Artistic Visions Ron & Bethana Rosario
NY STYLE -
Level = Absolute Beginners
The basic Salsa video starts off with a demonstration of the style of Salsa taught by Ron & Bethana. Ron & Bethana are teaching what I describe as the fourth major Salsa style. This style of Salsa is international. I have never been to a country yet or nightclub where someone was not teaching or dancing this style. I am not sure of this style's history so it may have started in New York. In my current city over 75% of the Salsa schools teach their basic techniques this way. This video has a huge market.
This couple teach a very smooth flowing Salsa. The basic video teaches you the fundamentals of Salsa. They both take turns teaching so you get both sexes views & steps. They break the steps down for both sexes so if you are single you can learn the steps as well. Ron counts the beats + Quick Quick Slow + adds music. They teach Cuban motion for the basic step. They break the steps down in directions like front, side, back. They give you options for these basic steps. They teach basic combinations so you can add the steps all together to produce a good flow.
This is a good basic very detailed video to teach a good flowing Salsa. It is suitable for couples or singles.
I would also recommend this video for beginner Salsa teachers.

Red Hot Salsa: Advanced
This is a basic Advanced social video. The video again follows the same pattern as their other videos.
The steps are easy to learn. The steps in this video could be learned by any level dancer due to the teaching style.
This video combines some traditional steps with some modern NY Style steps.
A very smooth flowing Salsa with no breaks or stops between the moves. One step flows effortlessly into the next.
With this video you end up with some very nice flowing Salsa combinations. They offer options on several of the steps.
The video is full of some fairly common moves. They show both Men's & Ladies styling for the moves.

Overall the three Salsa videos produce a very nice easy to learn flowing Salsa. I like & use this style. The teaching in these videos is also good for those practicing without partners as the steps are broken down into Male & Female parts very clearly.
The videos teach all the standard techniques you need for basic social Salsa. These videos are also a great series for the person who is just starting to learn by video.

Red Hot Salsa: Mambo Shines
This is an excellent Shine video for beginners. This is my pick for Mambo Shines for absolute beginners.
This video starts off with a demo of the shines taught in this video facing the camera. At the end of this video a demo is given facing away from the camera giving you the back view so you can practice the shines with them.
The instruction is very clear. The shines are repeated several times facing the camera then away from the camera giving the back view so you get both instruction from the front & back making the shines easy to learn. The music is ideal for learning the shines as it is a nice pace for instruction.
Both Ron & Bethana are performing the shines as Ron teaches them so you get both the Men's & Ladies styling at the same time. Bethana includes some nice Ladies styling to the shines
A combination of the shines is given first, then each shine is taught, then the whole combination is taught.
Ron teaches the most common NY shines in this video.
This is a great first video for learning NY shines. Highly recommended.

New York Salsa Video - Beginner Step on One Vol.1
Diana and Juan of Cultural Explosion

New York Salsa Video - Intermediate Step on One
Diana and Juan of Cultural Explosion

PREVIEW OF CULTURAL EXPLOSION IN REALPLAYER

The most enjoyable fun Salsa teachers on the market. A lovely young couple who love to dance & teach. Diana is the most enjoyable female Salsa teacher on the market. Great sense of humor. Very enjoyable. The teachers have fun & enjoy what they are showing you.
Neal & his female partners No.1 most enjoyable video to learn Salsa from.

I am going to review these videos as a couple of videos because if you are a beginner you will need to buy the beginners video first. In the Intermediate video they refer to step combinations taught in the first video. You can buy the intermediate video separately if you have done some training as they refer to common known Salsa terms.

Both videos are very good value, 52 & 45 min long , well produced good pause but they most importantly have a SLOW MOTION ON ALL COMPLEX MOVES as well as the normal speed , plus the breakdown of the steps. They give you both forward & back views plus both sides for cross body leads. They do not over detail the footwork but I feel it does not matter as you can rewind. They add several styling combinations to a move so you can choose what you like. They teach the women how to be sexy, dramatic, & romantic. They give the men tips on what behavior women find acceptable & what is not. These tips on how to avoid being slapped!!! are a must view for all male LA style dancers.
The teachers give you warnings on possible injuries on the turns to protect your partners.
Both the videos are full of useable steps & combinations. I enjoyed the fact they explained how to make the common combinations out ot the steps shown. They show steps in both videos that nobody else does but also give you the most common steps. I really enjoyed the Intermediate video. Very nice combinations.
Although there are some known NY steps. I feel these videos could also be used by LA style dancers as well.
I really have only one complaint about these videos. Cultural Explosion is a well known & liked performance dance company going by the Salsa message boards. I would of liked to have seen a small clip of one of their demo's in the back or front of these videos. The clips they do show are too short & just make me want to get my hands on any advanced videos they may make in the hope they will show some of their demo's. They have short clips of Salsatrio, etc.

The first advanced level video has been finished & they are planning on  versions which will include demo's of their performance dance company. All new videos made will also include a demo of their performance dance company.

New York Salsa - Advanced Vol. 1  Full of steps I like & use.
I was watching this video with a group of my Advanced social Lady dancers & within 2 minutes of this video playing Diana had all of us smiling & laughing. The interplay between Juan & Diana keep us smiling & laughing throughout this video. They are fun teachers who enjoy their Salsa dancing & teaching.
This couple are the first Salsa teachers I have seen on video that I would like to take classes with. Their Salsa classes must be fun.

Although this video is not called a Ladies Spin video I feel it is great for this. The video is full of double, triple & quadruple turns right up to the 20's + spins. Diana gives some great tips on Ladies spinning.
The video is also full of Ladies styling tips.

The step combinations are shown & taught on ONE  & on TWO so all dancers can learn the steps. The steps are danced to music on ONE & on TWO. This video teaches one of the most famous steps, the "Coffee Grinder". I have seen this step being taught in other Salsa videos but I like Juan & Diana version of teaching it the best.

As most of the steps in this video were being shown. The ladies with me were calling out, 'Neal's social'. Most of the steps in this video are what I like to use with my Advanced Social Ladies.
This video is full of steps I like to use. This video was like watching my favorite moves been shown. My styling is different than that used in this video so I was able to get some new endings or variations of the steps. As all the turn combinations are shown with several different styling & endings or versions you end up with some impressive steps.
The moves by Super Mario from England were nice.

The video is very good value for money. It is a good length & the picture quality is amazing.

This video is a great introduction to Advanced Salsa. I am looking forward to seeing their new videos they are producing this year.

New York Salsa Volume 1 Combo Set
As the reviews for all the videos in this Combo set are just above this I will just say this this.
This is the most fun way of learning Salsa I have seen so far. The teachers show some of the best known steps & turn combinations with some new turns so to make it interesting. I have been impressed with all three videos.

They are working on another Advanced + a Ladies styling video due out early this year 2002.

Learn Salsa/Mambo
Another cheap Salsa video. But takes to long to get. I cancelled my order after waiting several weeks.

Cal Pozo's Learn to Dance in Minutes: Salsa Merengue
Learn to Dance in Minutes, Cal Pozo.
Level = Absolute Beginners
CUBAN & GENERAL HISPANIC STYLE
Note: Best beginner's video for people with no dance experience or two left feet. Very basic but very detailed. This video teaches traditional Salsa as done by hundreds of millions of Hispanic's all over the world. This Salsa step is necessary for those of you who want to dance with Hispanic's or to go on to learn Cumbia or Nouveau Flamenco dance. I must point out that Cal is an average dancer at best. His friends or students on this tape are terrible. I laugh ever time I watch them. The music is not great but it is the techniques that make this video worth buying. This is the only video on my list that shows this style of Salsa.
Please note: These are the polite USA version of these steps. In Latin America there is no gap between the dancers when you do these steps.
This is a very popular video. Other people give it a better rating than I do. I try to point out the bad things as well as the good things in all my reviews. Also includes a basic Merengue.

Salsa & Merengue  This video is also sold as Learn to Dance Salsa. Different cover but same video.

Lets Dance Salsa 2 Tape Set
Review of Tape 1 This is a massively long video at 90 min.
The warm up steps that Marlon teaches are fairly common. But the interesting thing is he explains the styles of the steps. In most school warm ups you will be taught the different styles of latin dances it is just usually your teacher will not explain where the steps come from or the style. Marlon explains how to dance with style & rhythm. He explains about the three major types of movement in dancing, ( Upper body, Hips, Lower body ).
The best dancers I have seen have always been able to use all three body movements & even use them to different rhythms.
Marlon shows how to change the steps from beginner to advanced. He explains his 5 basic Salsa style steps. I enjoyed his section on Spinning as it made me realize how my Cuban dance background was effecting my Cumbia dancing. He explains how to spin for a beginner. Explains the common mistakes. How the different dances spin differently. He explains what to do when another couple hits you on the dance floor, how to recover & keep dancing. In his couple section I liked that he explained that everyone feels the rhythm differently, how to dance together with different steps & still dance as a couple. He spends a lot of time in this video teaching you how to learn your own self style & how to join with someone to dance as a couple. He warns about a great many common mistakes for beginners.
This is only a small part of what I liked about this video. This is a massively long video in which he teaches about many concepts that most Salsa dancers should know. I learned some things from this video & I have been a professional latin dancer since the 1960's.
This video is suitable to any style of Salsa dancer.
Review of Tape 2 This again is a very long tape 80 min.
Marlon teaches a series of combinations. All of these combinations are not only used in Cumbia but also in the Salsa/Mambo styles. Most Salsa teachers fail to explain that these steps are Cumbia based. The key point on this video I would like to make is when doing any form of neck spin just to guide the female ( NEVER FORCE NECK SPINS ). Also in a social dance be sure the female does neck spins first before beginning one as neck problems are common. Marlon starts to teach the base moves for the Salsatrio 33 min & 39 min. He teaches the moves as a couple not as a trio but you should be able to work out how to do the spins as a trio. Marlon then starts to teach the Merengue. He explains common vocabulary & etiquette that is good for other latin dances as well.

Let's Dance Salsa: Intermediate & Advanced Lessons, 2 Tape Set
Marlon Silva's "CyberStyle" Salsa intermediate & advanced moves.
Review of Intermediate Lessons 71 min
Explains about body motion for latin dancing, how to move. The stretching techniques are good as I notice a large number of females drop out due to back injury's. Men seem to have more wrist problems. But we say the injury never leaves us, it just moves to a different part of the body. The Cape combinations are one of the most requested moves asked for on the Salsa message boards. This video is the best I have found at explaining them. Marlon explains common mistakes made. I enjoyed that he explained the difference between the swing head lock ( very common sight ) & the true Salsa head lock. Combinations are given so you can add all the moves together. My favorite technique is a way of getting out of a divorce technique. ( divorce techniques are moves done back to back. They are fairly common but most people do not know of any smooth ways of getting out of them ).
Review of Advanced Combinations 1 60 min
Marlon teaches a basic social whip. This technique can be used by performance companies by increasing the number of spins.
The whip is a very popular technique. The Tunnel version that Marlon is teaching I must call a haircumb Tunnel as there are several techniques called the Tunnel. The inside haircumb Tunnel that he teaches is one of my favorite techniques in Salsa/Mambo style.
The Merengue techniques are very good. In fact they are the best I have seen in any video so far.
Many video teachers have included some Merengue but this is the way I would teach a beginner.
Marlon again explains the most common mistakes, adds spice to all the basic techniques, shows several directions, etc.

Let's Dance Salsa: Advanced and Expert Combinations 2 Tape Set

Let's Dance Salsa Advanced Combo 1

Let's Dance Salsa Advanced Combo 2

Let's Dance Salsa - Team Dancing (VHS)
Salsatrios & Casino Rueda ? If you buy this would you like to write a review on it PLEASE.

Marlon teaches Traditional Salsa not Mambo. His style is based on the backstep. His videos contain few steps & combinations but are very detailed. His teaching style is slow & includes all directions. His videos are up to 90 minutes long.
I feel his videos are of use to those who like Cumbia & Salsatrio. ( Salsatrio is usually two women & one man combination ). This is what I use these videos for. These videos do not teach Salsatrio but lay the ground work for it.
His style is better suited to those who want to be good dancers but do not want to appear trained.

FREE VIDEO PREVIEW OF LETS DANCE SALSA

Warning Ultra LARGE file 19.13 Mb
Part of this downloadable media file contains Salsatrio.
Download Instructions: Right click to download above. A menu will appear. Select "Save target as" and save the file to your hard drive. Then double click the downloaded file to play. File size: 19 Megs.
You need Windows Media Player to view preview. 

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Dance Hot Salsa Video 2 Levels 3 & 4
Level = Beginners Intermediate +
Dance Hot Salsa 2 video follows the same pattern as video 1 but with more advanced BASIC steps. There are 22 steps shown in this video. A person with rhythm will be able to do any of the techniques in both Hot Salsa videos with ease due to the teaching style shown. Both videos teach basic Salsa steps. Together both videos give you a total of 47 Salsa steps. All you will need for nightclub dancing. Video is 45 minutes long.

Salsa & Merengue 1-2-3
Level = Beginners Advanced
is a video of Salsa combinations from basic to advanced. This video is better viewed after you have learned the steps in her Hot Salsa series. Please note forms/ patterns/ combinations like this are used to teach you how to flow from one move to the next without a break. Please do not use these patterns in a nightclub as many other people also know these patterns & they may laugh at you. Please note the tempo of the Salsa music in her videos. If the music is faster remember to speed up the moves. I have read comments on the message boards about people using these forms to different speeds of music. The idea is to use these forms then change them to suit the music. Mix the forms up. Josie also includes some basic shines.  Josie uses the same pattern to teach as her Hot Salsa video. Josie then teaches the basic Merengue techniques.
There are 8 Salsa combinations & 11 Merengue steps shown. Video is 45 minutes long.

Night Club Cha cha cha
Level = Beginners Advanced
Josie Neglia calls the steps in this video her version of nightclub cha cha. To me the steps in this video look like Latin American Ballroom Cha cha. There is nothing wrong with this I am just trying to explain the style as opposited to a street style Cha cha cha. There some very complex turns in this video as well as the most basic steps.
This is a good length video 70 minutes. I enjoyed the clips at the end of the mistakes they made making this video. Lots of Salsa teachers have been trying to make videos in the last couple of years, most do not because it is so hard. They show each step three ways. (1) They count the beat (2) They explain the man's & women's parts separately.
(3) They dance the step to music. There are 20 steps explained. This is more than you need for social nightclub dancing.

Ladies Styling technique for Salsa dancing
Not planing on buying due to the mixed reviews from other people.

Josie's Advanced Salsa Variations
Level = Beginners advanced to Advanced
This is a strong LA Style video. I will not give a breakdown of the steps as I assume Amazon.com will do this. The video starts out with a warning about possible injury's & the flooring you should have for the advanced flips.
The sections are divided into into (1) Footwork. Female then Male shines then together shines.
IMPORTANT : The shines are only shown facing the camera. NO BACK VIEWS. Also the feedback from students is you will need a good pause & still advance on your video to learn these shines as the instruction is fast.
Shines are solo steps done away from your partner. You can either do the same techniques or your own separate steps.
(2) Turns. From basic to advanced. (3) Dips & Drops. On the Death Drop. I would ask that you use a palm to palm grip when you are first learning it then go to fingertips. (4) Lifts & Flips.
The techniques range from advanced Basic to Advanced. Some are awkward & some are finishing display techniques.
In the short demo section in the front of this video is the most advanced flip which is not taught in this video. It is the last technique before Josie introduces herself. It only shows the start of the technique.
There are some good techniques in this video. It even has a good start technique of a Cuban enfolding turn ( Trompo).
It is fast paced & average length.
The only thing wrong with this video is the quality of the tape. The pause quality is not good. 

Advanced Salsa Combinations & Tricks - Video 9

Dips, Lifts, and Solos to Spice up Your Salsa 
Appears to be an advanced NY/ Boston style performance video from the Razz M Tazz & Latin Ballroom backgrounds.

S1: Salsa Vol. 1 Dance Instruction Videotape

S2: Salsa Vol. 2 Dance Instruction Videotape

Energetic Salsa
This video is irritating. I cannot recommend this video for beginners because of the bad camera angles, bad techniques, bad teaching.  If you can follow by his voice commands alone then okay but for beginners this video would take lots of viewing. They cut the senior dancers out of the screen & change the camera angle about every 15 seconds throughout the whole workout. By the finish the music was driving me nuts. I have watched this video just once now I am going to throw it in the garage & forget about it. I recommend you try some of the other Salsa Aerobic videos on the market.

Salsa
This is the best Salsa movie.
Bobby Rosa stars in this movie based on West Coast Salsa. This is without doubt the best Salsa dance movie ever made. The story line & acting are what you can expect from a 80's movie. I love this movie & play it often. You should be able to rent a copy in your local USA video store. There is some great techniques in this movie. This is where lots of teachers got their start techniques from in the 80's. The movie has short sections of dancers doing Rueda & Salsatrio as well as Salsa.

Hot Street Salsa & Merengue

Learn the Texican Tejano dance styles
Basic Cultural social dance. Only one or a couple of moves shown by non dance teachers for each dance style. The cover says they are professional dance teachers but I can only call them social dancers who maybe teach their friends. Social dancers yes, dance teachers, no.
The Tejano Polka, Waltz, Cumbia.
The base step for the Balada is an important step for South American's to learn.
I enjoyed the video but must say it is very limited in what it teaches.
This video is great for Selena Fan's. This is what I am using the dance steps for.

Merengue
Rated:
Not for sale to persons under age 18.

Sizzling Latin
Level = Absolute Beginners
Merengue- Cha cha cha - Salsa/ Mambo
 

Latin Dancing & Argentine Tango
Dances Covered: Rumba, Cha - Cha, Salsa/Mambo, Merengue, Samba/Cumbia, Paso Doble and Argentine Tango.

Invitation to Dance - Latin Dancing (Salsa, Cha Cha, Rumba, Tango)

Lively Latin Note: Basic but good Cha cha cha
(Note: There are several more Latin style dance videos on this site. Just use the search engine with "latin".

Salsa for the World
Not going to buy due to other peoples reviews.

Lambada
There are three major styles of Brazilian Lambada. Maranhao/ Bahia/ Rio. This video shows the Rio style. This is the only style taught in the USA I believe. This is a very basic but very detailed video. It covers the most basic turns. Vicki counts the beats then dances the Lambada to two speeds of music. After each new move is learned they are then joined into a pattern with all the moves shown. This is a good length video with clips of her other dance videos at the end. The only complaint I have with this video are. They show their ballroom background in the rigid dancing. Lambada is a street dance you should move the arms in time with the rest of your body ( no fixed arms ). There needs to be more hip rotation in the street style.
Lambada is not always a fast dance. It also can be a medium pace.
Vicki also sells a basic style NY Mambo video on this site. Mambo: You can Dance