The connection and interdependence between yoga and belly dance are explored in
Tribal Fusion, a reasonably comprehensive and intense program drawing on both disciplines and demonstrated by the remarkable Rachel Brice. Practices of three different lengths (15, 30, and about 40 minutes) are offered; elements in the shorter practices are repeated and expanded on in the longer ones. The yoga portions include some basic sun salutations, lunges, backbends (specifically the locust pose), and such; the more extensive belly dancing exercises and undulations focus on the hips, the chest, and shoulders. Brice's instructions are efficient, if sometimes a bit on the brisk side (it's one thing to exhort students to practice ujjayi pranayama, the deep, audible nostril breathing style used in yoga; it's quite another to do so without even saying what it is, let alone showing how it's done). Whether or not any of the female users for which this DVD is intended will be able to replicate Brice's belly dancing moves is open to question, as her technique and amazingly toned body make things look easy when, in fact, mere mortals may find them baffling, to say the least. Moreover, although Carolena Nericcio, one of Brice's mentors and the "hostess" of this program, stresses that "the main attraction (of belly dancing) is delight," Brice doesn't seem to be having much fun, never so much as cracking a smile. Little matter. When you're this good, there's no need to kid around.
--Sam Graham
Bellydance Superstar Rachel Brice teaches basic tools that can be incorporated into daily practice that will bring flexibility, strength and, if practiced regularly, effortlessness into whatever Belly Dance style you choose. Instruction includes a short Yoga practice to warm up and strengthen the body as well as a final chapter on Yoga for flexibility."
1 Lots of yoga & drills, not enough signature style
I enjoy yoga, and she really does show those moves well and precisely...just be sure not to push yourself if you're not familliar with the postures yet! Overall, it's a good workout for a dancer's strength and flexibility.
I have plenty of Yoga DVD's already, though, so the only issue I have was I watched this specific DVD expecting to get a bit more of Rachel's technique. If you've never seen her or her troupe in live performance, her sinuous style is absolutely mesmerizing. There's not a lot of that signature in the instructional portion (apart from Rachel's core of grace and control), and the dissappointlingly short performance section is hugely over-edited. I really wanted to study her moves, and the jarring, out-of-sequence transitions made that nearly impossible. What you can actually follow in the performance is incredible, but the editing draws focus from the otherwise flowing beauty of the dance and dancer.
So, the Verdict:
Workout portion: good, and nicely edited to the time you have to spend that day. Decent value for the price. I will use it again.
Performance: Dissappointing, largely due to highly unneccesary editing. In the future, I'm praying for a lightly-edited Performance DVD instead.
2 Excellent
DVD is broken into 15, 30 and 45 minute workouts. I think the 45 is the most beneficial, but if you don't have time the other options at least give you a little something to keep you moving forward.
You should know that this DVD is not going to teach you how to bellydance or provide you with a complete routine. It is really structured for those already praticing bellydance who want drills to better refine their technique or supplement a class. For that, it is really excellent. I've seen a lot of instructional dvds for bellydance and I found her approach in this one to be really helpful! I was already familiar with the moves but this DVD gave me a better understanding and helped me to to better refine and improve the movements. Rachel does an excellent job breaking down each move, and the brief performance at the end is stunning.
Negative - there is no transition between the yoga workout and the standing isolations which may seem jarring to some, although I thought it worked overall. Also the locust pose might seem daunting, but I think overall it's a really good combination. If you're not already familiar with yoga, just take it slow and don't push too hard.
3 Yoga Isolations and Drills for Bellydance
i do yoga once or twice a week, and i feel like i am in moderate shape. by the end of the fourth move, hip locks on the down, i was sweating more than i do after a 3 mile run. but it was a good feeling. she does a very nice job of explaining how to perform each movement, and since she has fantastic control over her own muscles, you can actually see which muscles you are supposed to be using with each movement. and she sweats too, so you know that she isn't really messing around (a minor detail that i found very encouraging.) the pace is definitely a little on the tough side, so i don't know if i'd necessarily recommend it to a beginner, especially one who gets discouraged easily. the entire workout is broken up into different lengths, you can do a 15, 30, or 45 minute session, with the most difficult moves reserved for the 45 minute session, but the easier ones overlap with the shorter practices. make no mistake - this dvd does not aim to teach you how to dance; it teaches you how to isolate groups of muscles to make your own dancing better. i can see how a person who prefers cabaret to tribal would get bored; if i had to compare it to yoga styles, i'd say that the attention to detail is way more like iyengar - you do spend a fair amount of time working on each isolation. but you will get the workout of a serious ashtanga class. i actually really like it because the level of explanation is so good that i think if you have the patience to acquire the skills she is teaching, you will be able to get a lot out of the instruction provided in the dvd. by no means will you become rachel brice, but your dancing will take on an entirely new level of precision and style for the effort. as an added bonus, there is a short performance that is absolutely mesmerizing to a lil novice like me. and of course bdss had to shamelessly plug their own merchandise... but you don't have to look at it to view the rest of the dvd.
4 it really is ONLY yoga and a few drills
First of all, you would have to be a pretty advanced yogini to begin with to get ample benefit from this workout. I would definately recommend using a different yoga workout or class before attempting to jump into the poses that she does or you might injure yourself. There is no smooth transition into or out of the yoga poses and they are intermingled with standing bellydance isolations that are broken down so slowly that you barely get to see the result of the move up to speed. And there is no choreography or combinations, really no dance instruction whatsoever. And in thaty way it is rather ungratifying because bellydance is about dancing, getting in touch with your rhythme, building confidence and balance in your space and yourself. When you take out the dancing and just use the components of the dance, disect them and break them down into rigid contractions, you lose the spirit. this dvd was all hard work and no feeling.
This dvd is more for the experienced dancer who knows all the moves already and wants to incorporate yoga into their practice. So don't expect to learn any new moves.There are very minimal dance moves at all- I think a total of 7 (two undulations, rib circles & drops, hip & pelvis locks) that are littered (some repeatedly, same filming segment again) between locust pose, salutaions, and some folds.
the performance piece is short and very industrial sounding music that never really picks up a beat, so it is all spacey body accents to a song that is all intro- I couldn't bellydance to it.
In short it was indeed challenging but just really kind of boring.
5 A Worthy Companion
I'll start out by saying that I'm not a tribal/tf dancer, and I know very little about Rachel Brice, I'm not an vested "fan" of hers. I am also at an intermediate fitness level, doing mostly bellydance, pilates and weight training.
This video delivers exactly what it says it does...practise drills and muscular training for raks sharki. I have to admit, Rachel is a bit intimidating to me (I'm short-waisted and her torso is two miles long). However her body structure allows you to see her muscular contractions perfectly in the video, so you can get it down right.
I have many other videos from the "bellydance" category. This is the first one that really breaks down the movements for me into the smallest increments. The others just show the movements, and you're on your own to practise them. This one allows me that practise without having to try and discipline my innately lazy and unguided self from square one.
I should also note that, although the movements Brice drills are not comprehensive, I think that they are the essentials...master these the way she shows you, and you will have the muscle control to do just about anything else. If you start a dance session with this, your form will be solidly set for any and all raks you do afterwards.
And for goodness sake...in the yoga section...all that "standing poses-down-to-floor poses-and-back-up-again" is called a SUN SALUTATION, it's a standard cycle of yoga poses that even this yoga novice is aware of! You see the title onscreen before the cycle even starts. If you don't know enough about yoga to be aware of that, I would recommend some other basic yoga videos before this one. If you're offended about that level of yoga being practised in a "bellydance video"...ya shoulda read the title of the video. Clearly Brice is recommending at least some yoga practise if you are interested in her skill level of dance (or something approaching it).
I had to knock a star off my rating because I wanted more performance footage, and without the funky edits. I understand that the edits were done to create a certain mood, but I want to see more clearly how Rachel applies her technique. A troupe performance would have been nice as well.
6 Not a "fan," but an inspired and very hopeful beginner.
This review is, honestly, primarily a rebuttal to a surprisingly not too kind review among those below ... I am a rank amateur dancer, only faintly wishing for a tiny inkling of Rachel Brice's talent and skill, so if you are an experienced dancer, skip right ahead to a more informative review. I correctly interpreted the title and got yoga and some belly dance isolations on this DVD. I don't mind standing up and then laying down again. I do have access to a remote. In fact, I use the remote to rewind five minutes worth to practice the daily recommended allowance of pelvic thrusts to improve lower abdominal control, before moving ahead to the next thing. I would not have appreciated how to make some of these moves without Rachel's video guidance, and I am not even on her newsgroup! It was well worth the money, and even worth the two months of delays in the thing being produced. In several months, when I have finally found these muscles I can only assume I do possess, I am sure I will be even more grateful for Rachel's guidance. I'm just glad she took the time to tell a little of her secrets. I can't do what she does, and I can mostly only dream, but I find Rachel inspirational and am glad to have some exposure to her own views on the subject. No frills, just hard, hard, hard work - how else did she get where she is? I'm ready for the next one, Rachel! Bring it on!
7 Now if she'd only put out a Fusion Dance DVD
I pre-ordered this hoping for more interesting techniques than just yoga and common isolations (at least a longer performance piece) and was sadly dissapointed. The isolations and yoga positions are good, but if you've never done yoga before you need to BE CAREFUL! I did the 15 min work out and didn't like that it jumped to a yoga postition on the floor, a standing move, back to the floor...ect. Not a lot of transition time to get you up and down. Also, it needed more of a warm up, especially since it's demonstrating yoga moves.
Hopefully, Rachel Brice will put out a DVD geared more to a tribal/fusion style moves, choreography, ect...
8 Ok for the price
Based on the title, I was expecting a little yoga and then some solid drills to help perfect certain belly dance moves. There is a lot of time spent on yoga, particularly the sun poses, which is fine, but the belly dance drills really left me wanting more. She covers hips up/down, full body camel, and chest lift/drop. Each move is given very little time and sadly, these moves that are the basis of our beautiful dance come across as horribly boring on this DVD. For a beginner in a regular class this DVD will give you a bit of extra practice. For an intermediate/advanced student you will watch it once and then likely never again. For those trying to learn Rachel's style, you will not get a thing from this DVD. I found more relevant information on her backbend technique on her newsgroup. Anyway, having said all that, the price is right if you are still curious and have to buy it! And be warned of all these 5 star reviews. On her website Rachel thanks all her fans for rushing to her side and posting reviews to save her slipping sales. Not very professional is it?
9 Um, people should read the name
I am amused by how people think that a DVD titled "Yoga Isolations and Drills" should be anything other than Yoga Isolations and Drills.
Perhaps if you're looking for a performance DVD, you should not purchase one that is for drilling. And if one is an advanced dancer, as many claim to be in some of these reviews, one knows that the way to improve is by drilling, drilling, drilling. And that never stops, even when you become a professional.
I love this DVD. It is EXACTLY what it claims. I'm not super excited about the editing in the performance part, but what can you expect from Miles Copeland? Rachel's dancing inspires me, and that makes me want to drill so I can get even better!
10 Great workout but badly edited
If you are already a Rachel brice fan you're in for a big disappointment. The art direction in this video is almost nonexistent and the editing is horrible. The performance is so badly editied, with many cut aways, that you rarely get to see any move to its completion. It doesn't even show a 10th of how fabulous Rachel is. However; despite the horrible editing and someone's bad idea of set design, the workout/instruction is great and I love that you can do the workout in 15, 30 and 45 minute sets.
11 A Must Have!
1. The yoga practiced here is very clear and simple enough, even for the non yogi however it does challenge you so that's awesome..no pain no gain.
2. The choice on the practice length is excellent, because sometimes one doens't have all the time in the world, but doesn't want to go through the day without dancing.
3. The music is very unique and does not overpower the narrator nor the viewer, which is nice, so that one can concentrate on the asanas and drills.
4. Note for the next dvd: perhaps a small intro. from Rachel, where she can explain some of the main vocabulary used (Ugai breathing, pranayama, etc for those who are not too familiar with the yogic terms.)
CONGRATS RACHEL! BLESSINGS AND NAMASTE.
12 A wonderful dvd
I have been doing yoga for over 2 years and have tried almost every yoga dvd out there, but this dvd really left an impression on me.
Rachel gives clear, effective instructions that really help you to understand how to do the drills. She explains which muscles to contract, when to breathe, and how the body should be positioned. She also tells you what parts of the body should NOT be used in each drill, which I think is important to correctly learn the drills.
This dvd combined yoga and bellydancing to give a nice variation to the workout that most dvds dont have. Its a tough workout, but it really shapes youre stomach. I noticed a difference in my waist in just a few weeks.
I would deffinetly recommend this to anyone interested in either bellydancing or yoga. Brice did a wonderful job, I hope to see a sequel to this.
13 belly dancing blessing
I absolutely love this DVD!!! So much yummy information from such an adorable source. Rachel should be commended for sharing her insights on both yoga and belly dance. I love her approach and the flow of this video. I strongly recommend this video to anyone, beginner or expert, seeking to condition their body and stregnthen their core.
14 good deal for the price
GEEZE all you negative people out there! What do you want for under $15????? I DARE you to find another DVD that costs that price with this much info. Remember you get what you pay for and in this case, a LOT more. I think it's a fine practice companion, and challenge ANY of you to go out and make a better DVD yourselves if you think you can. That said, here are my opinions, both positive and what I think could be improved:
Why I think it's good: love the ability to choose length of workout. It does not promise to be anything other than a beginner's practice video and it's very good for that. It did not claim to teach new yoga moves or new dance moves or how to put them together. I also LOVE Carolena's input which is precious and her outtakes.
What can be improved in my opinion: Rachel's face, #1. It is too severe and a bit off-putting, much too serious and not at all like who she really is. Pretty minor complaint, though. The second thing is: people continue to think Rachel performs American Tribal Style BellyDance, which she does NOT. This is a Copeland title designed to sell more DVDs. Rachel acknolwedges she performs a type of Tribal Fusion. ATS is ALWAYS done in groups and is improvised, very very rarely choregraphed. There is no ATS in the BDSS show at all. I wish Miles would listen to Rachel and call what she does what it is because it is misleading.
Those are my opinions and I hope someone reads far enough down this list to see it!
A $15 VERY WELL spent!!!!!!
aloha,
Kajira Djoumahna
author of The Tribal Bible
IAMED Best Instuctor and Zaghareet! Instructor of the Year
Director of BlackSheep BellyDance
www.blacksheepbellydance.com
15 AWESOME!
Rachel Brice is one of the world's most refined dancers in the new style of Tribal Dance, a new popular genre that takes bellydance into a more mysterious and virorous form. A world-renowned teacher and leader of The Indigo bellydance troupe, Ms Brice shows you examples of yoga and stretching to condition your body, then guides you through physical dance movements that will become the moving essence of not just your body, but also your emotions and spirituality. The workouts and training in this DVD are certain to give you a healthier and more creative feeling of yourself! A definite choice for the new woman on the 21st century!
16 Does what it says on the tin.
People appear to either love this DVD or hate it.
I think it's less love/hate than have unreasonable expectations or don't have unreasonable expectations. Alot of the reviews on this site are infuriating to me because they completely miss the point.
This DVD contains BASIC DRILLS, ISOLATIONS AND YOGA POSES which will, if practiced regularly, improve your dance skills.
It is not a performance DVD, nor does it claim to be.
It will not teach you to dance like Rachel, nor does it claim it will.
Rachel Brice does not dance ATS, nor does she claim to.
What this DVD does claim to do is provide you with basic drills that will help you gain flexibility and core strength, and refine the movements that you learned from your own bellydance instructor. And it does a fine job at that.
I am a beginning bellydancer, at an intermediate fitness level, and I find it challenging. Luckily, the workout is divided into three different options, each one adding movements onto the preceding practices. Just so people know what to expect, the following is a breakdown of what is on the DVD:
The 15 minute practice includes:
- Half Sun Salutes
- Locust Pose
- Hip Locks on the Up
- Hipwork on the down
- Chest Lifts
- Undulations up to down (Body Roll)
- Cat and Cow poses
The 30 minute practice does a full sun salute with lunges and adds to the 15 minutes practice the following moves:
- Chest drops
- Undulations down to up (Reverse Body Roll)
- Pelvic locks front
- Interior hip circles
- Spread leg forward fold
The 45 minute prace includes everything above, except the hipwork on the down (I'm not sure, but this may be an error on the DVD, because the practice really clocks in at about 40 minutes). Added for this practice is:
- Double Chest locks
- Rib Cage Figure Eight
- 5 minutes of Corpse pose (with floaty clouds on the screen, and a doumbek drumming at about heart-beat speed)
To wrap up -
This DVD does what it says it will, and does it well.
No more, no less.
If you are looking for a shortcut to make you dance like Rachel, keep dreaming. If you want some exercises which, with lots (and lots and lots) of hard work, will set you out on the right path, I think this is a great choice. It's also about half the price (or less) of most Bellydance DVDs so that's a bonus as well.
Comments regarding the dance style, performance editing, and other irrelevant details are mainly catty and completely missing the point. Please disregard them, or you may miss out on a very useful and well produced tool.
17 just drills no frills
I have done yoga for years and only recently been introduced to belly dancing. I have always thought that belly dancing was yoga in motion. When I saw Rachel Brice "Tribal Fusion" I thought it would be perfect. I am learning tribal style dance. Anyway, I got the impression that there would be more of a fusion of yoga into the dance- I guess. Instead, it was more like a warm-up before you do some belly dance steps/poses to a drum beat. Was that supposed to be the point?! I hope there is more to it than that! There are lots of repetitions of movements , which is what you have to do when you are learning new moves ( drills) designed to help you with your posture,etc She is a talented teacher and gives verbal instructions thoroughout. You have a choice to take out the voice over as well.The video has different workout settings fifteen minutes...and above- Overall, I would buy other Rachel Brice instructional videos - if she makes any, but this one is better off as a once or twice viewing
18 Very disappointing...
I had been anxiously waiting for this DVD since December. When I finally received it I popped it in the DVD player and was bored almost instantly. I thought that it might progressively get more difficult but it remained extremely slow. The moves are very much for the beginner student but they too might not feel challenged enough by the end of the tape. I was disappointed that I didn't learn any new yoga or bellydance moves nor will I be able to use it as a practice tape (too basic). Mostly I was bummed because I am a huge fan of Rachel Brice and I don't think that this was made with much thought.
The performance was not worth the purchase of the tape. Probably better to buy the Bellydance Superstar DVD or one of Jillina's instructional DVD's.
19 Disappointing
I am an advanced bellydancer and I love all dance styles. I was amazed by Rachel's performance in the Bellydance Superstars video and I ordered immediately her DVD. I hoped to learn the secrets of her incredible flexibility, which I partly did. But still the DVD has a very poor content, very few yoga and dance movements are shown and, I regret to say this, but the performance is ugly. I gave it two stars though, because the movements are perfectly broken down by Rachel and the position of the body is always the correct one, which is very rare in such DVDs.
20 Misrepresented and poor
This DVD delivers on absolutely none of its promises. And that's very sad because this could have been great. The DVD displays neither Rachel Brice, who is a great dancer, nor American Tribal, which is cool, nor yoga, sufficiently well to earn a single good review. And yet there are many "5-star" reviews. More on THAT in a moment. Very few belly dance moves are taught on this DVD, and all are very basic. None is peculiar to the tribal style that I want to learn. The yoga part is, to say the least, limited and not presented in a way consistent with any valid school of yoga. The short performance portion is, well, short. Extremely short. And worse, it does not present the tribal style in any sort of an interesting light. I am not a beginner in belly dance but I would not recommmend this DVD even to my beginner friends. It's too basic for anyone and not at all inspiring. I am interested in American Tribal and I have taken a class with Rachel. I came away from that class richer for the experience and admiring her. We would all love to see Rachel Brice create a great DVD about American Tribal and the use of yoga in that context. But this DVD doesn't do any of that. It simply does not measure up. It could have, but it doesn't. The quality is not there. Rachel, you can't just create any-old DVD and expect the world to bow down to you! It has to be good! And this one isn't! It's a bad video. And so it is wrong to scramble more than 25 members of tribe-dot-net to post 5-star reviews, all in a flood on March 17, 18, 19, and 20, 2005. Rachel posted a thank you at sanfranciscotribe-dot-net, pointing out that "poopy" reviews had "made sales drop" but now after her friends "came through" for her, the DVD is "in the top ten fitness videos." Does Rachel not see that by marshalling her troops in this way she is compromising the independent review system? What if every producer did this? There are some controversial belly dance videos here and you see bad reviews right and left. Somehow the producers restrain themselves from trying to manipulate the public forum. This one does that, and then brags about it. Stars don"t behave in this manner.
21 Disappointing
I have always admired Rachel's performance style and technique and waited a very long time for this DVD. Man, am I bummed. Yes, it's a beginner DVD but it's still incredibly basic. I thought I would get some insight into how to adapt a yoga practice to the strength and flexibility a bellydancer might need to try Rachel's technique but instead all I got was a series of sun salutations, a sudden transition to locust pose, cat/cow and straddle stretch at the end. In between her breakdown of some rib/hip isolations is very clear and occasionally interesting ( you can really see her tribal style in how she does her camels, for example) but it just wasn't enough. If you're a huge fan of hers you'll want to support her, I suppose and if you're a baby dancer you could do far worse than her instruction on how to isolate your ribs/hips. If you're a fairly veteran dancer and yogini then pass on this one and hope she digs deeper in her follow-up DVDs. The performance section is bizarrely edited and does her a great disservice.
22 totally disappointed
Okay, if you are a complete and total beginner, you might like this.
It's not a total waste of $, but I am really disappointed. From what little I have seen of Rachel Brice in the past, I have truly liked her style. She is a great dancer.
I ordered this from Amazon back in November, and waited through numerous postponements. I was so excited when it finally showed up today.
I just watched it. I guess I can't say what I was really expecting, but it was defintely more than what I got.
I have been dancing for four years and doing yoga for six.
As said in previous reviews, the yoga poses are somewhat useless. It's nothing more than what I do before any performance, and way less than just my standard yoga practice. Those who know yoga will be left unfulfilled, and those who don't will be faced with a combination of simple beginner poses, and poses way too advanced for them.
The dance moves: they too are incredibly basic. I think she would have been better off with more of a fundamental dance theory approach. Again, it is nothing I don't know, and nothing that I don't do already to music I already own.
I guess it will be somewhat useful as a "motivational" tool. Throw it on and follow along to get your practice in.
I also hoped the bonus performance would be of some use for study of her style. Well, to be blunt it looks like it was produced in some goth kids' basement with mom's video camera. Even the routine itself sucks. She takes her signature slow, ethereal style and completely overdoes it. There is little to no actual dancing - a lot of undulating and snake arms, and the picture being painted that this woman is way too into herself. Sorry Rachel, but that's how it comes off. Buyers, you're better off watching the clips on her website to get a good study of her style. I will give Rachel kudos for adding the narration later - fitness videos always end up being lame if the instructor is speaking while performing.
Summary: if you're a total beginner, go for it. If you're not, think twice.
If you want a good yoga video, check out Yoga Shakti or the series released by Tracey Rich.
23 a very helpful practice companion
I've found this DVD to be an excellent practice companion, providing certain bellydance drills and yoga positions that will strengthen one as a dancer. The performance was outstanding and the filming of it, though frustratingto a dancer trying to learn the choreography, was nevertheless aesthetically pleasing.
The 2 negative reviews are misleading.
One seems to have a problem with there being too much yoga, which seems a little ridiculous considering that the title is Yoga, Drills and Isolations. ONe should realize from the title that yoga is a prominent feature of the DVD and those familiar with Rachel Brice's style realize that her practice of yoga has had a phenomenal impact on her dance.
The second negative review seems to be a rant against the tribal style as a whole. Again Tribal Fusion is part of the title so if you think that Tribal is somehow inferior or inauthentic to cabaret, why would you buy it and then complain about the style featured in the DVD? This is not helpful to anyone.
If you want to get into a debate about authenticity, the cabaret style which is so familiar to the public is also an American invention, influenced by Hollywood and showgirl glamor. Unless you are performing folkloric dances of the Middle East, neither of these styles are authentic in that way. But who says they have to be? TO argue the validity of a particular dance style is completely irrelevant to a review of this DVD. And reducing people's posting of positive reviews as being merely a facet of the close-knit tribal community or a false means to bolster or support Miss Brice is a ridiculous, insulting and unnecessary comment. Most of this reviewer's comments are not helpful but merely cutting remarks on the nature of tribal dance and one of it's prominent stars.
There is no false advertising as these people claim. It does not purport to be an instructional bellydance DVD. It is a PRACTICE COMPANION, featuring (as clearly stated in the title) Yoga, Drills and Isolations which is helpful to dancers of all levels and features yoga poses that are helpful in particular to bellydancers.
24 My Favorite dance DVD
This DVD perfectly takes you through the Yoga you'll need to help you be the dancer you've always wanted to become!
25 The Ultimate Fusion Bellydance and Yoga DVD
This dvd is the bomb! It clearly breaks down all movements and postures to ensure that all levels can achieve success. It is a valuable training aid with the 3 choices of practice allowing you to fit in a session daily. As a dancer and yoga enthusiast, i feel my life is richer for owning it!
26 Misleading
The exercises and drills on this DVD are taught and performed by Rachel Brice, an instructor of the so-called "American Tribal" style of dance, a dance trend that emerged recently in California. This style of dance is not what the general public recognizes as "bellydance". It emphasizes introspective, meditative dance or group faux folkloric dances, with the steps borrowed or created from a mish-mash of ethnic dance sources, such as Middle East, India, Asia, North Africa, Pacific islands, Eastern Europe and other areas around the world. In American-tribal style the sexy, glamorous and playful image of bellydance is replaced with the focus on sisterhood, purity and feminine empowerment. Although Rachel Brice is one of the best-known performers in this style, the material on the DVD is too basic to qualify as teaching any particular style. As a matter of fact, IMHO it is too basic, period, even for beginners.
The yoga poses included on the DVD are: simple sun salutations, locust, cat-cow and corpse poses. The bellydance moves taught are: hip up and down accents, chest lift and figure 8, undulation, hip circle and pelvic accent. There is no instruction devoted to any moves specific to the American-tribal dance style or any moves in which Rachel Brice excels as a performer. There is nothing about connecting or putting these isolated moves together.
Such an approach is not appropriate for beginner instruction, beginners won't drill these few disjointed moves, they need a much more cohesive approach to keep them motivated and inspired. At the same time the material is too basic for intermediate or advanced students. I regret to say this, but every dancer I know (myself included) who has purchased this video has expressed disappointment with the instruction it offers. The quality of the instruction is good, but the material is too limited and it misses both groups, bellydance beginners and American-tribal dancers.
The American-tribal genre is quite self contained,the numbers of "Tribal" dancers are relatively small and the sense of sisterhood is very strong. It is understandable that they vote their support for their dance form by uploading zillions of five star reviews full of outpourings of devotion for Rachel Brice. However, the resulting image of this product is not true to reality. The yoga instruction on this DVD is nothing special next to the very many great yoga DVDs out there. There are much better videos, both in method and material, to help you develop flexibility for dance. The very few bellydance drills don't offer anything you won't find on most beginner dvds. No pointers to the "secrets" of Rachel Brice's individual technique.
I am not going to criticize the video editing of the performance piece included on the DVD because I don't think any video is worth buying for a 3 minute performance, even if you could actually see Rachel's moves.
Like many dancers, I like Rachel Brice's personal style of dance, but I am tired of hearing disappointed reactions from students misled by the grassroots marketing campaign for this product.This video is marginal to bellydance, it's marginal to yoga and the fact that you must drill every move to excel in dance is a platitude: not a valid basis for an instructional video.
27 Rockin' DVD
I really got a feel for some of Rachel's more difficul moves, like the body roll that I thought was just a stomach role. I also love the different practice lengths, for those lazy days. The DVD is not all that difficult, but it's like practicing with a friend around to keep you going.
28 Wow, she inspires me!
When I first got this DVD I was so excited I put it in the player just to watch a bit of it. I ended up watching most of it, and with my 17 yr old son. He was amazed at her stomach muscles. We were sitting there saying "OOhh OOhh, look at that", "Oh man check that out". He's in weight training at school so he was very impressed.
Practicing to it is extremely toning and strengthening. And it really helps with isolations. Beginner, intermediate, or advanced, this DVD can help all belly dancers.
29 Beneficial for ...
...novice and up, cabaret, tribal, fusion. I think no matter what level or style you're into there is much to be learned from this DVD. I'm actually more familiar with cabaret but into learning tribal too so I can see both sides of the belt here.
If you want to see her all smiley, sweet and silly, take a workshop from the girl, she's all those things and more in one incredible package. In the DVD however, she takes on a more subtle, quiet strength that actually helps me get into that same zen like mode. It helps in focusing in on what her voice over is saying, what her body is doing and what mine is doing, hehe, or trying to do ;) And honestly, I hadn't been conscious of the fact that it is a voice-over and not her speaking, facing and smiling to the camera until after someone else mentioning it.
The first few seconds of the performance kinda took me by surprise because it is some pretty rapid-fire cuts but I guess I got used to it and it's actually kinda cool that way. No, it sure doesn't beat seeing her live and in action though. I think the instruction of the video is great, the performance was just icing on the yummy cake and I'll take it any way ya she gives it!
Looking forward to more from this talented performer and teacher! Rachel, You Rak!
30 Wonderful video for Beginner-Intermediate daily warm up!
Its nice to have a Yoga video in my collection that deals with the poses best for bellydancing! The dance moves are geared to beginners and for intermediate dancer who really wants to *feel* the movement they are doing. She does the hip lifts a little different than I learned (no foot lifting) them so its nice to switch it up a bit. Also I think the performance peice at the end was wonderful, the camera does go with the music BUT I would like the option of seeing just one full shot of the performance as well. I really want to see where your feet are when you drop to the floor! SO all in all I have recommended it to my friends and I have been working with this video for a week (since I got it) and I'm getting my mom to try it out with me too. This video leaves me Hungry for more Rachel!!
31 Quality, quality, quality from Rachel Brice
Rachel Brice has created a wonderful tool for dancers and non-dancers mixing age old yoga practice with new tribal fusion style. Cabaret belly dancers will also get a wonderful workout.
Rachel is great in person. I've had the honor of taking workshops and seeing her perform several times. She's also the most honest and thoughtful instructor and performer. You can tell that her goal is to provide quality in whatever she does.
The DVD has different length workouts to choose from (15, 30, and 45 min), so you can fit something into your schedule. Rachel performs the moves while her optional voiceover audio instruction plays. There is no distraction of her trying to explain and move at the same time, AND it provides a higher quality of sound. The moves are very fluid and focused- her signature style. The yoga focus will help provide grace, stature, flexibility, and breath control to all users. The camera and studio mirrors are positioned in such a way that you can see the move from several angles. The lighting and color are also very high quality.
This DVD is not an attempt to throw a new workout on the market or to bring belly dance into mainstream America (which wouldn't be bad), but it is a carefully thought out tool to use for health and skill enhancement. Rachel provided what so many of her fans have asked for--the ability to continue studying with her every day in order to improve themselves.
32 Fabulous
If you want to learn how to reach those really hard to reach places in belly dance, this is the dvd for you! Not only does it take you on a drill adventure, but it also aids in the mind-body connection through yoga which is so intrinsic to dance and to really getting intuned with one's body. This DVD is truly worth it and great to do several times a week!
33 EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED FOR EVERYDAY PRACTICE!!!
THERE IS NOTHING MORE THAT I CAN SAY ABOUT THIS PERFECT "PRACTICE" VIDEO THAT MY WONDERFULLY POSITIVE BELLY DANCE SISTERS HAVEN'T ALREADY SAID *EXCEPT* THAT IF YOU ARE TIRED OF THE SAME OLD BORING, FABRICATED, BELLY DANCING ROBOT VIDEOS AND YOU WANT SOMTHING GENUINE, REFRESHING AND NEW TO PRACTICE WITH, BUY RACHELS DVD! IT'S GOT USEFUL HONEST, HELPFUL CONTENT, AN EXCITINGLY DIFFERENT PERFORMANCE CLIP THAT LEAVES YOU WANTING MORE AND IT'S FOR SUCH A GREAT PRICE! YOU HAVE GOT NOTHING TO LOSE, BUY IT! SHE'S ADDICTIVE ;)
34 EXCELLENT practice DVD!
This is an outstanding DVD overall. The production values are good, the moves are clear and easily explained, and it contains the stuff Tribal bellydancers should practice every day. I just got it yesterday and decided to do the 15-minute workout. I take bellydance and yoga classes almost daily, and it was still a challenge. I can't wait to try to longer ones! If you're trying to learn about bellydance and yoga for the very first time, I wouldn't recommend this DVD, but if you're dedicated to the practices of both yoga and Tribal style bellydance, you'll definitely enjoy it. The only thing I wish is that the people who edit the Bellydance Superstars DVDs would stop trying to be so snazzy with the performances -- just let us see the dancer and leave out all rapid, dizzying cuts!
35 I'd give it more stars if I could!!
I love this DVD. I want to do it over and over, unlike many other fitness/instruction videos. She does make you sweat and sore, but by the end she has lulled you down to practically being a relaxed puddle on the floor, ahhhhh...yeah. Makes your body feel great, 'Thank you sir, may I have another?!' Rare to find a video such as this that gives you the excersize you need but brings such a sense of calm and peace at the same time. I am also glad she went away from the talking to the camera with a cheesy fake smile and a perky aerobics voice. I much prefer her calm soothing voice. I don't understand why people are complaining that she doesn't look at the camera, why is that a big deal? I'm too busy comparing my hips to hers or in a compromised yoga position to worry about where she's looking. I much prefer her approach to the fake unblinking stare with a smile style of many other videos.
As for the content, this is not just for begggining dancers. She is so articulate in her descriptions, a fine tuning even advanced dancers need to practice to stay on top of their game. The camera work here is great too, seemed to read my mind at times. Right when I would think 'whats she doing with her feet right now?' and there it would go to her feet. She also adds in just the right promps at the right times like, make sure the jaw is soft and you realize you *were* clenching it.
I love the blending of yoga and bellydance. The yoga felt soooo good after the dance moves, but wasn't too much to not feel like a dance video. I think her choices in which yoga moves to utilize were excellent. I also love the music used and the atire Rachel chose to wear.
As for the performance, the camera work is a bit distracting at first, but please give it a chance. It will grow on you and you will stop noticing them so much. Theres too much awesome dancing going on for you not to watch it.
An Awesome DVD! I do hope she makes more, this one sits at the top of my DVD stack because I use it so much!! Get this DVD! Your body will thank you!!
36 Great DVD!
Rachel is a beautiful and amazing dancer. She breaks down dance moves in a clear way beneficial for beginning and experienced dancers alike. The yoga in the DVD compliments the dancing very well. It's also nice that there are different lenghts of workouts so that there are no excuses to skip practice, even if you're crunched for time.
37 Rachel, your DVD is amazing
Tribal Style Bellydance has it's critics, namely those who do not consider it to be bellydance but rather world fusion dance. Those who embrace the true origional spirit of bellydance know that how the dancer applies her own style and feeling to the music is really at the core of this art form that began as women dancing for women.
Whatever your defenition, you cannot deny that Rachel Brice is a talented artist that has this dance coursing through her veins. Her explanations in the instructional DVD are clear enough for a beginner, yet the moves are challenging enough for a dancer at any level. Being a yoga instructor as well, Rachel leads you through the yoga postures with clear instructions, helpful tips, and a beautiful demonstration (Holy, this woman can MOVE!!).
Whether it is bellydance or yoga, Rachel knows what she is talking about and anyone can benefit from this DVD. The performance at the end gives you a taste of Rachel's modern take on an old art form, and those of us that dance are always inspired by her beautiful costuming creations.
Can't wait for Volume 2!!!
38 Tribal at its Best
I saw Rachel Brice in person and she blew me away with her performance. I HAD to get this video and its great. If you love bellydance especially Tribal Style, get this video. Its great for exercise and learning how to master special moves. Her 3 minute performance at the end is just AMAZING>
39 Great Info...However....
I love Rachel. Her style and ability are amazing. The video and the information are very good and very helpful...but I just have to say that I would just really love it if Bellydance Superstars...would keep from being too radical with the filming of the performances. They did the same thing on the BDSS video. The filming for Rachel's performance on this video is a nightmare. Great set, great subject, great performance but quit with the spastic camera angles and jerky shots. Maybe get a director that is more into filming performance artist and NOT drastic music videos. It makes me mad everytime I watch it! I want to see Rachel and her style and presentation are such a Mood Setter that all the Jerky camera angles is really distracting.
40 My favorite belly dance video!
In Rachel's first video, she takes us back to the basics and shows us how they can be anything but basic! Her thorough breakdown of each movement on a muscular level gives even a seasoned dancer something to sink her teeth into. The yoga warm-up and cool-down are fantastically solid and not some flimsy "belly dance yoga" routine. Rachel also demonstrates her flawless dance style in an edgy 3 minute performance. I can't wait for her second edition!
41 How Rachel Brice got me interested in Tribal Belly Dance
The only thing I didn't like about this DVD didn't have anything to do with Rachel Brice or her style - it's that I no longer have the remote to my DVD player where I work out, so I can't flip to the different sections. I have to use it in a little cramped space I'm not as comfortable with. A "play all" button would have been nice.
Rachel, on the other hand, is fabulous.
Honestly, I bought the DVD just to check it out, not expecting much. I've only ever seen Rachel this year at the BDSS show in Sacramento, I don't know much of her work other than that, and I started out studying egyptian, without a lot of interest in tribal (though now I've realized that was defensive on my part - I have a lot of tattoos and many people told me that the only place in belly dance for me was tribal. I hate to be forced into any groups).
This is an excellent beginner DVD, and one that people should feel they have mastered before looking to move on to the next level of her style and workouts. The practices are just hard enough to be challenging for more than just the first day (don't you hate DVDs that you can learn in 20 minutes, thereby leaving you no reason to really watch it again?) while still letting you feel like you can get there, you can learn this.
I love that Rachel encourages repetitive practice, and that she incorporates yoga, both things my egyptian teacher does. I've now gone out and started taking an intro tribal class, something I probably wouldn't have done if I hadn't seen Rachel and the Indigo perform (Michelle Campbell, also, really impressed me).
Thank you, Rachel Brice.
42 Excellent!
I absolutly love this dvd. Nice fact of being able to select the length of workout ( 15, 30, or 45 minutes)Nice choice of following with or without voice over instructions.
The yoga is wonderful and I see how useful it can be on getting better range of motion and flexibilty when dancing.
The outtakes with Carolina are just comical and fun to watch.
The performance is great, beautifully done set. A little jumpy if trying to study but very nice just for viewing pleasure.
Would buy her next one sight unseen if as good as this one!
43 An Excellent Practice DVD
I was extremely pleased with the DVD. As others have mentioned, there is an introduction by Carolena (and the outtakes are so darn funny!), a yoga section and then a series of drills. Rachel's voice is extremely pleasant and calming to listen to. I can't imagine what the other reviewer is thinking when she says Rachel has a "sour" expression. To me, she seems serious and almost reverent, and I think that's perfect. I hate it when someone has a fake smile plastered on their face throughout a video. Seriously, do ~you~ have a big grin the whole time you do yoga and drills, or are you serious and concentrating? ;)
The set is clean and attractive, well lit but not harsh and the camera changes angles appropriately. I had no trouble following along at any point in the video. I truly appreciate the fact that during the drills, you can see what her legs are doing, especially how much she bends at the knees. I wouldn't have minded if we could have seen her legs even more, the belt hides the movement a little, but I think it is still very acceptable. I had thought that I was some kind of freak due to the amount of bend I have to have in my knees to do some moves, and to see that Rachel does it too makes me ~really~ happy!
The one and only thing that I wish had been included was some form of snake arm drill. Rachel's snake arms are so beautiful that a breakdown of them would have been fantastic. I don't know if that is considered a more advanced move, perhaps it will be included in a second volume.
As far as the video performance goes, from an aesthetic standpoint I liked it. It was edgy and cool, with an obvious music video feel. Now if you are like most people and want to soak up every glorious movement Rachel makes, you might be disappointed in the editing. I thought it was a great performance segment and worthwhile and entertaining to watch.
Overall, this DVD is ~exactly~ what I was looking for - something I can use as a regular practice to improve my flexibility and skills. I give it five stars and a big "you go girl!"
44 A perfect workout companion.
This dvd is a valuable tool for work on isolating muscle groups and enhancing your flexibility. Rachel Brice is a model example to learn by and whether you have 15, 30 or 45 minutes, there's a set that will fit into your daily routine. I highly recommend this to anyone, the instruction is fantastic.
45 Excellent workout, beginner be warned.
I am glad I bought this. I have been using several bellydance and yoga DVDs and was looking hard for something that would bring them together. For a workout and for isolations, these workouts are excellent. As it claims, it is definately a fusion of bellydance workout and yoga stretching and strengthening.
As a beginning dancer I find this DVD extremely challenging and a solid workout. For all that I try to keep calm even breathing and as Rachel says to "look and be relaxed" it's quite tough for me to do that and keep up with her. If you're looking for something thats a workout but easier to follow, i'd suggest one of Rania's Bellydance Workout DVDs. If you're looking for a challenge and a way to bring yoga into bellydance, or if you have some dance experience and aren't completely infelxible, this DVD is a wonderful choice.
46 Solid beginner technique instruction...
I think this is a good all-around technique video for beginner to beginner-intermediate dancers who need help making their articulations more muscular and dramatic. However, I was hoping she would also incorporate more layering techniques, and combos. Maybe she is planning a volume 2 with more advanced work? I hope so! The performance section seemed a little short, and I liked the 2 performances she did on the Bellydance Superstars performance dvd better, but I admire her Turkish drops, & wish I didn't have such bad knees so I could learn to do them too!
47 Will help you become a stronger dancer
Today I finally got to try Rachel Brice's DVD Tribal Fusion Belly Dance: Yoga, Isolations and Drills. I decided to go with the 30-minute practice drills (there are three: 15-, 30-, and 45-minute). Rachel starts the session off with a sun salutation (for a good warmup) and then with the locust asana (which is excellent for strengthening the lower back). She then goes into drills for various isolations and locks. She starts each isolation slowly, going through the muscles which should be contracted or released. Then each movement is smoothed out and sped up.
Some reviewers complain that Rachel doesn't explain why the movements look so different on her. First of all, Rachel has very little body fat. Therefore, as each muscle is engaged, it is much more evident than it would be on a less sinewy dancer. Secondly, her movements are very clean and smooth because she has been drilling on a regular basis. Although drills are not exciting, repetition and consistency are the key to mastery. If you follow along with the drills on this DVD on a regular and meticulous basis, you will become a more precise, isolated, and technical dancer. I have no doubts on this.
The video isn't perfect. One minor flaw is Rachel's camera-shyness. She never looks directly at the camera, and remains very detached. Once or twice, it is a bit difficult to see what she is doing when the camera pans so the mirror is directly behind her. She's wearing dark pants, and the reflection is also dark. However, the camera continues panning, and before long, it's easy to see what she's doing. Again, this is a minor problem.
The worst thing about the video is the additional performance video. Rachel does a very interesting dance to a dark and gothy song, and the camera-man decides to get all experimental on us. During the 3-minute or so performance, there are more than 100 strobe-like cuts. I can see that they were going for an edgy, music video feel, but considering the audience for this DVD is comprised of people who want to get a better understanding of Rachel's dancing, the edits are inappropriate and frustrating. It's impossible to follow any one movement to completion. It would have been much nicer had there been a performance clip which shows the movements in a clear and unchopped fashion. Edgy, clipped videos could be saved for entertainment rather than educational DVDs.
On the flip side, the camera work for the drill section, although not static, is clear and appropriate. When the camera goes in for a closeup of Rachel's abdomen, it's when she's demonstrating which muscles to contract. When it flows along the contour of her spine, it's showing the correct alignment during yoga asanas. Some videos dwell on the incorrect body part (eg. on a dancer's face or chest when the instruction is focusing upon hip or footwork). This never happens in this DVD.
Also, Rachel has a pleasant and strong voice, and she explains each movement clearly.
The music (by Pentaphobe) is a minimalistic fusion of dark electronic and Middle Eastern rhythms. It may not be to everyone's liking, but I enjoy it.
I strongly recommend this video to anyone who wants to improve their isolation skills. I intend on using the DVD frequently.
48 Disappointed when bought for dance.
I am a huge Rachel Brice fan, but was disappointed in this DVD. While great for the yoga aspect, and the division into 15, 30, and 45 minute workouts is good, if you are looking to learn her amazing hip lock combinations or Turkish drops, you are best off taking her workshops. The DVD addresses basics that could be learned on other DVD's (Not being a Neena/Veena fan, I'm referring to BellyQueen, et.al.). Nice addition to a collection, but not a mandatory. Take her workshops instead.
49 Dissapointed
Let me start by saying that everyone knows that Rachel is an amazing performer and she practically steals the show at Bellydance superstars, which is why I was so excited to get her DVD, but it was a dissapointment to her fans.
I also had a problem with the performance editing, it does not capture her beautiful dance, but I also was dissapointed with the rest of the DVD. I found it very cold, devoid of personality. Rachel does a voice-over and she has a sour expression on her face the whole time, not like how sensual I remember her in the performance. Half of the instruction is yoga and not bellydance yoga, but straight forward yoga, which would be fine if she told you how this would help your bellydance practice or a to perform a particular move. I found the yoga out of place and with all the great yoga videos out there, unnecessary. However the biggest dissapointment is she doesn't share her secrets to her dancing. She breaks down the moves thoroughly, but does not explain why the moves look so different when she does them.
50 Can't get enough Rachel!
I had to have this video, being an avid fan of Rachel Brice. I really enjoy the break down on some of her moves that I wasn't already familiar with. The music is incredible, I'll probably get that CD next.
I do have one major gripe though. I was so excited to get this video for the valuable info, of course, but even more so was to see more of her in action!!!! I was dying for the three minute performance! I finally get to see it and I was ready to strangle whoever could have been at all responsible for the horrible camera work. I'm all for creative camera angles and zooms and all of that but for goodness sake! I'm so disappointed! It changed so often that you couldn't even watch her do an entire move. I was so outraged that I counted the view changes. Honest to God: 111 times in 3 min. Thats ridiculous! The beauty of her slow controlled style is to watch her subtle articulation and see how she transitions in and out of moves. All lost with the shoddy editing.
Rachel...can't wait to see Tribal Style! Better yet, gotta see you live!
51 Excellent drills
Everything was very well explained and demonstrated throughout. I like the progression of drill sets for two reasons. First you can work through the items in the 15 min set and get them down pat before proceeding to the 30 min set which builds on them, and so on to the 45 min set. Also, even when you're familiar with and relatively comfortable with all the moves, you can still go back and do a shorter set if you only have limited time on a given day.
The one thing I really did not like was the way Rachel's performance was edited. The cuts were, as a previous reviewer said, chaotic, and really detracted from her dancing. Someday, the world must produce a film editor who understands what a bellydance student wants to see in a performance, which is not an overproduced piece that doesn't let you see all the performer's moves. I'd rather they kept a steady cam on her with a full-body shot throughout, and perhaps threw in a decorative mirror or two into the set so you could see different angles that way. If a strobe effect is wanted by the performer, Rachel in this case, do it with lighting, not lightning-fast edits. Then again, that's my preference in general for bellydance performance videos/dvds.
52 Rachel Brice has done a fine job!
After waiting what seemed like eons to my eager soul (but which were actually only a few weeks) I finally received my Tribal DVD with Rachel Brice. It had apparently been in production getting some final touches, and the wait has definitely paid off.
The DVD opens with an introduction by Carolena Nericcio, the founder of American Tribal Style Belly Dance. It next moves into some light Yoga, including a few rounds of forward bends and sun salutations.
The lessons on the disk range from hip lifts and drops to body waves both up and down, with small hip circles included, as well as a few other moves.
Rachel starts each movement out slowly, talking you through each step. Gradually the speed of the movement increases, with clear and well directed verbal pointers along the way.
The movements become more difficult and more layered as the disk moves along, with various Yoga poses in between, breaking it up and keeping you flexible.
I enjoyed this DVD. It is great for polishing up the basics, and had a wonderful segment on the upwards body wave which I've never before been able to master. I think it might be challenging at first for a beginner, but a great tool for anyone who dances.
Rachel keeps all the movements controlled and precise, asking you along the way to make the movements muscular and focus on getting the basics down before smoothing out the moves.
There were only two things I didn't really care for on this DVD. One was that in between each move there was a black screen with white letters introducing the coming move. Once I shifted gears and stopped looking at this as a work out and instead as drills as it's advertised I was fine.
Other than that, the music by Pentaphobe was really not to my personal tastes. The drum solos were wonderful however.
The DVD has outtakes by Carolena Nericcio, as well as a 3 minute performance by Rachel. Okay, make that three things I didn't like.. just that the editing on the performance was a little chaotic.
I found Rachel's instructions to be very clear and helpful, but if you don't want to hear them you have the option of watching the DVD without the instruction!
I'm glad I bought this DVD. I can't wait for the sequel!
