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Video Reviews
The Video: Video Mini-Review by Nita
Collins This is the third DVD in a three-DVD series What is taught? The movements covered in the instructional portion are head slides, arm and hand movements, a variety of figure 8 hips, “camel” undulations (upper torso), and various spins, turns, and veil movements. The second part of the video teaches a short choreographed routine. Veena and Neena demonstrate the movements while they are being described by voiceover. As in the first two videos, the instructional portion of the DVD begins with arm positions that you can use while dancing. This is nice because students are often frustrated by not knowing what to do with their arms. The arm movements presented were very nice, and were well described by the voiceover. However, while there were a lot of good suggestions given on lovely ways to use the arms while doing head slides in particular, no actual instruction on how to do a head slide was given. Neena and Veena demonstrate forward and backward flat figure 8 hips, bicycle hips, upward and downward figure 8 hips, and a figure 8s done on a single hip. The voiceover provided breakdowns that accurately described the movements. There is a movement taught which the video calls “camel undulations.” You will recognize this movement in my classes as an Arabic II. I felt that this movement was presented too quickly and was inadequately broken down for new dancers. This is a movement that could cause back problems over time if done incorrectly. Spot turns and windmill turns are presented with good descriptions. A few simple veil movements are also presented. The descriptions and breakdowns for the veil movements were not as good as those for the turns. The twins end the video by teaching a short choreography. This is a 1˝ minute segment taken out of a longer piece of music, and uses the movements taught in the instructional portion of the video. The choreography is taught using one piece of music, and then presented in performance using an entirely different piece of music. While this teaches the student that movement combinations can be generic when done in 4s, it fails to demonstrate that each dance is an individual expression, and that these generic combinations should be adapted to fit the music. I think the second (performance) piece is probably the one the choreography was written for. In my opinion, it is confusing for the student to first learn the choreography to music that doesn’t quite jibe with the movements. All of the movements are taught with attention to incorporating a variety arm movements. The video is professionally produced and the set, lighting and camera work are excellent. (I have to admit that after watching all three videos it was a relief to see that Neena & Veena, while maintaining pleasant expressions, did let the glittering smiles drop occasionally.) The DVD jacket liner notes are deceiving (and I am a big believer in truth in advertising.) The jacket says, “The elements are isolated and taught slowly, so you can learn each one’s subtleties.” In actuality, the length of time spent reviewing each movement was inconsistent. For example, a nice amount of time was given to the figure 8s and turns, the camel undulations were run through quickly enough to make your head spin, and the head slides were not broken down or explained at all. Do I Recommend This Video As A Teaching Tool For My Students? I was pleasantly surprised that there was less emphasis on dancing with the layback posture than there was the case in the first two videos (if you read my reviews of the first two videos, you will know that I was very unhappy with this). I was also pleasantly surprised that the verbal breakdowns and descriptions of the movements were generally pretty good, unlike the previous videos. I wondered if Neena and Veena had more input in the production of this video than they had in the first two. If you want to buy this video, it would be a good addition to your library if you are currently enrolled in level I and you want to practice putting arms with hip and head movements, practice your figure 8 hips, and put movements together into small combinations with the veil. Most of the movements taught in this video are covered in my level I class. Where Can You Purchase This Video? I bought mine through www.Amazon.ca as part of a three-video set. It is available in DVD and VHS. |
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