Search - The Quick & Dirty Guide to Salsa - Part 4, Team Dancing on DVD

Enter A New Dimension in the Salsa Dancing Zone ...

Erika Borsos | Gulf Coast of FL, USA | 04/05/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Called "Casino Rueda" this wheel-like dance formation creates a beautiful effect on the dance floor ... plus it brings good friends even closer together. Synchronized salsa dancing in a group is fun and exciting. It is joyous and thrilling to learn and master these dance movements. Gigi is a superb master dance instructor. She provides clear, precise directions in how to accomplish various dance moves along with Nick, her coinstructor, who is also a highly effective teacher. Together this very talented dance couple demonstrate and explain how to do groups of steps in a logical sequence to accomplish many polished and smooth dance movements. While two, three or four couples can dance "Casino Rueda" style, in this DVD there are a total of four couples who demonstrate some of the varieties of dance step possibilities. They all maintain a synchrony and harmony that is astonishing to view. The best part is, all the movements on this DVD can be mastered by following and practicing the steps taught by Gigi and Nick. The unique feature on this DVD: multiangle programming allows the student to view the steps from different angles. This gives the student a choice of the best view from which to learn the special foot and arm movement combinations in any dance sequence. Mastering unfamiliar movements is much easier when viewed from different angles, it feels like having a *live* dance instructor performing right before your own eyes.

Some of the dance movements taught on this DVD are: dame, dame otra, dame dos, adios, enchufla dame, enchufla doble, el uno, candado, enchufla pa'l medio con dos, derecha, izquierda, el cero, el ocho and dile que no. Either Gigi or Nick will first do a demonstration and verbalize a count, "forward two, three, and back two three", or "first step on the left, the gentleman is waiting for you on the left" "delegeno, four, five, six" and "back from dame" ... You do the dance steps along with them. You do the counting, watch the video and imitate the step sequence. You can replay the sequence, from any one of three different angles to review and practice. Let me reassure the reader, these steps can be mastered and are very exciting to learn. The dance steps make sense and fit the music. Even as a single person, you can learn the male or female part of the dance without a partner, I did without much difficulty.

These dance movements are beautiful to watch and a pleasure to learn and master. It is a joy learning salsa with Gigi and Nick. They are superior, outstanding dancers and instructors. Let me assure the reader, this couple makes you feel you are learning to dance with a group of friends. Also, the couples who participate in the demonstrations could be people you know, the only difference may be they do not stumble or forget any of the steps. However, owning this DVD provides the student *exactly* the *same* opportunity they had, to keep practicing and becoming proficient in dancing Casino Rueda style salsa. If anyone feels hesitant to buy Part 4 "Dirty Salsa 360 Degree - Team Dancing" first, I would recommend obtain The Quick & Dirty Guide to Salsa - Part 1, Beginners where most of the steps are taught with only one couple participating: the primary instructor Gigi and her co-instructor Pedro. Also, The Quick & Dirty Guide to Salsa - Complete Collection is recommended to learn the many moods of salsa in your own home ...when you have the time. Erika Borsos [pepper flower]"

At last the Rueda dvd

Salsavideoreviews.org | Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand | 03/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Style : Miami Rueda
Level : Beginners to Rueda teachers.

Without doubt the instructional Cuban dance dvd's produced by Debdoot Das are the finest on the market. This new dvd on Team dancing is great.
The 3 angle instructional makes learning & teaching this style easy.
This dvd puts all the Rueda moves together.

The dancers are all great. The moves nice & have a good flow.

This is a stand alone dvd which can be just brought on it's own, but we do recommend you buy all the other dirty salsa dvd's to increase your moves.

Highly recommended."

Fun for All

Alejandra Vernon | Long Beach, California | 04/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
The Instruction:
This multi award winning DVD is a superb way to learn team dancing, where one switches partners after each combination while dancing in a circle. One would think this would be chaotic to teach, but instructors Gigi and Nick know how to do it, and do it well. After the initial demonstration with music of how team dances are done using four couples, Gigi and Nick break it down and teach us the patterns, and at this stage you will have to be knowledgeable of the basic steps and combinations, which can be learned in previous Quick and Dirty Guides (Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced, or all 3 in a boxed set), so that when Gigi says "Dile que no" your feet will know what to do...otherwise you will get lost in the circle here, even though very advanced combinations are not used.

DVD Options:
The different angles one can view the dancers with is very helpful, and I have a preference for the "High,' which gives you a good sense of the flow and patterns, and also one can pick up the combinations taught individually in a "Lessons" menu. This is a very well produced DVD, and the lessons take place in what looks like a large ballroom, with a gleaming though well worn wood floor. The dancers are nicely matched, and Gigi and Nick are an attractive pair to learn from. Team dancing is a wonderful activity for friends and family to share, and is great exercise too! This DVD will teach you all the necessary steps and patterns, the fun and added bond to your friendships is up to you!"

A powerful video that will teach you the hottest dance with

Charles Ashbacher | Marion, Iowa United States(cashbacher@yahoo.com) | 04/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This video is designed to teach you how to dance the Casino Rueda, which is the Salsa danced by multiple couples moving in a circle The people selected for the demonstrations are clearly what you would consider average people, trained in the dance techniques, but in no way advanced. It is a dance packed with sensuality, the people change partners frequently and both sexes are involved in the heavy flirting. When you watch the video, it will be clear why the dance is also called "Dirt Salsa."
It is very instructional, when it starts out, the movements seem extremely complex, yet like so many dances, once you see someone step through the movements very slowly and with explanations, it is possible to pick it up. The greatest educational advantage is the fact that the action is shot from three different angles. By watching the action from the three different perspectives, all of the body movements can be seen and mimicked.
As someone who has taken three different sets of ballroom dancing lessons, I can attest to the reality that there is nothing better than having an instructor observe and critique your moves. However, to be really good at dancing requires many lessons and the best supplement to formal lessons would be this DVD. Being able to dance is a valuable social skill, an excellent form of exercise and from the male perspective, a great way to meet and retain quality women. And dancing this way with women will do wonders for your libido. I strongly recommend it.
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