Salsa & Mambo Video Reviews

Al Espinoza

The Best of Liquid Silver Productions Vol 1

Level: Advanced

Style: LA/Millennium

Content: Liquid Silver Productions (LSP) Dance Company was created by Al "Liquid Silver" Espinoza and the routines in this video are a typical combination of Hip Hop, Pop Locking and Salsa in a compilation of their best performances. There are 10 performances featuring:* The Third Dimension; The Adams Family; The Pink Panther; Star Trek: the Borg; Bones on 1; Beatle Juice; King Tut; Crazy Crow; The Coalition; Batman and Catwoman; The Arcade

General Comment:These performances have all the hallmarks of the Al and Edie's combinations that most people either love or hate; amazing enhanced body movements showing Al's break-dancing background, Edie's spins which go for ever, the LA styling for which she has become famous and of course the acrobatics, all executed at breathtaking speed. The themes are all spectacular with extravagant costumes, props etc. I don't know how Al manages to dance covered with all that claustrophobic plastic but it doesn't seem to hamper him in any way. The other dancers in the company are very much clones of Al and Edie but then you would expect that. The shows are interspersed with Al's antics in the studio and his jokes and impersonations. Perhaps this is to show another side to his stage persona of being the ultimate professional. This is not an instructional DVD. Would certainly help a performance group to plan their own themes, costumes, choreography and stage presence.

Reviewed by Ally of SalsaIsGood - Good

General Comment: This is not an instructional DVD but rather a collection of some of the best shows choreographed by Al and Edie. Most are performed by Al and Edie themselves, others by larger dance teams and one by a young teenager couple. It includes three versions of the famous Arcade video clip and many other trademark futuristic or fairy-tale themes; for Al and Edie choreography tells a story and does not just showcase technical talent. The Hip-Hop Salsa combination is not my cup of tea so I won’t rave about it. Also, Hip-Hop-Salsa looks more like Hip Hop and Salsa to me, constantly alternating but never mixing. But this is beside the point, since tastes are subjective. What is not subjective is the quality and professionalism of the performances. It is enough to admire the spotless synchronisation of the 2 parallel versions of the Arcade show towards the end of the DVD to wonder ‘how did they do it?’. A good DVD to be entertained and get ideas if you need to choreograph your own show.

Reviewed by Fabio of SalsaIsGood - Good