Gilded
Serpent presents...
A
review comparison of
Mini-kit gift items:
-The Art of Belly Dancing: Box Set
written by Valerie
Rushmere and Jennifer Worick
-Facial Expressions for Dancers by Natica
Angilly
Review
by Sadira
THE
ART OF BELLY DANCING: BOX SET The
box, book cover and interior were designed by Amanda Richmond.
The text was written by Valerie Rushmere and
Jennifer Worick. Produced by Running Press.
This
is an attractively merchandised and designed mini belly dance
beginner's kit. "The Art of Belly Dancing includes
a full set of finger cymbals, adhesive jewels and a 32 page primer
to get you started. Get ready to master this ancient craft".
This box set immediately grabs your attention with its pretty
and compact box. The lid is in a crimson red with gold print
motif patterns running along the edge. The front of the
box shows a beautiful dancer in the same color tones in her costume
against a white background with the title in eye catching print.
The back of the box is written to grab your curiosity and explains
exactly what is included in the package. This
is a very well marketed product and reasonably priced at $5.95
in USA.
While
regular students and anyone above beginner status would not
find any need to purchase this item, I think it is cleverly
marketed to target a wide range of audience. This would
be perfect for young girls, teenagers, any age, as a wonderful,
unique primer on dancing and the exotic appeal it portrays to
the regular population.
It makes a
great stocking stuffer idea, or that one of a kind gift for someone
who has everything, and for that interested, but maybe shy, woman
who harbors ideas of wanting to learn belly dance but hasn't had
the courage to find a class to take.
The finger
cymbals are low grade quality for anyone seriously wishing to
perform, yet are not just tin discs with no ring. There
is an instruction booklet that outlines in very simple, yet easy
to follow format, basic movements from shimmies to arm movements,
hip circles and proper body alignment. There is also a beautiful
jewel adornment that can be put on the body.
While serious
dancers would not find this a necessary buy, it is arranged and
produced in a very positive way that actually teaches basic steps,
posture and all the beginning skills to either enjoy and improvise,
or pull someone into wanting more and then looking for a serious
class. I give this a high rating for general
appeal and for being an enlightening tool on the art of belly
dance. If you want more information on where you can find
this genie's box of delight; contact www.runningpress.com.
HOW
TO EVOKE A MUSE BY USING A MIRROR.
FACIAL EXPRESSIONS FOR DANCERS BY NATICA ANGILLY
Natica Angilly
is the founder, director, choreographer and dancer for the Natica
Angilly's Poetic Dance Theater Company.
She has performed with her group around the world, and has always
been a standard attraction at the Rakkasah Festival in California.
The back of
this booklet goes on to explain, "The Muses are nine Greek
mythological deities of inspiration, born of Mnemosyne
and Zeus. Each of the muses is an aspect of art personified,
representing nine different types of poetry, and, by extension,
for creative inspiration of all genres, especially dance."
This booklet
of 25 pages categorizes each of the nine mythological deities
and explains their particular personifications and how to incorporate
their energy into your dance with an accompanying facing page
that shows Natica's impression of what facial expression and feeling
to be emoted with each inspiration. Obviously this is not
directed towards belly dance in any way, but is an attempt to
bring theatrical exploration to dance in general and begin to
define your movements with accompanying pathos and facial expressions.
While
an interesting premise and a passionately proclaimed series
of depictions, it is lacking overall.
The booklet
quality is that of poor stock paper, and definitely looks computer
generated and homemade. The colored photos that depict the
main facility of the project are amateurish at best.
At the very
back of the book is a pocket which contains a very bejeweled small
mirror in which you are to practice your facial expressions.
The mirror is very pretty, but too small to be of any benefit
to actually gauge a sense of your whole demeanor and body language/facial
impression. A facial impression for use on the stage is
a much wider energy field then what can be seen in a small hand
mirror.
While each
muse is described and then used as an analogy for you to feel
their influence in your presentation, it comes across lengthier
in prose than any actual undertaking of how to embrace that energy
or expression.
Unfortunately,
I have to say that the stylizing is very 1918 modernistic dance
influence, i.e. a poor imitation of Isadora Duncan's dance style
and philosophy, which in this context comes across as stilted.
Large over done silent screen actor type expressions are not
really something that would carry across as stage presence in
dancing.
I respect
Natica and her Poetic dance theater for their innovation in the
art medium, but this booklet runs below standard.
If you are
interested in studying this particular style of connection with
the ancient mythological Greek muses, you can find out about purchasing
this booklet by contacting: www.artistsembassy.org.
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