noob learning waltz from vids, does it work?

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b19wh33l5

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I go out dancing several times a week and can two step, west coast swing, hustle, east coast swing, etc... proficently all night long. Some of the places I go also play waltzes though, especially some of the country/western dance halls, and that is a dance I am not nearly as familiar with. I can entertain any lady that ask me to dance during a waltz by moving her around the floor some and doing some turns, but I learned all of my waltzing informally and it often feels stiff or choppy and I repeat the same things a lot since I don't know much. I want to get better and learn more. I do plan on going to a studio and getting some real lessons, but time does not really permit that right now. I will probably have to wait until spring time for that.

I was looking at this site http://www.starlightdance.com/store/waltz.shtml#SL129 and I liked what I saw. I have a couple of questions though before I drop $40 on a video:

1) Is it a good idea for someone in my position to try to learn waltz from a video?
2) Does the syllabus for the basic level video look good for someone with my experience?
3) Does the syllabus for the basic level video look like it would give me some good options out on the social dance floor?
4) Does anyone have ANY experience with any of Michael Kiehm's instructional videos?

Thanks!
 
Dunno about the quality of the tapes on that site, but I use vids to learn figures -- the Victor & Heather Veyrasset tapes on DanceVision.com.

I watch the tapes once, then re-watch & take notes on how to execute the figures, then practice on my own, then practice with a partner. I've also watched their technique & styling tapes.

FWIW, I do take privates and I social dance, so I'm not learning this stuff in a bubble. But I'm approaching learning from every angle possible, to keep things moving forward at the fastest possible speed.

:)
Samina
 
Thanks for the info. I would plan on using the videos as just a tool like you said. I would be practicing everything first with my girlfriend, who I dance with several times a week. Then I would try it with a handful of my closer dancing friends to see if I can actually lead the moves without them knowing what is comming. Then I would take it straight to the social floor to see how many people I can do it with. I am VERY cautious about creating a "dance bubble" around any of the styles of dance I do. Thanks for the info.
 
Videos can be of some value. However, in a dance like waltz, quality and ease of movement is really the goal rather than variety of material. Learn to lead a half dozen things quite well and you will have great dances that are quite comfortable for the person you are dancing with.

Unfortunately, that is harder to pick up from a video. Many of the key details are customarily taught by feel rather than by explanation, and you can't feel what the teacher on a video is like to dance with.

As a suggestion, try looking around at the sample clips of some of those videos, and figure out how to make your computer step through them one frame at a time, really paying attention to exactly how the bodies are moving.
 
Yes, those sound like very typical socially danced Smooth Waltz steps. I've seen a few of Michael Kiehm's videos (WCS I think). Fantastic personality, which can make a difference to a beginner when watching an instructional tape. For instance, I bought a technique video many years ago by Andrew/Loraine Sinkinson, and nearly fell asleep. When I watched it more recently, it was easier to pay attention and made more sense now that what they were presenting has already been described to me in various ways by my instructors. cheek2cheek.net also has a plethora of videos (VCDs/CDroms is probably the more appropriate term). I have a few (Standard, not Smooth). If you can get past the typos and the guy's foreign accent, they're a decent value for the price (though they nail you on shipping).
 
One of my coaches once told me that videos are great to use. However, one of the reasons you use a coach in the first place is not just to tell you what to do and how to do it, but the coach primarily lets you know what you are doing wrong. No video in the world can tell you what you are doing wrong. It can tell you what is commonly done wrong by a lot of people, but unless you have someone standing there and watching you, it's really hard for them to tell you what you are doing wrong or how you should try to fix it.
 
Love2Dance said:
One of my coaches once told me that videos are great to use. However, one of the reasons you use a coach in the first place is not just to tell you what to do and how to do it, but the coach primarily lets you know what you are doing wrong. No video in the world can tell you what you are doing wrong. It can tell you what is commonly done wrong by a lot of people, but unless you have someone standing there and watching you, it's really hard for them to tell you what you are doing wrong or how you should try to fix it.
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Absolutely! I could not agree more. I have every intension of taking some lessons at a real studio some time this spring or summer when my schedule will allow it more. For right now though I would like to get at least a bit of a jump start and learn what I can, realizing there will be some stuff I need to fix later on. I do think my other social dancing experiences will help minimize the number of things I need to fix by just learning waltz through social dancing and video with no in-person instruction though. I also have opportunities to dance with a college ballroom dance club between now and the time I can make it to the studios as well. So that should help at least some. Thanks for the input.
 
and123 said:
cheek2cheek.net also has a plethora of videos (VCDs/CDroms is probably the more appropriate term). I have a few (Standard, not Smooth). If you can get past the typos and the guy's foreign accent, they're a decent value for the price (though they nail you on shipping).
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip I will have to check it out :D
 
You might want to check with your local library, and see if they have any dance videos or DVD's available. They're free. The ones I checked out through my library were decent enough, sticking with basic syllabus figures with narrative beginners could understand.

My two cents worth - if you have time to go out several times a week dancing, then you can make time for a lesson or two - if it's really important to you.
 
IME, Country waltz has some different figures from ballroom waltz (which has two different versions--Standard (International) and Smooth (American)). Make sure you're learning the version of waltz that you want to do at the places you dance.
 
I agree with Purr. Why not check your local library first before buying. I did a quick check one day and found my library system had 7 videos to checkout.
 
We all our different, but for most people it is best to work with a teacher to learn the basics and technique of a dance. Than use videos to learn manuevers. One problem with learning basics from videos, is you can not see yourself and really tell if you are doing things correctly. We worked with teachers on technique and some manuevers. Than add videos to learn additional moves that use the technique the teachers taught us.
 
Just for laughs, I did a search on my library system, using "country dance" as the search terms. I got a number of hits, for videos, DVD's, and books on country partner dancing, as well as country line dances.
 
waltzgirl said:
IME, Country waltz has some different figures from ballroom waltz (which has two different versions--Standard (International) and Smooth (American)). Make sure you're learning the version of waltz that you want to do at the places you dance.
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True, but the gap has been narrowing between smooth and country. You are right, there are still different figures used for these styles, but most pros on the country circut get their waltz instruction from ballroom people.
 
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