Customer Reviews
A bit disappointed 
2008-06-05
I have the other videos from Rania and had hoped that the cardio would be a new sequence, it was not. The cardio sequence comprises extractions from her other fitness dvds hip hop hip drop, cardio shimmy, too hip, pure sweat. The combining of these serves no purpose for me in this dvd.To get a workout I select customize your workout in order to get my workout.Rania is an awesome instructor and I hope that she produces a dvd with a fresh challenging cardio session that is fun, challenging and lasts for at least 50 minutes .Don't buy if you have her other fitness dvds.Buy if you don't have her other dvds
A real bargain for those seeking a varied and challenging bellydance workout 
2008-03-25
Initially, I was disappointed to find that this DVD repeats many segments from the DVD's in Rania's original (4-part)Bellydance Fitness for Weight Loss Series. However, Rania has eliminated the slower-paced, more monotonous segments of those earlier DVD workouts; here she includes only the more challenging, faster-paced segments. She has also added in some new drill segments with a stronger focus on specific areas of the body.
Intermediate and advanced dancers who liked the solid cardio format of Rania's old DVD's- but who found that they were not challenging enough-will enjoy working out with this new DVD. You will also be delighted to find that the DVD provides a huge number of choices for varying your daily workout. You can choose one of seven daily 30-minute workouts, or you can add or subtract segments to make longer and shorter workouts.
I would definitely NOT recommend this DVD for beginners because of the fast pacing of the workouts, the intensity of the movements, and the lack of break-down and instruction for the individual steps. Beginners should try Rania's Bellydance Fitness for Weight Loss series first. While those DVD's are not primarily instructional in nature, they do provide some breakdown of steps.
In her first set of DVD's, Rania used the classic layering approach of teaching the basic step, then adding on the hips and/or arms so that you don't have to try and master everything at once. This classic approach is used by dance instructors everywhere and-aside from doing monotonous drills of basic movements-there is really no other way to maintain an aerobic pace while learning and practicing a new step. Most students prefer this technique, because they want to experience the sensation of "dancing" rather than just repeating steps.
If you are looking for more thorough teaching of the basic steps, you should try one of the many bellydance instructional videos on the market. There are many high-quality DVD's created by instructors such as Jillina. It is also important to remember that there is no substitute for taking classes with a competent dance teacher.
If your interest in bellydance goes beyond just "having fun," if you think you may want to perform some day, and/or if you are concerned about avoiding injury, you should supplement your home workouts with lessons from a qualified teacher.
Good Workouts, but Very Confusing DVD 
2008-02-07
This DVD has some great workouts on it, but when you pop it in, you don't know where to begin. You start clicking around and finally find these calendars and then can't really tell where you're supposed to click then you accidentally find something and a workout begins, but they assume you already know the dance moves and a couple of the workouts go into a group of "core" movements that it implies you have just learned, but you're like "HUH?" If you already have a basic understanding of belly dance moves and you can follow the strange format, it's a good workout DVD. If you are a beginner, don't buy it. Get the Goddess Workout first. It's not horrible, just very, very confusing and awkward.
Belly Dance Non Instruction 
2008-01-18
I bought this video video to learn the basic instruction of Belly Dancing. The instructor does the moves and explains various exercise. But fails at teaching the basic move to place in the exercise. Save your money and buy a local class.
I'm a believer--this works (and it's fun!) 
2007-10-05
I finally purchased this DVD after debating a little. I own all of Rania's Bellydance for Fitness DVDs but I got bored with them after awhile and preferred Suhaila's teaching style more. I saw this and even though many said it was a rehash of her previous workouts, I wanted to try it anyway for the Personal Trainer aspect. I have to say that I'm in day 6 of her "Sleek In a Week" program and I can see and feel the difference!! I would by this DVD just for the Sleek in a Week program. My clothes are already a little looser. I must admit that I've been using the Sleek in a Week program with proper diet as well but for 6 days, the results are amazing! The whole series is very enjoyable, but I have to admit the cardio segment is a little repetitous (you do it about 3-4 times a week) but the more I did it, I found the better I got at it, which is good since some of it can move quickly. There are also several mini workouts for the time crunched (and yes, most of them were on Rania's previous DVDs) but I like the fact that you are given a specific order in which to do in each series, since I'm always wondering when using a workout DVD that is sectioned off: "What do I do today?" This DVD takes all the guesswork out of what kind of training to do. All this time, I've been doing weight training DVDs and not burning enough fat, and this disc was the solution to that! Note: There is hardly any bellydance instructions going on here, so if you are looking to learn how to bellydance, order one of Rania's instructional videos. But if you are looking to feel better, get fit, work muscles you never knew you had and not dread working out, then this one's for you.
Belly Dance Fitness at it's Best 2007-07-17
No Description Available.
Genre: How to - Dance Instruction
Rating: NR
Release Date: 12-JUL-2005
Media Type: DVD
Lots of Diversity 2006-12-09
I have this one along with some of Rania's other DVDs.
I like the fact that I can personalize my workout to my preferences of the moment. While it is helpful to already know some of the moves I don't think it's essential. She picks various segments of all her other workouts here but once you've done them a few times, you've got the hang of it. And there is the video library of the moves to practice with as many times as you need.
The extra workouts are fantastic and I found some new ones in addition to the ones included on the other DVDs I have. Makes it real easy to do whatever I feel needs done when I'm ready to workout.
Great tool for fitness but be prepared to sweat. A lot!
Good for someone who knows what's what... 2006-12-05
I've never taken a bellydance class or used another video and this one got me a bit lost. I enjoyed the parts I could follow, but this is not a video for the novice. I got lost and frustrated and so it's gone back on the shelf until I get a good beginners video. I liked the moves library, but I wasn't able to get enough into the moves to give an honest opinion of the actual workout.
Design Your Own Bellydance Routine 2006-07-28
If you are at the point where you enjoy Bellydancing every day or most days of the week, then this is a great solution and will give you lots of variety in your workouts. This is a detailed DVD with lots of sections. The first section is a place where you can decide which type of exercise routine you wish to enjoy OR you can make up your own by choosing a number of exercises one after the other. Here is what this DVD offers:
Sleek in a Week - this selection takes you to another page
where you can then select a day of the week.
Intense Legs & Buns
Intense Abs
Time Saver
Fit it In
Take It Easy
Maintenance Plan
These are all combinations of the customized routines. You may recognize some of the cardio from former Raina DVDs. In fact, it is intriguing to discover how relaxed and comfortable she is on camera as compared to when she was very poised and tense at the start. Now she has fully relaxed into herself and the new exercises are even more sexy and relaxing than before.
Customize Your Bellydance Workout:
30 minutes Bellydance Cardio
10 minutes each: Flexibility Training, Arms, Legs & Butt 1, Legs & Butt 2, Hips & Waist, Chest & Back, Abs 1, Abs 2.
The Abs 1 section is worth the purchase of this DVD. It will give you a full Abs workout and I prefer it to Abs 2 from a previous video. This is a mixture of old and new with an emphasis on what really works.
The 30 minutes of Bellydance Cardio lacks continuity on its own and you may enjoy it more if you already learned these moves in previous DVS. They will mostly appeal to intermediate to advanced bellydancers and anyone who wants to enjoy Jazz, Electronica and Caribbean music all in one day. The exercises and costumes change frequently so you are never bored.
Video Library of Bellydance moves: Shoulder Shimmy, Snake Arms, Hip Shimmy, Hop & Drop, Tut Walk, Chest Drop, Horizontal Figure 8, Vertical Figure 8, Basic Turn and Camel.
Some of the unique moves on this DVD are the Cleopatra Stretch and the ways in which Raina moves across the floor while doing the exercises. The Arms workout is intense and creative. Egyptian Shimmies and challenging footwork keep you working and the hip movements are very active and soothing. This DVD is exciting for intermediate and advanced bellydancers because it takes you from folkloric to sexy all in one DVD. There is so much to choose from and there are programs for the week so all you have to do is find out which level you want to exercise at and then select the day of the week.
If you have been following the Raina program then this DVD will feel like a reward for all your hard work. If you are new to Raina, this might seem a little confusing and I'd suggest you start with her main DVDs first unless you want everything in one package deal. By starting with her instructional DVDs, you can learn the moves and then really enjoy this series of exercises. I will agree with everyone else who said they felt these exercises! The dancers are talented, elegant and all have beautiful spirits.
~The Rebecca Review
Where's the dancing? 2006-06-21
i don't recomend this dvd for beginners at all. The cardio workout is complicated and and the moves/combinations aren't explained. after a few tries i sort of got the hang of it but i still wasn't happy about how it wasn't a coherent dance; there were just too many pauses. the individual isolation workouts i really enjoy and have had fun creating my own workouts every day, but i still don't feel like i'm dancing.
