Hi All,
A scientist trained a fly to jump over a matchbox on each command of ‘jump'. Then the scientist removed one leg from the fly. He gave the command jump and the fly jumped over the matchbox. The scientist observed that even with three legs the fly could still jump the matchbox. His observations were correct and his facts were correct. He continued his experiment by removing the second and third legs. He observed that even with one leg the fly could still jump the matchbox proving that his observations and facts were correct. Finally the scientist removed the last leg. He gave the command jump and the fly did not move. He observed that when a fly had its four legs removed it became deaf. His observations were correct but his facts were wrong.
Even running a tape in slow motion or studying frame-by-frame doesn't mean we get all the facts correct.

Hi Iluv2dance
I agree that watching a dancer in slow- or frame-by-frame motion doesn't show everything:- can't see which muscles are being used, or tell for sure how much foot pressure is being used and, most infuriatingly (for me anyway)you can't hear the music at all, so the rhythm has gone (i know you can count TV frames and work out the timing, but i can tell you from experience that this is very difficult and takes AGES!!)
However, having said all that, watching dancing frame-by-frame does have benefits - expecially watching your OWN dancing in this way. It's amazing what technical howlers are uncovered. Even the best teachers can't be expected to see everything 'live' as it were.
And the scientist in me just has to point out that a fly, being an insect, in fact has six legs. But your point was well made.

I can learn a lot from a tape or better still a DVD if I know what and how to look. Just a Rumba Walk. I find a top couple and select a piece where one or both are doing a few Rumba Walks. This will be there somewhere even if it is as they are leaving the floor. I look first at the back leg after a foreward walk on the left. What turnout of the foot is there. What part of the ball is in contact with the floor. What is the weight ratio.Is it 80 to 20. As the weight goes foreward towards a nuetral position. What part of the foot is now in contact with the floor as it is being dragged through. How high is the heel off the floor. Now our feet are together the heel is still high off the floor. Our weight is completely on the supporting foot. There is no gap between the thighs. You could not even get a cigarette paper through there. Look also at the amount of hip movement being used. The weight ratio is now 100 to 0.You should be able to lift your none supporting foot from the floor without altering your weight. Now send the foot out.What turnout of the foot is there. When does the knees become locked. and when does the heel touch the floor. From the front you should at this stage see only one leg .The other being hidden by the front leg. What is being done with the arms and hands and fingers at this stage is the right shoulder pulled back slightly to give a 3 D look. All this and we have only taken one step, and it can easily be seen on your own tv screen. I will add one more thing. In Latin the balance has to be perfect. In Modern you can get away with murder. In Latin there can be no adjustments to your foot positions or balance after you arrive without it being considered a major fault.A former teacher from here now living in the USA used to also say we should do as many Rumba Walks as a marathon runner does miles on the road. Espen Salsberg agreed with him. I was there.