Rating: 
Summary: An easy to read, informative, and entertaining 'How To' book
Review: "Quickstart To Tango" is an easy to read, informative, and entertaining 'How To' book for any Tango aficionado. Jeff Allen gives an excellent, and easy to understand presentation of the basic fundamentals required to dance both the Argentine and American style Tango. This book provides the beginner dancer with a clear understanding of the proper technique needed to successfully execute this fun, sexy, and eccentric dance! The basics of the Tango, "the Walks", are described in wonderful detail and have suggested practice exercises that are both useful and enjoyable! For those who are more adventurous or more 'educated' in dance, Mr. Allen provides additional choreography with very detailed descriptions. What I found particularly helpful is that throughout the step descriptions Mr. Allen clearly points out 'common errors' that occur and gives the remedy for each. This book has a lot to offer to dancers of all skill levels and contains excellent information regarding dance technique in general. The reader will return to this wonderful resource over and over again, I highly recommend you pick up a copy and 'Tango On'!
Rating:
Summary: An easy to read, informative, and entertaining 'How To' book
Review: "Quickstart To Tango" is an easy to read, informative, and entertaining 'How To' book for any Tango aficionado. Jeff Allen gives an excellent, and easy to understand presentation of the basic fundamentals required to dance both the Argentine and American style Tango. This book provides the beginner dancer with a clear understanding of the proper technique needed to successfully execute this fun, sexy, and eccentric dance! The basics of the Tango, "the Walks", are described in wonderful detail and have suggested practice exercises that are both useful and enjoyable! For those who are more adventurous or more 'educated' in dance, Mr. Allen provides additional choreography with very detailed descriptions. What I found particularly helpful is that throughout the step descriptions Mr. Allen clearly points out 'common errors' that occur and gives the remedy for each. This book has a lot to offer to dancers of all skill levels and contains excellent information regarding dance technique in general. The reader will return to this wonderful resource over and over again, I highly recommend you pick up a copy and 'Tango On'!
Rating:
Summary: Jeff Allen's Books Are Hot!!
Review: At least once a week since 1998 we open up one of the Quickstart series books and find solutions, techniques, and additional choreography that either amplify or add to what we have learned in many classes. We have taken both group and private lessons. When we mention some of the examples that we've read my teachers are generally very interested or in agreement. Evidently Jeff Allen is very well known in the dance community throughout the United States and his opinions and teaching methods are highly respected. We were not at all surprised to find that he writes a regular column in "Dancing USA" magazine called "The Dance Lesson."Admittedly we both tried to read these books as if they were novels and were overwhelmed by the quantity and increasing level of content. Perhaps by osmoses the intellectual transfer of information from the book's pages would become our dance experience. Remembering assembling a bicycle step by step got the job done, we started to do what we should have done from the beginning practice the elements according to our level of understanding at the time. When we knew nothing we worked the information from the beginning and as we succeeded and became moderately competent we moved to the next level. It is amazing that some of the problems we have as mid range beginners to Tango & Swing had been anticipated by the author. Then came the methods for corrective measures. The technique in the Quickstart to Tango & Swing books by Allen brings these books to a whole different level not just assembly of dance steps but how to do them and then how to do them better - a great partner!
Rating:
Summary: A MUST READ - AND RE-READ!
Review: I became interested in Tango about 4 years ago after a visit to South America.When I returned home I went to a dance studio to begin lessons and to learn more of this fascinating dance. Two years ago my teacher recommended I get a copy of Quickstart To Tango and read it. "Do not read it like a dimestore novel, and do not look for footprints on the floor to follow - this book is more than that" he told me. And he was right! I appreciate the fact that Mr. Allen does not treat his audience like a kindergarten class - he assumes his reader is intelligent. And also when that reader buys a book - that reader must read it. If you are looking for a 'coffee table book' or a syllabus with charted figures, amounts of turn, specific foot placements of each partner, etc. then buy that type of book - there are alot of them out there. Quickstart To Tango contains exceptional explanation of the technique used in this dance - both American and Argentine. In fact the technique contained here is applicable to any dance. And the figure descriptions are quite accurate - but again you must be willing to read them! It is,as the cover states, a wonderful complement to dance lessons and I have used mine as such.But this book is also very helpful to beginners who have never taken a dance lesson. Quickstart To Tango is like the books we used in school - it is meant to be looked at more than once and, as you progress and learn more, the parts you re-read take on more meaning. I enjoyed the interesting historical background on the Tango, and was very entertained by the interview with the great Carlos Gavito. What a pleasure to read an informative book that I can continue to refer to and learn from. It was also a pleasant surprise to find that Mr.Allen is accessible by email happy to discuss Tango, answer questions, or provide help with anything he has written. Bravo, Mr. Allen and thank you.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous Nuances Subtleties and Techniques
Review: I have utilized Quickstart to Tango and Allen's: Quickstart to Swing for several years. I read them slowly piece by piece, topic by topic, or step (pattern) by step. You learn something new or develop a further understanding about a technique each time you reference these books. The nuances found obviously come from Allen's wealth of experience, training, and ability to assemble partnering techniques into an intelligible form for laymen. My goal is to someday get to Rhode Island and take some private training from him. Until then I will do and recommend that you do the next best thing - read and study these books!
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Summary: Review comments from the back cover of Quickstart To Tango
Review: Jeff Allen has created an excellent addition to his "Quickstart To Social Dancing©" series. "Quickstart To Tango©" focuses on the skills needed for proper tango posture and technique. 'Attitudes and Priorities: Mental and Physical' offers useful advice for approaching tango lessons, new choreography, practice, and setting goals. Teachers, recommend this book to your students ! .................................Karla Shriner - Managing Editor, Dance Teacher Now Magazine I have seen hundreds of books and videos. This book is one of the best !! Professionally written in an organized format. I would highly recommend it for everyone. .......................................................Wayne Eng - President, Dance Vision International Jeff Allen is tackling a complex and difficult subject with intelligence and integrity ! ............................................................Daniel Trenner - Founder, Bridge To The Tango Approachable for the novice dancer and informative for the more expert. Armed with this text, a novice can become competent in the rudiments of the Tango. ......................................................................................................Mary F. Roche, M.Ed. "A unique how - to book combining the skills of Argentine Tango and American Tango. The author sets a state of ease and comfort for the beginning dancer, giving a clear understanding of a dance step, timing and exercises. Consideration of body movements, from toes to head and fingers, along with the preparation of readers' attitudes through the presentation of history and discussions, allows a full appreciation of the many figures described for each style. A book not only for beginners." .................................................................Patti Johnson - Editor, Dancing USA Magazine
Rating: 
Summary: Good resource if you already know what you are doing.
Review: Jeff Allen's book will be of particular value to the intermediate tanguero. However, he lacks the ability to be concise in his explanation of basic steps. Each description is ladden with information that would be clear and helpful to one who has tango experience. Yet the novice is left floundering trying to make sense of it all. The editing is attrocious and only confuses the reader more with bad gramar and incorect syntax. Again, I can recomend this book to those who want to polish their steps and get a refined look to their dancing, but novices beware.
Rating:
Summary: "The book is perfect for learning to experience the Tango"
Review: More than a book on learning how to dance the Tango, it's a sociological,mood-filled and informative introduction to the Tango itself, learning to dance comes later. Providing simple and elementary lessons, the book is perfect for learning to experience the Tango and getting the references and orientation needed to continue perfecting the dance steps. In its pages, the reader will find, in addition to the basic choreography of the Tango, both the Argentinean Tango and the so-called American Tango, a list of recommended accompanying CDs, a brief history of the Tango, a conversation with dancer, Carlos Gavito as well as general and informative material. Although the lessons are clearly explained and illustrated, the steps themselves are without graphics which would have facilitated comprehension and visualization. Jeff Allen, a graduate of URI, is the winner of the 1984 Gold Closed North American Championship and is a member of the Imperial Society of Teachers and the Pan American Teachers Association.
Rating: 
Summary: Quickstart to Tango
Review: Others who raved about this book must have had previous Tango experience to understand its instructions. As a complete newcomer to this dance, I found the book to be of little or no help. I'm sure Mr. Allen is a terrific teacher -- in person -- but his written instructions are nearly impossible for a novice to comprehend. I guess I shouldn't have expected to learn a complicated dance from a book. If you want to learn Tango basics, better to get a video!
Rating:
Summary: Great Book! Over 100 Photographs
Review: Quickstart To Tango is a wonderful book that provides an excellent basic understanding of what is needed to get started in this dance! The book contains over 100 photographs that illustrate each position/figure being described. Perhaps the previous reviewer should actually READ the book! Or just read the review of the book written by Ives Simard-a well known and respected Tango Master. Hidden agendas and/or personal vendettas have no place in this forum.
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