A VERY odd pairing
This DVD is not without merits, however the two sections that were put onto one disc after having had their own separate VHS versions, "Basic Moves" and "Fat Burning," are incredibly mismatched.
"Basic Moves" is a very gentle introduction to belly dance moves, including footwork and upper body movement. All over, it is an extremely light 30 minute workout that is low impact. It would be good for those who are out of shape and just starting to exercise, or older people who have fragile joints. It can also be used as a long warm up before a more strenuous workout. It is a good primer of fundamentals.
The second segment, "Fat Burning," should carry a warning: "Beware: This Workout May Destroy You," would be my recommendation. It is very high impact, using the hops and jumps of Eqyptian cane dance. It warms up well enough but once it ramps up to speed it just never stops for the majority of the 30 minutes, even when your calves consider seceding from your body. I consider myself quite fit cardiovascularly but when doing this I have had to stop for water or risk fainting, I've had that desperate "I'm going to die" feeling and I've had that painful raw sensation in my lungs from laboring so hard. Do not attempt this if you are a novice exerciser, if you have bad knees, or if you don't like the repetition of hopping. I still do this workout every once in a while when I'm feeling masochistic, but I really can't understand why it was paired with "Basic Moves", which is so clearly designed to be gentle. The two halves of this DVD are meant for completely opposite groups of people.
