Need review for Syllabus dvds.

[papawemba]

Hello everyone !

I just find out the 2 new syllabus DVDs by salsafreak [Syllabus 101 and 102; Syllabus 103-106].
http://www.dancefreak.com/videos/syllabus.htm

The principle sound fantastic !
With :
"The point is, to simplify your more complicated turn patterns into 101's and 102's so that you "can" more easily hit the breaks and hits of the music"
or
"Her unique method allows the leader to more easily remember moves without boring his partner"

Sound exactly what I am looking for... :-)
Any review for this ?

Thanks for any information !
Nicolas

[IsaacAltman]

I have not seen it yet, but this is from someone who was vehemently against the Salsa World having any kind of standard syllabus. I guess she changed her mind. :shock:

[papawemba]

Strange indeed :-)
But I heard this DVDs Syllabus are remake of older Syllabus DVD she did with Herrero.... !!

I hate when they don't write how long is each DVDs. I ask but got no clear answers !! So I decide not to buy unless I read somewhere excellent review. (The older syllabus DVD was 45 minute long...a little short I think for Syllabus subject)

Nicolas

[dosvueltas]

I have to agree. I tend to be a little wary when a DVD seller doesn't describe that DVD in much detail. I believe that it's always good if a DVD has sample clips for you to view just so you know what it is you're likely to get. Otherwise you're just going on faith.

I'll give you an example. I've always admired the Vasquez family and that's the style of dancing that I like the best. To me spins are one of the most beautiful parts of dancing (Some of my Frankie-crazy friends will probably knife me now)

Anyway I went to the Los Rumberos website, saw their LA Style Spins DVD, bought it, and was utterly amazed. There were maybe THREE simple turns, covered AD INFINITUM, and no breakdown whatsoever of how to go from a single to a double. The whole thing was maybe 30min or so. In the end I learnt nothing.

My point is that when there was no detail of the DVD on the website, on content or duration, no reviews, no clips, I should have taken the safe road and said PASS.

[Tony_salvi]

I have not seen it yet, but this is from someone who was vehemently against the Salsa World having any kind of standard syllabus. I guess she changed her mind. :shock:

Seems more like a guide for instructors to help them become more technical, instead of "standardizing" salsa. Besides she never mentions that competitions have to follow this syllabus or that instructors HAVE to teach it that way. I think it's a great tool to use...just that I don't think it's worth the money since you could be taking privates to learn a proper lead instead.

[SDsalsaguy]

Seems more like a guide for instructors to help them become more technical, instead of "standardizing" salsa. Besides she never mentions that competitions have to follow this syllabus or that instructors HAVE to teach it that way. I think it's a great tool to use...just that I don't think it's worth the money since you could be taking privates to learn a proper lead instead.
Lets not overlook the fact that the poster you quoted is the one most responsible for trying to institute any type of standardized salsa syllabus. :roll:

[Tony_salvi]

Seems more like a guide for instructors to help them become more technical, instead of "standardizing" salsa. Besides she never mentions that competitions have to follow this syllabus or that instructors HAVE to teach it that way. I think it's a great tool to use...just that I don't think it's worth the money since you could be taking privates to learn a proper lead instead.
Lets not overlook the fact that the poster you quoted is the one most responsible for trying to institute any type of standardized salsa syllabus. :roll:

That's why I responded in the first place :lol:

[SDsalsaguy]

Seems more like a guide for instructors to help them become more technical, instead of "standardizing" salsa. Besides she never mentions that competitions have to follow this syllabus or that instructors HAVE to teach it that way. I think it's a great tool to use...just that I don't think it's worth the money since you could be taking privates to learn a proper lead instead.
Lets not overlook the fact that the poster you quoted is the one most responsible for trying to institute any type of standardized salsa syllabus. :roll:

That's why I responded in the first place :lol:
Point taken. ;)

[IsaacAltman]

Yes, the WSF did come out with the first standardization for competitive dancing in levels below the open level for obvious reasons, to level the playing field. Since then the WSF has come out with a Colombian Style Salsa Syllabus and is working on a Syllabus for several other styles as well. The WSF is the only organization in the World who recognizes the various styles of Salsa for competition, not just the counts. Some of our biggest critics have now jumped on the bandwagon, albeit their own. They are true Capitalists which I commend them on, however some of them are hypocritical as well.

[SDsalsaguy]

I won't disagree that some are just taking advantage of financial opportunities or that some are, indeed, hypocrites. At the same time personally I find the very idea of a standardized salsa syllabus an anathema.

[IsaacAltman]

Calling it a curse is pretty strong. I just don't see how you are going to foster competitive sport without compulsary figures. Gymnastics does it, ice dancing does it, etc. By the way, the WSF NEVER spouted that one had to social dance like the WSF syllabus. The original syllabus was brought about for competition in lower levels that were not an open level competition. Now the WSF has World titles in L.A., N.Y, Cuban, and Colombian styles and none of these styles go by the WSF syllabus. Many, like Albert Torres, were against any kind of syllabus several years ago as well as competitions. Some have seen the light since then.

[SDsalsaguy]

Please note my wording Isaac, I said "personally I find it..." for a reason. Obviously there are other opinions than mine and I am not suggesting that mine is the only right one, just the one that I happen to hold.

On a different note, I agree with your logic (at least overall) that standardization may well be crucial to fostering a competitive sport. Where we disagree, however, is that salsa should be fostered as such. To me competition is antithetical to everything I value in salsa and, as such, I personally dislike the very idea of any salsa competitions. Certainly there are many who disagree with me, but I don't think that means that my viewpoint is any less valid, especially as there are many who agree with me as well.

[IsaacAltman]

Ok I respect your opinion and I do agree that there may be many who agree with you. I believe there is room for everyone. I am not here to judge you or anyone else. I suppose keeping an open mind and experiencing new things is more important. Thanks for your opinion.

[terence]

A topic dear to my heart !--

I think we should consider the word-- ---

"Standardise " -- in other words-- to set a standard, not necessarily of content to the nth degree, but a basic teaching format thru the 7 or 8 figures that everyone teaches , even if only by
name .( so many versions, name wise, of one single step )

This would have nothing to do with style or the beat you break on ,just good tech. info for anyone who wishes to develop basic skills, with alternates built around those steps .

If you had travelled teaching all over gods green acres, you would see the confusion that exists over basic concepts .- ( much of this ,by the way, comes from ( " teachers ? " ) .

There are, apparently, many who wish to enter the competitive arena, and for that reason alone, it makes sense . whether we like it or not, the comp. side of the genre is here to stay.

Consider this-- everything has to have rules and boundaries , even the music we dance to . But---it still gives a freedom of expression , within those parameters .

I dont know how many people on this site are teachers, and I mean teaching for a living, a career .Those of you who are, could doubtless tell you horror stories of students who have turned up for lessons, who had been with previous " instructors" , and had been misled and misguided .

Credentials, when charging the public for a service, IMHO, are somewhat of a safeguard . I know one can never control the quality of what is being taught, but at least , give them the correct info to disperse .

Remember ------- Dancing is like a house, without a good foundation, sooner or later, it is bound to crumble .

[IsaacAltman]

Well said!! :D :D

[Tony_salvi]

I'd have to agree with SDsalsaguy...salsa to me as a sport does not jive well. A "craft"?..maybe..only because I'm very passionate about it and always try and become better. But forgotten in the slew of congresses, workshops, competitions, DVDs, syllabi(sp?), etc etc...is that Salsa is an expression of music that people dance to have a great time. But I guess it is just human nature to try and get a group of people together to decide who is better at it. I like those local competitions at a club that the prize is free tickets to a congress or something. They're fun natured, no routines, and lots of fun to watch.


I used to disagree with the WSF's idea of a syllabus. But then I realized that I didn't care. Because I don't care about salsa competitions or who wins them, then I could care less if there is some syllabus that dictates how to participate in them. I just hope that some years down the road I don't start to run in to dancers that don't know how to follow a cross body lead just because it was led differently than the way their syllabus says...

[IsaacAltman]

Interesting comment Tony. My mentor in Ballroom and Latin dancing was the late Bobby Medeiros. One day when he was training me I disagreed with what he was showing me and brought out the Latin American Syllabus. I tried to show him his inaccuracy in the book. He took the book looked at it and said to me if I passed the tests for the different levels of the syllabus. I told him yes. He then said, then throw away the book. He said a Syllabus is merely an outline. It won't teach you to really dance, nor will you become a Champions from it. If you base your dancing on a book then you will dance like a book. This came from the most revered Latin Coach in the World. The WSF syllabus is an outline as well, and a way for competitions in the lower levels to compete on an even playing field. It can't make you a dancer. You would be surprised how different people dance the WSF Syllabus.