Ballroom Dancing Basics
Picture: C+
Sound: C+(CD: B) Extras:
C+ Main Program: C+
Despite being considered passé and old fashioned, Ballroom
Dancing is actually experiencing a resurgence over the last few years, though
that actually may be one of the contributing factors. Ballroom Dancing Basics is a DVD/CD offering from Acorn
Media that shows all the basics you need for leaning the basics. Of course, you can “know the words, but not
the music”, though world championship dancers Melanie LaPatin and Tony Meredith
do a fine job of hosting and showing what they know.
Originally shown on PBS, this DVD has a booklet and extra
footage not show on TV, though I go this retro feeling as if I was watching a
how-to-Disco show at times. This
reminded me how much late 1970s Disco owes to this art. The recent film versions of Shall We
Dance? in its original 1996 Japanese version and recent U.S. remake with
Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez and Susan Sarandon showed how interesting this
could be in a narrative setting. This
nearly hour-long program is very professional, thorough and classy, so if you
buy it for the purpose intended, you will get your money’s worth.
The 1.33 X 1 image was shot on professional NTSC analog
videotape and looks fine for an instructional work. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has no surrounds, but is clean and
clear, though no match for the clarity and fullness of the PCM 2.0
16Bit/44.1kHz Stereo on the music CD edition.
Extras include that CD, the instructional booklet and some extra
dance-steps. As good a package on the
subject you are likely to find on DVD to date.
- Nicholas Sheffo
