Customer Reviews:
Clear, easy to follow teaching - Naomi's review.......2006-07-26
The only reason I haven't given five stars is because the sound quality at the beginng was a bit muffled. As a teacher Hilary Thacker was very good and I certainly enjoyed following her instruction throughout the DVD. She showed the moves at different angles, and how to walk the figure of eights and hipdrops, camels etc. The snake arms were the most fun! I'm going to follow on to her intermidate's DVD.
Hilary Thacker's Badly Dancing.......2006-02-22
My Belly Dance Teacher was taught by Ms Thacker. Poor her.
There is nothing wrong with the dancing on the DVD, or Miss Thacker's teaching. And that's what she should stick to. It looks like it was filmed in her empty shop, or maybe her living room, against a dark sofa throw.
It wouldn't matter, but for the fact that her costume is black and covered in things that swing, all of which totally conceal the movements, so you can't see a sodding thing. Any womble can tell you to wear something bright against a dark backdrop.
The music sounds like it was recorded in a washing machine, and she's filmed everything on her mum's really old camcorder.
Go to her classes, go to her shop, but don't buy this. Unless it's in the bargin bin with the shop soiled scarves.
Other much better belly dancing dvds on the market..........2005-01-20
I purchased this dvd as it was the most widely available belly dancing dvd so naturally i assumed it would be the best.Initially I was impressed by Hilarys moves, it was only when i purchased another instructional belly dance dvd by Dolphina, that i realised how poor the quality was.Hilary does not even include a warm-up, the picture quality is very poor, rather home movie-ish, there is no change in costume or location and i'm sure the same monotonous background music is used throughout.It is also quite short and includes too much of her dancing on tables and such like.
The only redeming quality was that her instructions were quite clear , however I really do beleive the dvd should have more content considering the price...i'd rent rather than buy.
Does what it says on the packet !!.......2003-07-31
This really is one of the best of the 'teach yourself' Belly Dancing out. The instructions are so clear and well demonstrated that you can forigive the poor lighting and picture quality.
Some of the movements that she teaches on the video such as the 'Egyptian Walk', I have heard other techers try and explain, but Hillary makes things so much easier to follow.
Each movement has it's own section so you can stop and practise to your own background music and think about what you have just seen and heard.
It really is begginer's level, so I recommend that you get the intermediates with this one as after a while you do feel as if you need something more.
Customer Reviews:
Outdated I'm afraid.......2007-03-19
With all due respect, Tina Hobin was one of the very first ladies to establish Bellydance in the U.K.
But after watching this DVD even though it was entertaining and colourful, I was shocked to see how outdated the technique was.
Quite frankly, I really do think it should be taken off the market as there are now higher standards of Instructional DVDs currently available.
There were however, some interesting safety points made about not locking your knees and being careful not to roll your feet inwards whilst standing.
But overall I found the technique clumsy and outdated and the camera work dubious.
I felt sorry for the two students at the side who were doing their best to be supporting and add to the authenticity??
The execution of the Horizontal Hip circles encouraged the dancer to move to top part of the body which you should not do.
Hip bounces are now called Hip Drops etc.
Tina's general dancing was.....well.........not bad.
Her general instruction was.........alright.
However unfortunately I would not recommend it.
Hard to follow.......2006-12-01
I was a little disapointed with this dvd. I found the lady hard to follow and she seem's to get her left and right mixed up. Some of the more complicated step are very poorly shown and the camera is pointing at her face, when I needed to know where my feet and hips were supposed to be going! Plus at the end I had hoped there would be a dance for you to learn, putting all or some of the steps together but there isn't. on the whole not impressed.
legs?!!!.......2006-10-01
For alot of the moves its the leg positions that make it work.In this video they do not show the leg positons or tell you how they should be.I was discouraged until I got another reference which specifically referred to legs.It is amazing what a difference it makes.I immediately though "hey I can do this" try Amira Mors' dvd.Its not oscar material but gives legs! Also a book by Tamalyn Dallal which was brilliant and concise.Good luck
Good if your thinking of starting a bellydance class.......2006-09-05
If you ignore the costumes and set then this video is really good for anyone thinking of starting a bellydance class. Its split into sections explaining some of the basic moves. The moves are well explained but expect to have to pause it and find the nearest mirror to practise infront of. I've since joined a bellydance class and was able to feel rather smug about my unusually high levels of coordination when I started. It doesn't teach a routine, some of the co-presenters put the move you have just learnt togther to some music at the end of each section. It certainly served its purpose very well for me though, and i've put it on since to remind myself of some moves between classes.
belly dancing for beginners.......2006-09-02
Not impressed with this dvd at all.I was unable to see the dance moves due to the widow twanky outfits.If you wanna dance like shakira this is not the starting point.If its for toning muscles as advertised,it aint working for the ladies on the dvd !
UK DVD:
- Exotic Saltwater Aquarium [HD DVD]
- Gaiam Mango Mesh Bag, Yoga Mat, Video
- Gentle Tai Chi
- Gentle Tai Chi
- Gilad: Step Aerobics (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Hip Hop Dance School 1 - Learn To Hip Hop Dance
- Hip Hop Workout [2003]
- Inch Loss Pilates
- Instant Belly Dancer 2 - A Crash Course (All Regions)(NTSC)
- Instructional Bellydance With Jillina - Vol. 1 (DVD) [2005]
UK DVD List
UK DVD
Dance
|
Fitness
|
Categories
|
DVD
|
Video
Egyptian Belly Dancing For Intermediates With Hilary Thacker
Egyptian Belly Dancing - Advanced - With Hilary Thacker
Belly Dancing - a Sensual Experience
Belly Dancing For Beginners
Best Belly Dance album in the world..ever
![Shostakovich: Katerina Izmailova [2007] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://www.germanelectronics88.com/noimage.gif)
