Bellydance Bootcamp with Fahtiem
Reviewed by Oberon

Anything that says “Tone and Conditioning” on the front, with a picture of the smiling Fahtiem beside it, just screams, “Buy Me”! Those of us who have been in class with the tiny “Glam Queen” know that she will Raq your Socks off.  So, is this DVD for all levels.  Dollars spent on our libraries are becoming more precious.

The mission of this approximately 50-minute long presentation is to “burn calories with an accelerated Belly Dance work-out”. 

It opens with Fahtiem doing just that – impeccable as always in fabulous costumes and a visual format aimed to excite.  You are then presented right away with the menu, which makes it very easy to play through all that’s offered or select a single part that you’d like to repeat.

I appreciate the effort Fahtiem makes – even with this “exercise” video.  The set is serene and beautiful and so are her support dancers, all dressed in red (the male in black and red), designed to compliment the radiant Fahtiem who is immaculately dressed and manicured even to the matching hair ornaments.  I’m inspired by her attention to detail even when it comes to presenting on a beautiful rug instead of a studio floor. Effort is something I’ve come to appreciate.

Although there is a posted suggestion to warm up before participating with the DVD – she does some preliminary stretches – mostly to warm up the feet and legs – and then pulls off the major “sneak” of this series – and the heart of what I, as a teacher really like – she begins to dance right away.

Arms and shoulders are put together with the warm-up steps immediately and the viewer can quickly see from arm positioning and ease of hands that there are indeed varying levels of dancers behind her.   Right away she begins the repetition that is so important to learning and covers the area from back to front and side-to-side which addresses style and balance.

Even the “breathy” breaks between changes are posed beautifully, never letting you forget that this is a Dancer’s workout! Enjoyably, she manages to warm and enliven every part of you body in the first part of the session. 

(Keep your eyes on her dancers if you can pull them away from Fathiem – they’re having obvious fun and you will gratefully see that proficiency varies from move to move in everyone).

I loved that throughout you seemed to be getting that “Rub Head, Rub Belly the other way – oh and Footwork please” kinda challenge.  She’s teaching co-ordination and combined isolations so effortlessly!

By the time she gets to rib cage and waist she’s a little pink and “glowy” – and so are you.

My little guilty pleasure? The upper body fold, over outstretched front leg in which Fahtiem’s perky “pony tail” did it’s own version of forward/back – right in time to the music. 

The hip and glute section – well that could have been my husband’s guilty pleasure, if I had shown it to him – which I didn’t WHAT? I’M WORKING!  OOOOH – I remember those butt lifts.

You should put it on “fast forward though” – I mean for an advanced workout!

Equally well crafted is the “combination section” in which you actually learn a few combinations that are threaded together at the end, to create a seriously sweet little choreography. 

Cool down is the final sigh and it is also when you may realize that you are listening to some of Fahtiem’s original music - another element that makes this DVD unique in the market.

I truly like this DVD – I do, because it makes sense to me.   There’s not a lot of excess conversation designed to make Fahtiem appear experienced – she just is! It’s just a straightforward (yes – calorie burning work-out) that happens to carry a solid punch when it comes to improving style, balance and technique!  It’s Oberon-recommended …and for what it’s worth – so is Fathiem.

So what more could I wish for – Hmmmm – a “not so socially perfect belly” adding another point of view among the support behind the ethereal Fahtiem.  Oh well – you’ll have to visit my studio for that!