Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18475 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-10-16
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Colour, DVD-Video, Widescreen, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .15 pounds
• Running time: 85 minutes

Review
If you want something out of the norm this is it! This is one hypnotic piece! Fighting gypsies, snake women, gargoyles, Isis...if you love fantasy and magic look no further!! --amazon.com (US)

Review
Kudos to the ladies who came up with this! You surely made a splash in our pond and I hope you are amused and entertained watching all the waves! I personally found this DVD to be a mesmerizing mix of dance styles, choreographies and immprovisations, and an overall great display of many different talents. Most dancers here are well known artists, stars of GBD or cabaret belly dance, although there were a couple dancers who were new to me, so I was pleased to discover the new names together with the new belly dance styles. I agree with the reviewer who said none of the dancers here are anybody's clone. They are all wonderfully unique! If you ever tried to do a GBD dance yourself you know it's a challenge to avoid cliches because Goth culture uses cliches as a form of protest against mundane uniformity. I was really impressed with the thought these ladies applied to their presentations. They have created a work of superb taste. So many shades of darkness, such an intelligent and masterful approach in every dance! --amazon.com (US)

Customer Reviews

Better than I expected
People should not be put off by the title-this is an excellent DVD that brings all sorts of different elements to bellydance. I thought the music would be all industrial goth metal, but this DVD acknowledges that "gothic" goes far beyond a music genre and features dancing influenced by american tribal, flamenco fusion and other contemporary styles, all brought together to convey the mystery and darkness that can be contained in bellydance.

I had my reservations about this DVD but I'm so glad I bought it.

Mystery and Beauty

This intriguing collection of dances and imagery will delight anyone who likes to feast on beauty and wonder at the great mystery in dance of controlled flexibility, when a dancer has such impeccable technique that the most difficult movement is made to look easy, as in the slow melting choreography in Asharah's exquisite "Exiled," the fascintaing dancing of Ariellah, who sometimes seems not to possess bones in her liquid arms, the stunning mastery of Neon's isolations, and Tempest's sumptuous "Homage to Theda." There are many other gorgeous dances in this DVD, among them Ya Meena and Raven's "Shawaza," where they are so well coordinated that even the folds of their jewel toned blue and red costumes have a synchronized flow, and the teaming of Ariellah and Tempest in "Ritual Means." There is hardly a moment in "Gothic Bellydance" that is not visually rewarding, and though Jehan's "Goddessence" is my least favorite because of its theme and its minimum dance content, Jehan is a bellydance diva, not only as a dancer who is always interesting to watch, but also as musician, and some of the lovely pieces heard on this DVD are her compositions.

The production is superb, with outstanding camera work and lighting, and most of all, incredibly skillful editing, which keeps one's eye interested, but never overpowers or interferes with the dance itself. The costumes are glorious, and some with such richness and texture they look like butterfly wings or the imaginary wardrobe of Scheherazade; the fabulous "wings" in Ayshe's "Kali/Isis" are breathtaking. One has the option of seeing entire program of 20 dances in sequence under the "Enter" tab, or by performer in alphabetical order under the "Visions" tab, which includes a biography and other material on the artists. For bellydance enthusiasts who want to watch something unique, "Gothic Bellydance" is a treat with a touch of the edgy and odd in it.

Breathtaking!
Goth or not, this is just breathtaking! The movement, music, costume and drama are wonderful. The movements are difficult pure bellydance. The costume and ambience is dark and dramatic. I was entranced throughout. Fantastic!