¡Salsa a la Cubana!
Instructional Videos #3 & #4 & #5
Advanced Moves in Cuban-Style Casino Salsa Dancing (#3 & #4)
and
Multiple Partner Dancing and Rueda de Casino (#5)
Testimonials
Neal Watson from Christchurch, NEW ZEALAND:
(the person who maintains the complete list of all salsa videos)
"Our review of all three videos:
It is always a pleasure to watch people who can dance well. I watch
hundreds of hours of dancing videos each year & it is always nice to
find excellent videos. These videos contain some of the smoothest Salsa
dancing I have seen. It is so nice to watch really good advanced dancers.
When I look at an advanced video I am happy if I can find one new move
per video. In these three new videos from Salsaville all had several new
moves that I had never seen before. These 3 new videos contain some common
moves up to some of the most advanced Salsa moves I have ever seen.
There are a couple of what I class as
Master level moves in these videos as well.
These are excellent videos. Well worth adding to your collection."
Andy Moore (Salsa UK instructor) from London, UK:
(runs the website: salsa_latina_uk.tripod.com)
"All I can say is wow!!! You did it again. All three
tapes were brilliant as the UK doesn't really have a Cuban scene
and the tapes provide a lot of new instructional material to digest
as long as you have an elasticized body (joke!). I have to say I haven't
seen anyone from the UK do or teach any of these advanced moves ...
GREAT STUFF!!"
"All I can say is thank you for making cuban casino style of dancing
accessible as it is not taught on the mainstream in the UK which
I think is a great shame. Everything in the UK seems to ge geared up
towards teaching LA or NY hybrid dancing. I myself since buying your
original cuban videos and also Edie's Styling video have learned so
much not just about moves and combinations but also basic technique."
"Video #3: And the moves
keep on coming. There is some amazing and orignal moves on
this video, not for the beginner by far and you need to have
an understanding cuban casino style of dancing.
BRILLIANT!!!"
"Video #4: Another
video that will leave you gob smacked. How on earth do
they get in and out of those moves, lol. A brilliant
video not just for instruction but also good to see master-class
cubans doing what they do best."
"Video #5: And the
moves keep on getting crazier. Forget dancing one-on-one.
Two guys dancing with one woman, 4 women dancing with
one guy and also Casino rueda, this is the icing on the
cake which makes you laugh in some places due to the craziness
of some of the moves. EXCELLENT!!!"
Piero Gonzalez from Washington, DC:
(Creator & moderator of Salserocorner, the largest Salsa group on
Yahoo (at the time).
"My name is Piero Gonzalez. I am a Casino instructor
in the Washington D.C. area and have taught at the DC Salsaweb Convention,
Paris Salsa Congress and the Chicago Salsa Congress.
I have recently picked up the three new videos #3, #4, and #5
and I really enjoyed them -- they are excellent. Since I cannot go to
the source (Cuba), I enjoy being able to see how the best in Cuba dance
their music.
I enjoyed the following things about these videos:
- The moves are very creative. There is a good balance between
complex moves and less complex moves.
- There is a variety of styles. These tapes show dancers with
various distinctive styles. I think this is important because one can
apply the styling that suits one own's style. To me this is the best part
of these tapes.
- The value in these tapes. There are several dozen moves on
these tapes which can keep you satisfied for months and years to come.
I recommend them to those who not only want material (moves) but
also to those who want to understand the style behind the moves."
Fabio Boschetti from Perth, AUSTRALIA:
(runs the website:
www.salsaisgood.com)
"Eric produced the most natural continuation for his 'Salsa
a la Cubana' series. If you liked the first set, you will like
this one too. Some of the more complicated figures which were
only demonstrated in the previous series are now showed and
explained in detail. Many more new figures are also included. Among
them, a number of those typically Cuban intricate moves which seem
to challenge the limits of human body with the fascination of
impossible geometries.
The first video is of intermediate
level. It presents some standard cuban moves, including
several which so clearly distinguish cuban from other salsa
styles. Towards the end some more challenging moves are also introduced,
among which are some really cool ones. The second video is
(in my opinion) the best of this set. Some really nice moves
are made even nicer by good male dancers. The demos in this
volume in particular should not be missed. The last video shows
different combinations which bring salsa beyond the standard
'couple-based' dance. You will see a man dancing with several
ladies, two man dancing with one lady and other combinations.
Apart for the figures themselves, the video contains plenty of ideas
to enrich your salsa which the careful viewer will not miss.
On the technical side, Eric
introduces the use of the figure number in the top-right
corner of the image. This simple feature makes navigating through
the video in order to find your favorite figure incredibly easy.
A touch you will enjoy right from your second view.
This is 'raw' salsa. It
is salsa with no lipstick and make-up. It is salsa you can dance
with normal shoes and for which you do not need a perfect wood
floor. It is not 'loud' salsa, nor salsa to impress. It is not salsa
to learn by memory. It is salsa to digest and to improvise on. It
is 'real' salsa.
NY/LA
dancers will probably find it rough at first view, but
in the long term may appreciate it as an alternative way
to interpret the dance. Casino dancers will find plenty
of new ideas. A great soundtrack, including one of the best
Son I heard in ages, makes the overall work more enjoyable."
Eric Johnson from San
Diego, California:
"I REALLY like all three of the new videos... extremely high quality
and rare material. Way off the scale."
Gerald Hemelmayr
from Linz, AUSTRIA:
"I like your new videos a lot. They are exactly what I expected.
A good thing is that you took videos with different couples. It's interesting
to watch the different styles, combine them and add them to your
own dancing. I can recommend these videos to every advanced dancer.
I like the way how you show the the moves -- I don't have to lose
time with boring explanations (like in other videos that I've seen)
but instead I see how the move should look like, then once again slowly
with counting. For me that's the perfect way of learning the moves.
Furthermore you promised 30 advanced moves per video and I got 30 advanced
moves per video! In videos #1 and #2 and also in your "Hot Moves for the
Salsa Addict" video series there are still a lot of, let's say "easier"
moves, that an advanced dancer will know already. And although I also
knew some of the moves of videos #3 and #4 there always were some new
details and hints, so not even one move was boring or useless to watch.
I also like video #5 because I always wanted to learn dancing with two
girls and now I have the video to do that. Unfortunately most of the rueda
calls I already knew but that's not your fault.
Well I don't want to tell you only the things I like -- for improving
a little bit of criticism also could be helpful. First of all I
have to criticize the music. Don't understand me wrong, the songs are
very good, perfect music for dancing, but after watching your first 3
cuban videos several times (and I'm not talking of watching them only
2 or 3 times ;) I can't hear "Amigos", "Me Impresiona",.... any more.
You really should vary the music more.
Well I started my criticism with "first of all", but at the moment I
can't find any second or third point."
Babs Silva from Paris,
FRANCE:
"I just received and viewed the new and latest 3 videos, "Salsa a la
Cubana" of Eric Freeman. These videos are for advanced level.
The moves and figures are extraordinary. I liked the style of Yoannis
very much, and also the female dancer, Zuly, she moves with grace,
fluidity and sensuality, she does the afro sway with her hips and
torso, really well.
To give you a "bird's eye-view", the 31 moves from video#3 are full
of technique, grace and fluidity. In video#4, a few dips and splits
were shown, the 31 moves and figures are full of style specially the
great footwork of Yoannis, one of the dance instructors. And video#5,
the "Multiple Partner Dancing and Rueda de Casino", show how a male
dancer could dance with up to 4 partners, how 2 male dancers could move
as one person having one partner in their arms, and of course the amazing
and amusing rueda. For those who want to improve and learn more of cuban
salsa this is a "must."
Vincent Moyce
from Auckland, NEW ZEALAND:
"I believe 'Salsa a la Cubana' was filmed for me. That is my style of
dancing, those are my rhythmic patterns, the naturalness of the dancers defines
salsa for me. I watched and learned, I watched and was inspired. The
dancers are superb bringing a reminder that salsa ought to be smooth and
slick in order for it to live up to its reputation. The videos offer
a valuable collection of moves displaying a brand of salsa not common on
the modern dance floor. Thank you for all the work you put into bringing Cuban-style
salsa to our corner of the world. If there were awards for
the best videos on the net I would vote these second to none. I sincerely
encourage you to continue the series and not end at video
#5."
George Hutchings from Toronto, CANADA:
"Living here in Toronto, the salsa scene is hot, but there is very little
instruction on Cuban Casino. The dancers in this video were exceptional.
It's so refreshing to come across advanced salsa instructional videos that
truly are what they say they are ... Advanced! ...The way these steps were
demonstrated were quite smooth and although complex at times, were easy to
follow. I am looking forward to continuing on to videos 4 and 5 so
that I can better myself in this incredible style of salsa."
Francisco
Pinto from Paris, FRANCE:
"The tapes are a lot of fun to watch because the music is great and
so are the dancers too (the first tapes you made were a little harder
to watch because only one song was used for the whole tape. It was
really a great idea to use several songs for the new set of tapes).
You can really spice up your salsa by watching them dancing! I also
appreciate the fact that some dancers were dancing on 2 since in France
there is a great controversy about dancing on 1 or 2 (LA or New York
style). So you can also dance salsa casino on 2 like the son."
"Te escribo para decirte que ya he visto los nuevos videos
de salsa cubana y me han gustado mucho.
Los videos #3 y #4 son estupendos, los bailarines muy
buenos y los movimientos y figuras son espectaculares y muy originales.
El video #5 es fantástico. Sobre todo, me encantan
las demostraciones de un hombre bailando con dos o mas mujeres
y las explicaciones de los movimientos. Tambien me ha gustado mucho
la parte dedicada a rueda de casino, los movimientos son muy divertidos,
la coordinacion es estupenda y hay muchas figuras muy bonitas e impactantes,
también las explicaciones a camara lenta son de gran ayuda
para aprender las figuras.
Gracias por todo este maravilloso trabajo Eric. Espero
que en un futuro no muy lejano podamos seguir disfrutando de nuevos
videos de esta serie. Salsaludos"
"Te escribo para agradecerte el trabajo que estas realizando por el
bien de la salsa, y para expresar mi total satisfacción por esta
nueva serie de videos, cuyos excelentes movimientos han pasado ya, a formar
parte de mi repertorio.
Espero que continues con este trabajo y que podamos disfrutar con mas videos
tuyos proximamente, tanto de casino como de tu estilo propio que yo llamo
'fusión'."
"Eric - you've done it again and I am totally addicted
to your new videos!!
Your new Salsa a la Cubana videos are top notch. You always
manage to come up with new and exciting material. Videos 3 and 4 are
a combination of advanced cuban moves that are easily learned. The
quality and presentation of these videos are excellent for learning.
The moves are repeated several times and I can slow them down while
I'm watching and dancing.
Video # 4 is superb and I just can't get enough of it.
The second set of dancers Augustin and Yalenis are my favorites..
The body movement, the complex nature of moves and how you have broken
them all down are exactly what I was looking for. Yoannis & Madeleine
at the end of the video blend in a totally different style. I cannot believe
the footwork that Yoannis does in this video.
The Multiple Partner Dancing and Rueda de Casino #5 video
in your series has some of the most incredible dancers I've ever seen.
No other video on the market can come close to what you have captured
on this tape. These dancers show what is possible and how to really have
fun when you dance casino or in groups with 2 - 3- or 4 other partners.
Anyone who is serious about casino dancing or learning to dance with
multiple partners needs to add this to their collection.
I now have your entire tape series from Hot Moves, Cool
Moves Revealed, the Original Salsa a la Cubana Series, your video
notebooks and now you latest Salsa a la Cubana 3-4-5 tapes. I have
watched these tapes over and over and I have plenty of new material
and combinations. Seeing your latest videos has energized my wife and
I to take our dancing to a new level. I am already receiving compliments
on the dance floor by incorporating some of the new moves in my own routines.
Thanks again Eric - You have truly captured the spirit of
cuban dancing. The instruction and demos in your entire video collection
are all quality products. "Two thumbs up! This is your best series
of videos yet!"
"One comment though. I noticed a few of the dancers chewing
gum while they were dancing. You may want to have them not do this.
That is my only comment to improve the quality of the videos."
Don Deboer
from Minneapolis, MN:
"I just viewed video #5 last night and I was truly inspired
by what I saw. Watching these dancers always puts a smile on my face.
It is great to witness such passion and dexterity. I have to say that
my favorite demo was #4 with Norberto, Yalenis, & Zuly. I also love
that song 'Quien Manda" by Lázaro Rosabal y su Banda Tropical. I
really like the way the women use their arms. I also enjoyed demo #8 and
I really liked Yanek's 'Caido' (fall).
It was interesting to see their version of rueda de casino.
I know most the moves taught by Salsalovers in Miami very well. It
is true that there are different moves with the same name and different
names for the same moves from rueda to rueda. Their sombrero was completely
different (more like 'La cadena' (chain) and I notice the 'Setentas' have
a few slight variations or additions (as compared to Salsalovers). So
I suppose there really is a difference between Miami and Cuba when it
comes to some of the moves. My favorites rueda moves were: 'Tumba francesa',
'Dame dos con giro', 'Arcoiris', 'Jardín', 'Mambo', 'Mambo mix',
'Las fotos', 'Engánchate', and I got a laugh out of 'Enchufla como
Frankenstein/Dracula.' I also like the way the titles of the moves flash
on the screen as the demos are taking place.
Once again thanks for another well produced video."
"I just wanted to tell you that I got the video (# 4) today
and I opened it right away. I'm amazed with the new variations I saw.
This one of the greatest videos I've seen in salsa (I've seen
a lot of videos) and I will order the others soon. Thank you Eric,
and keep on making these wonderful videos."
"I'd just like to say a *big thank you* for putting out
those 3 new Cuban Salsa Videos. I'd ordered them in December the same
day I got your mail but have only now gotten around to check them out.
Wow, they're great! These Cubans never cease to amaze me! Video #5 has
some hilarious footage, he, he. The video technicals and the pace are perfect.
Guess I have enough material to keep me busy for the next few months..."
"I've just bought these videos (all six Cuban videos at one time).
I didn't have enough time to watch them in detail and I'm not an instructor
(as those some of those guys who send you feedback are), but I can tell that
this new series is better than the first one. As I read the reviews, some
guys are excited of new moves. I have an instructor who has taught for two
years in London and he knows a lot of moves that I didn't see on these videos.
What I am really excited about is their amazing style. When you look on
these videos, you can see that those people ARE FEELING THE MUSIC. Each
one feels it in their own way, so they are creating their own style. What
I saw here in Romania (latin country, by the way :)) and also on
the net, is the same standard style. For those who love dancing and music,
these videos are a treasure. Really. Keep going, you're doing a great job."
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