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Salsa & Mambo Video Reviews

Jai & Candy

Shines, Vol 1

Level: Intermediate-Advanced

Style: Pure NY

Content: NY style Shines.

General Comment: This video contains a number of shines, some demonstrated and explained by Jay, others by Candy. These are two very good dancers and the quality of material and demonstrations is thus very good. The shines do not include only footwork, but also a very strong body motion component, which makes them very interesting. Each shine is demonstrated from different angles and with the use of multiple windows, which allow to focus on the details of the footwork without losing track of the body motion and viceversa. The pace of the explanations is also nice, which allows you to follow easily. The cherry on top of an already nice video is the very end, when Jay and Candy show all the shines, interpreted by both of them, in a sort of show, as if they were challenging each other. This part is really great, since they show both the female and male version of all shines and the two dancers give their very best.. Top quality. The only weakness of the video is that the DVD does not seem to contain menus for navigation between shines. A fairly minor technical problems which does not diminish a video of very high quality.

Reviewed by Fabio from SalsaIsGood - Good

Spin Cycle

Level: Beginner-Intermediate

Style: Pure NY

Content: NY style turns.

General Comment: In this video Jai and Candy take you from the very basic turns up to 2 and 1/2 turns. All turns are well explained and at a good pace. What I liked of this video is that it includes several type of turns which are normally included in standard NY figures, like inside and outside turns in XBL, copa, basket ect Also both female and male turns are shown. Basically, if you get familiar with this material you will be able to execute almost all intermediate level NY figures. This is very good. I also found some weakness in the video. First, after each turn is explained it is demonstrated only once and very quickly. Second, no information is given on how the individual turns fit together and what their role is in a standard salsa. This is probably clear to an initiated dancer, but it may look unclear to a beginner. A demo at the end of the video would have probably overcome this issue. Said that, I still believe this is a good video and it would help both students and instructors to analyse and categorize the elements of NY salsa.

Reviewed by Fabio from SalsaIsGood - Good

Lady's style - All Levels

Level: Beginner-Advanced

Style: Pure NY

Content: NY lady's styling.

General Comment: Candy shows us a number of styling moves, which include footwork, but most important exercises for styling, body movement, hand movement, hips motion. Candy is great, as usual and her two helpers are very good too. The video is organised in a very similar way to the rest of the DVDs in this series. Simple but clear editing, well paced explanation and good material, maybe not very original, but good quality and able to give you a repertoire covering most you need to know in NY style.

Reviewed by Fabio from SalsaIsGood - Good