High quality instructional dvds

[englezul]

Hey all,

I've been dancing salsa for the last 10 months or so, and I am very pleased with my progress. I took several classes (meaning offered by different instructors) and although I learned a few patterns and all, I don't feel like anything about the "philosophy" of salsa has been taught to us. I am more interested in that, because altough I enjoy doing fun patterns, I also want to be able to dance freely, without constrains, and make stuff as I go along. I realize this will come with experience, time, and effort, but I want to accelerate this process a little. I also want to incorporate into my dancing, good, energetic, and "latino like" body motion. So this is where I have trouble finding some instructional DVDs to buy ( i live in a city with limited instructional resources so taking "better" classes is not really an option).

I like Shaka Brown, he's a phenomenal dancer, and I was considering getting his dvd set, the only problem is he's teaching on2 while I've been practicing on1. I've looked for other dvd's out there and although there are plenty of products, I don't really enjoy watching them dance, I don't see in their motion the thing that I'm looking for. I'm looking for a more enlightened teaching, not just a pair counting the beats as they go along dancing on some pattern. I'm looking more for the building blocks, concepts of moving around the partener, leading them into various directions, leading them into moves they have no idea about, that sort of thing.

Do any high quality products pop to mind?

Another question, since I'm relatively new, and I'm dancing on1, is it a good idea to wait and get good on1 before I switch to on2, or it doesnt make any difference (i really want those shaka brown dvds).

Thanks all, i've been enjoying reading your posts for few days now.

 

[Lockstep]

cant recommend any particular dvds, but i wouldnt suggest you to start mixing styles if you're only just beginning. stick with on1 for now, get comfortable with leading, the music, social dancing, and later, when you got that down and start getting bored or begin to develop a true preference for a different style, yeah, then switch. In the beginning, it might simply be too confusing.

 

[OneCentSalsero]

Shaka's advanced partnerwork dvd is taught on 1 and 2.

 

[Josh]

You're not going to like this reply.

Getting "good" is only possible through high-quality personal instruction. That's only my opinion, of course. But really good dancers have been trained to be so, and did not just happen to be born that way and did not "just learn it" in a club, and did not just watch videos. DVDs are great, and I have several of Al and Edie's videos, but they just can't make you "look good" like time with a good instructor can.

Videos are great for learning patterns and even for getting technique, but the problem is that no one is there to give you feedback when you're doing something wrong (or right). Some things can be corrected by yourself, but many can not. Anyone who's ever had private lessons can relate to this situation: the instructor is right there in front of you, live, 3D, in person. You try to imitate him/her perfectly. You think you're doing it. He/she says: "no no, like this"... or something similar... 5 times. How much harder it is to critique yourself when there's not even someone there in person to give you feedback! People who critique themselves when they watch a video of themselves or see themselves in the mirror are improving themselves, but that's no substitute for a trained eye.

Spending $300 for 8 videos is definitely money well spent, but spending that same amount on 4 (or 3, depending) private lessons with world-class instructors is probably money better spent. Sure you can watch DVDs over and over, but you get the same thing you got last time you watched it. You can increase your number of patterns, but you probably won't get a lot better.

I don't know where you live, but have you considered taking a salsa trip and traveling somewhere to take some lessons? Believe it or not, just a few hours can make a WORLD of difference. Do any top-level instructors come to any nearby bigger cities for workshops? If they do take the workshop, and schedule 1 or 2 hours of privates with the instructor. One last thing--how is your lead? Before spending loads of money for instructors, make sure that your lead is top-notch. Constantly ask ladies after dancing for honest feedback about your lead. In my experience, leading is something that you can get better at on your own by dancing a LOT with a lot of different partners, with maybe a few side tips from good instructors.

 

[englezul]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Josh: I totally agree and I am well aware of the fact. The purpose behind the DVD's is acquiring new knowledge that I otherwise would not be exposed to at all given my particular situation. The salsa instructors that I have access to in my area do not teach these things. And being a student I cannot afford to take private lessons at this point. However, once I get good enough, I will seek professional advice, I definitely see how beneficial that is.

Actually I made plans to go to Montreal for Christmas and spend 5 days in the company of some excellent dancers. I have a friend who is taking private lessons, and she always goes with the instructor and other friends to the salsa clubs in her area. So she thought it would be a good idea to join them. So I did. It's going to be a lot of fun and I will definitely pick up a couple of things.

Lockstep: Thanks for the clarification. I was worried it could get confusing.

OneCentSalsero: Not advanced yet. Just transitioning to intermediate.

 

[brujo]

Actually I made plans to go to Montreal for Christmas and spend 5 days in the company of some excellent dancers. I have a friend who is taking private lessons, and she always goes with the instructor and other friends to the salsa clubs in her area. So she thought it would be a good idea to join them. So I did. It's going to be a lot of fun and I will definitely pick up a couple of things.

If you get a chance, take some classes with Sonia and Morris in Montreal. They have this amazing Guaguanco going for them. A good thing about Canada is that they get to travel to Cuba all the time, and learn from the best instructors there. Definitively recommended if you want to add some latin body movements to your repertoire.

It really depends on the body movements you want. I find the best places to learn body control is not actually in salsa classes, but in Hip Hop classes, where the entire focus is Body control and isolations. For that purpose, I recommend Al Espinoza and Edie the Salsa Freak's stuff. You might also want to look into Afro-Cuban classes if you can find them around. But the videos on afro cuban are pretty lame, in my opinion.

 

[salsachinita]

.....I don't feel like anything about the "philosophy" of salsa has been taught to us..

Indeed.

Generally speaking, more "moves/tricks of the week" were taught in most group classes, as these are commonly perceived as value by students.

Edie & Al did a really moving speech (where they talked about the importance to execute moves to suit the music/partner, however simple they maybe) during their workshop in Sydney Congress :notworth: :notworth: :notworth: .....I'd recommend their DVDs too.

I think Boriken has a few teachers in NY that he could recommend too....?

 

[Josh]

Edie & Al did a really moving speech (where they talked about the importance to execute moves to suit the music/partner, however simple they maybe) during their workshop in Sydney Congress :notworth: :notworth: .....I'd recommend their DVDs too.

Al recently did a workshop class where the only pattern we did was CBL and ladies right turn, with an emphasis on listening to the music and hitting the breaks. His general thrust throughout the day was not on complex patterns (although the lifts and tricks class was cool ) but rather on dancing to the music, keeping good frame, and connection. I think it was helpful to the newcomers there to hear these concepts as they are so much more important than patterns.

 

[Josh]

Actually I made plans to go to Montreal for Christmas and spend 5 days in the company of some excellent dancers. I have a friend who is taking private lessons, and she always goes with the instructor and other friends to the salsa clubs in her area. So she thought it would be a good idea to join them. So I did. It's going to be a lot of fun and I will definitely pick up a couple of things.

Awesome--I'm sure you'll have a great time and that you'll learn a lot!