Favorite Technique Videos?

[pygmalion]

A major ballroom video producer is having a sale, and I'm ready to add to my collection. Any favorite ballroom (especially technique) videos you can recommend? Any that are no gos?

[DancingMommy]

I would avoid videos by Ron Montez. ;) His technique is really "dated".

I especially like James & Janna Kunitz on video. They have a great rapport and are good as teachers.

[pygmalion]

Hmm. That's interesting. I have all of his "new" around 2002, I think, silver American rhythm syllabus tapes. They're not bad, although I can see why you say his technique is dated. I don't have any of his technique videos, I don't think.

I must say I didn't care for his cha cha or mambo solo steps tapes. The shines were a little long and awkward for my taste. But they were a pretty good starting place for getting ideas of your own.

I do like the Bob Powers and Julia Gorchakova American rhythm technique tapes.

[Adwiz]

Any favorite ballroom (especially technique) videos you can recommend?

For Latin technique, I particularly like the Mastery 2000 series by Corky and Shirley Ballas. A little disappointed in the Jive ones (especially because Corky is so good at Jive), but the others are my favorite Latin technique videos.

For Latin steps, nothing beats the excellent Geoffrey Hearn series.

For standard, my favorite are the wonderful Geoffrey Hearn series, especially the ones featuring Marcus and Karen Hilton.

[twodance]

I don't agree with the 'dated ' thing. Technique stay's the same year after year. It's the styling that changes. It's like clothes the same style comes back around about every 3-5 years.

[pygmalion]

I guess you're right, twodance. Good solid dance technique stays the same. The packaging/styling may look different, but the technique changes very slowly, if at all. I guess it's just a matter of which words you choose to use.

I'll have to take a look at my older Ron Montez tapes versus the newly released ones, and see if there's a difference. I believe I have an old (around 1990) mambo tape, plus the 2002 one. It should be interesting to compare the two.

Oh yeah, and I have some Carrie and David Kloss American smooth tapes -- I believe they're smooth technique and cover all the smooth dances on one tape. A really high-level overview, but good stuff. I wish Carrie would talk, though. A mute woman is a little weird to me. I'm sure she has good observations to make.

So for smooth, I prefer Jim and Jenelle Maranto. I have their syllabus videos, and they're great, because both Jim and Jenelle give their perspectives and input.


And I have a Shirley Ballas spins and turns video. Don't bother to buy that one. Yuck.

[KevinL]

So for smooth, I prefer Jim and Jenelle Maranto. I have their syllabus videos, and they're great, because both Jim and Jenelle give their perspectives and input.

I've got Jim and Jenelle's Smooth Technique tape, and I think it's pretty good. Jenelle does speak, but I think the tape is focused more toward the leaders technique.

[pygmalion]

At least Jenelle talks. In several other videos I have, the woman/follow doesn't speak at all. Surely, if she can execute the moves, she has something valuable to say about them.

The Bob and Julia tapes I have are fairly old, so I can understand why Julia doesn't speak on them. I think at that point, she may not have been comfortable enough with English to record a video. But she teaches with her body, if you know what I mean. She and Bob were clearly working as a team, and she illustrated concepts with her body.

These other tapes often feature women who are mute, and just being used as models at the lead's disposal. Annoying, to me, because the follow's perspective is what's most interesting to me.

[pygmalion]

Speaking of videos, has anyone tried the choreography videos? Can you recommend good ones?

I have a couple old ones -- Chris Morris entrances for smooth dances. Not full routines, just ideas of how to choregraph getting on the floor and getting started. Kind of lame, but not a bad starting point. Don't spend the money -- borrow somebody else's, if you can. :lol: :lol:

[DancingMommy]

I wish Carrie would talk, though. A mute woman is a little weird to me. I'm sure she has good observations to make.

That's why I love Janna so much... She actually grabs the microphone from James once or twice during the video. ;)

As for Ron Montez, I should have said "styling" rather than technique, although there are some aspects of technique that do change over time. I would think that it would be most apparent when comparing really old (c. 1980) videos with todays.

I think you can't go wrong with Bob & Julia's tapes - especially if you are thinking about competing. Just be sure you dance "on time". ;) Don't ask me where I get that from cuz I can't say, LOL! 8)

[pygmalion]

Now that's what I like -- an assertive woman. :lol: :lol:

And, btw, since I've only done American style so far, those are for the most part, the only tapes I have. Any recommendations of good international style would be greatly appreciated. (I'll check out the videos you recommended, adwiz. 8) )

All the international I have so far are bronze and silver quickstep and quickstep technique by Victor Veyrasset and Heather Smith. Pretty good, and Heather talks. 8)