Review of Salsa Dance Party

Introduction

A CD/DVD pack boasting a `Learn to dance Salsa` feature as well as some footage `live and direct from Cuba` - whatever that might be on a pre-recorded DVD. There`s also a 15 track Salsa CD so that you and your dancing partner can Salsa all night long, should you wish to do so.

The DVD kicks off with a `Beginners Level` class, with a peculiarly clad `teacher` standing centre screen in what looks like an empty function room above a pub. It`s dark, dim and grim, shot on video with little help from the lighting man. The teacher has two assistants standing to his left and right, grinning like extras from an episode of `The League of Gentlemen`. It`s not a pretty picture - with grain and video dropout adding to the lo-fi, lo-budget feel of the programme. In broken English, the tutor takes us through some basic steps which, to this novice, seem very basic indeed and clearly intended to build confidence for the new starter. Supplemented with some sample dancing we`re then whisked off to a Cuban exterior where we can see two youngsters dancing the Salsa around a swimming pool. These sequences are marred through sun burnout and the filthiest lens I`ve seen since filming a sneezing clown at a children`s party. (For crying out loud - wipe the lens!! It ain`t rocket science!). I guess this is what they meant by `Dirty Dancing` … The editor, clearly embarrassed about the quality of the material he`s working with, over compensates with some furious editing that largely obscures any instructional benefit.

We`re then transported to a badly lit bar (Cuba live and direct?) for more very dirty, almost un-viewable dancing. The cameraman figures what the hell and cranks the grain up rather than bring any additional lighting and what we get is a nasty grainy scene with a reddish-hue. The kind of shot that would prompt you to send the security camera back for repair. Sure, the dancing`s fine - what we can see of it - but this is really sub-standard stuff, and unnecessarily so.

Onto the intermediate level, we see illustrations that feature dark costumes against dark backdrops with little light again. The white balance in the bar this time through is all over the place and there is a trail of nauseating green light as the camera battles with the fluorescents in the bar. Again, too many cuts to properly follow the moves.

In the Advanced section there is a little relief in the form of some Cuban street footage (Havana) with a brief glimpse of those wonderfully preserved 1950`s US cars making the whole deal look like a stylised Pepsi commercial. But then it`s back to some dancing in a bar - this time outside. So from under-lit, we`re into over-lit with the cameras unable to cope with the daytime sun.

And then it`s over. Time to take off the dance shoes and look for that damned receipt. If you hurry, maybe you`ll get a refund. You`ll almost certainly want one.

Video

Unbelievably and unforgivably poor. Video drop out, grain, burnout, filthy lens problems and poor composition and lighting are just some of the treats this disc has in store. Scandalously bad.

Audio

Well, I have to say, not too bad. There`s a choice of Stereo or 5.1 and music is rich and full. Voice is OK but the broken English makes the instruction difficult to follow.

Features

There`s a natty 15 track CD here with most the music from the DV and some extra tracks too. It`s not `Buena Vista Social Club` but it`s not bad either. Nothing else though, but believe me - when you see this production you`ll agree that less is more.

Conclusion

This DVD boasts three class levels by a top Cuban dance instructor, authentic Cuban illustrative footage and a bonus CD too. I guess when compared to the costs of taking Salsa lessons it might appear to be a favourable deal. Unfortunately it`s let down by the most cynically low Production values this reviewer has seen in some time, betraying an amateurishly slap-dash approach with no regard for lighting, composition or even decent Direction or planning. A shoddy affair that should be avoided.