julia37

i bought a dvd instruction by Jilina...
im having an awful time following it. Is this just because im a newbie or is it because it may be too advanced for me??

is she a good teacher even?? i think she dances beautifully comming from a newbie standpoint

Q-Tip

which dvd did you get?

julia37

as embarrased as i am to say this....its called instructional bellydance #1

its not that i cant get the hips going but i cant keep up with it and i find myself all over the place

is this normal for beginners??

Q-Tip

I am a beginner too! Welcome to newbie land! I don't have any instructors close so dvd's are all I have for now.

When I can't get a movement I just back up the tape or dvd and try again.
I loose my shimmy if I try to go to fast, when that happens I only go as fast as I can while maintaining correct form. They make it look so easy.

As silly as it may sound I have gotten right up to the tv and just watched how each body part of the dancer moves during the movement that I'm trying to learn. It's helped me.

julia37

i have 1 instructor in my area but my work schedule is putting a real monkeywrench in my plans for taking classes

i do the same thing with shimmys..go too fast and it's all over lol

i am waiting for my 1st coin scarf to arrive in the mail! i cant wait to get it

i hope it fits

Q-Tip

Oh I hear you on the schedule - I just stopped working 2 jobs last week - now I only have 1 fulltime job but I'll be taking 2 college classes beginning in January so traveling to the closest instructor isn't an option. She's 30+ miles away and I drive a truck that likes to drink gas. I'm hoping for classes in the summer of 2008

Some days my coin scarf gets on my nerves - lots of coins and really noisy - but the good part is that when I wear it I can "hear" when I mess up.

julia37

that's why i bought this scarf. I have read its best to have one cuz u can keep beat better with one. im going to give it a go and see how i do

i sooooooooooo want to take a class and i am trying my hardest to get one this monday

teela

Jillian's instructional DVD is for beginners who have some experience. It helps to have some instruction under your belt. there are other DVD's out there that have choreographies with easy moves. Jenna's basics and beyond is pretty good as it has some really nice instruction. There is some practice stuff at the end. Shamira has a couple workouts that are good too. The second one has lots of steps and three choreographies using the steps. Also i'm told that Michele has some nice beginner things.
I do understand not being close to instructors because i'm usually 3 to 4 hours by air from the closest instructor.

julia37

well that makes me feel a bit better ! at least i know why im all over the place trying to follow her now. i have ZERO experience

i did buy another video called bellydance for whimps and the agility impaired and its AWFUL!

i should have known better when i looked at the cover and it had a dancer holding a piece of pizza

adiemus

Take your time to go through each movement - start with posture first!!
I have taken classes for 8 or 9 months now, (thanks Kashmir!), and although I've got Jenna's Basics and Beyond, without the personal instruction it's almost impossible to learn the basics properly. That's because the movements feel all right, but you may well be moving incorrectly and never know it!! And once you learn a movement incorrectly it's really hard to change...
If you can even get just one or two lessons with someone who can teach you some, it would really really really help!
I can understand the struggles with time and scheduling and everything, but if you take one lesson and work on the movements you learn then - then go back for another, you'll find it really helps.
I do recommend video-taping yourself, and also using a mirror so you can see what you're up to!!!
But above all, enjoy what you are doing - it's great! I'm hooked...

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He wahine, he taonga- Every woman is a treasure(Maori proverb)