This discussion helped me a good deal. I had taken lessons over a years period so most of what hubby is learning I am comfortable doing.

I took my questions back to my previous instructor and she clarified that her classes are primarily American, but she also has taught a little bit of International. Mostly people around here dance socially.

I just want to be really GOOD at it.

Hubby still wants DVD's but I'm hoping to talk him into a few private lessons in conjunction with the DVD's--DVD's being homework.

This whole field is complex and confusing. For me, it is very important to have good technique and style, not just a few steps. Most anyone can get around the floor doing steps--I want to DANCE.

Anyone understand what I mean by differentiating the doing steps and dancing?

I knew two girls in high school who played piano, one was note perfect but there was not heart in her perfectly executed pieces of music, the other girl would make the occasional error, but her playing on the piano brought the piece to LIFE, it was music in a way that the perfect note perfect playing was not. (I always hoped that the note perfect girl grew up and let her heart pour into it so that she made music too but I moved away and shall never know.)

Lots of people do steps around the floor, I want to really DANCE. Maybe not every variation out there, but each step I learn I want it to move from step step step into DANCE.

I hope I am making sense and not just being foolish here.

Can anyone recommend the DVDs about American Ballroom by the USISTD????

Babamm, I have seen the American style bronze and silver videos from the USISTD, I even took their bronze exams after dancing other styles for many years. The videos are very clear and show all the foot positions for every figure, but they are geared for preparing for the professional exams. They don't explain anything beyond what would be in the manual. I would say the same thing about the ISTD International Latin videos too.

The videos from DanceVision are more suited to people learning to dance. I'm not familiar with the videos from this site.

Try the DVD's "Anyone can Dance" with Donald Johnson and Kasia Kozak (dancevison.com). I have two left feet and the hubby is a nerdy engineer in IT support. The instructions on the DVD breaks down the steps which are repeated several times for both partners. You work your way up in sections. At the end of each section, your are able perform a little dance with 2-3 variations which means that after a few weeks fun at home you are ready for the dance floor anywhere!

I picked up the "Anyone Can Dance" videos and love them, then I decided on American Smooth, and purchased the bronze DVDs and the books (DVIDA) for the charts, and then I talked hubby into a private lesson and got him to agree to doing more.

I also liked How prettily Kasia Kosak moves her hands, and I picked up a DVD that is just her...don't recall what it is called but it was something "body awareness" and I really love how it helps me to feel what my body is doing when I move! I think it will help my dancing!

Now I am pregnant and my bad knee cannot handle the pregnancy and dancing so I'm stuck on hold until I finally give birth. 9 months feels like forever!

So I am on here reading the conversations like some dance starved fool. LOL!

But we know this is a little girl and I can hardly wait to teach her to dance!

@kaiara

I'm glad the dancing worked out so well for you and your hubby. Did you go back to dancing after the baby? Usually, it takes around twenty years for couples to get back to dancing after a baby. If you are dancing, please come back here and post a video.