Letter Service Vol. 37 with Timothy Howson and Joanne Bolton

ballroom classic films latin routine

Letter Service on Video Vol. 37, a classic Ballroom and Latin teaching film with Timothy Howson and Joanne Bolton

The short answer: Timothy Howson and Joanne Bolton dance the Ballroom groups from issues 91 and 92 of the Alex Moore Letter Service, with the Latin groups in Rumba, Jive, Samba and Paso Doble, plus the Throwaway Oversway and the basics of West Coast Swing.

What is the Letter Service on Video?

The Letter Service on Video was the video companion to the Alex Moore Letter Service, the variations and teaching notes Geoffrey Hearn wrote for teachers for 25 years. Each volume covers two issues. The Letter Service was published by Hearn & Spencer, the company Geoffrey founded with Peggy Spencer MBE, which later became DSI-London.

What's in Vol. 37?

Issues 91 & 92, chapter by chapter:

00:00 Opening titles and demonstration
03:31 Welcome: Timothy Howson & Joanne Bolton
04:08 Slow Foxtrot hobby class groups (issue 91)
09:10 Tango hobby class groups (issue 92)
14:33 Quickstep advanced group (issue 91)
18:41 Waltz advanced group (issue 92)
22:31 Naming figures: the Throwaway Oversway (issue 92)
24:28 Welcome to the Latin dances
25:03 Rumba hobby class groups (issue 91)
29:45 Jive hobby class groups (issue 92)
35:16 Samba advanced group (issue 91)
38:53 Paso Doble advanced group (issue 92)
42:09 West Coast Swing basics (issue 92)
46:13 Thank you and close
46:55 Closing demonstration and credits

Key points

Hobby class groups are built from syllabus figures for social and medal classes.
The advanced groups show the competition choreography of the time.
West Coast Swing is shown as an alternative rhythm for social classes, starting with the sugar push and side passes.

Try this in your next practice

Pick one group at your level, hobby class or advanced. Learn it to the slow teaching count first, then dance it to the music with the dancers on screen. When the steps feel automatic, watch again and match their timing and shape.

Frequently asked questions

How is each group taught?

Each group is danced to music, then to a slow teaching count, then broken down figure by figure where needed. The step numbers in the breakdowns follow the written groups in the Letter Service issues.

Who is the Letter Service on Video for?

Teachers first, and dancers who want fresh ideas: the hobby class groups suit social and medal classes, and the advanced groups are for competitors.

Who are the dancers?

Timothy Howson and Joanne Bolton dance the Ballroom groups, and a second couple, introduced in the video, dances the Latin.

Credits and permission

Ballroom dancers: Timothy Howson & Joanne Bolton
Presenter: Geoffrey Hearn

Shared on Ballroom Mastery with the permission of DSI-London. All credit to the dancers, presenters and original production team. This is an archive film, so the picture and sound reflect the original tape.

Related lessons

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