The Tango Fundamentals: Volume One - Basic Elements

Excellent DVDs that bury their real value under what is, frankly, very dull and mind-numbingly clear instruction - this is especially true if you watch the DVDs end to end and don't stop and work on each section before you go to the next one. It looks too easy, too dull, too zzzzzz....But, here's the deal: Fabian and Cecilia - world class tango dancers - slow the "step lessons" way way way down so that you can see correct tango "form" in detail. To actually dance well, however, you have to do the exercises paired with the lessons and do them as you encounter them along the way. As he says, "Practice 20 minutes a day, for two days, before moving on to the next lesson."Why? Because it's doing the exercises that then makes learning - and dancing - easy, interesting, and rewarding. This isn't very obvious to most of us - who aren't yet "great" dancers - but the exercises are on the DVDs for good reasons. And, each exercise relates directly to it's nearest lesson, or, "step/pattern." It's all about fundamentals. You know, those "positions" ballet dancers work on? They have something (everything) to do with what you later see on stage.Seriously, Fabian barely mentions anything about leading or following, trusting you'll get the "feel" of what to do from the exercises. You'll need a partner and you'll need to practice both the exercises and the "steps" in the lessons many times. But, mostly practice the exercises they carefully pair with the lessons... Twenty minutes of "exercise" can save you a year of frustration.

A start on the road to learning. Can copy some routines to break the ice and not be too embarrassed.

Tango Fundamentals Vol. 1What a marvelous supplement to actual instruction. The dancers are excellent they move slowly and purposefully. The camera angles are such that important positions and transitions are emphasized. The narrative is very pertainent even the accent of the narrator adds a flavor which is engaging and inspiring at the same time. I really appreciated the adminitions to practice 20 minutes per day for two days before moving on to the next lesson. For anyone who wants to be able to perform this most sensous and evocotaive of dances this is a great place to start. Rikk

Being a complete Arg. Tango novice, I purchased this to supplement the instruction I was receiving for a showcase routine and to get my wife started on learning it so she would be able to dance it with me afterwards. There are a number of different styles and this style a bit different than what I had hoped it would be (and every teacher teaches differently). Regardless, I will be purchasing the other DVDs in the series.

After looking at many U-tube clips on Argentine Tango for beginners I was becoming more and more confused and frustrated.... till I came upon this wonderful DVD.The camera angles are superb and the slow motion makes it easy to follow which always seems to be lacking from other sources.It has encouraged me as a beginner to continue.I was particularly interested in the explanation of both the forward and backward ochos which in many ways are the heart and soul of this wonderful dance.Thankyou.

I am a very capable dancer, but purchased this video for my non-dancing fiancé as a foray into uncharted dance territory. Having participated and taught in multiple dance classes over the years (clearly not tango), I was surprised by how stoic and cold the instruction was. Not terrible, just poorly articulated and difficult to understand at moments. I do find myself stopping and backing up to say "what did he say there?" - I think this is mostly due to the fact that the instruction is coming from off camera (making it impossible to visually identify by watching the speaker) with a somewhat thick (though most often understandable) accent, and sometimes feels distant from the action at hand. Although they are qualified and capable dancers, the video is... well.. a bit dull at moments. In short, if you are a somewhat experienced dancer and you are able to quickly pick up demonstrated steps with little audio support, you should have no trouble with the video. Someone like my fiancé will not be well engaged, and will likely get bored. I still think it a very worthy buy, but not the God-send to Tango beginners that most reviewers make it out to be.

These lessons by Fabian Salas are first class, easy to follow and they make you feel that with work you can master this difficult dance. I would recommend all three tapes in the series to anyone who like me has struggled in dance classes.The shipping time was well inside the time quoted by Amazon and the whole transaction was very rewarding. Thanks Amazon!!

expected more from the legend Fabian salas