Instructional Video
By Hannah Romanza
Copyright 2007 By: Digital Glamour Television
Running Time is 48 minutes
This is the first instructional video released by Hannah Romanza and is geared towards teaching the dance to teens. The DVD has several extra features which are 3 dance montages (two of which are music video mixes) and a TV interview about belly dance. I did enjoy the interview and it seems like it could be a good feature for teens who's only exposure to belly dance is likely to be what they know about Shakira. Hannah goes into a little bit about history and Romani influences which are good for teens to be aware of. The instructional portion of the video itself has a lengthy introduction but, considering you could choose a scene later in the DVD once you know what your watching it's not that big of deal. I felt that her love and passion for not only belly dance but also teaching dance to children really comes through in every scene. She was relaxed, happy and easy to watch in each scene. The video is not intimidating and should make it easy to follow through for teens who tend to be fickle and easily give up on extra ciricular activities (I'm guessing most parents know exactly what I'm talking about and there's probably several of you glancing over at an unused intrument that your kid "promised" they would learn and practice). The style of the video follows more the "follow the bouncing butt" method which is the industry standard in the Middle East but may be frustrating for those who are expecting an americanized video with detailed instructions for each move. This in my mind proves to be both a benifit and a drawback. In the sense that it offers no specifics other than try this all of the moves are presented in an unassuming way. This leaves a more open environment which may foster learning in teens. However the drawback is when the teens trying it out are not "getting" it they have no descriptions or feedback to help them firther understand how to do a move. I would feel better about it if there were at least a brief description of each move but no description is offered at all. Another good piont about this DVD is that the background dancers are all teens as well which is more apropirate when presenting an instructional geared at teens. There is a choreography given in the DVD which allows teens to try all the moves together and see how the can fit together with each other as well as the music. Howver the combination section and the choreography section do not address transuitions which leaves this sometimes difficult task solely up to the viewer who probably does not have a lot of experience with transitions in belly dance. Another drawback is that the choreography is not counted out which may leave the viewer without the means to appropriately time the choreography unless they count everything else out by themself. One of the other benefits that I really liked about this video is that throughout the DVD Hannah Romanza remains modestly dressed which furthers the idea that bellydance is not all about sex which is a very important message for young teens. I would recommend this video but possibly in combination with another video that offers more description and breakdown of movements.
Moves taught in this video:
Moves tauight in this DVD are Hand Undulation, Arm Undulation (Snake Arms), Port de bras (Head Frame 3), Port de bras alternating, Hip Alternation (slow 4/4 hip shimmy and 3/4 shimmy), Feet alternation (footwork to match 3/4 shimmy), External Hip Rotation (Hip Circles: 1 1/2 rotations and reverse), Hip Drop, Hip Drop and Kick, Hip Drop and Kick with Pivot, Swinging Hip Drop, Upper Torso Contraction (bow then roll up the spine), Camelwalk (Undulation), Camelwalk wlaking backwards, Twist on the Ball (twist/tunisian)(on ball), Flat Footed Twist (whole body, hips not isolated), Hip Bump, Hip Bump to the side (hip thrust/lift to the side, walking to side), Hip Bump with feet crossing (5 count with hip accents), Hip Bump with Turn (3 count spin/turn with hip accent).
