Sources for International Latin Theory

M

MB083008

New Member
This may come off as a dumb question so pardon me=)

Anyone know where I can find online sources and/or books on International Latin Theory. I'm familiar with sources that talk about the theory on the technique and the movement/energy of dance styles like Ballet, modern, etc.

I'm just curious to see if these exist for International Latin.

This may not exist=) However, after 1 year of moving from American Rhythm to International Latin, I'm very anxious to dive in deeper to this style. I think it would benefit me in my lessons as well.
 
I strongly recommend you get Slavik and Karina's Dancing basics with passion. It has all the international Latin style figures broken down. I don't know if that's the kind of theory you are looking for but I think its a great place to start outside of real dance classes.

Here is a review of their DVDs I wrote:
http://www.passion4dancing.com/slavik-and-karina-dancing-basics-with-passion-dvd-review/#more-774



MB083008 said:
This may come off as a dumb question so pardon me=)

Anyone know where I can find online sources and/or books on International Latin Theory. I'm familiar with sources that talk about the theory on the technique and the movement/energy of dance styles like Ballet, modern, etc.

I'm just curious to see if these exist for International Latin.

This may not exist=) However, after 1 year of moving from American Rhythm to International Latin, I'm very anxious to dive in deeper to this style. I think it would benefit me in my lessons as well.
Click to expand...
 
Leonid Turetsky said:
I strongly recommend you get Slavik and Karina's Dancing basics with passion. It has all the international Latin style figures broken down. I don't know if that's the kind of theory you are looking for but I think its a great place to start outside of real dance classes.
Click to expand...

I don't think this is what the OP is looking for. These DVDs are great, but not at all a technique or theory in the least.

To the OP: I think you may want something like Walter Laird's Technique of Latin Dancing. Here it is on the IDTA web site:

w w w.idta.co.uk/xcart/product.php?productid=21&cat=4&bestseller=Y
 
Interesting

Josh said:
I don't think this is what the OP is looking for. These DVDs are great, but not at all a technique or theory in the least.

To the OP: I think you may want something like Walter Laird's Technique of Latin Dancing. Here it is on the IDTA web site:

w w w.idta.co.uk/xcart/product.php?productid=21&cat=4&bestseller=Y
Click to expand...

This looks like something I need to take a look at for sure. It may very well have what I'm looking for.
 
MB083008 said:
This looks like something I need to take a look at for sure. It may very well have what I'm looking for.
Click to expand...

Actually I just looked at it, and it's really very much a "chart" book with little theory, much like the ISTD red books for latin -- you may want to look elsewhere.
 
Aside from coaches... the best theory I've listened to were from the Blackpool Dance Congress lectures on video. Donnie Burns is hands down an amazing lecturer, talks about different things, from musicality, to 'correct' technique to specific movements. I didn't appreciate Melia as a dancer until after I saw Melia + Sergey's lecture on rumba (still my favorite lecture on rumba, EVER). Allan tornsberg is also particularly amazing (that is to say all of these lectures are good, but he stands out) in the lecture series. I attended a class with him live when he explained basic movements and rhythm in cha cha and rumba. You wouldn't think there'd be much to talk about with basic rhythm, but there's much to talk about! The videos will tell you 80% the same thing.

In my experience, I find group classes with top coaches like Vibeke, Allan, etc to be the best source for this kind of technique. I don't know how to describe the difference between them and your normal coach... I guess they lecture on a higher level, makes individual technique seem cohesive with a grand theory, and your everyday coach works on the finer details with you. Everyone has slightly differing opinions.
 
Yes I agree that blackpool lectures are an incredible source of great technical and inspirational material.....The ISTD red books are pure theory... I'd recommend looking at Slavik & Anna Dvds together with the books - which will make it easier and more fun to learn.

Quixotic said:
Aside from coaches... the best theory I've listened to were from the Blackpool Dance Congress lectures on video. Donnie Burns is hands down an amazing lecturer, talks about different things, from musicality, to 'correct' technique to specific movements. I didn't appreciate Melia as a dancer until after I saw Melia + Sergey's lecture on rumba (still my favorite lecture on rumba, EVER). Allan tornsberg is also particularly amazing (that is to say all of these lectures are good, but he stands out) in the lecture series. I attended a class with him live when he explained basic movements and rhythm in cha cha and rumba. You wouldn't think there'd be much to talk about with basic rhythm, but there's much to talk about! The videos will tell you 80% the same thing.

In my experience, I find group classes with top coaches like Vibeke, Allan, etc to be the best source for this kind of technique. I don't know how to describe the difference between them and your normal coach... I guess they lecture on a higher level, makes individual technique seem cohesive with a grand theory, and your everyday coach works on the finer details with you. Everyone has slightly differing opinions.
Click to expand...
 
Vermeij, Ruud, Latin: Thinking, Sensing, and Doing Latin American Dancing, Kastell Verlag GmbH, Munich, 1994.

I don't know anything about this book other than that it exists. Maybe it's what you're looking for.
 
DrDoug said:
Vermeij, Ruud, Latin: Thinking, Sensing, and Doing Latin American Dancing, Kastell Verlag GmbH, Munich, 1994.

I don't know anything about this book other than that it exists. Maybe it's what you're looking for.
Click to expand...

It is my bible. It explains Latin dance thru the exact analogies you requested.

However, to really learn the technique, as you need to in all dance forms, you will need a live person to teach you. There is no substitute for this.
 
Thank you all!

Bailamosdance said:
It is my bible. It explains Latin dance thru the exact analogies you requested.

However, to really learn the technique, as you need to in all dance forms, you will need a live person to teach you. There is no substitute for this.
Click to expand...

Thank you all! These are excellent. I knew I would find good stuff here.

My instructor has been a BLESSING to my technique as well as getting into the character of dancing. I tend to focus more on the technique. He brings out more of the "performer" in me as well.

Now that I'm really focusing on Latin, I want to completely get absorbed in all aspects of it. I think my instructor would appreciate it as well. I imagine it will reinforce the technique he teaches me.
 
I also wanted to add that this is no means to be a substitute for my lessons. (I think it may have come across that way to one of the posters.) I NEED my lessons. I have one tonight actually. I personally believe I become a better dancer after every lesson with my current instructor. I plan on staying with him as long as he'll keep me! I felt like I met my "match" if you will. My instructor and I have high goals for myself. I think absorbing myself in all aspects/science behind each of the Latin styles will benefit/go hand-in-hand with the technique I practice. I also want to learn everything I can about the dances period. I really love this style.
 
Dear fellow dance-fans,

I am currently looking for a technique book for latin american dancing that is suitable for the beginner but would also help me later on. For example I am using Alex Moore' "Ballroom Dancing" for ballroom and find it very useful.

The reason for this is that I practice a lot on my own outside of classes and find myself constantly wondering about some things (what's the correct timing on this step, how should my feet be placed here, etc.) and it gets quite annoying to have to wait till lessons again to be able to ask my teacher about it.

As I am sure that this has been asked before, it would be great if you could point me in the right direction. Unfortunately the search came up with hundreds of results that weren't really relevant :/.

Thanks very much in advance!
 
If you work well with the book by Alex Moore, maybe you could go with Walter Laird's Technique of Latin Dancing.

Also, Geoffrey Hearn published books on both advanced Latin and Ballroom figures a few years ago...
w w w (dot) hearndance (dot) com

Similar to Moore and Laird they are more of a list of figures with charts containing information about footwork, timing, ...
Maybe you like them... Oh, and you can also purchase DVDs to go with the books I believe.
 
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