DVD Learn to Swing Dance
June 18, 2010 by Ballroom Dance Lover
Filed under Learning Ballroom Dance
Description
“Learn To Swing Dance” is a proud winner of the prestigious Gold Aurora Awards 2004! An international Competition Honoring Excellence in the Film & Video Industries!… More >>
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Of the nearly 200 tapes in my dance training collection, this is among the worse. Although it appears to be a good value in terms of the large number of moves shown for the cost, as well as the fact that it teaches moves suitable for single-step basic (suitable for Rock n Roll music) and triple-step basic (suitable for slower tempos of swing) it includes virtually no explanation. This package demonstrates rather than teaches the dance figures. Virtually the only narration is “step, step, rockstep” throughout. Critically important explanation of how to lead and follow dance moves are altogether absent. An especially poor selection for a beginning dancer who needs to learn the basics in order to actually be able to dance, and not likely useful for a more advanced dancer, who would probably already know the moves shown in this package. The best choice for a beginner wishing to learn swing dancing is to search the web for tapes by Paul Overton and Sharon Ashe — these are the finest swing dance tapes I’ve ever seen (I own most of the swing dance tapes which are available). Also a good choice are those by Chris Yee and Julee Mertz, which are sold by Amazon. If you wish to learn the more difficult 1930s style of swing dancing, called the Lindy Hop, Yee and Mertz’ tapes are also a good choice for the absoluate beginner, though I would recommend working through their “6 count swing” tapes, first. A word of advice to absolute beginners: it isn’t the nuber of moves that you know that will make you a good dancer — it’s how well you are able to lead (or follow, for the woman) dance moves, so it is particularly important to purchase tapes which teach you good technique and actually explain how to dance, rather than showing you a gazillion moves.
Rating: 1 / 5
I remember Ginger of Paris from her tap tapes and wondered how a woman who is French could master a dance form that is specifically American. But on observing her go through her paces in this absolutely first-rate DVD, I decided that excellence in movement is truly universal. Not only is her dancing impeccable but the instruction couldn’t be better and I defy anyone not to be a world-class dancer after they’ve gone through the “course.” If I have any caveat at all, in fact, I might suggest she eschew the cobalt-blue outfit–which at best looks awfully hot–and maybe wear some kind of French “Apache” outfit–complete with striped shirt and beret–to show that good dancing indeed transcends all nationalities.
A.Y.
Rating: 5 / 5
Its a good video but only 1/3 is only single step and 2/3 on triple step moves. other than that its worth the money being asked.
Rating: 4 / 5
This video is longer than the average dance intructional DVD, but the material is almost all trivial–there are no patterns presented that could legitimately be described as above advanced beginner level, and there are only two or so that are as sophisticated as that.
I kept waiting as one trivial pattern after another was introduced and demonstrated over and over again–when would the intermediate and advance patterns be presented? The answer turned out to be “there are none.”
Rating: 1 / 5
You don’t have to be Fred Astaire or Ginger Rogers–or Ginger of Paris, for that matter–to know the hottest dance craze of the season is swing. It does help, however, to have Miss G. of P. around, if you’re all left feet when it comes to the dance floor, because I’m here to tell you that you’ll not only learn to swing with the best of them but so, too, will that gawky beau of yours who’s always stepping on your feet. I threw a swing party on the first day of spring this year–yeah, it’s corny but it was a Swing into Spring theme–and everyone wore those tiered gathered skirts (which are really hot right now) and saddle shoes and socks–with Ginger’s DVD providing the entertainment and ambience–and the next day, no less than three friends called up to borrow it so they could throw a shindig–or swing-dig–of their own!
A.M.
Rating: 5 / 5