Pops Locks & Layers with Sadie and Kaya - Belly Dance DVD

I am starting off with the performance first. It was awkward to say the least. Kaya was off during a good amount of the performance. Sadie had some mishaps too. The moves looked out of place, like they just wanted to show them off. Sadie and Kaya are not emotional dancers in the sense of say Ranya, but usually I get something from their performance. They usually excel in making the choreography interesting to watch, but this performance was uninteresting to watch. The performance looked like a rehash of the pops, locks and shimmies one and two performances thrown in, with a few new moves. I am shocked. Sadie and Kaya are usually on point with their movements looking smooth and well controlled, as well as synced to their musical selection. If I had to summarize the performance it would be rushed and uninspiring.The outfits were not a good choice. It did not let the moves be show cased , as so much of their torso was covered.The Title menu is the usual pops, and locks format. Play, Chapters, About IAMED, about belly dance, Dancers tips and quick list. The chapters menu is broken down a little differently from the rest of the Pops and locks installments. The backdrop is blue, on the left side you have a screen that is demonstrating some of the contents in the chapter and the title of what you are working on is under the demonstration. On the right side there is a list of the different sections. I liked this new layout of the PLL DVD.In the First Chapter you have Chest movements, which includes Horizontal, Vertical, Vertical with hips, Horizontal with Hips, Horizontal with ups, and Vertical with ups,Combination1 and 2. Combination 1 has horizontal and vertical chest circles with ups. Combination 2-has horizontal and vertical chest squares with ups < A LOT OF THIS INFORMATION WAS COVERED ON SADIE'S OTHER DVD'S.> Ups and downs with chest lift and drops, Ups with chest circles. Chest squares with ups. Big overlap 'I liked the backdrop when they are teaching, the curtains and floor are a dark grey. The lighting is wonderful though and Sadie and Kaya are wearing the same blue practice outfits as in there other video, so even though the background is dark you can clearly see the movements without a problem.Vertical figure8' s chapter is next, Maya's and sways, I have also heard sways being called upward mayas. Layers with chest locks=Mayas and sways with chest locks. Vertical 8's traveling=Traveling with mayas and sways.-I liked the walking to the side with sways.Then comes Chase with Mayas and sways. Combination 3 = mayas with a lock, followed by a chest circle with a slide, sway with a pop, and undulation with a pelvic pop. Combination 4=3/4 sways and Maya's with chest pops and locks. I enjoyed this section. I liked some of the combo's and drills used. Esp traveling with Maya's and sways. The DVD's I do have from Sadie do not overlap much with the information presented here.Inward pelvic circle (Umi), Changing starting beats=hip locks and pops with umi's, traveling with Ipc= walking with med tempo umi's .Layer one=Umi with a reverse undulation. Layer 2=umi with undulation, then they blend the undulation and reverse undulation into the umi. Combination 5= layering inward pelvic circle with outward pelvic circles, on releve, followed by a reverse undulation on the back. Combination 6= Pas de bouree with umis. I enjoyed this section as well.Outward Pelvic box=Tahitian move that is on Sadie's recent choreography DVDCombination 7=Tahitian box , Grapevine hip square locks with, combination 8=grapevine layered with changing starting beat Tahitian box. Then you have half a tahitian box with chest lock up, chest pop down, then the other side with a chest lock up and down.* I adore this combo*The quicklist, I am not too sure is on the other Pops, and Locks but it is like a compressed root menu. You can easily select what part of the DVD you want to go to from there. Without being shown a demo.This DVD is not for beginners, there isn't any precise breakdown of the movements. The objective is not so much drilling movements like pls 1 seems to be but layering movements, so things move a bit faster on this DVD. Again the breakdown of movement is minimal.I am unsure about this DVD, while there was some new and nice material covered almost ¼ of the DVD overlaps with other DVD's that I have. Sadie and Kaya are very good instructors as usual and freely shared information as usual.Had the price been lower this DVD definitely would be worth it, but since the price range is $40.OO+ shipping and handling I am not so sure.Whether or not this DVD is worth the price depends on where you are in your dance and DVD collection. Beginner and beginner intermediates, this DVD may be too much as there is very little break down or drilling of individual movements to help you really get the layers down. Intermediate to advanced dancers who do not have a Sadie collection would probably get the most from this. or someone who just wants the extra practice, as usual this is a technique driven, precision movement dvd. Had IAMED had a longer preview, I would have skipped this DVD. This is not an absolute must DVD, but if you have the extra cash go for.

Like  Pops Locks & Shimmies with Sadie and Kaya - Belly Dance DVD and  Pops Locks & Shimmies 2 with Sadie and Kaya - Belly Dance DVD , this DVD is not for the beginner but aimed more for the intermediate and advance dancers to up their skills and incorporate complex dance moves. Both Kaya and Sadie take turns teaching and demonstrating and two give you the unique opportunity to see the moves at different angles at the same time. Kaya really shines as a instructor in this DVD and it is fast paced. There is a lot of material covered which gives you as a dancer a lot of choices regarding which moves and combinations you feel work best with your body type and style.This DVD runs for 129 minutes, is enjoyable and greatly adds to your dance vocabulary and well worth the money. I liked the clean modern performance at the end where they incorporate the moves they teach. It was well worth the price!

In Pops, Locks & Layers, you'll find that Sadie and Kaya are not just beautiful dancers; they really know howto break things down and teach good technique. This DVD helped me acquire sharper and deeper movements.The title headings for each of the 34 lessons kept me clear on my terminology. I found the combination lessonschallenging and helpful in learning how to pull it all together. I loved the beautiful performance at the end of theDVD! I aspire to some day dance that beautiful! One of the best instructional belly dance DVDs out there.