5/5 THE BEST - Kathy Smith - Flex Appeal: A Belly Dance Workout
  by Caryette Muhammad
I have been using this video, both VHS and DVD since December of 2004 and my waistline is now 26-27 inches, even after 5 (yes, five) children. So to all the naysayers, I don't know what you're talking about. Sounds like jealousy and envy to me.

I had never belly danced before, but now, I feel like a pro. Ansuya, an award winning dancer, is very visible in the background, and her presence makes everyone look like a pro. Sure Kathy Smith is not a pro belly dancer, but she looks good as she shows us that even amateurs can learn the health-benefiting movements of this form of workout. Kathy's way of teaching is very systematic, with counting, and easy to follow along.

The wonderful thing about this video is that it's a COMPLETE WORKOUT. You learn the basics of belly dance, you get aerobics, then you a great cool down with stretching, yoga, and pilates. There's even a tutorial with Ansuya showing us all how to fine-tune our belly-dance movements.

So to all the "Kathy Smith" haters, shame on you!

BTW: I bought her "Latin Dance Workout" and even though it's very taxing and you gotta already be in pretty good shape, I now feel completely confident when I go to a Latin club. I can keep up with some of the best Latin dancers on the dance floor. They even stand back and watch me.

You GO Kathy! Keep on bringing us new and exciting ways to stay in shape.

Sincerely,
Cary

PS: Before this video, after my 5th child, I had severe back pain and was taking Naprisin for back pain and muscle spasms in my back. Soon after I started doing this video workout, my back pain went away and has never returned. Even after almost 5 years, this is my favorite workout video. I just completed the workout today and feel like a belly-dance Goddess. THANK YOU KATHY & ANSUYA!





3/5 Ansuya Choreographs Belly Dance Workout with Kathy Smith
  by Fitness Goddess (Florida)
This is a great starters DVD for Ansuya fans. Ansuya works with Kathy Smith to put together a choreography you learn, and dance to. Features other known Belly Dancers in the background. This workout is good if you want to learn new movements, watch Ansuya's techniques or style, and do not mind a workout. Realistically you may work with this DVD a few times, and then move on to better material. Namaste.

4/5 Goldhil version does NOT have bonus features
  by ReadNReVu
I bought this used (new in package) through Amazon, and while the package says it has the bonus dance and the "behind the scenes" chapters--the DVD does not. Only the main two workouts, the slow dance, flex segment and the tutorial are on this DVD.

And as far as the "slow dance" at the end of the first workout section, while you can chapter to it from your remote, it is not separately titled in the menu. How do I know? I had borrowed the DVD previously, and that one says at the beginning "Sony Music Entertainment" and has a different menu, with a separate chapter for the slow dance, as well as the separate bonus menu.

As to the workout itself, it would have been much better if Ansuya and Kathy had been side by side throughout the video, instead of only during the tutorial. Also, Kathy's green tie-top in the first section was very distracting with the wide sleeves and the tie hanging down (part of learning is seeing the belly area as well as the arms).

The second section was good, but Kathy's costume did nothing to show off her new-found dancing ability--the skirt was made of a straight front and a straight back, and only emphasized that she didn't have a belly dance type of body (no knock on her, she's in great shape). Could have done without the whooping, however.

The flexibility section at the end is really nice, and good for a cooldown after any type of workout.

I hope she does another video with Ansuya, with side-by-side instruction, and also a lot more profile instead of three-quarter-view camera angles. This is a good beginner's workout, but again, the Goldhil version does NOT have the bonus features.

2/5 Not worth the time it takes to watch
  by V. Gray
Kathy Smith does not know enough about belly dancing to teach it. The most helpful part of the DVD is the tutorial that explains what you should be doing with your body when doing some moves. This part of the DVD is not taught by Kathy, but by an experience dancer. If the whole DVD were that detailed it would be 5 stars. I also feel that there was no enough attention give to keeping proper posture while dancing in order to prevent back injury.

4/5 good for an introduction
  by Desert Dancer
This was the first DVD I tried on bellydancing. You get to learn the basic moves and they are broke down in easy to follow and learn steps. It is fun and you don't have to stand around while she is teaching the moves...it keeps moving along while you're learning. The first segment is a 20 minute slow routine that teaches you the basic moves. There is a 3 minute slow dance, then it is followed by a 20 minute fast routine that uses a lot of what you just learned. However, even though Kathy Smith is a good instuctor she is not a bellydancer, so if you are watching her, you're not going to learn how to move like a dancer. Watch the dancers in the background, especially Ansuya, otherwise it's hard to see just how the moves are really supposed to look.