Bellydance with Zils

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Starring: Elsa Leandros
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Type: DVD
Directed By: Elsa Leandros
Studio: StratoStream - World Dance New York
Release Date: 2007-11-20
Created by renowned New York City choreographer and dance instructor Elsa Leandros, Bellydance with Zils teaches the foundations of using zils (finger cymbals) in bellydance.

Together with the amazing doumbek player Raquy Danziger, Elsa demonstrates the 7 most popular bellydance rhythms: baladi, saidi, maksoum, masmoudi, ciftetelli (slow Arabic-style and fast Turkish-style), karsilama (9/8), and gypsy-style karsilama. Elsa and Raquy alternate demonstrating the rhythms on doumbek and zils, offering a clear comparison of how zils and drum each interpret the rhythms.

Elsa moves step-by-step through the logistics and foundations of zil-playing for dancers, including her technique of alternating hands in interpreting rhythms on the zils (compared to designating a leading vs supporting hand.) This powerful technique allows greater speed than the common leading/supporting-hand style of zil playing (enhancing performances to modern fast-paced music, such as Arab pop) and improves coordination between zil playing and dance steps by eliminating the one-sidedness of the leading/supporting-hand style.

Next, Elsa breaks down each of the 7 rhythms as interpreted on the zils and offers exercises to develop speed and freedom of hand and arm movement while playing zils. In addition, Elsa provides a number of dance steps and combinations for each and every rhythm, and leads a session where steps and zil playing are combined and practiced first with counting and then with music.

A special Practice with Music menu allows users to play the music selections Elsa chose for practice, and to drill zil patterns and steps on their own.

Two performances by Elsa demonstrate the intricacies of the art of bellydance with zils: Elsa dances to a modern Arabic pop-style song, and performs a drum solo with Raquy Danziger and Brian Carter that demonstrates variations in interpreting multiple rhythms and how to respond to drum riffs on the zils. The video of the same drum solo without dance or zils is also on the DVD for your own practice of how best to interact with live drumming.

Great job teaching alternating between hands!
This dvd truly focuses on the musicality of finger cymbal playing. After all, it is an extension of the percussion section. I find it so much more helpful to address the finger cymbals in terms of how it actually relates to the music (ex. '1-2-3 1 1-2-3 1 1-2-3 repeat'- for baladi rhythm) instead of leading hands (right-left-right right right-left-right etc).
I (and other members of the family picking up the finger cymbals after watching me learn so fast) am thrilled that Elsa decided to teach using the alternating hands method which is a much more natural way of corresponding to the music. There is also a breakdown of other different rhythms besides the very popular baladi rhythm.

Bellydance with Zils
I think this DVD is a great tool
in learning zils to add to a bellydancer's
profile.

I liked the way Ms. Leandros broke down the different
rhythms-baledi, saidi, etc. and then accompanied it
with a short choreography.

My favorite segement was the intro where she & Raquy
demonstated zills vs. drum syncopations-very helpful!

Just what I needed
I was hoping to find a DVD that provided good instruction on Zil work and have found it here. Elsa presents the Zils and accompanying examples of dance to help transition the beginner into the feel of the rhythms.

More than a simple right-left-right, Elsa teaches you the advantage of listening and interpreting the beat so that you need not be tied to coordinating the hand and footwork. This system is simple and joyful. The doumbek of Raquy Danziger is amazing as well.

Bellydance with zils
Great dvd to have if you want to learn the basics of playing the zils.

I really enjoyed this one
This should be one of the first DVDs a beginner dancer gets because it provides insight into the rhythms of the music and how the drums and zills work together. I feel that the dancer needs to understand that even if she does not play zills yet. I love the "no lead hand" method, but that is probably because I could never play with a "lead hand"! This DVD also gets you DANCING with the zills and not just playing them. Everything else is covered in the other reviews!