Product Related Questions

How long are the DVDs?
Most of the DVDs in Shawn Trautman's Dance Collection are 75 to 90 minutes each. For specifics, you can see the exact time for each DVD in the product listing descriptions.
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Can we learn to dance even if we've never taken dance lessons before?
Absolutely! Shawn Trautman has built his reputation on teaching people to dance that have never danced before. His corporate training background, MBA in organizational leadership and training trainers, and 17 years of dance instruction help to make the learning process simple, easy, and effective. You'll be glad you chose the DVDs from Shawn Trautman's Dance Collection and you'll have access to him through email and via phone (877-DANCE-01).
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Can I really learn to dance from a DVD?
Yes! It's like having a private lesson at your house anytime you wish. The DVDs in Shawn Trautman's Dance Collection were built specifically for beginners and attempt to address each concern and question you might have. The DVDs include comprehensive dance instructions using stacked learning methods that guarantees success while being easy to follow. It's a guaranteed success. AND, it's a whole lot of FUN! If you have any questions about your DVD and want to talk with Shawn directly, he's available as well (Contact Us).
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Why should I choose Shawn Trautman's Dance Collection?
Simply stated, great instruction! Shawn Trautman has spent over 15 years working and dancing with some of the greatest dancers and has taught countless numbers of people how to dance. Additionally, because of Shawn's background in corporate training and athletics, Shawn makes learning to dance simple for people of all ages, backgrounds and levels of physical fitness. His innovative teaching style gives people the confidence and basic knowledge of dance that gets them onto the dance floor while looking good and feeling confident in their abilities. Shawn Trautman stands out because he is genuinely interested in teaching people how to dance and it shows in his products!
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Would these DVDs compliment either group classes or private lessons?
Yes! There are several advantages to using Shawn Trautman's DVDs, either as stand-alone tools or as supplementary ones. First and foremost, all the information is recorded in a logical manner for you to review at any time. When you take classes or private lessons, the amount of information thrown at you can be overwhelming, and when you get home to practice, it's likely that a good percentage of it is gone. The most common complaint from people who take group lessons or private lessons is the amount of information they forget. Using Shawn Trautman's DVDs along with your lessons provides you with great foundational tools that will almost undoubtedly fill in holes that might have been overlooked during group dance class or private lessons. Using the DVDs in addition to the live classes is like adding an additional instructor to all your practice time and will guarantee to speed up your learning curve.
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We put off learning to dance until the last minute. Can your DVDs help us?
Yes, and this is a very common question! Regardless of the reason for putting off learning to dance, it's very probable that within a couple of hours of receiving any of the DVDs in Shawn Trautman's Dance Collection you'll be dancing with confidence. You'll know right away as the stacked learning approach will have you dancing the basics in the first few minutes and then adding on. All of the material is simple to follow and laid out in a manner that anyone can follow along. Also, we have "Same-Day Shipping" out of our office (near Tampa, FL) and can do Priority or Express Shipping if you need your DVDs NOW! You'll be dancing in no time!
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We have two left feet and aren't sure we can learn to dance. Can your DVDs help us?
Without a doubt, Yes! And you're not alone. Shawn Trautman has developed a system that is excellent for beginners and for people who've never danced a day in their lives. It's so easy to go through his DVDs and actually feel good about what you've learned. We hear all the time that the instruction was painless and that people are amazed by their own abilities that they never knew they had. It's a wonderful feeling to be able to accomplish something such as learning to dance, especially if you thought you never could. You're only one DVD from Shawn Trautman away from changing your impression of your feet!
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What type of Dance DVD should we start with if we have never danced?
The top recommendation by far is Dance Lessons 101. This DVD was specifically designed for those who have never danced a day in their lives and want to start at square one. Dance Lessons 101 will also give you a good idea of what dances you will like. If you know the specific dance you want to learn, such as West Coast Swing, Salsa, or Two Step, then order the first volume, West Coast Swing for Beginners Volume 1 as it'll set the tone and give you the foundation to start with.
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I've line danced a few times and want to learn more - where do I start?
This one's easy. Start with Line Dance 101 - Shawn Trautman shows more than 30 individual steps and then eases you into 5 different dances that combines the moves. You learn how to do all the steps, what they're called, and how dances come together. It's a great learning tool if you've never line danced or only line danced a couple of times. If you're proficient, know what the steps are called, and want to learn a bit faster, Party Line Dances is for you. If you know several line dances already and you're just looking to add to your arsenal, either of the Essential Line Dances volumes will be great for you. Last, if you're an advanced dancer and/or you're looking for a challenge, try either of the Smokin' Line Dances Volumes as you'll be sure to have your feet on ice after going through them a time or two!
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What is dance etiquette?
Dance etiquette can be broken into 2 main groups: Partner Etiquette and Floor Etiquette. Details on each of these can be found in our book, Picture Yourself Dancing (pp 26-27), but the summary is this - Partner Etiquette entails not giving unsolicited advice, trusting your dance partner, thanking your dance partner, and always introducing yourself to others. Floor eqiquette entails being aware of your surroundings at all times (on the dance floor), apologizing or excusing yourself if a collision occurs on the dance floor (even if it's not your fault), and knowing the correct placement for each dance (i.e., where to dance on the dance floor).
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What kind of shoes should we wear when learning from your dance DVDs?
Though you can dance in anything that's comfortable, the best choice would be a shoe with a smooth-leather sole (rubber soles are the hardest to learn in and should be avoided if possible). There are shoes made specifically for dancing but I'd recommend "getting your feet wet", so to say, before investing in all the best side-items. Once you decide it's a hobby you really want to pursue, take a look at the different dance shoes that are available specifically for practicing. If you don't want to pay for expensive shoes, you can also look into dance tennis shoes or shoes for bowling that have suede bottoms.
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What are sampler DVDs, and why are they a great place to start?
Our Dance lesson sampler DVDs offer samples of our dance lessons for different dances, depending on the DVD you'd like to purchase. For example: Our Dance Lessons 101 takes you through some of the most popular dances such as, Salsa, Cha Cha, Hustle (disco dancing), (Texas) Two Step, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Slow Dance & Waltz. The fact that our samplers cover lessons for so many different dances is what makes them a great place to start, especially if you're not sure which dance is for you. You can get the basics and a couple of moves. You can practice, and see if it's the right match for you. With the samplers we offer, we cover 18 dances; and they are backed by our 100% guarantee, just like all of our other Dance Lesson DVDs. So you won't be left wondering if you made the right decision.
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