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Drills! Drills! Drills! A complete workout with finger cymbals for belly dancers of all levels | 
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| Director: Michelle Joyce
Actor: Michelle Joyce
Studio: Cheeky Girls Productions
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.95
Buy New: $17.99
You Save: $1.96 (10%)
New (4) from $17.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  26 reviews
Sales Rank: 13626
Format: Ntsc
Language: English (Unknown)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 115
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.7 x 0.1
UPC: 796873040150
EAN: 0796873040150
Release Date: March 14, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
This DVD is designed to help you learn to make the most of your practice time. This is not simply a workout DVD, but also a lesson in how to practice. The elements of an effective practice routine are broken down and explained as you are guided through a complete, fully body dance workout. There are several drills at varying levels of difficulty that are designed to increase your physical strength, muscle memory, and coordination. The beginner dancer can benefit from the breakdown of the moves and the slow isolation drills, while the more advanced dancer can go straight to the chapters that incorporate finger cymbals and layering techniques. Over time you will notice the moves becoming firmly ingrained in your muscle memory. With regular practice, you will develop a strong, trained body that can effortlessly layer shimmies with isolations and finger cymbals. The workout includes: -Strengthening Drills -Isolation Drills -Shimmy Drills -Layering Drills -Finger Cymbal Drills This DVD is 2 hours in length!
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| Customer Reviews: Read 21 more reviews...
 Quite simply: thrilled with Drills March 15, 2008
36 out of 36 found this review helpful
Nobody else is as turned on by the dull word "drill" as belly dancers are. And turned on we are, because drills happen to be the key to making second nature of body isolations and moves. If you've ever watched a belly dancer's apparently effortless control over her movements, know that this has come from hours of determined and very careful practice. It's the drills that make moves natural enough to layer one on top of the other until you have an overall incredible result that mimics the music even as it happens.
Michelle Joyce, a total godsend to the belly dance community, brings the thrill of the drill to belly dancers in a complete package on this video. If you were to look around at discussions on the internet, you'll find not just praise, but absolute gratitude from dancers. You will readily find those who are willing to give this video at least a 10 on 5. Somehow, Michelle has hit the right note with dancers and is speaking to them in a language they're comfortable with. She's covering all the essentials, organizing her material very neatly, and giving excellent advice, reminders and encouragement throughout the instruction.
There's enough content on this video to keep dancers, of any level, as the title says, busy for a long time. If you're a beginner, work with some other videos (or better still, classes) for technique, and drill with this video. But my advice would be to be hugely careful about posture because this is hard work and be tough on an unconditioned back or knees. Once a certain amount of optimum strength has been developed, go go go.
Before each segment, Michelle has an explanation section. That arrangement helps the instruction reach out to beginners more readily. It also refreshes the basics for already-dancers. She begins with four exercise drills to strengthen some of the essential muscle groups and your "core". For those of you used to tribal drills or Suhaila-style exercises, it should be familiar enough.
The instruction then moves on to isolations. There's technique explanations and tips before moving on to drills that have a separate slow and fast section. What I really like about these is how Michelle has added four foot positions and arm positions to do these drills with. I do a lot of drills but I haven't come across any that call for changes in arm positions. I immediately found myself faltering on that aspect. There's a beautifully simple symbols explanation and drill next, also with arm movements.
Then come two of my favorite drills on this video, the Zig Zag drill for both hips and ribcage, and isolations all layered on a grapevine traveling steps. This addition is excellent - and challenging. And if that weren't enough, we layer cymbal playing on to that lot. There are also shimmy drills (up and down) and standing shimmy drills. What's missing is shimmies layered on other hip isolations like circles etc. But there are rib cage moves layered on hip moves. These latter sections of the video increase in difficulty level, specially when they include cymbals. But this is exactly what will overcome everyone's problems with wiring the brain to do 3 or 4 things at the same time.
To end with, there's a "choreography" which isn't really a complete dance as the word may imply, but 3 short (and challenging) routines based on the isolations learnt on the video. You can, of course, add these into your own dancing, but here they're meant to be a different type of practice of drills. It These are really nice and are meant to help make you choreography-friendly. This again is really unique and well-planned. Dancers are already saying that this video is also a lesson in how to practice.
Drills Drills Drills ties in very well with another product that actually make earlier, Pop Lock and Shimmy. On that video, these drills are taken to the next level and also go on to make up a choreography. Overall, these two videos take into account everything that dancers have been wanting for their practice.
Yeah! Yeah ! Yeah! Drills ! Drills! Drills! March 12, 2008
25 out of 25 found this review helpful
When I got my copy of "Drills! Drills! Drills!", I immediately popped it into my DVD player and sat positively transfixed until the last minute. All I can say is WOW - this is the drill DVD that I've been waiting for!!
I can't praise Michelle enough for the quality and quantity of information contained on this DVD, while keeping the price affordable. Which, in this out of control economy, I am sure is not an easy task.
The first thing that I realized about this DVD is that, to paraphrase the back cover of the box, it truly is "a lesson in how to practice". I have never seen a DVD that teaches this important aspect of learning how to belly dance. I've been taking lessons for close to four years and I honestly say that I had no idea how to structure my home practice sessions until I watched this DVD! I know that, from now on, I'll be able to get the most out of the precious minutes I have to spare to work on my "skills" (and, in my case, I use that term loosely.)
Now to the title subject - Drills! Let me tell you, these are NOT your mother's belly dance drills - these are serious drills. The kind of drills that will get you in shape and increase your belly dance skills at the same time. And what an array of drills there are! There are drills for strengthening the muscles, drills to get your shimmy in shape, drills that will truly isolate your isolations, drills that have more layers than a bakery full of cakes (mmmm..cakes...), and something that I have never seen included in "drill" DVDs - ZIL DRILLS!!! Yippee!!
I can see this DVD staying at the very top of my list for a LONG, LONG time as it will, not only, improve my dancing and overall fitness, it will help me (finally) learn how to focus.
Again, many, many thanks Michelle!!!
PS - I also think this dvd would be great for any dancer no matter what genre of bellydance they study as these drills transcend style. So whether you are into Egyptian cabaret, tribal fusion, gothic tribal, Bellynesian, or whatever "Drills! Drills! Drills!" is an effective - and invaluable - tool that will build your overall physical strength and improve your dance skills. One thing is for sure, Michelle has a real gift for knowing exactly what every dancer needs!
View the Trailer February 17, 2008
36 out of 41 found this review helpful
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2GDUACUX0BF8C
Practice Makes Perfect? With this DVD it does!!! May 12, 2008
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
Title: Drills! Drills! Drills!
Instructor:Michelle Joyce
Level: "All Levels" of dancers
Info: 115 minutes
You can practice your moves, your choreography, your improv and your performance skills, but what is the secret to flawless technique? How do you keep your locks and pops sharp and your eights and circles smooth and flowing throughout a long dance set? The "secret" isn't such a surprise - it takes a lot of hard work and practice of course!
I've heard many students bemoan the lack of a good motivator at home to help them practice. They learn movements in class, but have trouble practicing on their own at home. Or, they're tired of instructional videos that just teach movements and want to enhance and improve what they already know.
If you're looking for that cosmic "kick in the rear" to jump start your dancing and help tune-up your technique, this is the video for you. Michelle presents a well-organized, logical progressive approach that will appeal to pros and novices alike. As with other videos, Michelle does not just promote the dance but infuses her material with a nod towards fitness, creating a work that will help to improve all aspects of a dancer's form. Overall, this DVD is just fabulous. Michelle has put together a really well planned and executed offering for dancers of ALL abilities. This DVD is the "total package" of drills, providing sections to drill everything from core to isolations to layers and zils.
DVD sections include:
Strengthing Drills: Glutes, back, legs, thighs, lower abs and even the entire core are covered during this part of the DVD. Michelle begins with Suhalia-style glute squeezes and gives a detailed description of how, and how not, to execute the movement. A selection of drills for other parts of the body come next and trust me these exercises will definitely help you get into dancing shape! Here, too, are drills that will improve strength and control for specific movements including body rolls and undulations....
Isolation Drills: Now Michelle begins to focus on various dance movements. As with the strengthening drills she explains each movement clearly and concisely. Not only does Michelle demonstrate and breakdown the movements, but she also describes the muscles that drive each move. Frequently describing weight shifts and the anatomical changes involved with each movement, Michelle covers a total of 7 isolations before moving on to the actual isolation drill itself. This drill moves out of the standard "home" or basic position, incorporating a variety of foot patterns and arm positions while drilling the isolations broken down earlier. Movements are performed on both sides of the body and at a variety of speeds. In this way, the isolation drill has a bonus level of complexity as it also incorporates layering of body, arm, and feet position. Not only can you tighten up your isolations but you can also work on additional layers at the same time.
Finger Cymbal Drills: In the next section of the DVD, Michelle adds an additional layer to drilling by incorporating finger cymbals. First the three patterns that will be played are introduced along with explanations as to how each should be played. Michelle explains each in several different ways (according to dums and teks, counts, and hands) and there's even a bar that appears across the screen that breaks down each pattern. There's even a brief description about how to wear and play the cymbals, again making this valuable for both beginners and more experienced dancers. During the drill, Michelle plays each pattern and leads viewers through a series of arm movements.
Zig Zag Drill: This one was a new concept for me and one of the best on the entire DVD (and believe me, it was hard to pick a favorite!). Here Michelle describes a unique pattern that the body will take through the drill. This pattern is repeated through the hips (repeated on each side), pelvis, and chest. After first breaking down the drill and explaining how to do each aspect of it there is a section for dancers to follow along. Michelle then ups the anti by adding in zils along with the hip, pelvis, and chest patterns. This pattern is a wonderful way to increase range of motion in each area while working on locks and pops. I confess that here alone I spent several days just playing with the zig zag!
Feet and Hip Layering Drill: Another great section. Michelle breaks down the footwork (grapevine step) and then layers various movements onto the traveling step. Once again, she does a great job of explaining this section and also describes Suhalia's method of denoting when the movement will occur in conjunction to the music. As someone who's tried to briefly studied the Suhalia method (and admittedly got mired down in the nomenclature) it was very helpful to see the movement demonstrated as the step was counted. Next comes the follow along section where Michelle layers 7 movements onto the step. As with several of the other drill sections, there is a voiceover track while Michelle runs the follow-along drill. A nice touch here is all the good tips Michelle gives while demonstrating the drill. If you listen as you follow along and drill, you'll pick up a number of nice points on technique and polish. Oh, and don't worry if you're a zil enthusiast - the ENTIRE drill of the layered traveling movements is repeated with added finger cymbals.
3/4 and Standing Shimmy Drills: Two different ways to perform the 3/4 shimmy are presented here: a hip-drop version and a hip up version. Michelle also demonstrates several different variations on the movement before going into the drills. Each of the two forms are drilled slowly first and then at a speedy rate. The drills aren't simply done in place, however - Michelle moves you forward, backward, and even in circles. The next section really needs no breakdown or explanation at all, and is simply a follow along shimmy drill. Once again Michelle performs the drill, adding different arms with the shimmy and varying speeds, as a voiceover plays. Here too dancers will find a number of great tips as they practice with Michelle. As the drill progresses, the shimmies change and become increasingly harder in difficulty and speed.
Hip and Chest Layering Drill: Here Michelle combines hips with ribs. Breakdown first, and then a rather challenging drill. Each section of the body moves independently of the other and this will definitely provide a good challenge for most dancers. As the chest movement switches directions, the pacing of the different levels is varied, and other additional variations are presented this drill offers material for many challenging practice sessions. And, once you're comfortable with the drill layers, you can always follow along to the zil section.
Choreography: The final part of the DVD is a choreography that combines all of the drills on the DVD. The inclusion of this on a drill DVD was brilliant - it provides dancers with a quick way to practice all of the various drills while also drilling their brain too! Not only can you drill your movements but you can actually practice learning material at the same time. Michelle's so sneaky! The choreography is broken down into 4 manageable sections and is then presented in full for dancers to practice.
What Worked for Me:
* I loved the inclusion of strengthening exercises and the thought of using these as a drill. We so frequently drill "just the moves" and it was great to see the idea of strength drills included on a DVD. Some of these movements were intense (see below) but once you master them you will have a wonderfully strong body on which to base your dance.
* The progression of this DVD, from basic foundational material and drills to layers to zils and a full choreography, was well planned out. Each section was covered thoroughly and with a good attention to detail. Dancers of different levels will be able to adjust their practice plan accordingly rather than just having to tumble through a haphazard arrangement of drills as on some other DVDs.
* The application of various speeds and pacing for many of the drills was a nice touch. Frequently drills are demonstrated at only one speed and this variation was a nice way. I also loved the idea of switching the "leading" hip from side to side while working on each drill.
* The zig-zag drill was creative and offered me a new approach to drilling. For anyone who feels "stuck in a drilling rut" this new form alone would give you hours of challenging material.
* Michelle explains her drills according to the music, inspiring a musicality that many other drill systems lack. Frequently drills are simply demonstrated, but here Michelle talks about matching them to the downbeat and other aspects of the music helping dancers to drill not only the moves but musical interpretation too.
What Might Not Work for You:
* If you're not a fan of the Suhaila style drills that are fairly intense exercises, you might not like the strength drill section of this DVD. Similarly, if you never play zils then the finger cymbal section might not be your cup of tea. The nice thing, however, is that there is still a ton of information that will benefit dancers of all levels.
* At times, it was a bit difficult to see Michelle's feet. Personally this was not an issue for me once I understood which feet positions she was incorporating into her drills. But for some this might present a problem as the instructor's feet positions are only shown in the mirror behind her. For some, only seeing the feet mirrored may be a bit difficult to follow.
One last note: I teach a regular, weekly drills class. I love drills, and try to think of all sorts of fun and unique ways to do various movements and dance concepts. I *really* enjoyed this DVD and was quite impressed with the approach to the isolation and zig zag drill sections in particular. If you're looking for new material to drill, or even just new ways to execute your drills, I'd really recommend this DVD.
PS - This review is THIS LONG because there really is that much amazing material packed into this DVD!
Excellent! March 16, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
The one thought that kept popping into my mind as I was watching it was "Wow, that's really intelligent!" Michelle obviously put a lot of thought into this both from the perspective of an instructor and of her students.
The instruction overall had some aspects that I find very helpful. Michelle does a great job of explaining exactly which muscles are involved in the movements. That helped give me a better understanding of why I was having problems with a certain movement I've always struggled with. She was also good about pointing out pitfalls to watch out for. Much of the dvd was filmed with her back to the camera in front of a mirror, too, so you don't have to mentally translate when she mentions left and right.
Before she even gets to the movement drills, Michelle takes you through a bunch of well thought out strengthening exercises. Despite having taken classes and many workshops over the past several years, a lot of the strengthening exercises were new to me. I especially liked the body roll one which should help a lot with the control of my undulations. The drills themselves progress from slow to fast and basic to layered, to layered with zils, followed by a choreography using the drills. Again, I thought it was great that Michelle pointed out that you can train your mind to learn choreography more easily. So, part of the dvd is a drill for your brain, as well.
I can easily see it being one of those dvds that I come back to time and time again. I will definitely be recommending it to everyone in my troupe.
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