style 
Reggaeton & Bachata

We list & review over 500 Salsa dvd video


style 
Cuban - NY - LA


 

Dips, Lifts, and Solos to Spice up Your Salsa

Highly recommended. This is the only video I can recommend for dips, lifts & couples styling.
This is one of the best Salsa instruction videos I have seen.
This is a great video for intermediate to advanced dancers who want to learn dips & lifts for social nightclubs right up to demonstrations & competitions.
Lisa Perez and Dave Morgan cover the gentle beginner dips to some very advanced dips & lifts.
I was very impressed with the common sense of the instruction. It covers how to behave in a nightclub, how to clear space for the dips & lifts, and how to protect the female.
This is a very detailed & long video.
A demo is given showing how to use the move with in a pattern of moves. Then the move is broken down giving very detailed instruction. Common mistakes are covered. Variations of the moves are given. There are written instructions of the key points on the video.
The instruction covers both On 1 & On 2 dancers.
The styling in this video is great. The solo's at the end are a great way to show off. In fact the female styling is amongst the best I have ever seen in a video. The solo's with joined shines & lifts were great. Styling is covered for all the moves in this video.
Lisa and Dave are advanced dancers who cover all the common sense rules to protect & show off your female.
Well worth buying.

 

The Salsa freak ( Edie Espinoza ) & Al Espinoza
These videos are best for visual students as the footwork instruction is not over detailed.
Most of the footwork however follows natural body movement so I do feel the instruction is okay.
I must point out I am not the target market for these videos. I am too old & traditional in my dance.
Many of the moves shown in these videos have become "standard" moves for West Coast Style Salsa

 
NEW!!!
Ladies Styling - Millennium - Volume 2
 

THIS IS A TWO-HOUR DVD!!! 

Over a year of work was put into it, and I'm telling you, THERE'S A TON OF INFO IN HERE!!!!
 
 

Not only do I cover styling techniques that will work no matter what type of partner you have, but I also answer a lot of questions about etiquette, style, when and when not to do certain moves, how to ask a guy to dance without looking like an idiot, how to politely say "no", how to deal with drunks, how and when to wear a posture brace, T-stance moves, hijacking moves, (yes, I said, it "Hijacking"....!!!!!) AND SO MUCH MORE THAT IF I GO ON, YOU'LL GO CRAZY WAITING TO WATCH IT!!! 

I also role-model partner and solo shines styling in a "Glamour Girl" outfit, a "City Girl" outfit, and a "Rebel Girl" outfit, demonstrating the types of styling moves you can do, not only with different outfits, but when you’re in different moods. The moves are demonstrated both on the "One" and the "Two", and though named level II, the moves range from Beginner through Highly Advanced. This is the perfect gift for any woman who wants to look and feel great out there – no matter what she’s wearing, what type of mood she’s in, or what partner she ends up with!   She’ll just love it!

NEW!!!
Cool Moves - Millennium Style 
 

Al and Edie’s unique combination of pop-locking, hip hop, and classic Salsa bring to life a contemporary mixture of lead-able nightclub moves and turn patterns unlike any other.  Packed solid with flashy turn patterns, body movements, and styling concepts, Cool Moves – Millennium Style brings to life contemporary Salsa dancing at its best.  You’ll learn the latest Hot and Flashy moves from New York and Los Angeles! Cool Moves – Millennium Style is guaranteed to be at the top of your play list for years to come.  Their entire video series is literally a documented catalog of their progression as a dance couple, with a list of moves and patterns that rival any seasoned professional.  The perfect gift for the dancer in your life!

NEW!!!
Men's Spins (Al's Tornado Spins!)

Ladies may  purchase: Edie's World Famous Spins

The video every man has been dying for.  Not only does Al explain how to turn and spin like the pros, but he demonstrates the technical preparation and foot placement required to keep you balanced and in control for virtually every type of spins.  Half of the video is technical preparation for single, double, and multiple spins, and the other half demonstrates how to apply those spins to certain turn patterns with a partner of any level.  The techniques taught in this video/DVD are a pre-requisite and foundation to the entire series.   The perfect gift for the man in your life! 
 

NEW!!!
Latin Nightlife 

Edie, also known as “The Salsa FREAK” teaches a quick-start clear-cut beginner video covering the four standard Latin dances found at most Latin nightclubs, parties, and weddings throughout the world.  In easy to understand terms, Edie and her professional dance partners Al Espinoza, Rafael Ayure, and Elvis Arevalo demonstrate the basics of dancing Merengue, Salsa, Cha Cha Cha, and Bachata.In simplistic terms, the viewer can watch each fifteen minute segment, and get the basics down good enough to last the entire evening dancing comfortably with virtually any dancer, at any level.  Watch the video in the morning and go dancing that night!  The perfect gift that will prepare you and your friends for any wedding, party, or Hot Latin Nightclub! 
 

NEW!!!
Intermediate Level 2

Prerequisite purchase: Intermediate Level 1

In this video, Al and Edie pull it up a notch and demonstrate very leadable turn patterns and combinations that will blow your mind. The patterns are done in what is termed “slot” dancing, with the audience, or casual observer in mind. Certain moves like the Copa and Cross Body Leads are taken to an entirely new and stylish level. Intermediate level 2 emphasizes their new Millennium-brand style of Salsa. 

NEW!!!
Hand Shines Volume 1

Have you ever seen those guys out their flicking up the girl’s
hands in eye-catching hand tosses that made your mouth drool?
Well look no more. The first of its kind, Hand Shines Volume I packs
dozens of stylish hand flicks that will captivate your partner,
as well as any audience watching you! Al demonstrates dozens of drop-hand catches that are easy and fun to learn,
while Edie teaches the lady how to style her fingers and hands to enhance
The hand shine, making the man’s move look even better!
The perfect video to show off to your friends! 

NEW!!!
Advanced Level 2

Prerequisite purchase: Advanced Hip Hop Fusion

"In this video, Al and Edie demonstrate dynamic partnering turn patterns and fancy techniques for the seasoned dancer - taken to an entirely new level!Crisp, sharp and fast paced, Al and Edie show off their high speed talents like never before. Al explains in detail and from different camera angles, his Millennium styling techniques and intricate footwork from more than twenty years of break dance and pop-locking.  Edie does the same by explaining her own world famous female styling techniques during partnering as well.  The patterns in Advanced Level II are very lead able, eye-catching, and challenging moves that you'll both love to execute on the dance floor!"

NEW!!!
Men's Styling Volume 2

Prerequisite purchase: Men's Styling

With trendy Hip Hop, Pop Locking, and enhanced body movements, Al Styles up simple moves that will make even the beginner look phenomenal.  He demonstrates when and how to apply masculine-looking leg, hip and head movements during partner work.  His unique style stems from over twenty years of Hip Hop and Pop Locking blended with classic Salsa to form what is now known as Millennium Style.  Al explains how to not only make your moves look good, but no matter what type of partner you have, make your partner look great as well.  The perfect gift for the man in your life! 

Beginners Step by Step Video & Dvd
This is an interesting beginners video in that it combines beginner steps with some advanced styling.
They teach with back & side views of all the steps.
The instruction is not over detailed but the count is.
They cover common complaints of the moves shown.
The men's & women's parts are both covered for all the moves.
They have their own names for common moves.
Overall a good beginners video with some very good styling. A great way to look great fast.
 
Edie's World Famous Spins Video 
The reason I have placed the spins next to the beginners video is that multiple spins for both sexes is one of the major characteristic's of the LA style. You need to learn how to spin straight away as it can take up to a year to learn how to spin well.
This spin video would be okay for all styles of Salsa dancers to learn from.
It covers mainly women's spins but also gives enough detailed instruction in Men's spin's to be useful to men as well.
Intermediate Video
This video is packed full of steps so the instruction is fairly fast but that is what a review button is for.
I found it interesting that they were teaching the Copa variations but they explained in detail how to include these turns into the LA Style.
They again include some advanced styling for both males & females.
Common mistakes are covered.
Some very advanced intermediate moves are shown in this video.
Overall an advanced level intermediate video with some great styling.

Advanced Salsa / Hip Hop Fusion
This is a mixture of advanced turns with the start of the detailed Hip hop fusion.
This video follows the same pattern of the beg & inter video. The instruction becomes more detailed as the moves become harder.
This style of Salsa is in my opinion for the young & progressive Salsa dancers.
This is the start of their own style of Salsa. It was interesting to view.
Men's Styling 
Some very interesting & unusual moves.
Frankly I get in enough trouble with women without some of these types of moves. 
These moves will certainly make a female take notice of you. 
It amazes me how Cuban Rumba moves have changed over the decades. The new style moves in this video have certainly made me think.
I must admit there is a must view move in this video.

Lifts and Tricks
Some common to some very interesting moves ranging from basic social to advanced demo moves.
The moves are a mixture of common Salsa moves to some specific LA style moves.
There are some very good moves in this video. The instruction is more detailed than the other videos.
I must point out some of these moves are very advanced. I have a video of one of Edie's dance partner's ( not Al ) almost standing on her during the LA Salsa Congress social night. These moves can be very hard to do in a nightclub.
Hip-Hop Shines:  Solo Styling and Techniques!
One of the most important characteristics of  LA Salsa is the individual style of each person's shines. 
I can pick out some school's styles but at the advanced level everyone has their own style.
This video is an excellent way to start to learn your own style.
This video follows the more relaxed attitude they have to shines in LA. 
The shines are shown front & back with a rhythm count for the steps.
This is an easy to follow set of shines until the hop hop.
Then it gets really interesting for someone my age.
Overall an excellent shine's video
I would recommend the younger or more flexible crowd for the pop locking & hip hop.
I would like to say here that I am a traditional thinking dancer in that I believe certain styling techniques should be done by female
& certain moves look better done by males.
I do not like males to do female styling techniques except maybe in FUN or to shock your dance partner. 
Other Salsa videos I have seen have been showing or having styling techniques that should be done only by females.
I am well aware that in certain USA cities Men out number Women taking the Women's Styling classes. This is not the case with this video. 
It is aimed at ladies however because it is very clear in what it teaches I also feel it has some very good UNISEX styling sections.

This dvd video is the best styling video I know off.

The two teachers are both champion performance dancers who give some good demo's. The video has a fun feel to it.
The video gives a written breakdown of what is it.
Many of these sections are also good for males to view.
With all the practical dance steps Edie talks about, She gives a solo demo then a demo with her partner.
For Cuban dancers please take note of the Eagle technique. This is a very common group move in Cuba at the moment.
I have seen dancers in Afro-Cuban & modern dance use this aerial technique. The female is lifted by the others dancers into the air where she performs this arm movement. It has several meaning's but the two most common are a reminder of the Cuban's who have left the Island & for freedom. This technique is a example of a dance movement with a social political meaning. Many Cuba dance steps & movements have a social & or religious meaning, esp the steps from Orisha dancers.
Most of the moves in Edie's Freedom Concept can be done by either males or females. I must point out that if males are going to do styling try to limit it to only 1 or 2 styling moves per song unless it is a Gay song or you are having FUN.
( Tip ) You can also do many of the moves in forward basic Salsa/ Mambo position as well as the backstep.
The video has Partnering techniques that is very good information for both sexes.
Remember to try to take the song's origin or word's or your geological location into account on how much styling you do.
This video is a very good length. It not only covers Salsa but Cumbia & Cucarachas styling techniques.
I must say I liked this video. It was easy to follow & it showed several directions like front, back, side of the techniques.
I feel it is good for both males & females for styling techniques. 


Shaka Gonzalez Brown
PayPal ordering 
rates only for USA.
http://www.salsamor.com/video/


Our Review
Shaka Brown is a well known & liked member of the Salsa message boards & the Congresses. Shaka is a born performer.
The first video that any Salsa dancer produces is almost never perfect. This video is an example. Bad editing. Too much repetition.
Shaka needs to learn that people who buy this video have a rewind button.
This video only shows 8 combinations which is not enough to dance one Salsa song.
However the combinations were nice.
Overall an enjoyable video just not a great one. There are better value for money & more interesting videos on the market.

Season Stylist has a great reputation as a dancer & I have several videos of his social & performance dancing so it was interesting to watch his instructional videos.

Overall a very good series of videos with some comments.

Usually my review for all levels of dancers is the same for a video but for this series it is not.

For beginners to intermediate Salsa dancers this is an excellent series of beginner NY moves.
If you are a beginner of NY style Salsa/ Mambo I would buy the entire series of videos.
This series of videos teaches a small number of moves per video & he perhaps repeats them too much. In fact I do not think you will need to use the rewind button much

For beginner level 1 I recommend his spin's videos. ( I grade spin technique's into 3 levels ). This video teaches mutiple spins up to advanced performance level so it should be all you will ever need.

For Advanced & Master level dancers there are to many mistakes to ignore for their level. Season doesn't seem to understand other styles of Salsa very well nor does he seem to know the origin or correct technique or names for many of his moves.
His partnering work was terrible. Too many basic mistakes to ignore for advanced + level dancers.
Season is an excellent level 1 spin teacher but the rest of his instruction needs to be taken with a great deal of care.

I would also recommend that you should buy from the Albert Torres store http://alberttorresevents.com/store/dept.asp?id=7
becouse of up to 8 month's delay in sending the videos from Season's own web site.

Eddie Torres
Eddie Torres ( New York ) Salsa Video + Eddies Dance CD + Timing tape.
Level = Absolute Beginners to advanced beginners
This is one of the two best known Salsa video's in the World. New York's No.1 video.
This was one of the first Salsa videos on the market.
http://www.descarga.com/cgi-descarga/db/13829.30?LnKnUAul;;53
This is an expensive site. Has both NTSC (USA) & PAL (British). You could try Yahoo Video pages for cheaper sites
Eddie Torres starts off the video with a demonstration of his Nightclub style Salsa. Then a brief explanation of Ear Training to
learn how to dance on the beat & in time to the New York 2 beat.
This video shows the dance steps for both male & female. It includes close up's of the footwork plus full body shots
sometimes at the same time. It includes written instructions on the tape as the techniques are shown. Includes style tips for all the techniques.
The most important part of this basic video to me is the open shines he teaches. Suzy Q, Cuban Step, Single right turn, Front
Double Cross, Hook Step, Braid Step, Halflare.
A summary of the dance steps is demonstrated then another demonstration by Eddie & his dancers of their style which includes a basic Casino step.
These 2 videos are a very basic but detailed beginners. The open shines are what make them worth buying. The video  tape
quality could be better. The pause quality is not great. This was one of the first Salsa videos on the market.
The video makes use of Oscar Hernandez's great band (with Eddie Montalvo on congas). Two of Tito Puente's classics are
included: "Fiesta A La King" and "Mambo Gozon," as well as original material by Hernandez.

New video coming ?
http://www.eddietorresstudio.com/

A BAILAR!: THE JOURNEY OF A LATIN DANCE COMPANY  1988, Color, 30 minutes. Tells the story of Eddie Torres who for more than a decade nurtured the dream of establishing a Latin dance company on the scale of what Alvin Ailey did with Afro-American dance. The film documents Eddie's recruitment of the best of New York's salseros--Hispanic club and street dancers--and how, with the musical collaboration of Tito Puente, he molds them into a professional dance troupe.

http://www.cinemaguild.com/
 
Delille Thomas's "Mambo D:Unplugged follows the Eddie Torres timing method.

It is aimed at advanced beginners to intermediate dancers.
There is nothing that really makes this video stand out. 
If you are just after standard NY Salsa techniques then this video is for you.
The overall feel is a street style NY Salsa rather than a polished studio style.

Salomon Rivera Series of Salsa Secrets Revealed
These videos have caused a lot of misunderstanding of Salsa timing & dance by those who have just brought the first two videos.
The first two videos are not teaching Salsa dance but rather a sub species of Salsa I call Power Salsa. Many others call this Merengue-Salsa. You dance a step on every beat just like Merengue. This dance style is used for the maximum speed of Salsa music or non Salsa music that is very fast.
You do not have time to add the pause in your dance steps becouse of the speed of the music.
I get really annoyed at watching Salsa dancers use this style to medium or slow paced Salsa music. I just think they are beginners who have no ear for the music they are dancing to.
I will try not to dance with females who have been trained in this style as it is not enjoyable to dance with them.
Salomon is also what I call a Toe dancer. This has lead to Salsa students all dancing Salsa on their toes.
It is the most stupid thing I see in nightclubs.
There is too much ballroom Mambo not Salsa in these videos for my liking.
With only mostly 10 steps per video I do not think they are great value.
There is no doubt Salomon is a good dancer but this series I did not like.

http://www.worldsalsaproductions.com/
You will either like this video or hate it. There does not seem to be any middle ground with the people who view it.
It is more a how to video rather than an instructional video in most people's views.
It shows the three main basic steps, then for the rest of the video works on beginners styling.
The video is a good length.
Just do not expect to much from this video. It is for Ultra absolute beginners only.

Homero Gonzalez

Appears in Born Romantic - The UK Salsa movie
NO LONGER ON SALE - HOMERO IS WORKING ON A NEW ONE
Homero and many of his dance group provide the dance expertise in this  this romantic comedy with a Salsa theme which will be on general release in cinemas from 14 February 2001.  Homero partners the principal actress Jane Horrocks in her attempts to master salsa steps, with hilarious results
A review of his first Salsa instructional video if you come across a copy on a second hand site.
'This is an ideal video for beginners and improvers. Homero and his students show you basic steps and simple turns, which are then incorporated into two short salsa routines for you to practice with a partner. The steps are explained clearly for both the man and the woman. At the end we show you Homero's student dance team performing 'La Rueda De Casino', the salsa circle dance, to show you what you can achieve if you persevere!'
Homero is trained at the Escuela De Arte de la Provincia de Havana. He began his professional dancing career with the Carnival Group Charanga De Bejucal and subsequently the most famous carnival group in Cuba, the Guaracheros De Regla, directed by Umberto Medina.
Homero is one of the best trained Latin dancers in the World. He is respected all over the World by Salsa teachers.