Bellydance Fitness:Arms, Abs,

The DVD is a great value since you get two workouts for little more than the cost of one! You also get footage of the twins dancing in full costume without the credits rolling overthem like it happens in the VHS. You should also get the Basic Moves, Fat Burning DVD and the Slim Down VHS which is my personal favorite... Have fun! Dance!

To all those "bellydancers" out there who state that this is not a teaching tape...it says that right on the front. For fitness! Not instruction! If you want to learn to Middle Eastern Dance (because that is what the dance is called, not bellydance) then please check out a class in your local area. I take mine through Parks and Rec.

Within a few minutes of starting the arms section of this tape I felt as though my arms were on fire. I know I will most definately feel this tomorrow. It's a good workout, and shows you some common postures you will use if you decide to study the dance.

The abs section wasn't as good as I had expected it to be. I had a real problem with the exercise where they ask you to support your body on your arms and twist your hips. It might take me awhile before I can do that one. There are crunches and variations on crunches, as well as some yoga postures to help you stretch out in the cool down.

As for the second workout in the video, I had seen many of the movements in the Basic Moves DVD I mentioned that I already own. The hip shimmies, drops and lifts are wonderful ways to work your hips. There is a move that is a variation on a hip shimmy that I think will be a lot of fun to do and work more muscles than a traditional shimmy will...you are on your toes and stepping while shimmying.

You'll see some exercises that you should be familiar with, such as lunges. There's a reason for that: this is a workout video.

Again, the thing to remember is that this is not going to teach you to dance...it takes moves that are used in MED and incorporates them into an aerobic workout. Please keep that in mind when viewing/using this DVD.

I think so far this is the best of their series that I have used. I will continue to use this DVD as another way to exercise, and supplement what I have learned in class (to a certain extent).

Plus, there's no large men with socks in their unitards screaming, "Knee! Knee! Kick!" to spoil the fun.

One word of caution, however: They don't actually teach you HOW to bellydance or dance routines or anything, so don't buy this thinking you'll be Princess Kashmir or some sh*t. All the exercises are based off of bellydancing moves, but an instructional dance video this ain't.