Lester Horton Technique: Intermediate Level

This documents material from the Horton syllabus (fortifications, hinges, balance studies, figure four and percussive stroke sequence). It is not intended to be a class to dance along with and not broken down as such although some technical aspects of the movements are explained. The demos are by professional dancers who have working with Horton or Ailley (not students from the Ailley school from the adv-beginner tape) and I think their interpretations are really some of the best (and cleanest) I have seen. Most sequences have 2-3 dancers doing the pattern simultaneously in different directions so you get different views. The tape also includes interviews with Perces and Forsythe about their experience with Horton and their project documenting his work. Several of the dancers also discuss why they were drawn to this technique. This would be very helpful for choreographers, teachers and dance historians--but maybe not as acessible if you are just getting started and want to dance along. The advanced-beginner tape by Perces and Forsythe, and Worthington's "Body Motion" are both quite good though if this is what you are looking for.

From the little I know about the Horton technique, this production appears accurate. BUT, the exercises are very difficult and should maybe read intermediate-advanced. I had to pass it along to a professional dancer friend of mine, who knows the technique well.

A jump start on Horton’s technique!

This DVD has exceeded my expectations in regards to content and quality. I'm seeing tremendous results and improvement in myself as a dancer and the dancers in my class.

The video is good but it is for an advanced dancer not intermediate. It arrived very quickly. I'm an advanced dancer and l love it and love the challenge it gives me. Its a great work out.

I bought this dvd from the Amazon market place and I didn't pay much for it, but still I feel like I wasted my money. I have the advanced beginner dvd which is designed as a real dance class from beginning to end. This dvd, however, is just a series of vignettes with very little explanation.The dvd is chaptered with lessons. The dancers do the lesson with no instruction on how to do the moves. After the lesson, there is a very brief focus on some aspect of the movement.The production is dark. The piano music is boring. I bought it for the floor work, but there is no explanation of the moves. You will have to memorize the routine and modify it on your own.This dvd is best suited for people who are studying the horton technique in class, and want a reference manual. This is not taught like a class. Total waste of money. I'll keep it, if I ever have the occasion to take an intermediate horton dance class, but I doubt it.A better dvd is the Michele Assaf complete warm-up dvd. Fabulous!! Hard! but well worth it. Get it at Broadway Dance web site. Wish I'd gotten that first before this terrible dvd.

This Intermediate Level DVD, as well as with the Beginner, and Advanced, are all excellent guides, and outlines of Horton Technique with in Modern Dance. This is one of very few representations of Horton technique correctly shown, and as an available reference.These DVD's are not intended for the student, or for the Dancer who is not trained in the technique of Horton. It is intended for the professional Dancer, And for Teachers and Choreographers who are already familiar and understand the artistic and technical aspect of Dance and of the Dance Techniques of Lester Horton.I would not recommend a student or non-professional Dancer try and learn from this or any DVD that does not give a break down with instructional specifics that a beginning dancer and or student may need. That is what training classes are for.I suggest and recommend that any dancer who is of age that is desiring to understand Horton technique, and any technique, should always study and train with in a classroom setting, rather than trying to learn from a DVD. Especially IF a training center and or a school is present with in your area. If not, then your best option for learning, would be to audition, for The Ailey School, and Other schools that teach Horton technique, or at least take the open classes that are available with in the school and the extension classes.AGAIN,These Dvd's are NOT intended for the beginner, or Non-professional Dancers and non-professional teachers or Dance Artist who already may not have a strong Dance foundation in training and or technical/codified training. The Dvd's are reference for the Professional Dance Artist and Professional Teacher/Choreographer who already understands Horton technique with in Modern Dance. And always consult your Doctor prior to studying any dance technique, especially of you are not a dancer. Many Non-dancer may experience pain from not having the necessary dance facility to execute specifics as a dancer who has been trained and studying for years.

This is an interesting DVD for a dancer and dance teachers however it dosn't use the same style of filming as the warm up DVD. Some of the excercises are long and would have benefited from dividing into smaller sections and I felt there was less explanation of the aim of the movements than there was in the warmup DVD. In short, if you only buy this DVD you won't understand as much of this technique as you would if you bought the warm up, so get them both. Having said that I enjoyed it and as a teacher I use it as a reference frequently. Again though it is aimed at experienced dancers and teachers, not beginners.

still use it