Customer Reviews

Latin Dancing: Beginner [VHS]

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

 

 

I was very disappointed with this instructional video. The background is pitch black and the male dancer wears black pants and shoes, so you can barely see what he is doing from the waist down, which is very important to see in order to learn. (Whole point of the video, no?) Each step is only done once or twice, so you'd have to rewind over and over until you get it. Don't buy it! It's a waste of money.

I decided to view this dvd for the tango section, because I am in a tango class right now and want to do some practice at home. What a disappointment! There are about five whole minutes devoted to tango, and you should be aware that the tango style featured in this dvd is more like ballroom style tango. It's not Argentinean Tango, which is what I learning. Additionally, the dvd is produced badly, as the other reviews have stated. The leader (man) disappears from the waist down into the black background, and Teresa Mason, the follower, has squeeky shoes that make the turns she does very unelegant. The dvd is also kind of sexist, because Ms. Mason always says "the man" or "the gentleman" when she means the leader, and "the lady" when she means the follower. I know that not everyone dancing tango is a male leader or female follower, and I suppose Teresa doesn't know that Argentinean Tango started with men dancing with other men. The steps Teresa shows are not well executed either; both partners' legs are not aligned in front of the other's and they are always kind of crouched, creating a big gap; it makes an ugly line down the body with bent and unaligned knees and legs. She does not go over steps with enough repitition and starts with steps that might be a little too fast and advanced for beginners, even though the dvd is supposed to be for beginners. There is nothing about the fundamentals of the dance or technique, just a poor imitation of what could be a very graceful dance. Seriously, I have spent more time writing this review than this dvd spends teaching tango. I imagine the other dances covered in this dvd are just as short and bad.

Ihave pruchased all three of the Teresa Mason Latin Dancing instructional video tapes. My only comment in re Teresa and Lance is restricted to such superlatives as "sensational", "wow" marvelous, et al. Their instruction and techniques are the best. The only reason I do not give these tapes 5 or more stars, (if available), is in the production of the tapes themselves. I would submit the following suggestions as constructive attempts to help to make their outstanding work more readily "absorbable" (to coin a word), to the video student: 1. Provide better visibility for Lance's scenes, by providing more contrast between Lance's costume and the background. 2. It would be much easier to follow Lance's great demo's, if the steps were introduced in very slow cadence for a clearer "how to", very clearly, before demonstrating the steps in proper "Slow/Quick" cadence, and to music. 3. Point out the more subtle movements in the steps, such as the turning of the foot, in the first step of "Open left turn" in the Tango lesson. I didn't catch this until after making many viewings of the step. Also, Lance's footwork should be kept in view at all times. In the tapes Lance's feet were occasionally allowed to be out of the frame during demonsstation of the steps. I hope these suggestions will help in producing a new and imnproved version of the tapes, which are already wonderful...I must admit I am at a loss for what to call them if and when they are improved. It would also be nice if Mr. Michaelangelo was still around, and available to produce a statue of Ms. Mason for posterity....WOW!

The male instructor is wearing black garments, despite the black background. He is difficult to see for another reason as well: the camera frequently crops out his feet. Learning Latin dancing is challenging enough. This video succeeded only on turning off my boyfriend and wasting $20. I was dismayed by the lack of attention to the woman's steps. Women must figure out their steps from the men's review, then the female instructor dances them with her partner. Save up your cash and take a class at a local college.

The steps are too flowery (you'd be embarrassed doing some of their moves on the dance floor), the flow is too fast (you have to keep rewinding), the sequences are not broken down, the production is bad (as you have read, the man wears black against a black background and black floor--impossible to see). The Webb series is much better on all aspects, if you don't mind the out-dated attire.

I have the beginner and intermediate tapes and they are both good. Teresa is a good instructor. I have bought tapes by other instructors and they were ok but I like Teresa's tapes the best.

The instructor is good but the background is very dark, I can hardly see the mens' steps.

As the Editorial Review says, "An enormous problem is that Estridge, dressed in black, blends in with the black background, making it difficult to see his hips and legs (fortunately his shoes catch the light). Sometimes the camera cuts off his feet altogether. Beginners who have had some lessons will find this a helpful way to practice, but the instruction is not detailed enough for non-dancers to start Latin dancing." The tape was frustrating and stupid in this sense.

Bought three tapes. This tape is a waste, as was Felix's. Cal Pozo's tape was quite good.

Black clothing in front of a black screen, what are they thinking?? This goes way too fast and is impossible to follow.

This is a very poor representation of latin dancing. I made the (BIG) mistake of ordering all of the tapes at once. I should have ordered them one at a time. I would have never ordered a second one. I learned more in one night in a club than one person could ever learn from this duo. Here is a tip: Go to a club and grab a latin male or female and start trying. You will be presently surprised. Your chances are much much better than with these tapes.