Hi Everyone,

I just started taking ballroom dance lessons last week. I signed up for ten private lessons and would like to know if there are any good basic dance lesson dvds covering foxtrot, rumba swing etc. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

What style (International or American)?

Where do you live (country)?

One major US source is:

http://www.dancevision.com

There are others.

You'll probably want to start with "Syllabus" videos.

OB

Hello operabob,

I live in New York and so far I have learned some basic steps in rumba, foxtrot and swing. Is that American Standard?

Hi Wan,

Foxtrot and Rumba are in both International and American but they are definitely not the same dances.

Swing is American style.

Jive is International style.

As you mentioned buying a 10 lesson package of privates and if you bought them at a chain I suspect it's American Style. American Style is often associated with Arthur Murray type schools.

However, it's best to ask your teacher.

http://dancevision.com/store/videos/browse_by_styles/american_style_rhythm/syllabusfigures/ASRM25/

http://dancevision.com/store/videos/browse_by_styles/american_style_smooth/syllabusfigures/ASJM147/

http://dancevision.com/store/videos/browse_by_styles/international_style_latin/syllabusfigures/ISCB36/

http://dancevision.com/store/videos/browse_by_styles/international_style_standard/syllabusfigures/ISVV14/

http://dancevision.com/store/videos/browse_by_styles/east_coast_swing/syllabusfigures/

Check out DV's home page too as they usually offer a deal for first time buyers.

You might also check out the DVDs at:

http://www.grandballroom.com/

This is a Canadian site near where I live. Andy & Wendy have produced a series of low-cost syllabus DVDs in International style.

Hope this helps!

OB

OB,
Thank you for responding to my post. I really appreciate it.

Actually, I signed up for lessons at a private studio run by Martin and Desiree Smith. I did go check out the Arthur Murray school but I opted for the above since I felt that I was learning from actual ballroom competitors.

The classes are definitely on the expensive side so I am hoping that with the ten private lessons (which is nothing) and the dvds I can really learn something. After that, I will probably just do group lessons for awhile and then throw some privates in between. What do you think of the plan? Any advice ;)?

Wanda

Wan,

Still, ask them what style you're learning: American or International? We commonly start students on American Foxtrot and switch them to International after about a year of group lessons. American Foxtrot is much easier for beginners to move to. International foxtrot looks very easy but it's all about getting the technique right and to my mind is the most challenging of all the dances. (Others might have different opinions).

Your teachers might still be teaching American style even if they're not Arthur Murray. Ask them where they see you progressing to.

I think your plan is excellent:

1. Group classes
2. Sprinkling of Privates
3. Video

If you want to learn to dance then the only way to go is privates.

If you want to learn steps then group classes are good.

95% of dancing occurs above the ankles. In group classes 95% of what you learn is below the ankles but you need to feel comfortable in knowing a few steps or a small routine before becoming more focused on privates.

Students often forget (or reinvent) steps taught in the week between lessons. Having beginner syllabus videos is a good resource. (BTW: Ask your teachers if you're learning syllabus. No sense buying videos if they're teaching something different). But realize you can't learn to dance from a video any more than from reading a book. At some point, in a private, your teacher will do something where you move automatically based on the shaping in your partners body. THE LIGHT GOES ON! You'll never get that from a video or group class.

Hope this helps.

BTW: The Andy & Wendy International videos are an incredible value. Multiply the prices by 0.88 to get the approximate US cost.

Hi Operabob,

Where do I get the Andy and Wendy videos? My instructor told me not to waste my money for now but how in the world am I going to practice in between my once/week private lesson?

wan,

Here are Andy's beginner DVDs:

http://www.grandballroom.com/shop/dsp_category.php?categoryID=5

Note: These are preliminary step videos just to get you moving.

What most teachers would call beginner are the Bronze Level videos.

Remember, if what you're learning is American Style then these videos aren't what you want.

I'll respectfully disagree with your teacher:

Yes, you can't learn to dance from a video but they are valuable as a back up resource. I'm doing my teacher training with an ISTD examiner. I often go back to my syllabus tapes to reinforce what he teaches in a private and study them with an ever increasing learned eye.

OB

OB,
My teacher is teaching me American standard. Which brings me to what is the difference between American and International?

I totally agree regarding getting videos to give me additional help.

Thanks a bunch.

Wanda

What a question! LOL!

What I say might bring other opinions and dance is dance and you take it to the highest level of artistry possible regardless of style. That said (your taking foxtrot/rumba/swing):

1. I dance International and have that bias although I've taken lessons with the Canadian Professional Smooth Champions and think they're incredible.

2. My limited understanding of American Style was that it was popularized through AM studios and similar as a way to teach people to dance quickly. Most people found International more difficult. Again, that said: Over time American Style developed to a high level of artistry beyond it's original intentions.

3. In the standard dances, such as foxtrot, the most obvious difference is the hold. In International it is very rare for partners to let go of each other except possibly at the beginning or end of a routine. In American my perception is that partners will go to one-hand and no-hand holds and often pose side by side, etc. (Apologies to the American style dancers if I'm getting this wrong). I do not like watching American style on TV however, live, I think it's terrific.

4. American rumba seems to have started as a multi-purpose dance. In International the movement of the feet begins on the 2nd beat of the bar. For beginners this can be very difficult as most people find the strong (1st) beat of a bar more easily than an off-beat. In International you learn to "settle" the hip on the one and move on the two.

I teach beginners to "hip, 2,3,4, hip, 2,3,4..." All even beats.

As many beginners find this difficult American rumba (apologies and again to my limited experience of American style) seems to have been developed out of a simple box step with movement on the 1 (instead of the 2) with a basic count of: 1, 2, and , 3, 4, and... repeated (or Slow, quick, quick, slow, quick, quick). I often see people dancing American rumba in social settings to music that is not strictly rumba. Slow music in general often seems to work.

Regardless of style treat what you do as high art.

Good Luck!

OB (the Know-It-All)