I laughed until I cried
I don't know what else I can add. If you haven't figured it out by now, this is probably one of the worst ones out there. However, I wish it were on DVD. We've watched it so many times that we've worn our copy out. It's definately good for a laugh but only buy it if you're looking for a pick me up or it's comedy night at your local studio.

Great Introduction To Belly Dance
I bought this tape when I first became interested in belly dance. Since then I've watched several other belly dance tapes and I cannot understand the bad reviews this one received. Janine Rabbitt does a really good job introducing viewers to the history of belly dance and the basic moves. I learned to do snake arms quite well from this tape and I also learned how to manipulate a veil. I thought the introduction with her husband, singer Eddie Rabbitt, was sweet. I have not had time to practice with this tape regularly but it will remain in my collection. Janine Rabbitt leads you through the tape in a very pleasant manner. She appears to be middle aged when this tape was made and it's inspiring to see how belly dance, when done well, can make a middle aged woman appear more feminine and alluring than many younger women. At the end of the tape Janine Rabbitt gives a wonderful and elegant performance in a lovely costume. Her instruction in the beginning part of the tape is clear and easy to follow. I definitely recommend this tape for beginners interested in learning the basic moves (including introduction to dancing with a veil and finger cymbals) of belly dance.

She may not be very good but ...
Yes, there are better videos out there for learning proper technique, choreography, etc. when it comes to belly dancing. Yes, the quality of the video taping is bad, the beginning is rather sappy and she's not the best dancer out there.

That said, this video is the one that started me off in my love of belly dance when I was unable to afford more expensive videos or classes. If I had gotten any of the other videos that were available at the time, with Atea or any other super flexible, aerobically fit pencil-thin belly dancer, I would have never aspired to dance again as I am not (and never will be) the standard American belly dancer shape. I've since rented pretty much all of the other belly dance videos within reach, and none of them, in my opinion, show dancers having more fun that Janine. Most of them have fake smiles or no smiles at all while dancing - even in their 'performances' at the end of the tapes.

Janine Rabbitt's love of dancing inspired me to become the amature dancer and belly dance teacher that I am today. I figured if someone of her background (I was an awkward child too) could learn such a lovely dance, then I could also.

I would recommend to any and all people who are thinking of belly dancing to rent or buy this video for a beginning (come on - it's not that expensive!). Skip the cheesy beginning speech by her husband and don't expect to learn history or even how to move very well. But catch the enthusiasm and find a teacher in your area!!

Jane

Laughable but Fun
I don't claim to be an expert on bellydancing, but even to me this woman looked amateurish and silly. I was cracking up while trying to follow her, because everything seems so haphazard. For example, in the "warm-up" you do about 6 wrist circles, 3 or 4 arm circles, a couple shoulder rolls, 3 "stomach" exercises (lay on your back with your knees bent and arms at your sides, and raise and lower your back), and then some stretches. And while she's stretching, she's bouncing, which everyone says you aren't supposed to do. Then she tries to teach a dance, but I couldn't follow any of it, because she doesn't tell you how to do the moves so much as just saying "have fun with it, it doesn't matter whether it's authentic or not". The video starts with her husband gazing adoringly at a poster-sized framed picture of her, and then he gives a cheesy little talk about how proud he is of his wife for doing belly dance. It's kind of cute, but more than a little creepy, if you ask me.

Having said all that, I did have fun with this tape. It might not be as authentic or as professional as Neena and Veena's videos, or some of the other bellydance for fitness videos out there, but it gives you a decent workout if you get into it. Overall, I ended up feeling like a little girl dancing around the living room to her mom's Scheherezade tape, but that's not such a bad feeling, is it?

Maybe this should be listed as a comedy
I'm a second year belly dance student and I rented this video and was amazed that it was ever mass-produced. Ms. Rabbitt seems like a sweet woman, but was not ready to put out an instructional video. Her movements are stiff and lack grace. Please research before you buy-$10 worth of trash is still trash.