Tamambo: London with Style (int/adv)
Tamambo: London with Style (int/adv)
A curious DVD, read on to see why. I will write this review by reporting my impressions in the same order as they developed while watching it, in order to explain my amazement.
This DVD contains turn patterns and shines. They are well explained, with precise instructions and clear demonstrations. The turn patterns are not ground-breaking, but they do a good job of standard repertoire and mix it with intelligence plus some extra ingredients here and there. As in other DVDs from London, both demonstrations and explanations are given both On1 and On2; however, the two styles are danced exactly the same, (with the exception of the counting of course); you will not see in these two interpretations any of the 4000 miles dividing On1 LA from On2 NY. Ditto for the shines. Instructions are given only from Tamambo (the guy) and a skilled partner helps only in the turn patterns demonstration (= no shines for ladies).
I am getting closer to the curiosity I mentioned before.. the lack of styling difference between the On1 and On2 versions are just one example of a general lack of flair in the entire DVD. The material is nice and well explained, but lacks bite and flavour, which leads me to think that this DVD would be useful only for dancers needing to replenish their repertoire. This impression was strengthened by the shine session, which surely did not impress me.. but hang on.
Here finally is the curiosity I mentioned before. At the end of the instruction you see a performance from Tamambo and his group.. and well, the guy surely can dance! So I was wrong, the guy has style.. I just wonder why it did not come out in the instruction. And this is not all. After Tamambo kisses us goodbye and you think the DVD is well over and you are ready to eject it, suddenly new clips pop out, including one which looks like an impromptu solo show during the setting up of a party.. Gosh, Tamambo is amazing!! Clearly influenced by Frankie Martinez, you see not just style and flaire but personality, sharpness, creativity, technique.. all of it!!
So, here is my interpretation of the puzzle: I think Tamambo is a fantastic dancer who probably thought it was better, for instructional purposes, to remove distractions from the DVD and concentrate on explaining the material with no decorations. At the end he says he will come out with new products soon.. I look forward to it and let’s hope he will teach us some of the material in that last clip!
review by Fabio, SalsaIsGood
dvd available through www.salsa-videos.com
Posted: February 8th, 2007 under CD / Videos.
Comments: 1
Comment from Tamambo
Time: 13 April 2007, 16:40
Hi Fabio,
Thank you so much for an honest and unbiased review of my London With Style Vol. 1 instructional DVD. I welcome all criticism as this would only enable me to do it better next time.
In response to your comments, I picked up on the obvious point of Dancing On1 and On2, in which you clearly see no difference (except the count). Well, this should answer the question as to whether London Style does exsist or not. In the demonstration of the turn patterns you will have realised that the way of dancing On1 has a certain fluidity to it (the way you would dance On2), as opposed to dancing On2, which mains it’s natural fluidity.
I definitely do not dance like a typical East or West Coast salsero. Saying that I dance NY or LA style would be insulting people’s intelligence. I guess the moral of London Style is to break the barriers associated with dancing on a particular beat, rendering both as stylish and fluid as you want them to be.
The other mention was the moves repertoire in which you define them as standard and mixed with intelligence with a couple of ingredients here and there. Once more I applaud your observation. This is the reason it is classified as an Intermediate/Beginner-Advanced DVD.
The intention here was to offer quality instruction by not distracting the viewer in executing difficult turn patters but rather teach them how to play with the space between them and their dance partner, whilst working on the hidden techniques that would otherwise bore the viewer). Although I was able to move in a straight line for shooting the video, the idea behind it is that you maintain that straight line, however, that line will continuosly change throught the dance (envision an asterisk pattern of dance * as oppossed to a line pattern of dance -). That is not explained as the viewer will attempt to overdo it, making it look strange. As the viewer aims to execute the moves he/she will naturally be displaced, achieving what was intended.
Finally, you mention lack of bite and flavour, by this I assume you mean styling explanations. Well, I guess it’ll have to be a styling/partnerwork/footwoork DVD
Obviously, styling is a natural distraction to viewers that will try an mimic the instructor on the DVD. By focusing on the essential techniques of movement, viewers will go on to develop their own styles, taking away just an influence of their instructor.
Now, I’m afraid that when Vol. 2 comes out, the next criticism is: “How the hell are we supposed to do that?! The partnerwork is too complex!”.
Vol. 2 will be released in July 2007. This instructional DVD is labelled: London Style Gone Mad! and it is classified as Advanced. Please visit www.tamambo.com for exact release date.
With regards,
Tamambo
PS Thanks for the dancing comments, very humbling….