Bellyqueen: Bellydance Jam
Reviewed by Anala Rabari
Bellyqueen is a New York based dance troupe founded by Amar Gamal and Kaeshi. This DVD features 3 sections: introduction, technique, & improvisation. This DVD covers both performance quality techniques and social, club dancing techniques. They do a great job of breaking down movements with clear directions and descriptive language like rooting your heels into the earth. These movements are then put together into a cute little routine that they call BQ Boogie. I like that they go through the routine at 2 different speeds and they break it into 2 sections. Although when they get to the performance of the routine in a nightclub setting it looks like a quirky cross between bellydancing and country line dancing. The improvisation section covers some great ideas for practicing improv such as dancing to different parts of the music (meaning the beats opposed to the melody) and improvising with a partner (mirroring each other, synchronizing, etc.). Special features include 2 montage videos of Bellyqueen performing around the World and with Bellydance Superstars as well as a solo from each girl. There are also interviews with various bellydancers & musicians about being a dancer, how Bellyqueen got started, making the music for the DVD, and Arabic music in general.