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Beginning Isolation Breakdown Reference with Saqra
Review
by Nita Collins I love truth in advertising. The video is called Beginning Isolation Breakdown Reference and that’s exactly what it is: a reference of breakdowns of isolations at the basic beginner level. Who is this video intended for? This video is intended for those who are brand new to the dance, and also to be a reference for teachers who are looking for different ways of breaking down the basics. Saqra says in her introduction that if you’ve had any lessons at all you may not find any new material or surprises in here. I’d like to add that you will, however, find it to be a solid foundation resource and a good review of some basic movement vocabulary while being fun at the same time. What is taught? Movements are broken down for Fingertip & Wrist Circles, Hand Ripples, a general posture review, Head Slides & Circles, Shoulder Pushes, Rolls & Shimmies, Rib Slides, Lifts & Circles, Bird Arms, Snake Arms & Turkish/Classic Arms, Torso Undulation & Camel Walk (walking torso undulation), Belly Roll, Arabic Camel (walking belly roll), Hip Slides, Circles & Figure 8s. Also taught are a finger cymbal primer and some faster walking movements. The video is approximately 1 hour long. I was glad to see a section near the beginning where she talks a little bit about posture and body alignment. I would have liked this particular section to have been less rushed. She will, however, remind you to check your posture and body alignment now and again as the video progresses. I like this because as students we do tend to forget about our posture as we concentrate on other things. Throughout the video Saqra talks about where the focus of the movement is, and uses the analogy of creating lines and circles. She also throws in occasional little asides about what a movement would look like when done improperly—this is valuable information as well as helping keep the video interesting and fun. Also, she is very clear about telling you when you are doing an actual dance movement and when you are doing a “foundation” movement that a dance movement is built upon. You are not left to fill in the blanks or make assumptions about the movement. The video ends with an introduction to playing finger cymbals. A small booklet is included with the video. Saqra’s voice is slightly out of sync with the video. This could drive you nuts if you are watching her mouth. However, they are not so out of sync as to affect her steps with the beat in the music, and you should be watching her hips and other body parts as she executes the movements and not her mouth as she is speaking. The out-of-sync voice didn’t bother me after the first few minutes. The video is not professionally produced. It is filmed in Saqra’s studio. The lighting, sound, and camera are good. Saqra speaks naturally and comfortably in-front-of the camera and teaches with a nice sense of humor. She uses humorous analogies in her movement breakdowns, and her breakdowns are thorough, complete and easy to understand. She easily kept my attention and interest. Nearly everything in this video is taught in my level I class with the exception of the torso undulations, which are taught in level II. You’ll notice that some of the names that Saqra uses are different from the ones you learned in class. These regional differences are typical and you should expect them in any video. For example, what I call a forward pelvic undulation, she calls a belly roll, and what I call a belly roll, she calls a stomach undulation. Would I Recommend This Video As A Study Tool For My Students? Yes. Everything is taught safely and accurately with easy to understand breakdowns. Saqra’s sense of humour keeps you interested and learning. I would recommend it for students who want to pop the video in to run through the basics between dance classes and for brand-new beginners. While no video is a good substitute for actual classes, I’m aware that not everyone has access to a knowledgeable teacher. This is a great video that I’d recommend to students of any level who are unable to attend regular classes as well as those who just want a refresher. Where Can You Purchase This Video? Saqra sells it on her website at www.saqra.net. It is available in both VHS and DVD.
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