4/5 Tribal Fusion Must Have!
  by V. Naidu (South Africa)
Hi All. This is my first review - So I'm going to try and be as objective as I can.
I'm new to Tribal Fusion Bellydance and thus far, i've purchased Rachel Brice's Bellydance Arms, Sharon Kihara's Tribal Fusion DVD, Asharah's Modern Tribal and this DVD being the newest addition to my lot! My review is therefore a comparison to the other Tribal DVDs as well as other instructional DVDs by Michelle Joyce.

The Pros of this DVD:
1- Zoe is the most engaging of all the instructors on the DVDs i own. She sparkles... and does little gestures like flicking her ponytails back, pulling her belt up and making the occasional dialogue slip-up making you feel as though she's right in your practice space and not in your TV.

2- The level of instruction on the combinations and warm-up are crisp and clear with a dash of humor. There definitely is a wealth of information that is shared on this DVD. Humor scores extra points in my books because although Tribal Bellydance is a proud and powerful dance, there is no need to be Spartan-like in practice.

3- Chemistry: Zoe and Issam work well together. They connect as musician and dancer, but not to the point of distraction. They generate loads of positive energy together. I enjoyed them much much more than Sonia and Issam in The Art of the Drum Solo (where i felt that Sonia and Issam's "connection" was a little overwhelming for me).

4- Music: The soundtrack in this DVD is very tasteful. For me the music selection in an instructional DVD ranks very high. It's the one thing that can take an extremely good DVD and make it impossible for a person to tolerate. Although it's just one track from Beats Antique's Collide that used (i think), the tune remains with me for most of the day. It's ultra-catchy and easier on my ears than the music selection on the Asharah DVD, which is not bad, but just a tad "harsher" than i like on some days!

The Cons of this DVD:
1- Drapes: I would have appreciated a better looking set for the shooting of this DVD. I've seen 'similar' looking sets used in Rachel Brice's and Sharon Kihara's DVD - but somehow, i felt that this DVD had a tacky looking set. the colour of the drape on the side wall is not neutral and the fact that the drape sags really irritates me. I know this may sound petty but it makes a big difference when things on the set are distracting.

2- The small mirror: that mirror is too small. it negatively impacts the overall look of the set and makes the space look too small. It looks like something is missing from the set!

3- Filming: I thought that the filming was not great. I now understand what reviewers mean when they criticize BDSS productions for the funny angles and camera that zooms around when you least expect it to. Furthermore the angle of the filming and the small mirror make it difficult to properly inspect Zoe's form through the instruction. In addition, Zoe is also standing quite a distance from the mirror and at an angle so her form is obscured. The camera cuts off Zoe's hands a lot of the time when she has them raised above her head.
Even the filming and set of Zoe's performance is inadequate in framing her and complimenting her dance.

My Verdict

This is a must have for any tribal dancer. Zoe's style is quirky, fun and fascinating. she brings in exciting footwork that can really compliment and enhance your style. Yes, this is not a beginner instructional DVD but is a must-have for anyone looking for ways to put some spunk into their performance... and practice. I'm not peeved by this fact therefore it doesn't score as a con to the DVD. The title after all is "Tribal Drum Solo Choreography". The combinations are not drilled, therefore one would need to drill them in on their own.
I'm really disappointed with the filming, the technical quality and the stage setup of this DVD. I would have taken off 2 points for this. But because the content is so good, I just bumped off one point for statistical influence.
I really do hope that Zoe has more instructional DVDs in the near future, maybe honing in on the mechanics of her style. And I really hope that the technnical and filming flops are addressed.

5/5 my fav so far...!!! waooww !!
  by siamaathor (Nimes, France)
what can I say ?! my best choice so far while picking up a DVD in the long list of instructional DVD for bellydance and tribal fusion.
Good warm up, good explanations. Not for beginners though as mouvements are not precisely explained. It is a real good guide to create your own combinations on different types of rythms. But you can also enjoy Zoe's combos that she's sharing on this DVD. Fun to watch, fun to do. I would have loved a bit more information concerning her spins which are so specific.
A must have !

5/5 Fun video!
  by C. Odle (Missouri USA)
I like everything about this dvd, especially the fact that there is no "This is a hip drop, this is a omi, etc." It's not a beginner video! Zoe is a great instructor and Isamm's teaching is 'must know' if you want to create your own tribal choreography for a drum solo. My favorite thing about this DVD is that it is not so stiff and boring from the instructor trying to be overly professional. If you've been dancing for a while and are tired of the same old stuff, to you I recommend this video.

5/5 awsome dancer!!!!
  by Crystal F. Soto (el Paso, texas)
this dvd is a great tool for any tribal fusion dancer.... i wouldnt recomend it for the beginner dancer. (It might frustrate you) but its definately aimed more towards the dancer who is already studying tribal fusion. Zoe Jakes is an amazing dancer!!!!! and so hilarious too....

4/5 Not for beginners
  by Marco Tomatis (Italy)
This is a very helpful dvd for intermediate and advanced tribal fusion bellydancers. In particular I love the warmup: it's really complete and full of tribal fusion bellydance moves. Every step is well explained and broken down into single movements. The choreography is nice and Zoe is really funny!