DVD Review: "Discover Bellydance: Mystic Dance"

     While trying to learn more about belly dancing, I located this instructional DVD through my local library system.  Identical twins Veena and Neena Bidasha first demonstrate an entire dance routine, involving exciting whirls and pretty veils.  Then, they show you how to do each move in that routine.  The learning pace is simple and slow enough for beginners.  While the ladies dance, a soothing voice describes the dance steps and tells you how to move properly as you watch the moves on the screen.

     During the first section of instruction, I found it to be a smooth workout, and was able to keep up with the lesson with one exception.  When the girls did their spinning, I was able to find a focus point and spin, but I found I was getting dizzy and needed to go much more slowly than they were.  The second section of instruction suggests the use of a veil, and while it states that the moves being taught can be done without a veil, it really seemed to me that one was needed.  It seemed that it would be difficult to do the moves without a veil to anchor your arms in the correct position.  So, unfortunately, I have to wait until a little extra spending money comes in before I can continue with this DVD.

     You have the option of working out without the narration.  The moves being taught here are Egyptian belly dance.  I have fibromyalgia and I like belly dancing because it is easy on my muscles and joints, and so far I have not had to bend in any strange contortions that some aerobic workouts require!  This workout did not seem hard, and yet I definitely worked up a sweat and once I was done, felt that I had had a good workout.  I could feel the difference in my belly and back muscles, as well as a bit in my arms and legs.  I think this is the type of workout that almost anyone can do.

     This is disc 5 in a series of instructional belly dancing programs.  The DVD series is available through Natural Journeys International, and was originally released in 2001. ISBN 1-58565-953-3.  No suggested retail price was available on the packaging.  I look forward to purchasing my first veil and revisiting this DVD once I'm ready to continue on with the lessons it contains.