Product Details

• Actors: Shawn Trautman
• Format: NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: All Regions
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Dance Videos Direct
• DVD Release Date: November 1, 2006
• Run Time: 87 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000K6R6EW
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71,405 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Beginners Volume 1 offers the easiest and most thorough instruction for anyone wanting to learn both Single-Time Swing and East Coast Swing, the two most popular versions of Swing dancing. Each volume is professional, easy to follow, designed for beginners and fun for everyone. With nearly 1½ hours of instruction and multiple camera views, Shawn and Joanna Trautman will build your confidence and have you dancing along with them - literally. The design of the curriculum and camera placement for the DVDs allows leaders to do the EXACT movements that Shawn presents, and it allows followers to mimic Joanna in real time without having to turn away from the screen. In addition, you'll also get to dance each dance with music alongside the instructors at the end of each section. This beginner DVD covers everything from the history of Swing, how to do Slow Steps, Rock Steps, and Triple Steps, what the footwork is for both leaders and followers, how to properly use the four connection points specifically for Swing, and how to go from one dance position to another to another, seamlessly. You'll also learn lead and follow elements to each move, what adding lilt to your body means, how to do left turns, right turns, underarm turns, and much more. With nearly two decades of experience, a number of World Champion students to their credit, and their recently published book "Picture Yourself Dancing", Shawn and Joanna have perfected the basic elements of each dance while specializing in the leading and following aspects which are extremely hard to find. Shawn and Joanna will demonstrate, explain, and teach you to lead and follow the Swing so you can dance anywhere with anyone, rather than just learning a single step that can only be done with your partner. Once you're comfortable with this DVD, you'll want to look into Beginner Volume 2 as it seamlessly adds on to everything you learned here to rapidly gain confidence based on consistency and repetition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive, user friendly and fun!, June 2, 2007

By 

Jane Ann Houser "aka Jane Ann Munroe, O. D." (Brea, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Swing Dancing for Beginners: Volume 1 - Shawn Trautman's Dance Collection (DVD)

Other than dancing with my son at his wedding, I am a dancing "newbie"--so green that I was reluctant to go to a dance class! I have wanted to learn to dance for many years but never had a partner so I decided to take matters into my own hands and begin with DVD instruction. I made several unsuccessful phone calls with various suppliers until I happened upon Shawn Trautman's order department. An operator helped me personally select the first two DVD's to suit my needs and then long-story-short, I have purchased 12 DVD's to date. I received a personal email follow-up making sure that I had received the DVD's and that I was satisfied.

Shawn Trautman's teaching style is comprehensive and clear allowing for plenty of practice time within the lesson. The DVD format has all chapters clearly labeled allowing for precise access to a desired spot in the lesson. He and his wife, Joanna, give the lessons with plenty of tips for men on how to lead effectively and for the women, how to follow responsively...also provided are the much-needed tips on how to look stylish and confident as you take your first steps on the dance floor. It's great for us who fit into the "fake it 'til you make it" category!

I was cautioned by dancing friends to make sure the instruction I received was accurate as to avoid learning faulty technique. I have learned enough at home to Swing dance with several different partners and I have been complimented on my technique when I confess that I am a beginner. Thanks for the great product!

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars These lessons are easy and very professional, September 17, 2007

By 

Bob Rhodes (Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Swing Dancing for Beginners: Volume 1 - Shawn Trautman's Dance Collection (DVD)

My wife and I are in the process of taking East Coast Swing dance lessons. Being a novice I was overwelmed! I purchased the Swing Dancing for Beginners (both volumes) to supplement our lessons. To my delight Shawn teaches exactly what my dance instructor is teaching us. I wish I had found these DVD's before signing up for dance lessons. These DVD's are the same as taking professional dance lessons. We also purchased the intermeadiate volume and have completed it as well. I highly recommend these DVD's to anyone who wants to learn the East Coast Swing quickly, correctly and know you are getting quality intruction.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As Easy as 1-2-Rock Step, September 25, 2007

By 

John - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Swing Dancing for Beginners: Volume 1 - Shawn Trautman's Dance Collection (DVD)

An excellent introduction to East Coast Swing, including single-time and triple-time. Shawn and Joanna have become our favorite dance teachers as they produce videos that we can actually follow step-by-step. Each new step is introduced, then repeatedly shown from various angles. Each step is shown from the Leader's perspective, and then the Follower's, and the Trautman's are talking you through it each step of the way. This way you can start the DVD and dance right along with it, without constantly stopping, rewinding, and replaying parts. If you didn't get it the first time, just wait and they will show you again. There are lots of helpful hints, and enough moves to get you started on the dance floor. We ordered Beginners Volume 1 and Volume 2, as well as Intermediate Swing at the same time. We like to view the whole set first to see what's coming and to give us a goal. These DVD's are great learning tools, but we also keep them and use them repeatedly to accompany practice time, and as a refresher on things that we may have forgotten. Shawn and Joanna make it fun. They have an easy-going informal style that makes you comfortable.
I highly recommend all three of these DVD's.