Several of us are taking dance lessons (ballroom) but have a problem in recalling the steps while at home. Where can we get the actual foot print steps not just a verbal outline. Seeing the actual foot steps would help a lot. 1 don't understand why instructors don't hand out foot prints that are taught in the class.

sorry for typos

I have a book called 'Dance Class' by Paul Bottomer which shows the foot steps. It is all international style however, so it won't be much help if you are learning American style.

Thanks for your input. Have you read the book "Ballroom dancing" by Alex Moore? I understand that he does outline using foot prints.

Any unput on this book?

sidebar: when I told my instructors that he/she should include foot prints as part of the classes they had a fit.
They missed the point of using both instruction and foot prints. Most of the students agreed with me.

A.Moores book is for Intern.style.. and even then, it is very limited in coverage...

I just bought the Dance Vision DVDIDA what do you think it as compared to Alex Moores book.

Me & my hubsand had the same problem. I started drawing them out myself. After class, & during the breaks in class, I would take little notes! I found tha it also helped with keeping the details straight, re - imprinted in my brain, & really helped with the orientation of the step, in the room.
Of course, you can video your lesson, if your instructor does not mind.
Have Fun, Scotty Boys Doll

There's something very odd about dancing in that it is incredibly easy to forget what you learned in a studio -- just in the amount of time it takes to drive home from the lesson! I got in the habit very quickly of writing everything down, from the actual steps to any other subtlety or reminder tip that would help keep it fresh in your mind. I also would go through it again when I got home, and then the next morning as well. That seemed to help keep it stuck in my head, and also helped me to remember how to decipher my notes. That can happen as well -- after some time, the notes don't make a whole lot of sense either. That's why I tried to write down everything thing about the step. Even more detail than the written descriptions of the man's and lady's part on this site for the variations of the week or different dance steps. In any case, don't feel frustrated about not remembering exactly what you learned. It seems fairly common that it slips your mind unless you have something to refer to --and, of course, you practice.

Foot prints... you may not know this, but, the largest chain school in the world,was developed by the Franchise owner, by mail, with steps done in that very fashion..

The reason that system is redundant ?.. Video.. and.. it is virtually impossible to create sequences on paper for all the basic variations in the 6 major social Amer. style dances ( and cost prohibitive ).

Eli. There have been several books published over the years which have charts in them. If we go to the simplest step in the Waltz it shows the correct steps for both the man and the lady on a Closed Change. As the steps get more advanced it can be hard working out what foot goes where. One thing can be said. They are acurate . I am refering to Alex Moore's book and the charts by a person called Edward Youel who deserved a knighthood for his work on them.
I doubt if anyone can learn from a book. It should be used as a reference to something learnt in a class.
Pay attention to the parts which tell us when to rise. Commence to rise at the end of step one in the Waltz. Rise at the end of step one in the Foxtrot. Do you see the difference which alters the following steps also. Good Luck

I think that a foot print series of basic steps used in ballroom dances would be a big seller as part of a dance training program. Instructors are missing the boat.

The foot steps could be issued per dance.

I have talked to many people who have given up ballroom style for the free style dances where you don't have to be remember actual steps - like swing. Also slow dancing without the waltz steps.

They give up because they forget the steps after the class.