Customer Reviews

Ladies Latin Styling Core Isolations

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Get that certain Latin look...

Before I saw this DVD, I thought I was getting somewhere with my isolations for dance. And I didn't know there were specific isolation exercises for Latin dancing. One look and I knew I'd better start over with these exercises - and do it right this time. Having learnt body isolations a little bit in jazz class, I found you also have to stylize them for Latin dancing.

In this ladies Latin styling DVD on Core Isolations, Jaana teaches ten essential isolations that will give a woman that certain sexy Latin look. Jaana is sweet-you immediately like her-and she's charming. I do find her very red hair a little distracting though. She starts with the toes and ankles, teaching you ball and toe exercises, Latin points, plies, walks, and rondes. The exact line of your foot is taken up. On the downside, the visibility conditions aren't ideal. Her skin blends so much with the color of the wooden floor, as do the shoes she's wearing so there's very little contrast. Though there are zoom ins, you'll have to struggle with your player's settings to see many essential bits carefully.

Just as unfortunately, the black dress she's wearing doesn't let you see the hip and ribcage isolations that well. Specially as she rather whizzes through them at high speed. A lot more hand holding and detail should have been gone into for these as they're the very heart of the Latin dancing. Combinations with the ribcage and hips, for instance, the role of the knees, etc.

Jaana goes into, head spotting and neck rolls, shoulder isolations-but does this sketchily, leaving out shoulder rolls. She does a wonderful bit on arm, hand and finger isolations that can themselves change the look of your dancing.

For each isolation, Jaana explains (too very quickly), demonstrates, and then takes up a little exercise session. The music gets rather jarring as it changes through segments and separators into some hard disco sounds.

It says the DVD is okay for beginners but I personally think it would be better if you've been through some isolations before in your life. It makes other ladies styling DVDs look quite elementary. I bought the DVD as an "extra" with Jaana Kunitz's others on salsa and cha cha. It turns out this one is absolutely essential if you want to get anywhere with the other two. (Or three-there's one on Rumba as well).

This DVD is amazing value for money.