CASINO CUBANO
with LÁZARO NORIEGA

casino and salsa are different...
Lázaro shows how they dance in Cuba today.
~ learn the basic casino steps, basic casino, transitions, and turns
~ instruction on casino styling
~ instruction about leading and form
~ exercises on to how to move your body
~ performance of Cuban dance styles that have influenced casino

With is roots in Cuba, "salsa" music and dance has evolved and become a global phenomena with a wide variety of styles and new interpretations. This video was produced to give Latin dancers around the World insight into how Cubans dance "salsa" or what is known in Cuba as "casino". Through instruction, demonstration, and performance, "Casino Cubano" is your introductory guide into this exciting popular dance style - a style that draws heavily from Cuba's rich cultural traditions.

The "Casino Cubano" video features Lázaro Noriega, an accomplished dancer, choreographer and dance company director. Presented here is Lazaro's system of teaching casino that he has developed over the past several years in dance classes in Europe and Cuba.

The video is composed of three parts:

part one ~ casino dance instruction
(19 segments)
Lazaro explains and demonstrates the basic steps, turns, and style of casino dancing accompanied by two members of his dance company, Iván and Dayami. Segment titles include: three basic steps - position -
"el bote" - primary casino step with partner - steps for doing turns - simple turns - more complex turns - dancing casino advice

part two ~ Cuban dance movement
These exercises, led by Dayami, are helpful in learning how to move and groove in the Cuban style.

part three ~ living Cuban dance traditions
The video concludes with a powerful performance of three traditional forms of Cuban dance that have significantly influenced contemporary casino dancing: orisha dance, rumba, and son. Iván and Dayami end the video with an exciting casino solo.

"Casino Cubano" is in Spanish with printed notes in English explaining in detail all the dance instructions and content on the video.

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reviews of the dvd

E.Q.B.
"Well, I just sat and watched the Casino Cubano video. It is excellent.... this is a first level video. I hope that you release very soon a second level and advanced level. It is great to hear the explanation in Spanish and I found the English translation in a booklet. Great quality dancers, methodology and excellent teacher. I recommend this video!!. I purchased almost 11 Cuban style videos and this is my favorite."

A.B.
"I watched the videos many times over and over again. I am so delighted with their content. Very easy to learn from. In fact it has answered so many questions in my mind on how to do several things. Many things make sense to me now after I have watched these two dancers. In brief, the best I have seen in any beginner's instructional video."

L.A.
"My room-mate keeps saying "not that video again"! Needless to say, the dancing in it is what I expected, purely exceptional..... Before going out, I usually play it to "hype myself up."

C.D.
"In the Cubano Casino, it was good to see real Cuban motion. I've taken salsa and merengue classes and I feel the instructors don't know how to teach Cuban motion well."