Timing Exercises Vol 4
Cha Cha Cha for Salsa & Mambo dancers

Timing Exercises Vol 4 Description

There is a story behind this DVD, one with a happy ending. Once upon a time, there was a couple, that's us of course, living in a city where no one dances Cha Cha Cha. Outside the ballroom community, that is. We decided to travel to New York and we knew that Cha Cha Cha was an integral part of the salsa/mambo scene there. To make the most of the trip we started practising Cha Cha Cha in earnest. As in all nice stories, what happened next was both unexpected and magical.

Not only did we learn to love Cha Cha Cha, but our salsa and mambo footwork, and as a consequence our partner work too, improved dramatically. It did so because Cha Cha Cha, with its naturally slower pace but richer footwork, sharpened our rhythm awareness and polished our basic steps, our shines and our footwork styling.

The purpose of this DVD is to bring this experience to you, hopefully with the same happy ending. After much learning and experimentation, here is our Timing Exercises Vol 4. It contains all the features of our Timing Exercise series: clapping to improve our musical timing, step by step breakdown to memorise the footwork sequence, slow motion to practise it, regular speed to perfect it, continuous loops to exercise as long as you need, instructions provided visually on the screen, and a rhythm guide to ensure clockwork precision in your steps. There are also improvements on previous volumes based on feedback from you, the customer! We have added a simple rhythm score to help you to clap in time by visualising the rhythm pattern.

By simple mouse or remote control clicks you will be able to navigate through 22 original exercises, designed specifically for this DVD to include the full repertoire of Cha Cha Cha footwork. Some are fun, some challenging, some crazy, some unusual and all are folded into the rhythm of the music so that your feet feel like percussion instruments.

What makes a great story is not just the happy ending, but the underlying moral, the deeper meaning :). There are two in this story. Firstly, if you want to improve your partner dancing then practising turn patterns over and over, is not necessarily the most effective path to success. A meticulous solo program, based on rhythm, footwork and regularly checking your progress, is incredibly effective. This has been the experience of previous customers of our Timing Exercise series. Just check the testimonials on our web site. Secondly, salsa styles, turn patterns and styling come and go. We have seen so many of these aging so quickly. Like a trendy jacket, they make all dancers look alike and then passe' as soon as the fashion changes. But rhythm, speed, smoothness and elegance stay forever and set the good dancer apart from the merely flashy one.

Timing 'counts' and 'never stops' doing so. This DVD, like the overall Timing Exercises series, is an investment in your salsa improvement and enjoyment. A little Cha Cha Cha effort now, and you will have endless salsa fun forever!

How to use the Timing Exercises Volume 4

First, have a look at the Introduction to familiarise yourself with the content of the DVD. Then go to the Cha Cha Cha Basics section. Here you can find a very quick introduction in case you have never danced Cha Cha Cha before. It includes instructions on the basic rhythm and basic steps and the opportunity for you to practise them by clapping to the basic rhythm and executing the basics steps to it as well as to 2 loops of real Cha Cha Cha music Next go to the Exercises.  We recommend that you start from the ‘Variations on basic steps’ (Exercises 1-6) but the exercise order is not strictly progressive, so you can jump here and there in the exercise list if you so wish Once you have chosen an Exercise, click on “Clap to the rhythm pattern” and ensure that you learn the rhythm pattern.  This is the pattern you will dance to. You can toggle the clapping sound on and off by using the button “Clap sound On” and “Clap sound Off” to test your own clapping.  The clip loops forever, so you can practise for as long as you wish. Make the most of the visual rhythm score. It shows on what beats you need to clap. These are the same beats on which you will need to step when you execute this exercise. Pay particular attention to the ‘and’ beats in between the standard 8 music beats. These allow us to play with the syncopations and are the most distinctive feature of Cha Cha Cha dancing. Once you are done, click on the ''Return to Menu" button to return to the Exercise Menu   Now choose the "Footwork Breakdown" clip. This will help you learn the footwork sequence by taking you very slowly through it, step by step.   Here also, pay particular attention to the ‘and’ beats, when they appear in the beat counter. They are the same beats you clapped to and they are crucial to get the footwork right. Once again, the clip loops forever. Once you have learnt the footwork sequence click on the ‘’Return to Menu” button to return to the Exercise Menu.. Now choose the “Practise at slow pace” clip.  This lets you exercise the footwork sequence to slow music following the instructor.  A rhythm guide will help you recognise the rhythm you need to dance to and to synchronise your footwork to it.  Once you are done click on ‘’Return to Menu” Now choose the “Practise at medium pace” clip.  Now you can practise what you learnt at a faster pace.  Here you can use the “Rhythm guide On” and “Rhythm guide Off” buttons to toggle the rhythm guide on and off. Once you are done, click on the ‘’Return to Menu” button and proceed to a different exercise.   DVD - $30 top