Customer Reviews

Jazz Dance Class [VHS]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The instruction on basic exercises and jazz dance techniques and steps was just right for me as a new student of jazz dance who has been taking classes for 10 weeks. The more advanced exercises were definitely beyond my present ability to attempt, but are something to aspire to. The documentary at the end of the tape is super! It gave a fascinating taste of the challenge and excitement of what it is like to be a professional performer of jazz dance, and of Gus Giordano's career as a performer and teacher.

The technique in this video is clear and sound. However, the photographer seems to think that the video is really about his/her own creative approach. As a result, the viewer is often denied the basic requirement of seeing the dancer's body in motion, and instead gets to see only one elbow, or a hand and the wall. It's maddening. How did they let this happen?

If you have never taken jazz dance before you might find this video difficult. The positions that the instructor wants you to hold require a lot, repeat a lot of flexibility. I think it's a great video, but it should come with a disclaimer. Beginners: if you can't do it, don't force it and hurt yourslef. I really sweat a lot during the video so it was well worth it, however I think some beginners would want a little more explanation before they jump into the excercises. I highly recommend this video if you need to refresh your jazz, or you're a beginner who promises to take it a little easy. :)

As a dancer, I found this video to be extremely basic. I am glad to own it, since it is a useful addition to my primarty movement styles of ballet and modern dance. Since it was filmed in the early 1980's, it is an interesting look at the more recent history of Jazz dance, but it is definately dated material! Other reviewers are correct when they say it was filmed artistically, and I believe that seeing only shadows and isolated body parts would make it difficult for a beginner to continue following the movements. However, the movements are usually repetitions of the same phrase, so that consideration should not be a great hinderance once you have viewed the video a few times, or are more familiar with the movement style.

I thought that this would be an aerobic exercise video using jazz dance elements. It really is a class and is very slow and emphasizes form, which is great if you want to be a jazz dancer. My goal was to add variety to my in-home workout and this does not meet that goal.

This video is very dated and has all the production values of your lower grade porn movie: cheesy music, poor sound, inarticulate monologues---and incest! [one of the dancers is--surprise!--the daughter of the instructor]. Half the time the camera is just focussed on the wall. It does give some instruction, but is painful to watch. It's barely worth $6.99, much less $23.99.