5/5 Tribal Fusion Bellydance Pop & Lock with Elisheva
  by Beverly Sneath (Ontario)
The demonstrations are very clearly shown and there's a good variety of moves. I found this video very useful. I think it's probably more suitable for intermediate or advanced level than beginners. Elisheva is a wonderful dancer and performer. Her moves are very clear and distinct and her instructions are direct and well demonstrated. I liked the combination of bellydance and fun hip hop moves. There's also a coreography. I was very pleased with this DVD and I think it's an excellent value.

5/5 "Lock" In The Fun with this intermediate/advanced video!
  by Shara of Desert Dance (KS)
Elisheva leads you through an intense experience of learning in this empowering DVD. Why, you ask, is it empowering? Because she breaks everything down and makes it all easy to understand and follow! That also makes it very enjoyable! The combinations and layering you will learn are fun and versatile.
If you do the entire video, you will spend two hours improving your strength, flexibility, dance movement and mood! If you do not have the time for all of it, the menu is very convenient to help you get to the portion you want to work with.
Keep in mind, the exercises and moves are not easy: this is a good workout. You don't want easy! Once you learn the moves, the drills section gets you doing combinations, footwork and more layers.
Elisheva demonstrates then teaches a choreography, and concludes with a performance. You will enjoy watching and dancing with her!
I am not a tribal dancer, but this is one I will keep in my collection because it is fun and adds variety to my work-outs! I would recommend this DVD to anyone that would like to learn popping and locking for their belly dance!
Happy Shimmies!


5/5 A belly dance buffet
  by Seir (USA)
My experience with this program was terrific! I enjoyed learning the elements of "pop" "and lock" and all its variations from this program. I have been intensely working on the choreography which is so much fun. The entire contents, background music, the choreography selection, and the combinations that make up this fabulous modern fusion were very well detailed and brought forth.
This instructor welcomes the viewer with confidence and an impressive background in dance, quickly drawing the viewer in. The lesson plan is superbly planned out. The menu options are usuer friendly and will direct you exactly where you are in the program.

To begin: Intense Yoga warm-up with sun salutations

Level one technique: prepares the upper body with chest pops, circles shoulder locks, broken snake arms, liquid style arms and hands
Some of the lower body movements include piston hip locks, abdomen tucks and release, pelvic squares, downward mayas, etc.

Level two is quite simply a challenging belly dance buffet. Delicious moves such as: arm waves, snake arms, shoulder locks, variations of chest circles, chest pops, upper body undulations garnished and layered on chest shimmies, very challenging but lovely!!!

The lower body isolations in this section are layered on hip shimmies such as: omi circles, figure of 8's, pelvic squares, piston hips abdominal tucks and releases; then upper body isolations are layered on hip shimmies!

The drill section is awesome, continuous and directed at the muscle groups that must respond to the choreography to come. The footwork is next, "floats" such as "zig zag", and "moonwalk". Plenty of repetitions and well broken down for ease of learning and yes get ready to layer upper and body moves as well.

Upon viewing the choreography demonstration, I couldn't wait to join in. The music is "CHA CHA" by Baltan Beat Box, it is upbeat and modern and there are about nine combinations to learn. It is totally realistic and attainable as it is perfectly exemplified.

The entry level dancer may find this program difficult. The pops and locks are intense..I felt the warm up is very disciplined and I mentally prepared myself for it. At a time, I felt as I was in belly dance boot camp? I felt that I left a yoga class and stepped into Pilates, and finally belly dance. HOWEVER......being a serious dancer, I am familiar with the discipline required to prepare the body for the intense moves and layering, at the same time improving precision. Good things don't always come easy.

Because I mostly seek programs that are deeply rooted in the basics, the rewards from this program are bountiful. This great technique elaborates the basics, transtions into advanced moves and the choreography adds the finesse.




5/5 Great Tribal Fusion Instruction
  by Alejandra Vernon (Long Beach, California)
This DVD contains a massive amount of instruction on how to master the art of "pop and lock" technique used in tribal fusion belly dancing, with Elisheva's detailed teaching and clear and concise explanations making it easy to assimilate. If you want to learn "pop and lock" or are already knowledgeable on it but want some tips to refine and perfect your technique, here's a good place to start.

After Elisheva's "Welcome," you get an excellent yoga based, stretchy warm-up, then you will get a lengthy breakdown of the basic aspects of "pop and lock" in the Level Technique sections, then you move on to "Drills," and you'll learn "float" footwork techniques, which includes the famous "moonwalk," and will also learn Elisheva's marvelous liquid hand movements. After this comes the choreographed piece, which is fun and has a good slice of humor, thanks to the terrific music, the "Cha Cha" by the Balkan Beat Box group. To finish off, you'll get a performance by Elisheva that fully demonstrates the beauty of her fluid movements and her exquisite technique.

This Pop & Lock Tribal Fusion is an exciting blend of belly dance, hip hop, and other ethnic forms of dance, and Elisheva is a superb teacher. Labeled as "Intermediate/Advanced," you have to be strong and flexible and have some solid dance experience to get the most from this DVD and learn from it with a level of ease. The production on this DVD is excellent throughout, as is the music, which is varied and interesting, especially that marvelous "Cha Cha"!