Dance Lessons 101

Dance Lessons 101 was made for you if:

• You're new to dancing and don't know where to start.
• You want to know enough to not look foolish in front of others.
• You want a new hobby to do at home.
• You're a beginner and this is your first time dancing.
• You get frustrated while trying to learn in a group.
• The private lessons you're taking are expensive and not what you expected.
• You wish your instructor would teach at your pace.
• You know how to dance but want your spouse/partner to learn.
• You don't want to deal with potential high pressure sales at the studio.
• Remembering what you learned is difficult after class with nothing to go back to.
• You dread having to schedule your lesson around a time that works for your instructor.
• You're getting ready to go out to a club, an event, or on a trip where there's dancing and you want to join in on the fun.

• Rules of partner dancing
• 4 Connection Points
• Partner Alignment

Slow Dance

• 4 Count Slow Dance Basic
• Different Holds for Different Looks
• Diagonal Basic
• Right Turn
• Left Turn
• Follower's Underarm Turn
• Right Turn
• Momentum Turn
• 8 Count Underarm Combo
• Practice with Music

Waltz

• 3/4 Time Music
• 6 Count Basic
• Box Step
• Heel Lead Technique
• Turning Box
• Progressive Waltz
• 6 Count Toss Across
• Follower's Underarm Turn
• Practice with Music

Swing Dancing (East Coast Swing)

• Swing rhythm
• 6 Count Single Time Basic
• Rock Steps
• Two-Hand Hold
• Right Turn
• Follower's Underarm Turn
• Leader's Underarm Turn
• Underarm Turn combo
• Left Turn
• Triple Time Rhythm
• Practice with Music

Hustle

• 3 Count Hustle Basic
• Left Turn
• Right Turn
• Open to Closed Position 6 Count Combo
• Underarm Turn
• Open Position
• Hand Changes
• Fake Wrap
• Practice with Music

Two Step

• Two Step rhythm
• 6 Count Basic
• Progressive Basic Step
• Leaders and Followers moving together in progressive basic
• Prep Step
• Follower's Inside 1.5 turn to Skaters Position
• 6 Count Return to Closed Position
• Torque Turns
• Release from Torque Turn
• Side Steps
• Practice with Music

Salsa

• 8 Count Basic
• Cuban Motion
• Side Basic
• 8 Count Inside Turn
• Shoulder Slide
• Turning Basic
• Left Turns
• Cross Body Lead
• Crossover Breaks
• Practice with Music

Cha Cha

• 8 Count Basic
• International vs. American Style
• Open Crossover Breaks with Follower's Underarm Turn Exit Combo
• Underarm Turns
• Progressive Basic
• Progressive Basic with Follower's Underarm Turn combo
• Sliding Door Move
• Practice with Music

West Coast Swing

• Open Dance Position with 6 count basic
• Right Side Underarm Pass
• Left Side Pass
• Follower's Underarm Turn
• 8 Count Basic Whip
• Practice with Music

• Name: Dance Lessons 101: The Ultimate Couples Dancing Instruction Video for Beginners
• UPC: 857132001326
• Actors: Shawn Trautman, Joanna Trautman
• Level: 1st Time Beginner
• Format: Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: All Region Encoded
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: Unrated
• Studio: Dance Videos Direct
• DVD Release Date: November 27, 2007
• Run Time: 127 minutes

I developed Dance Lessons 101 to be a stand-alone introduction to couples dancing and that's exactly what it is. If you've never danced, order and go through Dance Lessons 101 first! When people ask me for private lessons, I always recommend they go through this DVD first - it saves SO much time and frustration, both for the student and the teacher. Truly, there's just so much you can get out of it. It's over 2 hours of dance lessons that are specifically for people who may have never danced before - i.e., the basics and fundamentals that everyone needs to know.

NOTE: If you know how to dance already or have been taking lessons for years, please don't start with Dance Lessons 101! You'll be wasting your time and money and we'd rather you find the right product so you won't be disappointed. I can't tell you how many times I've heard "this is too basic" by someone who's been dancing for years and thought it would be good to brush up on their basics.

This DVD starts out with a general overview of the 8 "need to know" dances and then goes right into a breakdown of how to hold your partner and what to look for and work on. Once you understand the connections and some basics on partnering, we start into the basics of the dances.

Each of the dances on this DVD have their own chapter so it's easy to navigate to the one you're working on. I strongly recommend starting with the Slow Dance chapter first - what you learn there carries on to all the others. Joanna and I start and end each chapter by dancing to the accompanying music (first to show you what you're going to look like, and then to practice along with you). In between, we cover both the men's and lady's footwork along with how to lead and follow each dance. When we designed the lessons, we made sure each dance we taught had enough material to get you started while having fun, and to give you a good feel for the dance... but not so much as to overwhelm you!

If you're not sure if your partner will like dancing, Dance Lessons 101 is absolutely the one DVD you should try! Joanna and I are very straightforward, casual, and easy to follow along with. There's no frilly costumes, overdone stereotypes, obnoxious music, or fast 'show 'em once' instruction that you'll find on other DVDs (believe me, I've seen way too many of them).

I promise you, if you start with Dance Lessons 101, you'll have a solid foundation that you'll be able to build off of for years to come!

Dance Lessons 101 is the all-in-one do-it-yourself DVD. After extensive planning, we've combined the starting points for Ballroom, Country, Swing and Latin Dancing into one easy-to-understand program. This DVD is proof that you can learn to dance without live instruction - and in a fraction of the time. Master the fundamentals of multiple dances with the Trautman method. You'll be dancing the Slow Dance, Waltz, Swing, Salsa, Two-Step, Cha-Cha, Hustle and in a matter of minutes.

Dance Lessons 101 features just over two hours of detailed dance instruction, picture-in-picture technology, optimum clarity, and multiple camera angles to ensure that you, the student, get the best view. Each step and move is taught for both the leader and the follower as well as together, allowing you the option of learning with or without a dance partner. Not too interested in the Cha-Cha but can't wait to learn the Swing, Salsa, or Hustle? DVD menu selections allow you the option of streamlining your lesson.

Owning this DVD is the equivalent of having your own private dance instruction for a fraction of the cost, and it's ideal whether you want to learn to dance for a special event or simply achieve better fitness. Feel good about your new hobby, and take your skills ever-further by choosing from more than two dozen other titles in Shawn Trautman's Dance Collection.

Dancing Success Starts with Dance Lessons 101. We'll see you out on the dance floor!

• The Beginner Starter Pack (5 DVD set)
• The Beginner Super Set (10 DVD set)
• The Wedding Starter Pack (4 DVD set)
• Custom Combo Pack (3, 4, 5, 6, & 10 DVD sets)
• The Entire Collection (all 25 DVDs)

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