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Salsa & Mambo Video Reviews

 

Alberto Valdes


Rumba Bases

Level: Beg-Int

Style: Rumba

Content: Basic movement, styling

General Comment: This is an excellent DVD, surely one of the very best rumba DVDs I have seen. What make it so nice are the level of the instructions from Alberto the teacher, the talent of Alberto the dancer and the clever format of the DVD. Now, one thing at the time.

Alberto organizes the basic rumba moves into footwork, posture and break down of body movements (arms, torso, shoulder, hips and legs). The instruction is precise and original. Alberto seems to have the skill of focusing on a specific part of the body, show what that part should do and at the same time show the relation with the rest of the body. A sort of zooming in and out of the specific body part he is describing. For example, the description of the arm movement is a gem: first he focuses on the elegance of the movement itself and then he shows the relation between arms, shoulders and posture as I have never seen before. Often customers ask me for good male styling DVD and, at least for Cuban style, this one surely fits the bill.

Somewhere half-way through the DVD Albert gives a demo and shows all his talent. This is a 'real' demo in the sense that there is no showing off of difficult moves but only the material taught in the DVD, but all the beauty of rumba blooms out of the elegance and precision displayed in these few minutes.

The cherry on the cake is the DVD format. Explanations alternate between Alberto's solo teaching and Alberto's group class: basically you get for a private and a group class in the same DVD. The group class allows you to practice the content of the DVD by following both Alberto and the students, but also provides further tips when Alberto highlights important details to each student and correct minor mostakes. A clever idea.

Only drawback, the DVD is in Spanish. It is a simple, well spoken Spanish, so you do not need to be fluent to understand it. If your Spanish is nonexistent you will miss some details but you will still be able to follow visually the instructions and the group classes as well as admire Albeto's dancing .

Reviewed by Fabio of SalsaIsGood - Reccomended


 

 

 

 

 

 

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