By C. Lindeman "RichMama" (North Carolina)
This review is from: Bellydance: Beautiful Technique from Step One - The Beginner's Path to Flawless Artistry (DVD)
I am a beginning dancer who has to mostly rely on video instruction for my practices. So, I put a lot of thought into what I buy. I bought Autumn Ward's video after seeing clips on Youtube and I'm glad I did. I was looking for a comprehensive video that would break down the dance vocabulary and focus on building a strong foundation. Ward's video provides just that.
The first section is a detailed section on basic moves such as arm work, hip work, and transitions. Autumn spends a great deal of time breaking down each move, demonstrating correct technique, pointing out common mistakes, and adding in her dance philosophies. Therefore, it is a great "reference" for dancers to come back to if they want a calibrated breakdown of a move. As a beginner, it has also greatly helped me learn and recognize dance moves when I see them. In essence, it is the language of the dance, explained for any dancer who desires a muscular and intellectual understanding of the basic moves. That said, she does not focus on coaching the viewer through drilling. If I want a substantial drill, I follow her instruction on the move, pause the video, and drill it for 3-5 minutes. Then, I begin the video again.
The second section offers "practice flows" that the viewer can use to integrate the technical practice with rhythm and flow. The warm up is not as rigorous as I like but it feels relaxed and joyful. The flow segments are short, which is good for a weeknight practice and builds intuitive understanding of transitions. They are also accessible and can offer the feeling of actual dancing even for a beginner like me. A more experienced dancer might find that the flows help them integrate Ward's unique style into their own.
The third part is a choreography that I have not done. It is wonderful though and I am working my way up to it.
The video includes 2 performances, both of which are inspiring and so joyful to watch. As I learn the dance and find my own voice and identity, I really try to cue into how a dancer makes me feel when I watch her. Ward is a model for seamlessly blending and communicating playful joyfulness and earthy sensuality.
