounces are followed up with twisting motions that could be torturous on the knees, and THERE IS NO INSTRUCTION. In my impression, there wasn't much bellydancing either. Just a lot of hopping around. Sim down is slightly better, largely because there is more variety. There is still NO INSTRUCTION and some twisting moves. There is less bouncing, but all moves are put together by reverting to genie bounces (a side to side step). Theres no variety of arm motions again, but there are some hip moves that make this feel more like a belly dance tape. Most distracting, both videos are lead entirely by voice-over, and the twins' have the exact same expressions throughout the whole thing. Overall, I do Slim Down on occassion, and I've given Fat Burning away (along with the other videos that came with it). While the sisters seem charismatic in their introductions, this doesn't come through in the voice over. Personally, I find that a whole workout in voice-over feels very uninviting, less like a class and more like a lecture. These videos are too repetitive and basic to be of much interest to an advanced exercisers and too repetitive and intense for a beginner. I'm not sure what group they're best for, but I know I was disappointed in the purchase.

anonymous

08/26/2001