What ballroom books do you recommend?

[dancebliss]

Hey everyone! Just thinking about increasing my ballroom library. I only have the ISTD Ballroom Technique book, which is great! I was looking into Ballroom Dancing by Alex Moore, but I'm not sure if this will offer me anything that the ISTD book doesn't. So ballroom friends, which books do you have and which do you recommend? I dance international standard and latin style, so that's what I'd be looking for. Thank you!

 

[debmc]

Dance to your Maximum by Winkelhuis
Latin Dancing, thinking sensing and doing by Vermey

 

[SwingingAlong]

What level are you at? I use G Hearn's Advanced Ballroom figures a lot, and also Walter Laird's Technique of Latin Dancing for the basics of Latin. I believe there is an advanced Latin one (Hearn) as well, but I don't need that yet.

 

[Dr Dance]

Alex Moore's "Ballroom Dancing" tenth edition. Updates and additions. May indeed supplement what you already have.

 

[twothreefourone]

Really enjoyed Barbara Ambroz's book, "Back to the Roots", which showed her thoughts on authenticity and cuban influences on competitive dancing. Similar ideas to Vermeij & Winkelhaus regarding how competitive programmes can sometimes lack authenticity; interesting how the feeling of the traditional origin of a lot of dances can be lost through things being too over-produced/choreographed. The age-old, "how do we develop and progress whilst staying true to the character and style" can of worms.

I also like Guy Howard's version of the ballroom technique, when i read the imperial book, a feather step had four steps and it threw me for a loop.

 

[dlliba10]

Really enjoyed Barbara Ambroz's book, "Back to the Roots", which showed her thoughts on authenticity and cuban influences on competitive dancing. Similar ideas to Vermeij & Winkelhaus regarding how competitive programmes can sometimes lack authenticity; interesting how the feeling of the traditional origin of a lot of dances can be lost through things being too over-produced/choreographed. The age-old, "how do we develop and progress whilst staying true to the character and style" can of worms.

I was wondering how this book was -- saw her talking about it during the Blackpool livestream this year. Thanks for the review!

 

[twothreefourone]

I was wondering how this book was -- saw her talking about it during the Blackpool livestream this year. Thanks for the review!

If there was one criticism of it, it doesn't always quite read as clearly in english as it could. There are a few "oh... that's what she meant" moments

 

[ajiboyet]

If there was one criticism of it, it doesn't always quite read as clearly in english as it could. There are a few "oh... that's what she meant" moments

Do you know if it was written in English or translated?

 

[tangotime]

s regarding how competitive programmes can sometimes lack authenticity; interesting how the feeling of the traditional origin of a lot of dances can be lost through things being too over-produced/choreographed.

The age-old, "how do we develop and progress whilst staying true to the character and style" can of worms.

That comment is applicable to pretty much all social dances being taught today .
The 'latin' styles that exist in Cuban style dance are closest to their original concepts . And I do not mean the BR latin styles .

The music has affected EVERY single dance as it has evolved over the years. Classic ex is QS, going from 2/4 to 4/4 in the'40s.
Rumba, changing from the 'Box" ( Danzon ) to todays version.. The U.S. does still teach the square form.

The vast majority of latino's are bewildered by what has transpired in the world of BR. The one exception may be T/Arg .

The 'Rumba" genre, which includes Salsa, Son, Guaracha, Danzon,, Merengue, Cha cha, Casino and Rueda have all been somewhat affected by the musical changes over the past 70 years.
One can still, how ever, find music that was contempory to that era, and the foundation principles still do exist in most social dances

 

[classydancer]

Really enjoyed Barbara Ambroz's book, "Back to the Roots", which showed her thoughts on authenticity and cuban influences on competitive dancing. Similar ideas to Vermeij & Winkelhaus regarding how competitive programmes can sometimes lack authenticity; interesting how the feeling of the traditional origin of a lot of dances can be lost through things being too over-produced/choreographed. The age-old, "how do we develop and progress whilst staying true to the character and style" can of worms.

I watched the youtube video on this and was wondering about the book as well. Thanks for posting!