Issue 3 of Dance Perspectives | Dances of Anatolian Turkey
599313
This Issue 3 of Dance Perspectives | Dances of Antolian Turkey by Metin And has a length of 76 pages including an Introduction, Appendix and a Bibliographical Note.  This is a fascinating in-depth study of the ancient Dances of Turkey.  The names of the Dances are printed in Turkish therefore a list of pronunciation clues are shown in the "In Perspective" section in front of the book.  Included are many museum quality prints and drawings from the periods discussed.
2802465
I think this is an excellent instructional DVD.  Vashti explains every move clearly and demonstrates each from both front and back.  She is relaxed and confident at all times. Her dancers display different body types which is an advantage when producing a DVD for a wide audience.

Her choreography is interesting and varied with use of both arm movements and skirt flourishes to emphasize the steps, which are mostly Spanish fusion.  These steps are based on the Spanish Gypsy style of dance, and I feel that to complain that it was not 'gypsy enough', as some reviewers have, is totally unfair.  Belly dancing was carried from India, throuhout the Middle East and into Spain, by the travelling gypsy bands, and developed its own footprint in each region.  The Spanish gypsy style developed into Flamenco, which is danced in Spain to this day.

The production is good quality, with just one point where the sound seemed to fade slightly.  The dancers costumes are beautiful with sufficient changes to keep the viewer interested.  The movements of the dancers are always clear, whether viewed from front or back.

Altogether I feel it is a very worthwhile purchase, good value for money and one of the best instructional DVDs I own in the belly dance fusion style.
2230234
No surprise on this 3rd solo album for Natacha Atlas.. Diaspora had more Western Influences( except for Feres) while HALIM was quite Middle-Eastern. Now in Gedida, she mixes her Middle-Eastern roots with hip-hop and dance  music very well, especially in Bahlam which I liked the most. By the way, I  watched her live on stage last June in Roxy,Istanbul. She looked really  terrific..
923350
The book is small but full of both historical aspects of classical ballet and new techniques demanded by current day choreographers. An excellent book for teens as well as adults.  An easy read with fine illustrations.
4036504
I really enjoyed the theme of free dance to connect with our emotions, bodies, as well as past hurts and need for healing in a variety of ways. I love the creativity and experience that Christina brings to the book. As a Christian, I filtered her discussion of "Spirit" through my understanding of God and how to be better connected to He who "dances over us with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17) and to whom we "praise His name with dancing" (Psalm 149:3). I appreciate her connecting dance to all other elements of life and helping one to get over the fear of imperfection and strive toward freedom in this way. As a non-professional dancer (I really only ever let me LITTLE kids see me dance, ha!) I was challenged to look at my own inhibitions and consider the way dance can strengthen me in multiple areas as well. A worthy read :)
3573502
It all started with Kelly Hargraves. She's the publicist for First Run Features, and a primary source of so many of the great documentaries I see for review. Kelly has a passion for dance, for film, and the melding of the two. The inclusion of dance documentaries and dance films in First Run Features' catalog is the result of her passionate influence. In turn, this philistine's introduction to the worlds of dance film is directly due to her gentle persuasion. So, dear reader, you've been warned. This review of "Dancing Dreams" is composed by a vulgarian confronting a fine art -- for watching dance at its creative evolutionary edge is, for me at least, like entering another world with unfamiliar languages and rituals.

"Rehearsal Director." Now there's a new term on me. The two rehearsal directors are Josephine Ann Endicott and Bndiete Billiet. They're in a dance hall, in Wuppertal, Germany, working with a large group of adolescents from more than 11 schools, teaching them a dance. But Billiet and Endicott didn't write the dance, I mean choreograph the dance. That was done by a lady named Pina Bausch who is, like, this world-famous dancer and choreographer who died in 2009. Bausch is in this movie, evaluating, helping, and teaching the dancers, but not all the time. Endicott and Billiet do almost all the teaching work.

This three-women producing/directing team is teaching these teenagers how to do this dance -- one which has been performed around the world for decades. Some of the kids have never danced before. I'm not sure how or why the team chose non-dancers, but I readily admit it makes the whole thing kinda more interesting -- especially considering this dance, called "Kontakthof", is something about how people connect with each other. In addition to the raw challenge to learn this dance for public performance, the group is being directed to perform highly stylized erotic movements -- moves most teens would save for `freak' dancing in the dark confines of a club. Plus, there's more than dance. There's acting. Quick vignettes occur between the dancers who have short lines of dialog to express.

Filmmakers Anne Linsel and Rainer Hoffman cover the rehearsals, Pina Bausch's participation, and interview the kids as well as Bausch, Billiet, and Endicott at and away from their rehearsal hall. We also see some portions of the piece being performed for the public. Through it all we share in the joy, tensions, struggles, and uncertainties both the kids and the rehearsal directors face as they travel light years of change and learning preparing their dance.

The DVD's special features include a Pina Bausch biography, a photo gallery, director's notes, and First Run Feature's `Dance Gallery'.

Okay, Kelly. What's next?
2357838
I enjoyed this DVD. My only disappointment was that the dances seemed kind of short to me, other than that I liked them all. There are three dances and each dance is danced by a different person. Each of those dancers has an instructional part on the DVD that gives step by step instructions for each dance. The dancers are Autumn Ward, Isidora Bushkovski and Ariellah and the DVD comes from World Dance New York studios. There are two other DVD's in the series, but I haven't seen them yet. They are FANTASY BELLYDANCE:MYSTERY and FANTASY BELLYDANCE: DESIRE. You can find their website at  [...]
1704102
A spectacular and entertaining video for anyone interested in the history of dance on film.  My only criticism is for the case cover.  I gave this as a gift, and wish the case had a photograph and title that was more readable.  It takes a minute to figure out what it says!
4579892
The photos and description of the dances draw you in and yet leaves room for curiousity and longing for more. Dance has no boundaries and Dina brings that to light, a reflection of current day trends. A fast, fun and delightful read. Enjoy friends!
2495420
This nice book contains many interesting and thought-provoking studies on ancient Egyptian dances, being the only book (known to me) on the subject to deal with the same in a wide-range way. The authoress analyses not only relgious or "sacred" dance, but also those apparently belonging to more  "profane" aims. She also proffer several hypothesis concerning the movements of certain dances, which is not usual in other treatises. A most welcomed title.
3966315
I enjoyed this book.  I learned a lot, but it was also nice to read about areas I already knew about and my own experience with the development of dance music.  The only reason I dropped a star is the language was offensive and it glorified drug use.  If the authors really understood the power of dance music, they would know that those aspects are unneeded and actually a corrosive force for the movement.  When we play shows, there are no drugs or even alcohol.  We don't play any music that has foul or offensive language.  Most of the guests drink water.  They are healthy, happy and having a great time.  People dance as an expression of joy they develop from within and then share with the rest of the people on the dance floor.
4571150
The Relationship Dance offers a fascinating read - providing insight into the life of a woman, guided by faith; and a look into the lives of her friends, who have been affected in different ways by their own faith.
4929970
This DVD is worth buying if you can get it cheap/used.  I wouldn't pay full price.  I treasure it for the Shakra performance and one other exceptional dancer (Blanca?).  If you like Shakra as much as I do ... their piece makes the DVD worth owning.

After those 2 pieces, I found the other material a bit pretentious or boring.  Your mileage may vary - especially if you are more into goth culture than I am.  I judge only the Dance and Choreography.
1122760
Fantasy Belly dance
Mystery- this is one of a series of three performance dvds.
Three fabulous New York belly dance artists; each with their own story to depict their character.  This is modern fantasy belly dance, belly dance taken into a theatrical approach with a story to tell. Each dancer has included a great bonus-section to include dance combinations and choreography broken down for learning! Ayshe includes tips on dancing with 2 sets of wings and choreography with and without the Isis Wings.

Neon-fabulous in a beautiful, slithery performance depicting the inner serpent in each one of us. Her story of the serpent is incredible, speaking of our secret self and our inner strength gained by all the challenges in life. Her dance tells the story vividly through her fluidity and combinations of accents.

Ayshe the Phoenix - A magical performance with Isis Wings; spell binding interpretation of the life of the mythical bird, who represents rejuvenation and good luck. The life stage of the bird are represented in three sections from birth, to flight , and the final resting and completion of the circle of life, bursting into flames, yet leaving behind new hope, in a next generation . Ayshe begins her choreography on the floor, her floor work, and back bends are impressive. Her dancing in wings is so much as a bird in flight; her spins are clean, and enviable!

Sera the Shadow -  this is tribal and earthy performance in contrast to the other performances. Her story is powerful as is evident in her dance. Sera connects totally with mother earth also beginning her routine on the floor, and her floor work is fabulous, her staccato moves set to new wave/industrial tones turn her belly dancing into a signature all her own. I enjoyed immensely her interpretation of the power of "Shadow" as her body works in total isolation to define each move distinctly.

This is an enjoyable presentation with three beautiful, powerful dancers, each with a style of their own. A compilation of modern fantasy belly dance, sultry, mythical and alluring with the added bonus of choreography breakdown.
4744176
Enjoyable old-school pan-arabic bellydance music.  This came from a time when ethnic nightclubs had a mix of musicians from Egypt, Turkey, Labanon, Armenia, etc.

Rhythms are clearly labeled for beginners and the music is more accessible to western ears than some.  While not as important in this age of digital music, the songs are arranged into typical 70's nightclub routines.
1180614
The tango's global reach can be difficult to appreciate from one's own familiar perspective, encompassing as it does not only the South American dancers and musicians that gave it birth and sustain it in its land of origin, but also the far more numerous tango aficionados from around the world who discover within themselves a powerful resonance with this magical cultural expression. Beatriz Dujovne's deeply satisfying book recounts her spirited and multifaceted journey to interweave the tango's many perspectives in her own life, from an academic's fresh look at the history of tango, along with extensively detailed recountings of interviews and milonga experiences in her native Buenos Aires, on the one hand, to the threads of her life in the United States (which includes a Ph. D. from the University of Missouri) on the other, including a fascinating set of experiences at USA tango festivals and interviews with non-Argentine tango aficionados from around the world. Throughout her explorations, her narrative voice sustains a sense of awe and wonder at the magical effects of tango on its adherents. Among an increasing selection of recently published "tango memoirs", this book is the first I've seen which combines an academic's drive for detail and solid research with such an appealing breadth of observation of the rich "flora and fauna" of the contemporary tango world.
3120006
Demir Demirkan and Sertab Erener have carried Anatolian folk songs to a new dimension. If you are familiar with Turkish culture, you have probably heard all these tunes over and over at various occasions - for example Sehnaz Longa (Sehnaz on Shiraz in the album) is a must on all New Year's Eve TV shows), but they would have always been in the same form. Exploiting the melodic structure in these decades,centuries old tunes, Demirkan & Erener have given them a modern body. Their playful arrangement and Sertab Erener's cotton-candy like voice makes it a pleasure to listen to this album.