I think we are at the stage where a Technique book should be available on the internet for anybody to access free of charge instead of having to pay through the nose. It could only help to popularise Modern Ballroom Dancing especially in some of those far off places. Isn't that what we want. Shouldn't that be one of the the main objective of those who have been elected by us to look after Ballroom Dancing.

And to what post in the B/room world did you elect someone ??..

techn. books are a guide and a manual for Exams.. learning HOW to apply those techniques, should be in the hands of a competant Prof.

Technique books are reasonably priced, considering the size of the market for them, and they are readily available almost everywhere.

I'm sure that you do want something for nothing - who doesn't? Perhaps you should write one, and then you can share it with us - free, of course.

As I said, I'm sure you do. I hadn't noticed, as a generality of life, that things that have a value come free.

I use the technique books of the IDTA, rather than ISTD, but I paid for them, just like you'll have to, if you want them. They cost me about the same, each, as my very first professional lessons on the road to qualification as a teacher.

Write you own, and give them away, if you are so sold on the principle of something for nothing.

I agree with Telemark: Next to replacement shoelaces, my book purchases have been the least expensive items I've encountered in the ballroom arena. As for free technique help, Telemark and others have helped me quite a bit, and I use my precious books to verify and compliment their information. I should know by now to give up on the verifying part of my activities. :)

Anonymous, I was merely agreeing with Telemark's comments on the reasonable prices of ballroom technique books when compared to other books used for educational purposes. My college textbooks from 20 years ago cost more than my ballroom books! My shoelaces, to satisfy your curiosity, cost me approximately $3.00 a pair from the cobbler who occasionally fixes my shoes. I'm spending less on shoes repairs after changing my user name and taking Telemark's advice on heel pulls. :) I forget what I spent on Alex Moore's book, but I believe it was less than $30.00 and my USISTD smooth syllabus book was approximately the same price. Both new, by the way, and what I learn / gleem from each book assists overall. When social dancing with advanced dancers, I sometimes use figures from both International and American Smooth for floorcraft. I have great instructional DVDs which are a bit expensive: They cost approximately $50.00 each. My private instructor is my biggest expense. And, yes, I have received some excellent and free technique advice from Telemark, Belle, Terrence, and others on this site, and their advice has improved my technique to the delight of my instructor. We all often need information from different sources in order to learn. I am grateful for the free advice I get here, and I don't mind paying for the work of others in my pursuit to improve. And, not being a man of great means, I regularly have to plan and save for my ballroom purchases. When I was younger, and not yet a dancer, a friend once told me that we all find time and money for the things that matter to us. And yes, I do realize how lucky I am to be able to have the time and some means to do any of this.

Nice post....

Sixty years ago, when Fred Astaire and Arther Murrey were battleing out who would have the most influence in the Ballroom Dance World, both of them decided to make it very difficult to learn what they do.

They pretty much forced people to pay for large groups of expensive lessons.

Alex Moore's book changed all that. He gave us an affordable way to learn.

Today, you can find International deffinitions on net for free. However, you still can't find Fred Astare's deffinitons.

While I wish all of it were free, I am grateful that Alex gave us an affordable way to learn.

I have to agree that books are reasonable in price. If you ever tried to publish a technical journal, you would understand how hard it is to do so cheaply. (Go out and price any Technical Journal.)