Reviews (9)

Very Worth Buying...
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Ballroom Dancing is a very good investment for those who would like to approach dancing. Jeff Allen knows what he's doing and describes the steps clearly. The only reason I gave this book 4 stars is because the text is rather small, making it seem too similiar to a textbook (bad memories from school). That's a minor problem though. Also, the CD that came with it was a great help too. The music on it was very easy to dance to. I highly recommend this book (along with a video too for those who are visual learners) to all the beginning dancers out there.

Editor of Amateur Dancers Loves CIG to Ballroom Dancing
The delightful premise of this book is to knowledgeably enter the enjoyable scene of social dancing with its "social, psychological and physical improvement of lifestyle." This it does! Anyone entering social dancing, and those having entered and not become competitively focused, can do well to buy this cleverly written book.

Scattered throughout the text, Jeff very effectively uses logo-symboled information boxes to add interest and pointed tips. Eschewing the usual foot diagrams for patterns, text and pictures do the job. The excellent introductory diagram of Line of Dance and the 11 dance music CD is arguably worth the cost of the book.

Beginning with the history of the original "close" dancing position of partners, the author traces the evolvement of ballroom dancing in a very unique way - the impact exerted by national economies, mores and wars.

The ceremonial wedding dance is covered as the point of beginning for many people and it traces natural evolvement from that point. Reasons to dance for men, women and the shy are given through to the relationship and foreplay factors.

Physically and mentally meeting the challenges of ballroom dancing are listed, then music, timing, rhythm, movement and position.

"The Plain Truth about Practicing, Expectations, and Prioritization" is a section not usually covered in dance books, but should be; the discussion of "Creating a Dance Couple" is quite germane to those not locked in a high-level partnership.

The author approaches Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Rumba, Merengue, Samba, Cha-Cha, Mambo, East Coast Swing, and Hustle very practically with descriptive text and pictures that do the job of getting you in the dance.

Competitors, Silver level and above, will find the book's historical notes and the personal side of dancing a good read, all others can favorably and profitably use the book to help getting their heads and feet straight on the floor.

Conclusion: Buy it, for your personal improvement and attitude.

Review of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Ballroom Dancing
Published in Amateur Dancers; Issue #139 Sept/Oct 2002
By Robert Meyer, Editor

The Final Word
If you think a book like this might nicely supplement dance instruction at a local studio or class, then you're a realistic person. Best of luck to all prospective dancers.

For the Record: Terrific for Beginners!!
Part I of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Ballroom Dancing begins at the "beginning" with a whirlwind trip through history and the history of ballroom dancing -very interesting reading!- and ends with a chapter entitled "What Makes Us Dance" , a fun and interesting socio-anthropological look at...well...what makes people dance! Definitely food for thought.
Part II of the book as well as Allen's "Quickstart Method," found in chapters 10 & 11 are really what's revolutionary about his approach. To analogize these sections would be to say that they are to the beginner dancer what learning about the basic functions of an automobile are about to the new driver. All of them necessary before an individual (or couple) are ready to learn where to go. Having Been an Instructor for many years, it never ceases to amaze me how teachers and the public at large are deceived into thinking that if you just learn "the steps" you'll dance. Wrong, dancing is more the quality of your car than where you are driving. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Ballroom Dancing unravels the how's, why's, and where's for the novice.
I have reviewed most of the books in the marketplace; sadly most of them are filled with unforgivable technical error. If I were Allen I would not refer to them either. In this book Mr. Allen references his own work where the subject matter is different from the present topic or where the reader may want to expand upon the topic at hand. For instance, if you want more Ballroom Tango (or Argentine Tango which is very different from the ballroom style) than the Idiot's Guide provides, then read Quickstart to Tango. If you want more Swing, Allen has written an encyclopedia of Swing steps & technique called, Quickstart to Swing.
The wedding section mentions another of Mr. Allen's books & video called "The Complete Guide to Slow Dancing," another type of dancing not covered in the Idiot's Guide. This book is meant to cover ballroom dancing and Allen gives the reader plenty to work with covering 11 different dances.... For goodness sakes he has created a combination in the Foxtrot section that really does have a stroke of genius called "The Emergency Wedding Routine," that can be easily worked out in less than two weeks. There is also instruction for presenting the bride by the groom and "The Wedding Dip," (including terrific pictures). ...this book is a masterpiece!

For beginners?
Jeff Allen has impressive dance credentials and his approach to teaching is supposed to be revolutionary, but I noticed that he constantly references books written by himself and rarely those of others. That's what I call a new age dance master. The history section is interesting, and his brief discussion of why men and women dance was pretty fascinating--I'd definitely like to see that examined further. There's plenty of realistic advice about the challenges of partner dancing, but repetition becomes a problem and the text is incoherent at times. Ultimately, it's hard to learn dancing from a book under any condition. The commentary on technique and styling is valuable once you have a little experience under your belt, but for beginning social/ballroom dancers, I'd recommend a video. Arthur Murray's 'Let's Dance' or Margot Scholz's 'Introduction to Ballroom Dancing' are both excellent. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

NOT FOR THE BEGINNER
THIS BOOK ADVERTISED 1300 FULL COLOR ILLUSTRATIONS AND DIAGRAMS. FOOT PATTERNS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN TEACHING SOMEONE TO DANCE THIS BOOK HAS ONLY ABOUT ONE DOZEN (12) DIAGRAMS AND IS MISLEADING. IF YOU LIKE TO LOOK AT PHOTOS OF DANCERS IT IS GREAT BUT TO MUCH READING AND WAY TO CONFUSING FOR A DANCER SUCH AS MYSELF WHO HAS HAD ABOUT 40 HOURS OF LESSONS. I FEEL THIS BOOK IS FOR AN ADVANCED DANCER ONLY. TOM BEHNEY

Good overview of ballroom dance
This book outlines most of the ballroom dances from a pictorial point of view with the assistance of footstep illustrations. Its virtue is it is pretty comprehensive, with most of the ballroom dances discussed. Even some dances considered a little risque, such as the lambada, are discussed in the book. No doubt that professional instructors will find areas of disagreement in the advice and the patterns developed, but no book can cover all the idiosyncrasies of styling that exist in ballroom classes. A good book to have when learning ballroom, and the price is very reasonable.

BEAUTIFUL BOO K - ALMOST USELESS INFORMATION
BEWARE: This book describes the International Style of ballroom dance. NOT the American style. Perhaps 10% of American dance students are learning International.

EXAMPLE: THE WALTZ

American Waltz:
The basic figure is a square in which the man starts by stepping forward with the left foot and the dancers return to the starting position in 6 beats, making a square.

International Waltz:
The basic figure is a zig-zag. The man starts with the RIGHT foot and the dancers travel around the dance floor in a zig-zag pattern.

It would be great if Paul Bottomer would write a similar beautiful book for American ballroom dancers.

Dave Palmer

good complement for beginning international dancers
Many of the dances taught in this book are international style. If you plan to dance in the USA, you should know that social dancing is mainly American style for beginners.

The book is richly illustrated with photos. However, the angle of the photos changes randomly. So if you see a dance couple facing different directions in consecutive photos, maybe they have turned, or maybe the photographer moved. You have to read the accompanying text to tell.

I think this book is a good complement for beginning to advance-beginnning international dancers. You cannot completely rely on the book to learn techniques because while it does touches on them somewhat, it mostly concentrates on dance patterns. It will give you a rough idea of what a particular step looks like and give you the name of the step. If you have learned the step before, this would serve as a good review.

Can't learn how to dance from this book.
It's a good reference book if you know how to dance. If you're a beginner and try to learn from this book, you're in deep trouble. Unless you can translate "move you left foot to left, reflex your right knee, shift your weight on to the left on beat 3" description into movement right away, you'll go through one basic movement in hours. If you want to improve your dance skill, it may be helpful. Since I'm a total beginner, I can't say that for sure. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An intriguing 'blurred genre'
Taylor's _Paper_Tangos_ is a great example of how autobiography and ethnography can come together to 'write culture'. The text is introspective, reflecting the nature of the Argentine culture at the time that Taylor lived in South America. In this respect, she was involved in 'participant observation'; it seems that everyone hid from society at the time (lots of scary terrorism going on). In _Paper_Tangos_, she finds refuge in the 'underground' tango culture, and discovers much about her past as she learns about the dance and social practices.

If you become Taylor's 'dancing' partner, and read this book on its own terms--outside of genre traditions and 'rules'--you may, like me, appreciate it for the unique perspective that it offers. This book has inspired my own writing and approaches to both memoir and ethnography. And the little flip book it really cool too!!

An odd little book
An odd little book about a former ballet dancer dancing tango in Buenos Aires. The author describes herself as blonde and beautiful. She marries and divorces an Argentine man, but it's all in the background of her consuming tango obsession. With disjoint time and amost hallucinatory digressions into the emotions brought to the surface by tango, this reads a bit like "Trout Fishing in America" if it were tango instead of trout. There is a flip book built into the pages where a tango turns first into a violent attack and then into sheets of falling paper. This low-tech animation wordlessly caputures the themes in the text. ... Read more

Book Description

Born in the slums of Buenos Aires in the last decades of the nineteenth century, the tango--the most erotic, most passionate, most melancholy of dances--has remained spectacularly alive for more than a hundred years. Today it is the focus of a new cult, casting its spell throughout the Americas, Europe, the Pacific basin, and Japan.What is the secret of the tango's appeal? In Tango!, four experts from Europe, North America, and Latin America explore its fascinating history from the earliest beginnings to the present. Historian Simon Collier traces the tango's roots in Argentina and charts its rise from the brothels of Buenos Aires to become the quintessential expression of Argentine popular culture. The writer Artemis Cooper discusses the amazing tango craze of the 1910s in Europe and North America, while anthropologist Maria Susana Azzi looks at the tango's peak years in Argentina, the period from 1920 to 1950. Finally, Richard Martin, Curator at the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, charts the international boom in the tango's popularity in recent times. He looks, too, at the relationship of woman to man and man to woman in the tango. To match the spectacle of the tango, the book is illustrated with more than 250 photographs and drawings in color and black and white. Special features are built around the brilliant color photography of Ken Haas, recognized worldwide for his fidelity to the spirit of the dance. And as an evocative reminder of the rhythms of the dance, some of the most celebrated tango songs are discussed and quoted. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good!
Good but not great. The book follows all the story of tango but there is something missing....many of the pictures are unfortunately 2-paged and cannot be appreciated (plus I couldnt find any passion in any but 2 of them) although the book seems to getting better as you go towards the end. The edition is of course luxury but i can't say i was amazed. Anyhow a good choice for an absolute beginner to tango but I would suggest Horacio's Salas "the tango" in every case.

Tango is more than music and dance.
Until I read "¡Tango!", most of what I knew from tango was what was told by instructors, including Daniel Trenner, Brooke Burdett, half a dozen Argentine nationals, an equal number of Canadians, and a Belgian. It was exciting to get all the information I needed in one place. Tango is more than just music and dance. It is a cultural phenomenon that began in the barrios and bordellos of Buenos Aires and Montevideo, and spread throughout the world. At the base of this cultural phenomenon is the relationship between a man and a woman. Tango is not just an American or South American phenomenon. It has spread throughout the world, and is popular in such diverse countries as Finland and Turkey, as well as those areas where it evolved.

The text of the book is outstanding and well documented. I was pleased with the choice of artwork, old and contemporary photographs, and page layout. It gave me a great understanding of the tango as a cultural phenomenon. There is an excellent bibliography and the text is referenced with footnotes for those who wish to go to some original sources. I am one of those people who are always looking for recommendations for music, and I was pleased to see a two-page listing of tangos, which are available on compact disc. For those who travel, there is a listing of international tango centers. It is an incomplete list, but it would be helpful for those who travel a lot for business or pleasure.

If you like tango, this would be a good book to start your collection. Then you can proceed with "Le Grand Tango: The Life and Music of Astor Piazzola."

A Must for Every "Tango Household"
For a person just discovering the Argentine tango (or who wants to), this is an interesting, beautiful, coffee table book. It's filled with gorgeous illustrations and photographs, as well as poetry, lyrics and fun, historical tidbits about the music & history. It rambles, but that just makes it more fun to open it up and start reading from anywhere. It's been the kind of book that has made even my non-tango friends interested in the dance and cultures behind it. ... Read more

Book Description

How do you want to get in the swing of things? Perhaps with the East Coast version, with its cool turns? How about the syncopated Hollywood style, filled with footwork? Or maybe you want the jumping and jiving, kick-it-lively, acrobatic lindy hop. Whichever you choose, these dances are loads of fun, not to mention great exercise. And, when you're guided by these show-it-all sequences, that teach you the movement in full, you won't have to worry about having two left feet when you step onto the floor! So--all you have to do is swing, swing, swing!
... Read more

Reviews (1)

An excellent reference, with a few flaws
This book gives more usable detail on steps for Savoy- and Hollywood-style lindy hop, as well as for East Coast (6-count) swing, than any other I've seen, and it's a nice reference for intermediate-level dancers. It covers a good range of the steps frequently encountered in social dancing (examples: tuck turn, back Charleston, sugar push, catapult, Texas Tommy), plus a couple of basic air steps *not* suitable for a crowded floor. You'll never learn to dance from this or any book, but you might use it as a supplement to instruction or experience.

The layout is unique. (Amazon, how about putting up a couple of sample pages?) Each step gets a two-page spread of photos like those on the cover, with the kind of "stro-motion" series of photographs of its progress that TV sportscasts sometimes use to detail figure-skating moves or football plays. There are text explanations below each part of the step, and a running count of the musical beat at the bottom of the page. Some complicated but crucial steps -- notably whips and swing-outs -- get three two-page spreads, with leaders (= men, usually), followers (= women), and both-together each shown separately.

So what's not to like? Several things, all of which spring from the lack of space on the two-page layouts:

* The overlapping photos are presented so densely in places that it's hard to see crucial details, and the text often isn't quite below the appropriate photo. If you've never seen the step before, you'll have a hard time understanding what's going on.

* The follower's footwork gets short shrift in too many of the descriptions -- particularly annoying on moves in which she's turning. (In this regard the book is no better and no worse than many dance instructors.)

* The descriptions pretty much always tell the leader what to do with his hands during the step, but frequently don't explain what the actual *lead* is that signals the start of the step. That's the kind of information somebody who's learned the step in a class needs to be able to dance it afterwards.

These beefs aside, I like the book, I'd recommend it for dancers trying to remember which foot you start the kick-around on, and paging through it makes me want to grab my dancing shoes and head for the floor. ... Read more

Book Description

Feel confident on the dance floor—step by step! Social Dance: Steps to Success will teach you all the moves for eight popular dance styles:

· Swing
· Cha-cha
· Foxtrot
· Polka
· Waltz
· Rumba
· Tango
· Salsa/mambo

Each step you take is a smooth transition from the one before. Your first few steps provide a solid foundation of skills and concepts. As you progress, you learn not only the basic dance steps and styling but also how to adjust to a partner, how to make the transitions between positions, and how to create sequences from variations of those basic steps.

Each of the steps also explains why the concept or skill is important, identifies the keys to correct technique, helps you avoid common errors, and explains how to practice each skill. A compact disc featuring music for each style is included to help you practice.

Written by master teacher and dancer Judy Patterson Wright, this book is part of the Steps to Success Activity Series—the most extensively researched and carefully developed set of sport skill instruction books ever published. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Written By A Master Teacher
SOCIAL DANCE is written by a master teacher who has done a lot of research on her subject. The person who will benefit from using this book is not someone who is looking for an easy method to learn a few dance routines. It is rather meant for the serious enthusiast who knows how to study a textbook and appreciates the value of long hours of practice. It will also be useful to those who already know something about swing, cha-cha, fox-trot, waltz and polka and wish to increase their social dance skills. ... Read more

Book Description

Now in its ninth edition, this classic and comprehensive handbook has been revised to bring it up to date in keeping with changes on the dance floor and in the rules of dance competitions. The Quickstep, Waltz, Foxtrot, and Tango are all illustrated and described in great detail. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

leadable dancing
This book presents maneuvers that are very leadable. The lady
can follow the man without knowing in advance what he will do.
The very detailed technique is based on the bio-mechanical
necessities of good dancing. It has been the most respected
book on ballroom dancing worldwide for decades. It is useful
for teaching yourself without a teacher, if you are a serious
student. It covers international style, which has some figures
in common with American style. Where they diverge international
sticks to leadable figures, American to showy figures.

Great Book!
A new version of this book is actually available through the ISTD. It is a very helpful book, with thorough charts for all the standard dances. There is also a comparable book for Latin.

Ballroom Dancing
An excellent resource for the serious International dancer. It contains great information on body & foot mechanics. Alex Moore may not have been able to dance international, but he certainly can explain it well.

The Essential International Style Ballroom Book
This book is still available. You can either contact the publisher (A & C Black, London), or go to Amazon-UK. This book is for serious International Standard dancers (American style is not covered). Six to eight basic figures are addressed for each of the four International Standard dances: fox trot, quick step, tango, and waltz. Each figure is minutely broken down into footwork, contra body movement, body sway, and amount of turn. My partner and I found Alex Moore's Ballroom Dancing to be an indispensable part of our practice routine. Please note, this is not a 'do it yourself' book. It will be most effective if used as part of a curriculum with an experienced teacher.

The best book on International Standard ballroom dancing.
This book was last (maybe still) available from A and C Black, Pub. Ltd., Howard Road, Eaton Socon, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE19 3EZ in England. They accept major credit cards and ship immediately. The book is the absolute best I've ever seen. Nothing on the market comes close. It is invaluable for serious ballroom dancers ... Read more

Reviews (6)

You Decide ¿ A Double Review
My name is Diane Howard. I have been a dance instructor for over 10 years in the Northeast corridor. I take great exception to the negative reviews of Mr. Allen's book Quickstart to Social Dancing, especially in comparison to another book that I own by Mr. Stephenson called The Complete Book of Ballroom Dancing. Here is why:

1. Quickstart guides the beginner and helps develop the most important basic dance skills in systematic and incremental fashion. Foundational skills like correct postural movement with a partner, rhythmic movement, and leg action both for the smooth, swing, and Latin dances are wonderfully described in Quickstart. They are either completely omitted or where included, erroneously described the so-called Complete Book!

2. Quickstart guides you through a primary development with easy to use physical instructions and analogies with a direct goal in mind. That goal is to be able to dance, WITHOUT ERROR, the most fundamental patterns in six major social dances. The Complete Book starts at stages beyond the beginner with a syllabus that assumes that a dance couple already KNOWS HOW to move together. They do not and will not simply by reading a syllabus, all competent dance instructors know this!

3. Quickstart does a terrific job in addressing these primary and necessary functions. The Complete Book leaves you to your own devices.

4. The Complete Book designed for the next stage of dancing, diversity in patterns, unfortunately is laden with serious error that the beginner would certainly not be aware of in their attempt to follow its syllabus. Quickstart does not pretend to be more than it is, simply the best guide for the beginning stages of your social dance experience.

Perhaps these are the reasons why Quickstart to Social Dancing seems to be applauded by dance professionals and others who are willing to provide their names and email addresses for correspondence. I know I recommend it to students and teachers alike.

By contrast, you cannot contact even one negative reviewer of Mr. Allen's books nor can you find any reviews by competent dance professionals on the back cover or web page of Mr. Stephenson's book. In his book, Mr. Allen provides you with his contact information for questions and further help. Mr. Stephenson's book leaves none and suggests that you go elsewhere. You decide!

Don't buy this book!
I have been taking ballroom dancing for almost two years. I started my study of ballroom dancing in Japan, and as a result of language and cultural barriers, I thought I needed a book, written in English, that would compliment my study of dance. So, I purchased this book. It was the worst purchase I have ever made! The pictures are not the least bit useful for learning steps. The description of the steps and the foot diagrams are confusing (and in some cases wrong). The only good thing about the book is the section on the history of ballroom dancing, but except for that the book is extreamely limited. Don't waste your money like I did, there are alot of good ballroom dance books out there, but it is certainly not this one!

Completely Wrong !
This book is a perfect example of what is wrong with much of the dance instruction in the USA - anyone can teach, as there is no required credentialing or licensing to do so! Teachers answer to no one - no authority in dance or the educational system in general. If the packaging is "slick" enough, the unarmed and unaware public will by into it. To teach dancing and not error is a difficult profession. It requires years of experience. Unfortunately, to just show steps as this book does requires none. I find no credentials for the authors and no mention of any dance society that they have been tested by and this is reflected in the gross amount of error that exists in every single step pattern. This is probably why this book until now has not been reviewed by a competent professional ballroom instructor. A book as a tool for dance education is one of great value especially if it is reliable, not one like this, that conflicts with the accepted standards of every dance society that belongs to the National Dance Council of America and good principles of movement. It is apparent that the authors have taken someone's approved listing of dance steps called a syllabus and edited it without understanding leaving gross errors in footwork and complete omissions of how correct dance movement is created. This book leaves the unsuspecting reader with instructions that if followed, would produce flat-footed, awkward, unbalanced, non-musical, and non-rhythmic movement. But many so-called dance instructors quickly find out how easy it is to fool the consumer into believing that if the can dance a little bit, they must also be able to teach. The funny thing about The Complete Book of Ballroom Dance Error and what struck me immediately is that the couple that poses for the pictures throughout the book looks as awkward and uncomfortable as one would expect following this books directions.

Here are some of the many errors in technique found in this book that would create problems for the newcomer to dancing and needless to say any other level:

Throughout the book starting with the "Techniques," page 59, 62, 63, 64, 79, 81, 83, & on from there the Dance Positions are show with the man's right hand too low in the small of the lady's back against soft tissue. Two major problems can occur resulting from this improper arm & hand position. The 1st problem is too much hand pressure would have to be exerted to lead any rotation particularly in the rhythm or Latin dances because of the weak slouched position of the man's right upper arm which leaves that arm limp with lack of proper relationship to his own body's rotation. The 2nd problem is actually dangerous to the lady's health because that is the area of her kidney and the likelihood extending too much pressure over the period of several dances can have the same impact as a strong kidney punch in boxing. Done properly, at least the middle finger of the man's right should be place on at least part of the lady's shoulder blade and the elevation of his right elbow should be the same as his left. Good teachers stress that the elevation of the right hand and arm is MORE important than the left!

Another of the many glaring errors starts on the very first figure of this book in the Waltz section. This pattern has many errors and it, unfortunately for any reader, is the most fundamental in all of Ballroom dancing. For instance on step # 3 for the man the author writes: "Close left foot to right foot; transfer weight to left foot, continuing in rise position until end of Count 3. Any musician would have told these alleged dance instructors that Waltz begins its diminishment at the half waypoint of count 3 which is why many count Waltz: 1,2,3 &. Splitting the 3rd beat between crescendo and diminishment: The good news is that Ballroom dancers do the same thing! Done Properly: they begin a controlled lowering at the end of the third beat followed by a toe lead with the right foot to prevent any lurching backwards necessitating hanging on your partner. Then the authors tell us on step 4 to reach back (obviously from this risen position since they have already missed the moment of lowering) to the BALL of the right foot. This would have the impact of taking a backward step off a platform 2 feet from the floor (this error is repeated many times in this book of miss-instruction)! I can just see a Bride & Groom doing this on their 1st dance and the Groom hitting the floor with her on top of him! That would be one for video bloopers, in the same way this book is. If you can't get the descriptions right in the Waltz, the most fundamental dance, there is little hope for improvement from there. It would take another book to correct the errors of omission and commission this book contains and I've run out of space!

It is just what I have been looking for.
This book is just about all you could ask for as a beginning dancer. It has the history of the various dances, dialogue with footsteps for both man and women,pictures of man and woman in progressive stages of each dance and a listing of songs for each type of dance.My book prompted a request for a copy from two friends

Good description of elementary Ballroom steps.
Although the descriptions are quite good, the pictures and illustrations are confusing and not very useful. The book is quite complete, and although not great, is the best available. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Simple and clear
I got this book to use in addition to some dance classes my husband and I were taking. Though I wouldn't recommend learning to dance from this book (or from any book for that matter), this is the only book I could find that had the dance steps laid out clearly and simply. As a beginning dancer, I didn't want a complicated manual that showed fourteen different foxtrots. "Shall We Dance" was exactly the book we needed when we were having trouble remembering which step was which. I love that you can practice by holding the book between you, since it's laid out so that the leader's dance steps are opposite from the follower's dance steps.

Smaller is not better
This book is small and that's about the only thing going for it. I bought this book as a neophyte dancer interested in finding out more about this new activity/sport I was trying to get into.

This book is of no use to dancers or non-dancers. It is somewhat cute to look through, but serves no practical value related to improving your dancing technique, knowledge or style.

Thankfully, I bought this book to supplement the class I was taking. The classes are wonderful; no medium can come compare. Dance, as I'm finding out, is less about where to place your feet and more about your entire body and the interaction you have with your partner.

This book should not feel bad for itself. It has many companions at the poor book party.

Shall We Look Ridiculous?
I read this book as a result of a very unfortunate experience. I attended a fund raising event with my husband and 3 other couples. My husband and I have been avid social dancers (and competitors) for a few years. Two of the couples have also had some dance instruction and the third couple has always been 'the non-dancing couple". The music started and we all headed for the dance floor.

I have never felt so badly for anyone as I did for the 'non-dancing couple'. They were physically uncomfortable, looked like robots, and were totally off time. These are good friends of mine that I spend time with socially, so I tried to keep the shock out of my voice as I asked them "so, when did you start dancing?" They proceeded to tell me about the book they bought - Shall We Dance. Now I have played tennis and golf with this couple and I know they are physically agile and coordinated, so I asked if I could take a look at this "book" that turned them into such stiff, awkward specimens.

What a horror! It quickly becomes very clear that the author knows NOTHING about dancing or what it takes to look good while you are on the dance floor! Closed dance position is skimmed over, as are forward and backward walks with no mention of the geometric accuracy that is necessary when someone takes a good 'dance step'. And the side steps - "are taken on the balls of the feet, then lowered to the heels as the feet come together" - that sentence explains why my friends were off time and lurched as they took their forward and back steps. No mention is made of the need to completely change weight when the feet are together in rise or the necessary release of the foot without weight as you lower to the flat foot with weight. How does someone swing his or her leg when both feet are planted on the floor without lurching or using their shoulders to generate movement? In the section on Waltz the author states about the side steps "Dancers should raise their bodies slightly using the ankles..." UGH! Rise with your ankles? Only if you want to look like my friends the "robots"!

The glaring errors contained in this book are too numerous to list. No wonder my friends started to dance a Swing to an obvious Foxtrot when this book states, "In the Foxtrot or Swing, the emphasized beats in a four-beat measure are the first and third beats." Add ignorance of music tempi to this author's ignorance of dance. In a Foxtrot the first beat is emphasized - the 1 is the 'heaviest beat' with 2,3,4 becoming gradually 'lighter' with crescendo to 5, with 6,7,8 getting 'lighter'- in Swing the emphasis is on the second and fourth beat allowing a Swing music to actually be counted 1,2; 1,2 - the rhythm is like a heartbeat, that's why people tend to clap along to Swing music!

This book is definitely "pretty" in appearance, but unlike "Madison Avenue" I judge a book by its content not its cover! Don't bother.

Such a tiny book with so much to offer!
When I first received this tiny book, I was a little disappointed by its size. I couldn't imagine that it would have much to offer. How wrong I was!! Although it is by no means comprehensive, it provided me with many technique tips that other more apparently comprehensive sources did not. For the beginner social dancer, it is an indispensible read.

a short, artfully done book, a great engagement gift!
The best feature of this book: the men's and women's dance steps mirror each other on the pages. Dance partners can hold the book between them and go through the steps together without someone having to read backwards! This pocket-size book has several great vintage photographs of dancing, mostly from classic movies. Plus in the right corner there's a tiny dancing couple which goes through their moves if you flip the pages quickly. The way it's put together it's a pleasure to read ... Read more

Book Description

/*LG385 0-8053-5366-6, Harris, Jane A., Pittman, Anne M., Waller, Marlys S., and Dark, Cathy L, Social Dance from Dance a While*/ Drawing upon the success of the authors' market-leading text Dance a While, this book concentrates on popular social dances in a comprehensive, affordable book. Social Dance from Dance a While, Second Edition introduces beginning and intermediate dancers to the exciting world of social dance and ballroom dance. Each chapter provides a brief overview of dance history and then focuses on the dance's ryhthm, style, and steps, providing readers with an understanding of and appreciation for social dance technique. This latest edition includes up-to-date information on the latest styles and changes in dance and features a new chapter on Swing dancing. For physical education instructors and dance instructors. ... Read more

Book Description

Beginners, Wedding Dancers, and those with single milestone dates can learn on their own effectively enough to just get by, saving hundreds of dollars in lessons for any simple social occasion or first dance presentation. This book is written as if Jeff is right there with the student giving a private lesson.With over 15 years of teaching experience he has anticipated what the student must encounter in their learning experience and is right there with a useful solution.

1. First in the Quickstart to Dance Series with Jeff Allen's breakthrough technique that is changing the methods that social dancing is being taught.

2. Lays down the foundation in the six major dances including: Foxtrot, Waltz, Rumba, Merengue, Swing, and Cha-cha to use on your own or to compliment your dance lessons

3. A virtual Bible for the bride and groom's first dance at their wedding.The only text in print that teaches how to prepare for and conduct the 1st Wedding Dance!

4. Perfect for the beginner and occasional dancer at weddings, resort vacations, parties, and cruises.

5. Using language for the laymen or non-dancer, the easy-to-understand physical references and directions make this title a must for the beginner reader/user. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Strongly Recommended and of Great Value!
Ballroom or Social Dancing including the Latin and Swing dances are based on the ability of a man and a woman to move together as a dance couple in a response to music. Those who wish to be dance partners must learn many physical skills. It is like a rethinking and redevelopment of known individual movements to create harmony as a dance couple. After carefully reading Jeff Allen's book Quickstart to Social Dancing, I quickly realized how special this book is and what a wonderful job he did in developing the vital components of the aforementioned types of dancing. As the reader of this book goes through the developmental movement lessons they could, at a cursory glance, believe that they already know how to do them. They would be correct from their own individual point of view but certainly NOT as a dance couple. One of the things I have learned in my many years of teaching, and as an observer to the teaching of countless students, is their first instincts to partner one another are ALWAYS selfish. One of the refreshing ideas Mr. Allen uses is to take what we absolutely know how to do and use these physical analogies to develop the necessary beginning skills of the social dancer. With these established components, the beginner has a very good chance of becoming a very good ballroom, Latin, or swing dancer.

I have scrutinized several of the more popular books out on the market that concern themselves with an overview of ballroom dancing and have been very harsh in my criticisms when there has been repeated and glaring errors. I am willing to say emphatically and without fear of contradiction Mr. Allen's seem to be the only of those without gross technical and teaching error based on any of the curriculum standards set forth by the major dance societies in the USA. I also want to emphasize that I make these statements without any special interest or financial gain attached to the books where you see my reviews.

In the various ballroom, Latin, and swing dances the beginner will soon want to use rotational figures. The ability to rotate particularly with a dance partner is first based on the dancer's ability to move accurately and correctly. In the original books written in England at the beginning of the 20th century, the authors and developers of the correct standards of dance knew how important walking skills in rhythm, along with the proper and accommodating footwork, were to ballroom dancing. Not until Quickstart to Social Dancing has a text about this topic treated the basic walk for Foxtrot and Waltz along with the all-important chassé for the Merengue, Swing, and Cha-cha, adequately. It seems that other authors miss the mark when they fail to instruct their readers about the closing action; its timing, and when to release the next foot. Mr. Allen gives these a serious but fun filled treatment so that later on in the dancer's experience the bad habits or inability to close the feet while in motion will not come back and haunt the dancer. I have personally seen this error all to often and have wondered what teachers who have omitted this important factor were thinking.

It is clear to me that new dancers have many fears and reservations about moving with each other and "Stepping on toes." There are more misconceptions about the ideas of dancing with a partner than accurate ones and before a student encounters good teaching. It seems that one of the main thrusts of Quickstart to Social Dancing is to take away these fears and misconceptions and replace them with accurate and simple physical movement and direction so that frustration is kept at an absolute minimum. This approach would definitely serve many teachers well when introducing their new students to ballroom dancing.

The fundamentals in six major dances; Foxtrot, Waltz, Rumba, Merengue, Swing, and Cha-cha are covered in this book. There are very important treatments with the similarities and more significantly the differences of leg action and usage of the body in the Ballroom dances, the Latin dances, and the Swing. It is easy to see why many schools, colleges, and universities use this text for their introduction to social and ballroom dance classes. I am aware of at least 12 schools through the intercollegiate amateur dance network that do so.

The book contains a "Special Section for Brides and Grooms," that covers very important and useful tips for their wedding day. Presenting the bride, the photographer, the DJ, etc. are all given very adequate treatment.

This book does not pretend to be a comprehensive collection of dance steps but it IS a very comprehensive about the importance of a good beginning and just beyond - Thank you and congratulations Jeff for this very significant and essential dance resource!

Complete & Comprehensive for Your Beginning
I am an Orthopedic Surgeon and my wife is an RN who specializes in operating room procedures. My first experience with the book Quickstart to Social Dancing came in 1997 with the first edition that I understand has since sold out. We were getting married at that time and were faced with the scary prospects of having to dance at our wedding! A Sunday dance class was publicized through our hospital offered that suited our schedules - we jumped at the chance. The teacher (a well known professional) did something that was very interesting, he distributed copies of Quickstart to Social Dancing to all our new classmates. We were told that just like our schooling, "We would have a teacher and a text book." In addition he said, "You will soon find that learning to social dance and partner each other is generally an awakening because of its many misconceptions and fears. Mr. Allen does the very best job of dispelling these fears and presents a simple, concise, and cumulative approach to social dancing in his book that has previously been written!"

It is my intention here to echo these statements! We return to this website from time to time to order this and his other books both as gifts for my friends and for ourselves. This time we were going to order his book, Quickstart to Tango. We already own Quickstart to Swing and agree with those who have heralded this book as the most comprehensive book ever written about Swing dancing.

Quickstart to Social Dancing in it of itself, will definitely provide the most basic of dance choreography to allow for the beginner to learn by themselves - I have no doubt of this!! No couple, ENGAGED to be married, should be without this text! It is a great resource for wedding dancing but more importantly a complete resource for simple and wonderful dancing with a partner with the basics in the six major dances. We continue with dance lessons since our fearful beginning and understand more fully with admiration for Mr. Allen as to the choice of the choreography used in this primer. An example is the Foxtrot. In some texts, for example "Shall We Dance," by Manine Rosa Golden a step known to me as the progressive basic is used as its Foxtrot fundamental leaving the beginner at a total loss for turning corners and proceeding around the dance floor. To make these much needed change of directions the new dancer needs at least two or three more step patterns necessitating much more explanation. The idea of simplicity therefore goes right out the window!

The development of the box step and then at the end of the book in the section called, "Additional Dance Steps," where the explanations of the turning the box and making the box travel are given become useful for the Waltz and Rumba as well as the Foxtrot. Here you quickly realize that dance patterns are interchangeable amongst dances leaving the new dancer free to practice and execute with competence the timing and movement with partner each of the individual dances. This makes the word "Quickstart," a terrific study in comprehensive development of social dancing as well as a great marketing device that more dance instructors should use called, "Value Added," for their customers.

One of the first things I took issue with this book was the lack of, "Footprints on the floor illustrations." I asked my teacher and his response was firm and funny. Following footprints on the floor is like playing a game of "Twister," that is meant to produce awkward and robotically produced movement. The teacher actually demonstrated this type of movement and we all laughed - He also said he applauded Mr. Allen for not giving in to the notion that dance steps are just movements of the feet. We soon read that, "Dancing was the movement of the body directionally, and our feet were meant to accommodate and support that movement." Our teacher said Dance Pros everywhere have departed from the footprint idea because they become complex very quickly and change dancing from a physical pursuit to an intellectual one.

Quickstart to Social Dancing covers the beginning of the Latin Dances - Rumba, Merengue, and the "Hottest," old new dance the Cha-cha (You'll be able to dance to Smooth, I Need to Know, Dance With Me, and Let's Get Loud.). Mr. Allen makes an excellent comparison to the differences between the leg action and foot usage of a Latin dance as compared to a progressive dance. Until you have danced for a while you'll never know how useful the directions of keeping the unsupported knee higher than supported knee are.

There are fabulous tidbits of dance instruction throughout the book especially when you get to the section on Swing dancing. We have noticed that many beginners in the past few years have learned to dance the basic four or five figures shown in the Swing in a top heavy style - rather than the non- yanking pulling smooth methods you'll find in Quickstart to Social and then the 100 or more dance patterns you'll find in his book Quickstart to Swing.

Well I hope with my limited three years of dance experience I have wetted your appetite to discover the many gems that are included in this book - many that you'll not find elsewhere. They have certainly helped our dancing and put us on the correct path to the great enjoyment we have had!

Nuts & Bolts More Important Than Pictures!
Quickstart to Social Dancing is a great book! The contents are so clearly stated, the descriptions and the analogies are so vivid, that pictures are not necessary. This book is about what it takes to dance and what preparations are necessary. The book sets forth some physical challenges to the reader required to achieve the minimum standards of ballroom dancing - basically, how to move with a partner. Believe me you do not need pictures of qualitative movement or standing up straight. I'm quite sure that a picture cannot reveal the amount of floor pressure that is required to establish rhythm - but clear descriptions can. A picture cannot reveal effort or force - but descriptions can.

The book unravels the non-dancers preconceive notions of social dancing and sets the record straight. From there in a wonderfully conceived and remarkably simple cumulative approach the author helps you develop, the basic steps in six major dances in a way you CANNOT MISS! Just get up of your seat and do what the instructions tell you to do. If you have a mirror in your home and a 9 foot by 5 foot area to practice you'll have everything you need to begin a wonderful time with social ballroom dancing. There is also wonderful and indispensable information for those preparing for a future wedding.

I heartily recommend you buy this book. It contents improves any video you may purchase or any group class you may attend.

You've got to be kidding!
Although this book is clearly written, it contains no pictures and virtually no diagrams. If you can learn dance steps without pictures and diagrams, more power to you. I found this book to be useless.

The Line of Dance
As one insightful reviewer mentioned all of the reviews for this book are uncannily love or hate. Though I have my own opinion of this book, I recognize that another Love-Hate review is not going to help you decide whether or not to spend your money, so I'm going to try to break the division and write an objective review with a neutral star rating.

I believe the strict separation of ratings is due to differing expectations. As a beginner you are looking for a book with easy to follow instructions and patterns on how to make everyone off the dance floor jealous. A CD of appropriate music with someone counting in the background would be nice, perhaps some full scale foot print charts, maybe a pop-up partner if you're single. The beginner, however, has greatly underestimated the complexity of dancing and devotion it takes to become a good dancer.

As an instructor you hope people will read a book that doesn't promise beginning steps in chapter 1, lifts and splits in chapter 2, and have an addendum with costume patterns. You hope the beginner will appreciate that every step in a dance is far more than moving a foot from A to B, and that some people devote their lives to dancing well (Ballroom dancing is now an Olympic Sport to those unaware). If you had your way students would spend their fist month simply standing with a good dance frame and maybe by month two they could take their first step. Instructors sometimes forget, however, the passion and anxiousness of the beginner.

That being said this book offers the beginner basic steps for three dances. Realize, however, that the basic Merengue step is extremely simple, And that the Waltz and Foxtrot steps are nearly identical (because the foxtrot can also be danced in the Waltz box pattern). When I say steps I mean the steps that constitue the most basic single pattern for each dance. This book does not include turns, dips, cuddles, or that thing Patrick Swayze does in "Dirty Dancing".

With the steps it does offer, however, this book attempts to explain them in their most correct execution. It offers many metaphors and illusions for the most simple movements and attempts to write at a level that everyone can comprehend. Some of the content you may find painfully obvious, some of it you may not understand for quite a while. Some of us don't cook and will never have any idea what his point was with the turkey platter.

In terms of physical existence this book is thin with large font. There are no pictures save some clip art quality graphics and the wedding section is probably 1/3 to 1/4 of the book. This is not special wedding dance moves reserved for gowns and tuxedoes, by the way, but rather that wedding planning type thing that seems to occupy future mothers-in-law. There is a handy list of good songs for these steps at the back of the book. Music which most people probably already have in their collection.

I hope this review has helped to bridge the divide for this title. Whether you buy the book or not, however, don't focus to much of your energy on words describing dancing... ... Read more

Reviews (8)

The Rich Get Richer
MODERN BALLROOM DANCING has been valuable to me in improving my skills in those dances with which I was already familiar. The usefulness seemed to have been in direct proportion to what I knew before reading the book. It has not been very helpful in learning new dances.

The text includes several dazzling photos of competitive dancers in action.

A very good reference
This text is a very good reference for International style dancing. It is very complete and conforms fairly well to the syllabus. As stated by other reviewers, if you're a beginner its probably too much, but if you have a good teacher nearby to help explain some of the ambiguities you can learn a lot on your own from it. Definitely not a book that you can just pick up and start dancing, it requires some intellectual effort to digest, but once you've done that you'll have a clear and systematic conceptualization and schema for dancing that few teachers can impart. My only major complaint: an excess of glossy pictures from dancing competitions. This book is really most helpful for the standard dances (which is OK with me since that's my style, not latin.)

A very good buy!
I purchased this book to compliment my dance instruction. Being that I take lessons in Japan, I needed a book, in English, which would reinforce and further explain what was being taught to me in class. I have found it a very useful book. However, this is not a book for a beginning dancer! The explanations and footwork patterns are detailed, but if you have no experience with ballroom dancing, the figures and explanations will mean very little to you.

Some of the more complicated steps do not have foot diagrams, which would have been helpful. All and all, an excellent book!

Only for the VERY EXPERIENCED dancer
I've been ballroom dancing for quite a while, and I bought this book in order to learn some more dance steps over and beyond the basics. I found the descriptions and diagrams IMPOSSIBLE to understand, and the steps I could figure out ended up being out of place among the steps that I usually dance. I think this book is only good if you're a dance teacher who is used to reading steps in a certain format and can translate them into motion. If you're a beginner, this book will do you NO GOOD!

A SMASHING GOOD READ.
Victor Silvester's book is a good alternative to Alex Moore's book of Technique of Ballroom Dancing.

It covers the world 10-dances in Standard and Latin. It is recommended for the novice to amateur who is currently taking some dance lessons.; though there is a short chapter on Beginner's Waltz.The content is technically sound and littered with lots of competition personalities.

What is lacking in the book are the much-needed foot diagrams for some complicated variations. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Bits and Snippits
Consists primarily of bits and snippits from Victorian American etiquette manuals. Some insights into high society life and how it changed through the course of the 19th century can be drawn, keeping in mind these were the suggested forms of behavior not necessarily what was actually done. There is plenty to read between the lines. Some sheet music in included along with some dance steps. There are also recipes for makeup and concoctions for cleaning. Fashion descriptions are fairly superficial, but adequate. Over all, I'm glad I bought it.

A Superb ettiquitte manual
This book does indeed give the reeder a close look at the society and ettiquitte of this period. Since I was researching the Regency when I purchased it I was a little disapointed to find that it's focus is primarily the latter part of the nineteenth century (1830-1890), and is based primarily on American publications of ettiquitte manuals. I was delighted to discover a wealth of information about everything from dance steps to party preperation to elaborate flirting rituals that can be caried out with parasols and gloves. It certainly says everything Emily Post might have at that time as well as providing a vivid picture of society in a bygone era. A must have for anyone enamored of the Victorian era and usefull still though slightly less relavent for Regency fanatics. ... Read more

Book Description

This volume explores the rich history of exhibition ballroom dancing from its heyday in the 1910s to the present. Malnig's record of this intimate, theatrical genre of dance features male-female teams as performers in cabaret, vaudeville, musicals, and, later, film and television. Exhibition ballroom dancing is also examined as a cultural and social phenomenon that promotes new cultural standards. This first comprehensive study of a unique dance genre and entertainment form utilizes primary sources, including promotional materials and print reviews, and is illustrated with original photographs. ... Read more

Book Description

Glide your way through the most popular ballroom dances‹the Latin Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, and Samba; as well as modern classics like the Waltz, Quickstep, and Tango‹in this accessible and entertaining dancing guide. With a partner or on your own, the Ballroom Dance Pack is all you need to master the 6 most popular dances in the privacy of your own home. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Model Of Simplicity
THE BALLROOM DANCE PACK is a model of simplicity. Walter Laird presents basic instruction in the Waltz, Quickstep, Tango, Cha-Cha, Samba and Rumba. He starts each lesson with a demonstration of a solo exercise and pictures of the appropriate close hold. The emphasis throughout the book is on the basics.

Laird teaches the British style with the man leading with his right foot. Americans consequently will have to reverse the process. I find this requirement to be only a minor inconvenience. If you are seeking the bare fundamentals, this manual is a good place to find them.

BALLROOM DANCING MEANT TO BE READ AS A NOVEL !!
Enthusiasts keen to ballroom dance , the English way will be thrilled with their find ! The instructions , though simple coupled with the profuse figures and variations are informative and easy to follow. Covers all 3standard dances (though disappointing not to see the 'Slow Foxtrot' in thisbook)and 3 Latin dances. A good start to built fundamental knowledge of thebasic steps and rhythmn in the movements ,but not without practice.Thelearner will never be lost .

The hour-long CD alternates between'practice' and 'actual play'including the feet templates account for thebumper sized book which needs to wrapped up !

Wonder if W.Laird isplanning on an Intermediate book.

Very basic, British style, nice practice music.
Teaches the most basic moves of a few flow and latin dances.A colorful book that shows two dance couples displaying proper form for each move, but it does not get very far.While it has "templates" showing footwork for the most basic form of each dance, it lacks for more common footwork diagrams for the other dance moves.This book is British (male - right foot first), so "Natural Turns" etc. will all be backword for most American students.The practice music CD is nice to have when you are learning the basics. ... Read more

Book Description

A truly accessible beginner's guide to ballroom, Latin, androck/jive dancing, with clear step-by-step instructionsand 100sequential color photos. Spiral bound. Lively and practical, this newbook from Peggy Spencer, the world's leading expert on ballroomdancing, is a handy workbook designed to enable novice dancers of allages to practice in the privacy of their own homes. The easy-to-followinstructions and the clear sequential photographs allow both partnersto follow all the essential moves for the waltz, cha cha cha,quickstep, mambo, foxtrot, samba, tango, rock/jive, merangue, andrumba. Spiral bound for easy handling, the book also includes a generalhistory of each dance and Peggy Spencer's personal tips on everythingfrom fitness to clothing to music. Be the first on the dance floor andthe last one off--and, above all, experience the real joy of dancing.128 pp 7 1/2 x 10 1/2 100 color photos ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Not helpful for dance steps
The book is too brief on describing dances and shows more pictures of dancers than pictures of footwork. I did not find it very helpful at all, even for the dances I already knew.

A book for the absolute beginner
This book is for starters- the beginner who wants to be equipped with the very basic steps of each dance will be delighted to be able to master these steps in the space of a week . Obviously, a superficial treatment of each of the dances ranging from Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot (No Quickstep) , Cha-Cha, Jive & Mambo.

The steps learned are not sufficient to enable one to 'move' on the floor and must be supplemented by other 'serious' texts. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Two by Two is a whirlwind tour of the Los Angeles dancing scene by Eve Babitz, who has made a career of delineating the social comedies of L.A. Here, in a series of loosely connected chapters, she talks with instructors of various forms of social dance--including tango, salsa, country two-step, and both East and West Coast swing--about why dancing has become so popular again, even with all the difficulties of learning the steps. The story does not so much progress in a linear direction as it orbits around a shifting core, propelled by the occasionally sparkling dialogue. Apart from a sharply unexpected dose of reality in the book's epilogue, Two by Two occupies a pleasantly hazy daydream that, while it may or may not inspire you to hit the dance floor, reveals the charms that Babitz and her friends have found there. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good book -bad author
I have purchased this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. I and my fiend's have also been able to put it to good use. However, I saw this woman on Book TV C-SPAN2 recently and she is a babbling fool. I say keep writing and less talking. ... Read more