Nope, it wasn't too much at all!  Thanks for the help!

I am trying to be really vigilant about my stance--especially with my lower back.  The reason I started dancing is because I'm on my feet a lot of the day and my lower back hurts anyway.  I'm trying to strengthen the muscles there.  The good thing, though, is that I 'tuck' my pelvis when I stand naturally (this phenomenon has been extremely useful in horseback riding competitions).  I barely have to make any adjustment when I belly dance, because my pelvis naturally falls where it's supposed to.  I just have a little trouble keeping my rear under control!     I'll try what you said about squeezing and keeping my leg straight.  I've been trying to twist evenly on both sides.  Maybe it's just supposed to look like you're even on both sides?  Also, a couple of websites have mentioned using your glutes, but when I try doing that, it just messes me up.  Any suggestions?

I'll try the cement thing and the doorjamb thing, too.  I think the visualization will help especially.  It's helped me with dance steps and things before.  A lot of the videos show you what the movement looks like and how to move your body, but they don't necessarily tell you what it's supposed to feel like.  That's where I think I need an instructor.

Thanks so much for the help!!

Reading your comment about Viparita Karani made me think of a student I had that had Sciatica so bad that it took me weeks to get her on the floor in this pose,but once there I almost had to bribe her to get her on her feet.  She so needed this pose to get her functioning again.  I swear by this pose as one of the main poses for maintaining back health!

I can see where continual squeezing would limit your range of motion and ability to keep time.  It is super common to squeeze your thighs at the same time you squeeze your glutes.  I have a dvd I'd recommend that has good glute isolations:
http://www.amazon.com/Drills-complete-workout-cymbals-dancers/dp/B00144Y8XG/ref=...


Regarding Viparita Karani: As long as your spine stays in a straight line I think you could put a folded blanket under your head.  I wouldn't put a big fat pillow under your head that would lift your head higher than your heart.  However, you might first try it w/o for 3-5 minutes.  The posture itself might not trigger a headache or vertigo.