Disclaimer: I received this DVD as part of a give-away on Bhuz from Michelle Joyce, the producer. I was excited to receive Icing on the Drum Solo for free and early, because I am a huge fan of Lotus Niraja (and we’re both from the same area). This DVD offers much more than drum solo [...]

I realized yesterday that we have roughly a month until the performance for Meiver’s recital. While I have enjoyed the training and think it was good to be taken out of my comfort zone, learning 4 choreographies for her and 2 for Bharatanatyam has left little time for my own personal things. I’ll still need [...]

And I’m quite tired. I didn’t party hard or do anything miraculous; I just did an overnight medical study yesterday (I arrived on Wednesday and got out on Thursday during the evening). I like doing these things for two reasons: one, I make money, and two, I learn something. One of my educational- regrets, perhaps, [...]

Ironically after I wrote my review yesterday, I read an article in the Gilded Serpent about whether reviews on instructional DVDs are important anymore. The writer’s stance is that they aren’t so much anymore, because there are notable companies who routinely produce high quality DVDs for dancers. I disagree with that. Obviously, the writer is [...]

Bringing back weekly (or semi-weekly) reviews. During one of my bouts with cold/flu, I watched Combination Nation Vol 1: Belly Dance Instruction with America’s Hottest Performers. What is it? A DVD of combinations from dancers that are on the By Dancers, For Dancers series that Michelle Joyce puts out through Cheeky Girl Productions. The series [...]

Carrara Nour decided yesterday that we (or at least she)  begins her 90-day practice challenge. She started it off with a doozy- 4 hour practice. Not to be expected to be completed at once. I decided to see if I could fit in two 2-hour practices today. First practice, consisting of drills and zills, is [...]

I spent yesterday sick. Coincidentally, right as I began administering the exam for my students, my nose began dripping like crazy. I came home yesterday and slept like crazy. Dance class (I was going to try drop in ballet tonight) is not in my best interest right now. However, I do plan on starting back [...]

Aziza is releasing a new instructional DVD, right before the holiday. I think it’ll be a winner. The title is “Hands, Arms, and Poses.” Aziza has fabulous, well, hands, arms, and poses. Her other DVDs that I’ve seen (the veil one and the practice companion) were good in terms of information and production quality. If [...]

Although it would’ve made more sense to start with Secrets of the Stage: Vol 1, I found  Secrets of the Stage Volume 3: A Performance Course for Belly Dancers by Michelle Joyce on the Bhuz Swap. The deal was good and it helped a lady out. The Secrets of the Stage series is produced by [...]

Needing to fill my need of veil work, I picked up Fabulous Four Yard Veils with Shoshanna – Belly Dance. Shoshanna is of Arcata, CA; she is involved heavily with L.Rose Designs, since her mother is in charge of that. When I saw her last year for the Aida Nour show, she was very captivating. [...]