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Salsa & Mambo Video Reviews

SalsaDynamite

Salsa, the next step

Level: Intermediate

Style: LA, on1

Content: Turn patterns

General Comment: This DVD has a very relaxed style and tries to recreate the feel of a dance class, including the usual jokes which teachers use to entertain their students, with a typically Australian feel. If you like to get to the point and absorb as much as you can from a DVD you may find this feature distracting, but if you are more laid back, as we say in Australia, then you may enjoy this. The instructors are proficient dancers, and explain things well and with care, you will be given proper detailed information about both leading and following for some simple turn patterns. Despite they use a single fixed camera you won’t miss any useful details.

I like the choice of the repertoire: it is a simple one, made up of classic elements, some maybe a bit dated, but it is broken down in very short sequences and the instructors are clever at showing how you can connect them in difference sequences (although this component is only demonstrated and not explained). The demonstrations are given at a very slow pace, which allow the viewer to understand each part of the sequence and a faster tempo demo is given at the end.

My main criticism of this DVD is the choice of the music; for an early intermediate DVD like this one the use of a piano montuno with the clave and no other instrument makes understanding the timing of the sequence not trivial. Fortunately the instructors point out the ‘one’ here and there.

This LA style on 1; the DVD maybe not the best choice if you are after new ideas and the latest turn patterns, but good for basic instruction to place your salsa on a solid foundation.

Reviewed by Fabio from SalsaIsGood - Good