Los Van Van: Picture by Miguel del Foto, copyright www.londonsalsascene.co.uk

CELEBRATING THEIR 40TH BIRTHDAY, CUBA'S GREATEST DANCE BAND LOS VAN VAN HAS RELEASED A NEW ALBUM "ARRASANDO".
        Fusing the new and the old, Arrasando returns Van Van to their musical beginnings where old school elegance fuses the blood and guts of the masters of timba. Arrasando needs to be listened to, to be felt, to be sipped with reflection.
       Arrasando creates a new and unexpected vibe - after the dance-floor meltdown of Chapeando, their previous release, I was expecting a more experimental, frenetic next stop. After 40 years, the Go Go's are still full of surprises. Arrasando returns the band to its roots - this sounds like the Van Van of years ago, only with an adrelin injection.
        For Salsateca Founder and Director Elder Sanchez, this is a great album and the lyrics especially hit a new high. There are some fantastic dance tunes, including the eponymous title track and more. But, says Elder, this is a tricky album for dancers. Abandon all your old moves and feel the soul of Cuba's finest. Ed.

LONDON SALSA SCENE'S BEST PARTY SALSA MUSIC CDS
Dateline: Friday 20th February 2009

Best Vibes for Salsa Parties

The best parties need the best salsa music - but what do you choose? Here are our Salsa CDs for 2009, recommended by Luis Libres (aka DJ Mr Bongo) and London Salsa Scene's Oracle.
       Our top tips (in alphabetical order only) include a quartet of offerings from Cuba's greatest dance band Los Van Van. Now celebrating their 40th birthday, the band has just released their latest album, Arrasando. This takes the Go-Go's back to their musical roots, fusing retro elegance with a massive electrical charge. €12.90 from:
www.latinmusicstore.com
,,,,,LONDON SALSA SCENE RECOMMENDS: Saturday 20th March 2010, LOS VAN VAN @ THE ROUNDHOUSE, Cuba's finest band back at the Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, London,
NW1 8EH www.roundhouse.org.uk 8.30pm, £25.00 SEE OUR EVENTS SECTION & WWW.COMONO.CO.UK

I Like It Like That - a double CD collection of Fania classics and funky remixes. Hear Fania giants like Willie Colon, Ruben Blades, Tito Puente, La Lupe the way they would havedone it in the noughties. Buy from: www.mrbongo.com 

Kachaco, Palenke are favourites on the UK salsa scene and this album captures their intimate vibe. £10.00 from:
www.mrbongosalsa.com tel: 0208 800 0460.

Rhythms Del Mundo Cuba - Universal Music, featuring Coldplay, U2, Sting, Ibrahim Ferrer and Omara Portuondo and more. Great crossover album of Latinized pop plus standards from Buena Vista's finest. £4.98 - a bargain from www.amazon.co.uk 

Robert Charlemagne's Salsa Nation, Vol 3 - scorching compilation of sure fire winners including Oscar D'Leon; El Gran Combo; Marc Anthony and Los Van Van. Chocka with dance foor classics. £10.00 from: www.mrbongosalsa.com tel: 0208 800 0460.

Salsa con Soul, Alex Wilson - the UK's top Latin piano man and his 12-piece orchestra brings together Salsa with Soul flavours and melting Gospel vocals. Buy from
www.alexwilson.net or £9.48 www.amazon.co.uk 

Salsa Dura NYC - you ain't heard cool until you hear New York City's finest - the likes of Eddie Palmieri, Wayne Gorbea, Jimmy Delgardo, Jimmy Bosch. Buy from: www.worldmusic.net £8.99.

Valio la Pena, Marc Anthony Price $13.99, www.amazon.com Perfect Latin tunes from one of the Latin pop world's top performers.

Did we get it right? If you've got suggestions for BETTER & HOTTER PARTY ALBUMS, JUST LET US KNOW - WE WILL POST YOUR VIEWS HERE. Ed

LONDON SALSA SCENE REVIEWS           Monday 16th February 2009

La Rueda with Moe Flex

DVD REVIEW: La Rueda with Moe Flex Dance, Levels 1-2 & Level 3
PRICE: £18.00 each, £15.00 if you buy both
BUY FROM: www.moeflexdance.com

PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST entertaining personalities on the UK salsa scene, Moe Flex introduces dancers to La Rueda – the Cuban Wheel with these two instructional DVDs.
         Delivered in Moe's inimitable style, they cover a selection of moves/calls dancers need to get a groove going on the dance floor, writes Lee Knights, editor, www.londonsalsascene.co.uk             La Rueda Levels 1 & 2 is pitched at absolute beginners/improvers to the Cuban Wheel, breaking down essentials comprising the basic guapea step, pa'l medio, Americano and Americana, arriba, taro, dile que no, fly, echevarria, dame as well as enchufla, la prima and sombrero variations. These are demonstrated first with a partner, without and with music and subsequently in the circle, again without and with music, and with styling. Very methodical and easy to digest.
       La Rueda Level 3 follows the same instructional formula, with more complex moves/calls demonstrated first with a partner, then within the circle and finally with music. This time, Moe Flex and his team focus on classic Rueda moves/calls like pelota, setenta, sombrero, enroscate and policia variations, along with patin, paseala and sacala.
       These are well structured, well presented and well planned, with a strong instructional approach. While Moe's humour and sense of fun are still there, the serious side of Moe's character and instructional focus is to the fore.
       A couple of minor niggles - I would like to see more comprehensive Rueda demos showing how moves flow from one to another and get integrated into the circle. Another frustration is having to wait for Moe to produce follow up DVDs on La Rueda  – I reckon these are going to be juicy show-stoppers!  
       Buy both and use alongside classes and workshops to recap on moves/calls and go over technical details. Solid gold instruction for absolute beginners through to serious Rueda lovers looking for pointers. So far, Moe Flex's take on La Rueda is among the best on the market.

Review: Marchant Birch - Alchemy Way

London Salsa Scene DVD Competition - Dateline: 3rd March 2010

Salsa Crazy Cha Cha Cha On2

DVD Review: Salsa Crazy – Cha Cha Cha On2
From: www.salsacrazy.com 
Instructors: Tianne Frias & Felipe Martinez
Price: $47

For On1 salsa dancers, learning to dance mambo or cha cha cha On2 is a natural progression, a route to broadening out your understanding of Latin rhythms and dance styles and taking your dancing to the next level, writes Lee Knights.
            Often, this is easier said than done. There is a mystique around dancing On2 – the preferred style of many performers on the UK salsa scene – that social dancers can find off putting. Here is one DVD that lets dancers into the mystery and makes dancing Cha Cha Cha On2 - New York club style – accessible.
          Refreshingly, this is one of the few instructional DVDs I've seen that starts with the music – a breakdown of the conga tumbao, the rhythm for the basic step used in this style of Cha Cha Cha. Instructors Tianne Frias & Felipe Martinez explain that dancers break or change direction on the slap of the conga that falls on the count of 2 and 6.
          Instruction covers the range – moving from Cuban motion, basic and side steps, right hand turn, open break, cross body lead for leaders and followers, to a series of turn patterns. Steps and moves are taught separately and in partnership, with and without music, enough repetition, different angles to satisfy.
          Tianne and Felipe make this feel like a live class, offering lots of useful tips that make this worth watching over and over again. As usual for On2, the emphasis is on the follower's perspective. Production values are good - with 90 minutes of instruction, there is plenty on offer to keep dancers progressing smoothly.
          This does have one limitation – there's a massive gap from beginner/improver to intermediate level, but this is after all only 1 DVD and not a series! 
                                               London Salsa Scene

March Competition - Winner

 Win Salsa Crazy DVD & 2 Tickets to Latin Pulse, 8th April!
To enter, email lee@londonsalsascene.co.uk with the words "March Competition" as the heading, including your name, address, and a telephone number (preferably a landline) by midday 4th April. Congratulations Victoria Boland, Great Sutton, Ellesmere Port - you are our winner!

London Salsa Scene DVD COMPETITION    December 24th 2009

Iris de Brito is The Queen of Body Isolation - Body Talk 2

Photograph copyright: Miguel del Foto - 07734 72 1983

DVD Review: Body Talk 2
By: Iris de Brito
Buy: www.irisdebrito.com
Price: £15.00, including p&p
Contact: info@irisdebrito.com
Twice UK Salsa Champion (1999/2003) Iris de Brito is in a class of her own when it comes to Afro-Cuban body movement and cross body styling - Body Talk 2 confirms her once again as the Queen of Body Isolation, writes Lee Knights, www.londonsalsascene.co.uk
        There are no flashy moves here, just earthy, musically connected Afro-Cuban body movement - shoulders, torso, arms, hips - plus examples of sharper body styling for cross body style dancers.
        This is well presented, it's easy to see what's going on and styling is well explained broken down. I would have liked more content but, on the other hand, this isn't overwhelming and practice can be targeted on core movements.
        While aimed mainly at beginners and improvers, the bone-achingly beautiful body movement Iris covers here is essential for all women dancers. Watch how Iris implements her tool box of moves, styling and accents in freestyle, routine and performance.
        Body Talk 2 is for women dancers at all levels who want to look, feel and move in a more fluid, feminine way on the dance floor. Probably the biggest draw is getting clear guidance on how to make your styling look and feel natural. Use alongside Body Talk 1 – in my view, still the most comprehensive guide to body isolation on the market.

NEW YEAR COMPETITION 

Terms & Conditions: 1 entry per person, no persons employed by London Salsa Scene or their partners may enter, no cash alternative, not transferable, cannot be substituted for other prizes. Please ensure you enter all details or your entry will be disqualified. Winner selected at random on closing date and contacted by the editor after this date.