Using Books and Manuals?

[pygmalion]

I found this topic on another board, and now I'm curious. How many of you use reference books and manuals in your study of dance? An article I read suggested that, especially for ballroom dance, books and manuals are an invaluable (and cheap) source of information that most people overlook. What do you think? Do you use books?

[LindyKeya]

I have used the ISTD manuals in my study and instruction for dance. Some can be fairly difficult to get the hang of, but they can be a very valuable tool. I used them most when I was running my high school ballroom dance team, and we didn't have access to any real ballroom dance teachers. So, we got technique where we could, and used the books for syllabus help (especially) with regards to competitions, and things like that. They got us through!

[SDsalsaguy]

Welcome to the Dance Forums LindyKeya! :D

The various manuals can serve as an excellent reference tool, especially for clarification or reminder purposes. As you say, however, sometimes they're also the only source of technical information readily available.

As far as materials I liked the old ISTD books better then the new, one-dance books, but am now getting the green IDTA book, which I understand to be a better resource.

[pygmalion]

Welcome to the forums, LindyKeya! :D

Yikes. Some of those manuals look like heiroglyphics (sp?) but once you crack the code, wow! There is so much information condensed into a small space. I think it's a great reference. I'm not ready to learn technique directly from them. I definitely need professional help to translate the heiroglyphics into action, but I think the manuals are a great supplement to training from an experienced pro. :D

[pygmalion]

Incidentally, I pulled down this list of recommended ballroom syllabus technique books from dancesport.uk.com Tid-bits newsletter. Looks like a good place to start. :D


Books for Ballroom Dancing:

1."Ballroom Technique," ISTD, is the book that everyone must have. It is meant for Teachers but I don't know why a keen student shouldn't get one. All 4 ballroom dances, Waltz, Slow Foxtrot , Quickstep and Tango are covered from Bronze to Gold level syllabus figures.

2. "Ballroom Dancing by Alex Moore" is a wonderful, easy to read book on Ballroom dances and it even has foot patterns for man and lady. There is Viennese Waltz and a lot of other information in it also. Actually the Ballroom Technique and this Ballroom Dancing by Alex Moore go hand in hand, I say get both.

3. "Technique of Ballroom Dancing" by Guy Howard. I think this book has been adopted by IDTA. This is a wonderful book similar to ISTD book. The introductory pages are more detailed and everything good has to be said about the book.


Latin Books:

1. The ISTD "Revised Technique of Latin American Dancing" is no longer published. Try to find a vendor who might have some old copies left. I think this book has all 5 Latin Dances well covered. The 5 new ISTD manuals are replacing the ISTD technique book on Latin. These are more updated and all that good stuff but now they are scattered all over my house and I can never find the right one by the bedside. Each one separately covers each of the 5 Latin Dances.

2. Technique of Latin American Dancing by Walter Laird is the other wonderful book with its supplement. I believe this is the official book of IDTA.

[pygmalion]

A cool reference for vintage dance manuals: the American Library of Congress.

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/dihtml/dihome.html

[MissAlyssa]

I only use a syllabus book to make sure of direction and foot placement.

[pygmalion]

There's a lot more info in there, though. Rise and fall, which part of the foot is being used, "footwork" (i.e. heel -toe, ball-flat, etc. ), sway and shaping, amount of turn, etc. It's all in there.

[msc]

Honestly, the ISTD books are basically "shorthand" for a whole lot of ideas and concepts. Unless someone shows you the moves, you won't get a whole lot out of the books. Once someone shows you the move, though, the books provide a good aide to memory, though, and the preceeds/follows suggestions are nice too.

Moore's book is really good, I have it, amazing that it was originally published in the 30's. It's a Standard book, though, not Smooth.

I'd be interested if anyone has published a book on Latin Technique wrt/ body action, not steps. I'd love to see a human body drawing that shows all the contractions required to execute the various body actions.

[pygmalion]

Yes, msc. The dance manuals I've seen are a bit ... oblique. But with someone to translate the symbols and abbreviations for you,and maybe a good syllabus video on the screen, I think it's possible for a well-trained person (experienced student or teacher) to learn quite a bit. IF they have the patience to sit, study, reflect on every word, and practice the physical movements themselves. What do you think? Would a video demo help?

I'll google for the Latin technique book, of course. I haven't seen anything like that, but I'll look. :D

Jenn

[pygmalion]

A comprehensive listing of many, many ballroom reference books published since 1970.

http://www.ee.princeton.edu/~aria/dance_books.html

[KevinL]

Yes, msc. The dance manuals I've seen are a bit ... oblique. But with someone to translate the symbols and abbreviations for you,and maybe a good syllabus video on the screen, I think it's possible for a well-trained person (experienced student or teacher) to learn quite a bit. IF they have the patience to sit, study, reflect on every word, and practice the physical movements themselves. What do you think? Would a video demo help?

The Dancevision manuals match the videos that cover the same material.

Well, the videos mostly match the manuals. The videos were made first, and the manuals were developed based on that information. Sometimes, though, the people who wrote the manuals disagreed with the videotapes and described the steps differently.

I think that using the manuals and videos together is an incredible learning resource, especially for those people who don't have access to live teachers. Nothing beats the feedback of an in-real-life teacher, but videos and manuals are better than nothing!

Kevin

[Vince A]

The books and manuals are great . . . they work perfectly in my closet as a kinda of a stepping stool so that I can reach my Raider cap up on the top shelf.

AS msc said . . . you need someone to go over the stuff with you!

[DancingMommy]

I found this topic on another board, and now I'm curious. How many of you use reference books and manuals in your study of dance? An article I read suggested that, especially for ballroom dance, books and manuals are an invaluable (and cheap) source of information that most people overlook. What do you think? Do you use books?

Yes'm. I use the books from ISTD since that is where we're headed. If we ever have a question about direction, etc, we go there. It's like an encyclopedia for us. I think we'd be lost if we tried to use the books without instruction though.