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Salsa & Mambo Video Reviews

Tony Lara

Bachata Italian Style vol 1

Level: Beg/ Intermediate

Style: Bachata

Content: A number of variations on the basic steps and a few turn patterns followed by a full choreography with original bachata music.

General Comment: The release of a Bachata instructional DVD was badly overdue and this product is very welcome. It will get you going from scratch to an intermediate level pretty quickly.. especially since it is only 20 minutes long J! We all know that DVDs can be rewound at will but this is maybe taken a bit too literally in this case. You will learn a number of variations on the basic steps and a few turn patterns. All elements are shown first individually for the male and female part, then in couple, both with vocal counting and with music. The male instructor’s dancing is precise and simple, while the female instructor is very energetic and exuberant in her hip motion, so you will be able to choose what approach to take. All this is good. Nevertheless, somehow this does not look like the Bachata I have seen in the Caribbean, usually much simpler and more intimate. It does not help that fact that the moves are very choreographed and at least some of them hard to execute unless learnt by memory. The video finishes with a very long routine which contains and expands the elements you learnt in the previous part. You will need to rewind several times to memorise it all. Useful nevertheless to get started with a new dance.

Reviewed by Fabio - OK

Bachata Italian Style vol 4

Level: Intermediate

Style: Bachata

Content: Body movement and footwork followed by a full choreography with original bachata music.

General Comment: Tony Lara has a well rehearsed format for his instructional DVDs, the format has been widely successful and it makes sense for him to stick to it. With the help of Dani with whom he shares the teaching, he will show a number of moves and basic footwork, which are then assembled in a routine at the end of the DVD. The routine contains the elements you just learned, plus some variations and ways to connect them; it is meant to be learned by memory and executed under the assumption that your partner knows how to respond to the moves, especially the footwork, some part of which needs to be known by both dancers. There is not much room for improvisation since the moves are very choreographed and would be difficult to lead if you were not dancing with your partner. However, since many people prefer to dance this often close dance with their regular partner this may not be a problem.

The ‘theme’ of the DVD is body waves.. there are several of them and they are meant to be executed in sync by both dancers in different positions, which is meant to add sensuality to the already sensual Bachata Italian style. A nice addition to his very popular Bachata series.

Reviewed by Fabio - OK

Bachata Italian Style vol 5

Level: Intermediate

Style: Bachata

Content: Body and hip movement followed by four full choreographies.

General Comment: This is mostly a style DVD and given that in Bachata the emphasis is more on style than on choreography, it makes sense. Bachata is also meant to be sexy and in order to make sure you don’t forget this fundamental truth Tony and Dani repeat the words ’sexy’ and ‘sensual’ very, very often in their teaching. It thus also makes sense that the styling you can learn on this DVD in aimed at making you look, and hopefully feel, sexy on the dance floor.

Dani does most of the teaching and consequently the DVD is mostly focussed towards ladies. She shows a number of variations on the hip motion and a few slow turns designed in order to unleash your body in a sensual flow. Tony participates mostly in the second part of the DVD, to show a handful of dips and the now customary routines, four of them, which may turn handy should your brain freeze on the dance floor. A natural continuation of Tony Lara’s series.

Reviewed by Fabio - OK

Bachata Tango vol 1

Level: Beginners

Style: Bachata Tango

Content: Basic elements and turn patterns.

General Comment: Some dance influences influence each other. Bachata-Tango is a different beast altogether: it is a real mix of the two, a mix so interleaved that it is hard to say which of the two dances dominates. Your attitude towards it will probably be determined by how you feel towards novel vs original flavours; you may like the creativity, you may say 'why not?' or you may hopelessly look for the traditional taste without finding it. Unfortunately I belong to the third group, but this is my problem, since Bachata-Tango seems to grow in popularity, especially in Europe.

Tony Lara has done more than anyone to popularise Bachata: if you dance it at all it is quite likely you have learnt something, if not everything, from him. Together with Daniela he is obviously in the best position to popularise this dance too. This DVD follows Tony's well tested format: steps are classified clearly and taught precisely, first by showing and breaking down the male footwork then by demonstrating it solo with counting and music, then by doing the same for the female part and finally by putting it together in partnerwork. You will surely learn all the material comfortably with this method and you should be ready to dance a simple routine clearly with a little practice, especially if you are already familiar with one of the two dances .

Reviewed by Fabio - OK

3 Bachateros (Tony, Inaki & Frank)

Volume 1

Level: Int-Adv

Style: Bachata

Content: Footwork and turn patterns.

General Comment: This is a very nice and entertaining production, which I found myself watching all through with a smile on my face. It's a clever realisation of a clever idea: take 3 male Bachata dancers, with a different style and let them show their repertoire together. Not only can you see the contribution from all three, but also you can watch the 3 dancers executing each other's steps, with inevitable styling variation. Tony Lara, well known to all Bachata lovers, represents Italian style, Inaki Fendandez, also known from BachataUk, represents the Spanish style and Frank Santos the Dominican style. Each teaches us two footwork sequences and two turn patterns, which are demonstrated with the equally well known Daniela De Francesco. All material is first demonstrated, then broken down to counting and than danced to music, from two side views.

What makes this production stand out is the joyous atmosphere, the funny way the music is interpreted and the entertaining short choreographies the three dancers coordinate before and after each turn pattern. It's a fun DVD which will entertain you while you add some new ideas to your Bachata repertoire.

Reviewed by Fabio - Good