This is a great sale, and these are some of the best tap DVDs ever produced.

www.bobrizzo.com . . .

Have you actually seen all of them? While the production quality is probably better than average, I don't consider the content of all of them to be some of the "best."

It also depends what you are looking for. If it is kids learning new fun steps, or teachers looking for combos for classes.

This is just MY opinion on the videos:

Mark Goodman's X-Perience. I love Mark Goodman, and I love his rhythms and combinations. Maybe its just because we took dance from similar people and our style is so similar. It has a lot of good center and across the floor combos. Mostly intermediate, but well worth the money. I haven't seen his other video that has 3 dances on it. Maybe I'll check it out.

Keith Clifton's Full Metal Tap. I like most of the footwork and rhythms. I would use this for my intermediate classes. There are warmups, variations, and 2 full routines that are pretty good. For the price of the DVD I say it is well worth the money. On a side note: I would not recommend the video he put out called All That Dance with a ballet, jazz, and lyrical number on it. I personally didn't find anything that I would use.

I personally like Mike Minnery's tapes from Bob Rizzo. I know some people don't like him or his style or the fact that he made up the name "Shiggy Bop" to a step he didn't create, but I liked his first DVD best, but have used bits and pieces from all his videos. I use most of the stuff for my advanced classes. His combos aren't really hard, they are just usually fast, but all the rhythms make sense to me and is similar to how I teach. Faster is not better though, so I can't say these videos really would help all teachers. They have helped some of my student teachers more than anything.

Greg Russell's videos: He is the most annoying individual in my opinion. The delivery looks like he should be talking to 5 year olds who are watching Sesame Street. I can't say the video is bad because I honestly couldn't get through it. I've watched some and I suppose for some teachers it will work, but I think there are better videos out there. If you like his classes I'm sure you will like the videos though.

Others I recommend:

Rusty Frank released "Tapping With The Master's Series". She has released 2 Shim Sham (Leonard Reed) DVD's and 2 B.S. Chorus (Eddie Brown), and a few others. If you decide to invest in these classics get the 10-Year Anniversary Special Edition for the Shim Sham. It has more history, scenes, information etc. If you buy the B.S. Chorus get the one that features Sam Weber. Again, it is much more in depth and the elements are broken into more sections. Here is where you can find it: www.rustyfrank.com . . .

Thommie Retter had a video called Tap Generation. I loved this video and used everything off of it. I could be biased because I took tap from Thommie in college and think he is great. Maybe it is just because I tap a lot like him and his style is easy for me. The video is for the intermediate early advanced dancer. It consists of various combinations you can use for warm ups or to infuse with your own choreography...no routines. That is partly why I like this DVD because it's the daily lesson plans I need help with. He has put out a second video called Tap Generation Vol. 2. It is really good, though I tend to use more from the first video still. Thommie has a great sense of rhythm, style, and overall funk. The first CD is just drum music. I personally wouldn't waste the $25.00 on it since you could use TONS of other kinds of music for these combinations, but the CD isn't bad. You can find his stuff here: musicworksunlimited.com . . .

Thanks to both of you for the great info. I actually love Gregg Russell, and can't stand and won't watch Mike Minery. So funny how everyone has different likes and dislikes. I've taken from Keith Clifton before, but only lyrical and jazz and it wasn't my favorite. I've never taken from Thommie before, but I have taken from the other Retter's and have always liked them. I'll have to check that one out.

Had to add...some of you might remember DoubleBass, a member here on Dance.net. I took from him, Mike Wittmers, at the DanceLife Conference and love, love, loved him. Very different approach to tap then others. He is very rhythm involved. He has videos as well.
www.doublebassproductions.com . . .
I didn't know it was him until I looked up his website and realized it was "Double Bass Productions" and put two and two together.

I have used all of the DVDs that have been mentioned and a few of Bob Rizzo’s DVDs that relate to hip-hop or jazz. Two of the jazz DVDs I found interesting were the two by Suzanne DiNunzio. I like her style, and one of the dancers she used was Matthew Morrison, who is now a teacher on “Glee.”

I like all of the Sam Weber’s DVDs, and I liked Mark Goodman’s “Tap Dance X-perience2” because it had triple pullbacks. Keith Clifton's “Full Metal Tap” had an interesting toe-stand turn, but when it comes to flash steps, “Rhythm Tap Two” by Steve Zee is probably the best.

I was recently talking to several people who wondered why I consider DVDs such a valuable source of information. In my way of thinking, DVDs are a tremendous bargain because (1) they give you a cost-effective way to learn interesting techniques from outstanding tap dancers and (2) you can replay them as many times as you like for no additional cost. One thing I do find helpful is having a television in your tap studio that plays DVDs so you can practice the steps while you watch them being done on the DVD.

www.youtube.com . . .