Customer Reviews

Invitation to Dance: Ballroom - Waltz, Rumba & Cha Cha

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I have purchased and viewed several dance CDs focusing on the Waltz, Rumba and Cha Cha. This is the best by far. Most others are focused on flair and professional looking dancers. This tape is produced more for the "common" dancer. It is easy to follow, the music is perfect for the beginner and intermediate and the dance instructors are easy to watch and follow.
Negative: too much filming of a dance party before and after the lessons. It would also be nice for all of these instructional CD to have a "Scene Selection" capability to allow the viewer to stop and return to the lesson of interest.

This DVD has helped my wife and I become better dancers. It features the teacher and his partner but then shows very average people of all ages dancing throughout the DVD. Being male, I was a little intimidated by this at first but quickly lost that feeling because of the pace and teaching techniques the instructors use. Good buy! Only drawback is that if you rewind often to watch and practice on your own, you quickly get tired of the music being played.

This is a great DVD for someone just learning to ballroom dance. Kyle explains how to do both the man's and ladies' steps making it extremely easy to follow. The fashions and hairstyles are a bit outdated but all in all it's a very good way to learn the basics.

I read the other reviews here and was compelled to add my two cents. If this is the best out there in instructional video for ballroom dance, we really need to change that by begging those polished, thoughtful teachers out there to PLEASE create something for the dedicated desperate students seeking decent instruction! Not everyone has access to top teacers in their home town and something has to give.
This dvd was disappointing at best. The skill level and grace of the 'teachers' seemed totally lacking. They seemed to stomp through the mechanical indications of the various steps...but there was no style to be seen. I am not suggesting that an instructional video needs to showcase the narcissistic vanity of some performer teacher; but a nice clean basic technique should be essential.

Common sense also seemed to be lacking in this presentation as well. When there is an able bodied woman right there, why does the the male teacher need to demonstrate her part???? I found this frustrating to watch.

Overall: don't waste your money on this one.

The cd included with the dvd also falls short of the satisfactory mark. It is outdated and reminds me of elevator music.

This is a DVD edition of popular video instructions. It contains instruction DVD for Waltz, Rumba, Cha cha plus Audio CD for practice. Excellent set!

Our first dance lesson DVD and we were skeptical at first - but after a short while my wife and I realized that we were actually dancing. The dvd is clear and easy to follow. We are having fun. The instructors are normal people who are interested in teaching -- not showing off.

Great explanations on a couple of simple steps. Easy to follow. Only helpful for someone very new to ballroom dancing.

If you are an absolute beginner and have never danced at all before, then you may find this course to be helpful. Otherwise, there are better instructional videos out there. The technique and style demonstrated are not of professional calibre. Also, the course claims to demonstrate 30 patterns. The number is nowhere near that, and is closer to 15, total (almost 5 basic patterns per dance). I say almost, because in one of the patterns, he calls the exit of the step by another pattern name. Sadly, the pattern name he uses is nothing like the pattern known in most dance circles. However, the audio CD which is included is quite good.

This DVD is head and shoulders above most other ballroom dancing instructional videos. The production quality is high -- nice music, good lighting, smooth editing, and even real sets. The party dance sequences are staged with "regular" people of all ages and skills, helping to motivate the student. The instructions and demonstrations are smooth and easily followed. It is geared perfectly for beginners. The "bonus" music CD is good, too. Highly recommended.

My partner and I did not know how to dance and we find this instruction excellent and easy. We were able to pick basic steps immediately.