Customer Reviews

Leonard Reed's Original Shim Sham Shimmy - DVD

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm a dance teacher at the University of Southern California (USC) specializing in American Vernacular Dances and a tap dancer as well. Having taught at dance festivals and tap seminars all over the world, I know the difference between good and bad teaching. This video is absolutely one of the best- produced and entertaining instructional videos I have ever seen. The fact that the video includes commentary from Leonard Reed himself is worth the price of the tape -- this man is a true living legend. But the instruction is top-notch, too. Rusty Frank is an acclaimed tap instructor and producer who really knows how to break steps down. I was very grateful to see her explaining and demonstrating the steps in such a personable fashion, and so clearly! She then repeats the steps from the reverse so the student can join in, and she does so (thank HEAVENS!) without calling out the steps over the taps. I have seen other videos where the teacher calls out the steps the whole time, making it difficult to hear the taps clearly, and Ms. Frank obviously knows how trying this can be. The music, which was apparently composed specifically for this video, is perfect too...just the right feel for this classic dance. Overall, I believe this to be one of the perfect beginners tap tapes. I have seen students who have never tapped before, master the Shim Sham with just this tape. Well done, Rusty Frank!

When I bought this tape I was not a tap dancer and yet I made it through quite easily. Afterwards, when I started attending tap dance classes, I decided to show my teacher what I had learned with the tape, in order to check and see if I had learned it well and if it looked "real" or not. She was awestruck at how I had managed to do it with just a videotape and without knowing how to tap dance. The secret is a good teacher using a good method. I highly recommend it. You're gonna have a great time, for sure!

I'm an advanced tapper, and tap instructor - years ago I was in a tap troupe in San Francisco, and was in a performance or two with Rusty Franks, the producer of, and instructor in this video. I found this tape to be a solid, yet enjoyable documentation of Leonard Reed's shim sham shimmy. There are many forms of it in this video, and all are presented in such a way that, for the beginning tapper it might require a bit of rewinding at first, but because she gives two slower first run-throughs that are shot from behind her feet, the viewer gets a good look at what her feet are doing, and shouldn't be difficult to learn the steps. Everything takes a little bit of work, and diligence, after all. For the intermediate to advanced tapper it's terrific! I found myself fast-forwarding through the slower repetitions of the combinations, to what she so nicely refers to as "The Brighter" version, meaning faster. It's eventually done to music, so there is a good progression from basics to performance level. She's a wonderful tapper, and this video is a lovely homage to one of the greats. I'm glad to see she's still tapping!

For quite a while, I have been looking for a Shim Sham Shimmy video or clear written instructions on the dance. I am more than pleased with this video. It is wonderfully organized in an up-beat, easy-to-learn fashion. I have loaned this video to a 7 year old student and she had no problem following it. (But it's just as much fun for a 50+ student as well!) A great buy!

For anyone interested in learning this historic tap dance -- this is the tape for you! First of all, you get to hear THE man himself introduce the dance. How exciting to see and hear Leonard Reed tell the story of his 1927 Shim Sham. He looks great! Secondly, Rusty Frank's teaching of the dance is clear, accessible, and proceeds at a do-able speed. She teaches the dance just as though you were in a tap class: She explains the material, demonstrates it towards you, then breaks it down with her back to the camera, so you can learn everything step-by-step without have to contort yourself to see what's going on. She's personable, without being over-the-top. She shows you the dance cleanly, so you can see each step distinctly. (It's also clear that she is capable of much more -- so thanks from this tapper for keeping it simple!). If you've ever wanted to learn this historic dance, GET this tape!

As a early-intermediate tapper, I was disappointed by this video. While it was very cool to see Leonard Reed himself speak in the intro, the actually teaching of the dance leaves a lot to be desired.

First, the instructor talks you through the steps while facing you, so you have to try to reverse everything on your own, which is extremely difficult. Then, when she finally does turn around to demonstrate, she doesn't talk through the steps anymore, so you constantly have to rewind to learn the steps. To make matters MUCH worse, the beat is kept by a tapping in the background, which sounds almost exactly like the instructor's tap shoe, making it very difficult to figure out the steps by ear.

I did make it through the tape, but it took a very long time. And this was just a refresher, because I learned the shim sham in a dance class a couple years ago.

I have been obsessed with learning tap lately and have rented this from the library to see if I wanted to purchase it. If you are a complete beginner wanting to learn the basic steps, you would be better off with I Hate to Exercise, I Love To Tap. The Reed video is great for learning a specific routine and could be trickier for a novice. I think the teacher is great and found the sections where you can view her feet from behind are a lot easier than trying to do it with her at full speed mirror-image! I think I'll get it with some practice though. She's pretty clear and easy to watch with a pleasant demeanor. Leonard Reed is pretty funny and has some entertaining snippets like tap dancing with his fingers.

This is a great DVD. I have been taking tap for a few years. I loved this DVD although be advised the dancer is dressed and has a hair style from the eighties. Don't let that stop you though! You will learn three variations of the shim sham shimmy. A great way to learn, practice, gain confidence and perfect your tap dancing.

Rusty Frank's method of teaching this dance is exceptional. Great sound, tempo and syle. Wish she had other videos.

I paid $36 for a bootleg copy of Leanard Reed's Shim Sham Shimmy, and I don't appreciate it- at all. I'll never order from amazon again. BEWARE!!