How to Become a Good Dancer: Big Band, Swing & Nightclub Dancing

When we were invited by friends this spring to a high school swing dance fundraiser, my first impulse was to beg off, since--according to my busy calendar--I was planning to take a critical inventory of pairs vs. singletons in my sock drawer that evening. Of course, I have actually seen more than a few "swing dance" instruction videos in my long career as a professional couch potato, but as my 6th grade teacher Mrs. Wilhelmi used to say, I had not entirely "paid attention." Fortunately, How to Become a Good Dancer: Big Band, Swing & Nightclub Dancing arrived on our doorstep just in time. Over the course of an hour and a half, Blanche and Emilio Librero guide viewers through the foxtrot, waltz, East coast swing, West coast swing, retro swing, and disco hustle, as well as slow dancing. Each dance is presented in its entirety, followed by separate demonstrations of the man and woman's steps, concluding with a walk-through in which the Librero's put it all together. On the plus side, the instruction is very good, the audio and video qualities fine, and the range of dances wide enough to keep the occasional hoofer in fine form for most settings (except perhaps the mosh pit). On the minus side, not enough attention is paid to presenting steps with the instructors' backs to the camera (the easiest way for the viewer to learn) and the enclosed "quick reference" cards do not show the actual steps--although the fact that I ended up kicking several strangers on the dance floor is no reflection on the Librero's teaching, but rather a natural consequence of being born with two left feet. The accompanying CD of practice music is a mixed blessing, certain to be useful for serious students, but also effectively doubling the price of the video. For those without similar fare, such as The Romance of Dance: Swing [VL-1/00], Swinging from Coast to Coast [VL-1/00], Cal Pozo's Swing [VL-3/99] and Swing Dancing with Teresa Mason [VL-3/99]), this is recommended, with reservations. Also available for the same price: How to Become a Good Dancer: Latin Dancing & Argentine Tango. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)