Let's Get Ready to Rumba by Neri Torres

[naturallove]

Does anyone know anything about this video? I am trying to find recommendations for dvds that teach afro-cuban dance.
http://www.ife-ile.org/store.htm

[MacMoto]

I am trying to find recommendations for dvds that teach afro-cuban dance.
I've heard good things about this one if you are after a rumba instructional DVD:

w w w.boogalu.com/generic_academy.rumba.html

[mambo_LR]

José Alfredo Carrión's "Rumba" DVD from www.boogalu.com is the way to go. It only covers yambu and guaguanco, but he teaches them both excellently. He goes into explicit detail for both men and ladies, and he goes beyond just moves and explains the significance of what he's teaching.

I went into the video knowing what I was doing, but without much of a technical explanation I could pass on to my students. But I learned the ladies' work from scratch with this DVD, since I teach a lot of women. So, based on my experience from both angles, I recommend it for all levels.

Steer clear of José Barroso's "Dances of the Orisha" DVD, and don't be fooled by the fact it covers the Orisha and three types of rumba (yambu, guaguanco and columbia). His teaching approach is basically "do what I'm doing," and he doesn't really teach much.

[naturallove]

Thanks for the recommendations. I recall sweavo saying that the Jose Carrion DVD moved pretty slowly for him, but if I can really get good information out of the DVD, then it might be worth a try. Mambo_LR, I was actually going to buy the other DVD by Jose Barroso. Would you say it was good for a non-beginner to learn the orisha dancers (perhaps accompanied by other sources to learn their origins)? The reason I ask that is because much of the way I picked up traditional West African dance was through watching and mimicing in class (although there was always an explanation in the beginning of the what and the why of each dance). Also, does Jose not teach columbia because it is for men?
ETA: I just ordered the Jose Carrion DVD and am quite excited! I will report back as soon as I receive it!

[mambo_LR]

I'm not a fan of Jose Barroso's "Dances of the Orisha" DVD because, as I said before, he uses a "do what I'm doing" teaching style. In my school of thought, dancing is more than just mimicking moves. That's why I think Barroso's method doesn't serve the student well for this kind of dance. You have to know why you're doing what you're doing; otherwise, you're just moving around while music's playing. That my view, at least.

And he teaches facing the viewer, which is bad news. Jose Carrion also faces the camera, but he teaches well enough to make up for it. He apparently is working on a series of Orisha-dance DVDs. His video teaching four types of Eleggua (one of the Orisha) is also being sold at www.boogalu.org. I'd go with that one instead of Barroso's DVD. But that's just me.


Thanks for the recommendations. I recall sweavo saying that the Jose Carrion DVD moved pretty slowly for him, but if I can really get good information out of the DVD, then it might be worth a try. Mambo_LR, I was actually going to buy the other DVD by Jose Barroso. Would you say it was good for a non-beginner to learn the orisha dancers (perhaps accompanied by other sources to learn their origins)? The reason I ask that is because much of the way I picked up traditional West African dance was through watching and mimicing in class (although there was always an explanation in the beginning of the what and the why of each dance). Also, does Jose not teach columbia because it is for men?
ETA: I just ordered the Jose Carrion DVD and am quite excited! I will report back as soon as I receive it!