Product Review: Instant Belly Dancer 1: A Crash Course in Bellydance with Neon Workout DVD

This workout DVD uses Belly Dance to exercise, tone, and motivate anyone desiring a new fitness routine or wanting to learn a little about belly dancing. The beautiful Neon is a New York star dancer; and her light accent is not only easy to understand, but pleasing to the ear, as well.

I wanted a new workout routine, and I wanted to learn a little bellydancing. After extensive searching, this bellydancing exercise DVD seemed like the best choice for me. That educated guess turned out to be joyfully correct.

Neon has broken each routine down into individual moves, and breaks each move down with simple instructions accompanied by onscreen arrow and highlighting graphics. Each move is practiced, and then each new move is added to the previous one(s) and practiced until you have the entire routine down.

She clearly demonstrates each move, sometimes from various angles; and gives all the information needed as to body positioning, muscles involved, and what exactly you are doing to make each movement correct.

If one was truly belly dancing, it would be much more active and energetic than the practice sessions are, which makes this an ideal DVD for the beginner or those with limited movement or energy. There is also a great deal of freedom in the practice sessions and with each movement to move only as your own body allows, and at the pace you are comfortable with. In many ways, the movements are gentle stretching rather than abrupt, but flowing shaking movements which one might associate with belly dancing.

Her workout costume is relatively modest with a long-sleeved v-neck mini shirt, pants, and high heels. I actually tried doing some of the moves in high heels; and if you do the movements correctly, balance is not an issue. I would not, however, recommend exercising in high heels.

The practice sessions total 60 minutes, but can be viewed and practiced in 12-minute review sessions. A bonus on the DVD is a performance by Neon.

Overall this is a great DVD for exercise and learning some belly dancing, but it could be a little better. There are various forms of belly dancing, and the style of this belly dancing is never disclosed. Also, there is no history or education about belly dancing, which would have been a fun addition to have in the introduction of the workout, or as a bonus feature.

The back cover of the DVD states, "Bellydance - ancient language of beauty and feminine power, modern rite of celebration, freedom from the ordinary. Transform your mind and body. Bellydance. . .and be amazing!" I couldn't agree more. This DVD is a great deal of fun, and Neon is as engaging as she is instructional. This is one of my all-time favorite dance workout DVDs ever!