Can anyone give a review for these videos?

[Terremoto]

Could someone please post a review for the following videos? I would greatly appreciate it.

Al Espinoza's spins video for men.

Al and Edie's hand shines video (Vol. I) I am most interested in whether the moves shown are leadable.

Al and Edie's advanced turn patterns (Vol I) I am most interested in whether the moves shown are leadable.

Thanx.

[sac]

yeah, i would be interested as well if the moves are leadable with any follows who have been social dancing for a while. i have noticed that some of the moves require the follows to know their part aswell...ex double spin instead of a single spin, hand positions,footwork etc....else the moves fail...
what u guys think?

[dosvueltas]

Handshines DVD
I had the handshines DVD, but I lost it. From what I remember, the moves were all leadable and intermediate, because the emphasis were on the hand shines. Very nice and slick; the only thing you might not be able to duplicate on the dance floor is all that hip hop, pop lock, body wave stuff, which is more reflective of individual styling, obviously. But Al goes into good explanation of how to do the hand tosses and what to look out for.

VERDICT: LEADABLE

Advanced DVD
I can say a little more about the Advanced DVD. In the first place, I've never liked hip hop combined with salsa, even though I do salsa and I used to do hip hop. Something about it just kinda irritated me. Lots of people try to do that now, and put in other stuff like grinds and thrusts, and end up looking like manure. Only Al can really pull it off, as far as I can see, because he's so naturally grounded in both.

Hip Hop
So one aspect that makes many of the moves on the DVD look advanced is simply the addition of these body waves and other flashy stuff. Some moves in the DVD, such as the Matrix, are actually simple moves with the addition of some hip hop. Others are punctuated by bodywaves; in many the synchrony between LE and FO can't be led, only choreographed.

Leadability
Moving on to the leadability of the moves: most moves can be led. I learnt some useful patterns and some have stayed favourites, such as the trompo and hammerlock pretzel. How well you lead depends on the level of difficulty. I would say that in order to really get all the moves you need from the DVD you really have to be a high-intermediate level at least, and here's why.

Learnability
The DVD starts out quite promisingly. but as it progresses, one thing becomes clear: far less is taught about how to lead moves that really would have required it as it proceeds.

For example, the DVD starts off with a move called the Behind Back Toss with Turn. This is actually a simple enchufa, but ended con vuelta y hand toss so that LE's back faces the FO to take a R-R handhold. This is a simple move, yet Al takes some pains to explain how to do it in terms of hand positioning, amount of force to the hand toss, body and foot positiooning for a successful 1 1/2 turns, and so on.

The DVD continues in this vein for a few more moves:
1. Done to music, both sides
2. Counted to the beat a bit more slowly, both sides
3. Explanation of how to lead the moves, with real breakdown.

HOWEVER...

As it goes on, there is less and less breaking down. In fact, after a while, it's just
1. Done to music, both sides
2. Counted to the beat a bit more slowly, both sides, right after Al says "Let e break it down for you"!

If you have real leading experience then it's probably okay for you to figure out the lead. But where I find it unforgiveable is in moves like the Man's Tunnel (trompo) and Woman's Tunnel. These are potentially dangerous moves that require good knowledge of force, positioning, and would have justified a lot more explanation than some of the moves in the earler part of the DVD.

In fact for the Man's Tunnel the 'breakdown' which is a slower count without music done both sides, and then moving on, is all but useless.

Show Moves
Continuing on the Man's Tunnel, not only is it inadequately broken down, but if you view it carefully you can see that Edie actually helps Al out without any lead from him. This is a move that can be led on the floor, but it requires a knowledge of exactly where you are relative to the woman, how to actually get the tension to raise her arm for you to duck through, etc. What rubs it in is that a while later, Al says "Well since you're a bit more advanced we're going to be moving faster now"!

Another move, the High Kick, has Al sending Edie through simple CBLT moves, but with the embellishment of her doing these high ballet like kicks. Now, on the dance floor, you need two things to happen: first the LE gives the FO the space and freedom to do it, and second the FO must know it, want to do it, and see that the guy is giving her the opportunity to do it. It's like that old move the Unicorn, a stylised CBL in which the guy opens up, and the FO does a back arch as she kinda skips across.
In both these moves I shudder to think about what would happen if the FO dances with a stranger and tries to do them, but he was going for a coke or some of those funky Supermario moves that utilise the 1-4 counts.

To be fair, the first 11 moves or so are taught quite well. The final 8 moves or so would be harder, but the way they are shown is a great reference point for ideas for performers. Although some of the styling is a bit dated now.

VERDICT:
Out of 18 moves, 5 moves easily leadable, 11 moves leadable with skill, 2 unleadable just watching this DVD.

[Terremoto]

Thank-you!!! I loved your review. I haven't decided whether I am going to buy the video - but I greatly appreciate your insight/opinion!!

[salcero2005]

I agree ... that was an excellent review. Thanks for taking the time out to post it.

[dosvueltas]

No problem. Wise men learn from others' mistakes. fools from their own. Buying a DVD is an investment that quickly adds up, so glad to help all I can.

Terremoto, to answer your question, my feeling is that if you're really into hip hop or what Al terms "Millenium Salsa" then get it. Al recently had a discount on all his DVDs so you might still be able to get it here for $25

http://www.alespinoza.com

Otherwise, from what I gather from the posts you have written, I don't think you need these combinations as they'd probably be quite easy for you, or ones you've already seen.

The only reason I looked at it again was to write the review, plus also to recall old moves and inject something different, because frankly so many people are doing Supermario moves since he visited Asia recently that these old moves should be a surprise on the dance floor.

[sac]

No problem. Wise men learn from others' mistakes. fools from their own. Buying a DVD is an investment that quickly adds up, so glad to help all I can.

Terremoto, to answer your question, my feeling is that if you're really into hip hop or what Al terms "Millenium Salsa" then get it. Al recently had a discount on all his DVDs so you might still be able to get it here for $25

http://www.alespinoza.com

Otherwise, from what I gather from the posts you have written, I don't think you need these combinations as they'd probably be quite easy for you, or ones you've already seen.

The only reason I looked at it again was to write the review, plus also to recall old moves and inject something different, because frankly so many people are doing Supermario moves since he visited Asia recently that these old moves should be a surprise on the dance floor.

which part of Asia are u from?he did visit malaysia and singapore sometime back..not many super mario moves done here in mlaysia but i reckon its gonna be soon