Bellydance - The Art of the Drum Solo

This is certainly one of the better instructional bellydance DVDs. (The included music CD is a nice bonus.) The setup is very straightforward.The actual instruction part of the DVD is about an hour long, and a separate performance by Sonia is included.She begins with a warmup before starting any steps, then Sonia and Issam take you through a number of drum rhythms in turn. First Issam introduces the rhythm with its name, vocalizes it for you, then demonstrates it on the drum. Once he has finished, and you feel a slight familiarity with the rhythm, Sonia teaches some steps - one at a time - that match that rhythm.She takes her time and doesn't rush you through the steps, and certainly the first half of this section feels very comprehensive. She demonstrates slowly, breaking the move down, then speeds it up a little or adds accents. You rehearse it first slowly with her, then regular speed, then with Issam as well.The second half of this section is the choreography. Here she puts it together into a dance for you, takes you through each part one step at a time, merging them gradually, until you've used all the steps you learned.My main criticism is that you don't see her dancing the steps she just taught you - the performance includes the steps learned, but in a different order. It would have been nice to see how they all fit together in a professional way. In a minor way, sometimes it feels too structured, because each new step learned is taught in exactly the same way - Sonia and Issam use the same introductory sentences each time ("First we'll learn... the next rhythm is... The next step is...") but on the whole this isn't really a negative, more a niggle.Her costume is plain and not distracting, ideal for teaching except that sometimes I found it hard to see exactly what she was doing with her feet. I know some people found it offputting that she didn't smile all the time like other instructors, but you see real smiles when she dances and a connection with Issam, her drummer.Having worked through it, I certainly have a better idea of what steps I can use as well as a deeper understanding of the drums. I need to test it with other music, but I suspect new music won't be quite as surprising now!

Sonia presents in this video as I have seen her live: graceful, synchronized, and feminine. There are five parts to the CD: the instruction called "The Art of the Drum Solo," then "Performance," "Sonia & Issam Go To Cairo," "Also Available," and "Merchandise".For the instruction, Sonia wears a workout outfit and coin belt and Issam introduces each rhythm then sits to the side to play his doumbek drum. Sonia leads a warm up, then the video goes into technique. Sonia introduces a several different movements to coincide with each rhythm. She breaks down each movement, then performs it. For example, the saiidi rhythm is introduced, then Sonia teaches hip drops (without and with a kick), piston hips, 4 point locks, and Egyptian shimmy, Then the next rhythm is introduced, then more movements, etc. The rhythms include maksoum, kuwaiti, fellahi, karatchi, and malfouf. After the rhythms and selected movements are reviewed, there is a choreography portion where the movements are transitioned into combinations. While the video may seem straight-forward to some, it is a good breakdown of basic to intermediate technique. Combinations and transitions are often a big hurdle for students to learn, but Sonia's explanations make it easy. In addition, Sonia's combinations can be easily modified to suit one's own style.Issam looks a little silly at times, grinning at Sonia as she dances, but he is endearing. One gains a sense of how these two amazing performers communicate through music and rhythm.Sonia's performance draws on the elements of her instruction, and when performed in real time looks polished and professional. By nature, Sonia is not boisterous or overwhelming. She is Sonia, somewhat subtle in her own right, but as previously mentioned: graceful, synchronized, feminine.Clips from a shopping trip to Cairo are included which provides for some laughs and a glimpse of Egyptian city life. There are, for example, a few clips of Sonia taking lessons from Raqia Hassan, then Sonia shopping in a store with gorgeous cabaret costumes packed on shelves from floor to ceiling. Issam checks out doumbek drums and talks candidly about drumming and belly dancing. Sonia even receives a marriage proposal (in exchange for camels) from one lovestruck admirer.The last two chapters are self-explanatory. The bonus music CD is a nice perk and includes some oriental pop songs and drum solos.I found this DVD helpful in the context that it is oriented towards those students who use videos to augment their technique. Also, it would be useful for instructors looking to expand their teaching methods.

I was expecting more on the passion, fire, and actual art of drum solo dancing. Instead, there were mostly basic movements and little of the true technique one would associate with this climactic portion of a dancer's routine. Some of the steps were well executed like the pelvic lock and the choo-choo. Others had me sadly disappointed that people will buy this and think the hip drop or head circle were lazily executed or expressionless as these. Ignore the advice and demonstration of a hip drop being "...like sitting in a chair". It is sharper, like hammering a nail or striking a match! If you think it's like sitting in a chair, then just sit down and stop dancing altogether. I won't even get into how poorly isolated the movements were. Sonia may eventually be good with time, experience, and a willingness to be expressive, but she dances like an intermediate student. Where were the exciting travel steps or emotions a drum solo needs? Merely glancing at the drummer or the hips is not "connecting" with the drummer, audience, or oneself that this dance is known for. I have seen kindergarteners do the Hokey Pokey (and shake it all around) with MUCH more fire! Amar Gamal or Tamalyn Dallal should have been chosen of the "Superstars" to teach this video, which is sad proof that we are still fixated on youth, color, or politics to get to the top. Bellydancing takes more than cute costumes or moguls to be truly artistic. See Raqia Hassan, Deana, or Issam on this video for true form, artistry, and the beauty of this dance and its music. The free cd and the tiny clips of these real artists make this not a total waste of money.

I personally love this dvd!! I love Sonia's dancing and Isaam's drum playing anyway.I don't think everyone will love this dvd though. I personally love it because I love the sound of the tarab drum and would like to dance well to it. I think its good for any level as Sonia is a good teacher. I would say don't buy this dvd if you want to just learn bellydance moves. The content of the dvd is really based on the sound of the tarab drum and knowing the best way of dancing to that beat.

i loved this DVD although i haven't yet tried dancing it out. Issam explains & breaks down the rhythms with his tabla first, then Sonia breaks down the combinations she puts together to form a drum solo. it's varied & is probably intermediate level.I also enjoyed the extra bit of DVD with Issam & Sonia in Egypt.

A great intro to drum solo rhythm and technique with a warm up, choreography and performance at the end. It is probably too slow for an advanced dancer, but great for a beginner to intermediate dancer. I enjoyed the bonus short documentary of Sonia and Issam visiting Cairo as well. It comes with a bonus music CD, so it's a great deal.

The cd is damaged...actually I believe that it was simply produced with a defect. I've received one as a gift and one i purchased myself, both were defective in the same place (relatively).I love the video...i just wish it would work.