Customer Reviews

You Can Dance! Cha-Cha / Vicki Regan

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If You Can Dance Cha-Cha promises you can watch the DVD (and practice with) the instructors in the day and go dancing by night, it isn't telling a lie. The basics of the cha-cha step are taught in the easiest way I've seen. It's designed so you can work along with the footage, like attending a class, complete with repetitions and much praise from your teachers for the wonderful work you've done. Vicky Regan also tells you the hip swaying trick to get that Latin flavor into your dance. Along with her young partner, Ron De Vito, you really do learn the cha-cha in no time.

But here's where the descriptions are misleading. "You'll start with the basics, then work your way up to combinations..." sounds a lot like you'll have choreographed patterns under your belt by the end of it. What you really get is only, and only what is considered absolutely basic to cha-cha. That is, the basic step, a cross over and open breaks step which is quite signature to cha-cha, an underarm turn and a solo turn. So, sure you'll be able to do the cha-cha, but all you'll be dancing is 4 steps again and again and again. While you do certainly have a chance to master the basic step, "learning all of the creative variations" isn't possible because there aren't any. The steps are standard and too few. But the teaching is undoubtedly effective.

If you're an absolute and utter beginner, this DVD will give you the basics. If you know the basics and want some patterns, look elsewhere. What would have made it a balanced, value-for-money buy would have been if the DVD had about 10 combinations. Not difficult to do either. Even if they'd just been clearly demonstrated at a faster pace, it would have been worthwhile.

This DVD is great for a beginner. The instruction is crystal clear and there are no distracting set designs or fancy costumes. The indroduction is a little corny though but the instructors are very encouraging and positive. I recommend this for anyone who wants to concentrate on the basics of Cha-Cha.

I am one of those who have 2 left feet and just could not learn how to dance. With Vioki and her partner, I found I could actually do the cha-cha. I learned to do the turns in time with the music- something that I could not do before with the dance instructions that I have. Vicki's method works for me.