Can you learn from a video?

M

MadamSamba

Member
What do you reckon, guys? In theory, could you learn to dance from a video?

I'm not talking about augmenting video lesson with real ones, but for someone who has never danced to watch video after video and, for example, walk into a social and dance, say, a complicated cha cha with a stranger?
 
One person, dancing alone? Not likely.

A couple, or small group, with excellent instructional tapes? Probably.

Kevin
 
My husband loves watching Fred Astaire films, but that certainly hasn't made him a dancer. He's still as two-left-footed as ever... :lol:

I don't think you can learn by just watching. You've got to practise, and you've got to do it with a partner if you have no partner dance experience whatsoever. I don't believe you can learn partnering skills visually; your body needs to learn how it should feel.
 
Having danced for 11 years, I can say that videos, both instructional and performances, are useful in helping me to learn new material or get some new choreography. I can just watch it, and almost instantly pick up the step (male and female). I know I'm bragging a little here, but it's to illustrate a point. I could never have done this early in my dance career.

It's good to use videos to learn, and it will increase your ability to "see and do", but it is certainly no substitute real life instruction.
 
Someone who has never danced before, learning by video and then able to walk into a club and dance with a partner? Not a chance.

Being by nature someone who likes to give back, I frequently trade with my dance teachers martial arts moves for dance steps. I can't tell you how many dance instructors I've seen--fabulously flexible, balanced, strong--who pick up kick-boxing and other martial-arts videos, and practice what they see. Many of these dancers are people who have been dancing their whole lives. And still they can't pick it up from watching it.

Let me ask the question this way--could someone who has never fought in his or her life pick up a martial arts video, practice the moves, and then go to a tournament and spar with people?

Maybe Tom Cruise can learn how to stand up to fully-trained warriors in "Dances With Samurai" or maybe Daniel-San can win the tournament after spending the summer painting fences and waxing cars; but in the real world all you're gonna get from no-hands-on practice is a white fence and a shiny car, and maybe a shiny eye to go with it.

I don't see why it should be any different in dance. Don't get me wrong--I love virtual reality. But there's a real world out there as well, and I try not to get em mixed up. Everyone can sing in the shower. :)
 
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