blueguitar322
09-13-2006, 01:56 PM
Been learning salsa for about a month now...and still don't know very much but I'm taking several classes each week and am getting better.
My classes seem to focus mostly on steps, patterns, combinations, etc...all the stuff that's needed to get people dancing out the door. I've read all over this forum and dance-forums that the basic steps are absolutely critical to everything, and often seperate the best from the merely competent. I'd like to learn things right the first time and have a solid foundation that becomes so second-nature I can make a brand new combination look "authentic" immediately (not to mention make my partner look better).
I'd also like to learn the basic shines - mostly because I think they'd make ideal solo (read: at home with a mirror) practice improving my footwork, coordination, and "dance-sense".
I've had a hard time finding good resources on these things. My goal is to get 2-3 DVDs, learn and practice for another month or so, and then take some private lessons to help correct the things I'll inevitably do wrong. Hopefully the private lessons will also serve as a springboard to a solid home practice regimen that will last me for a while. I'm trying to get the best bang-for-buck that I can as I'm too poor to be spending $50/week on privates for a long time period, but can afford to spend a few bucks initially to help me get through 'salsa hell' faster.
So...what's best out there for on-1 NY/LA styles, for a very tall, very white guy? I've looked at:
* Al Espinoza's "Men's Styling" DVDs but didn't find much information.
* Al's "Hip Hop Shines" DVD didn't seem to inspire the reviewer from this site.
* Mike Bello has a shines DVD but it's on-2 (I guess "on-clave" is what he would prefer it described as)...pardon my ignorance, but would this work for on-1 styles
* Shaka Brown has a shines DVD that's also on-2.
* Ron Rosario & wife "Red Hot Salsa: Mambo Shines" that is again on-2
* Frankie Martinez' DVD on body isolations wowed people but was criticized as not instructional, just demonstrative
* Alex De Silva was mentioned on one of these forums, but the titles/descriptions on his site didn't give away which DVDs would be applicable.
* Others I've missed?
Help a newbie!
- David
P.S. I realize that leading is one element I didn't mention, and that's because I already have enough "combination"-oriented stuff online I can reference for practice with the invisible partner...that and it's what I focus on the most at my group lessons, where 5min of tangible leading is worth more than an hour with an invisible partner. If I can get the stylings and cuban motion and stuff down pat, it would allow me to focus even more on being a good leader. At least that's my thinking.
My classes seem to focus mostly on steps, patterns, combinations, etc...all the stuff that's needed to get people dancing out the door. I've read all over this forum and dance-forums that the basic steps are absolutely critical to everything, and often seperate the best from the merely competent. I'd like to learn things right the first time and have a solid foundation that becomes so second-nature I can make a brand new combination look "authentic" immediately (not to mention make my partner look better).
I'd also like to learn the basic shines - mostly because I think they'd make ideal solo (read: at home with a mirror) practice improving my footwork, coordination, and "dance-sense".
I've had a hard time finding good resources on these things. My goal is to get 2-3 DVDs, learn and practice for another month or so, and then take some private lessons to help correct the things I'll inevitably do wrong. Hopefully the private lessons will also serve as a springboard to a solid home practice regimen that will last me for a while. I'm trying to get the best bang-for-buck that I can as I'm too poor to be spending $50/week on privates for a long time period, but can afford to spend a few bucks initially to help me get through 'salsa hell' faster.
So...what's best out there for on-1 NY/LA styles, for a very tall, very white guy? I've looked at:
* Al Espinoza's "Men's Styling" DVDs but didn't find much information.
* Al's "Hip Hop Shines" DVD didn't seem to inspire the reviewer from this site.
* Mike Bello has a shines DVD but it's on-2 (I guess "on-clave" is what he would prefer it described as)...pardon my ignorance, but would this work for on-1 styles
* Shaka Brown has a shines DVD that's also on-2.
* Ron Rosario & wife "Red Hot Salsa: Mambo Shines" that is again on-2
* Frankie Martinez' DVD on body isolations wowed people but was criticized as not instructional, just demonstrative
* Alex De Silva was mentioned on one of these forums, but the titles/descriptions on his site didn't give away which DVDs would be applicable.
* Others I've missed?
Help a newbie!
- David
P.S. I realize that leading is one element I didn't mention, and that's because I already have enough "combination"-oriented stuff online I can reference for practice with the invisible partner...that and it's what I focus on the most at my group lessons, where 5min of tangible leading is worth more than an hour with an invisible partner. If I can get the stylings and cuban motion and stuff down pat, it would allow me to focus even more on being a good leader. At least that's my thinking.