Today Katie and I are releasing a review of another salsa lesson website called SalsaLessons.Tv, a company based out of Seattle.

Full Disclosure: Even though this is a paid review, we always will give our honest opinons.

When we first set out to make this review we had to consider what factors were important about a site in order to give a well rounded synopsis.

• Level of Instruction
• Credential Validation
• Feeling of wanting more – Depth of site
• Look and feel – Design
• Navigation
• Pricing

Brief Synopsis

SalsaLessons.Tv is a premium (i.e. paid) online salsa lesson website run by Salsa Con Todo a salsa studio based out of Seattle. The videos are hosted by artistic director to the Salsa Con Todo studio, Vassili, and is joined by students and fellow teachers throughout the various lessons. As a new member your subscription is based on whether you want videos tailored to a follower or leader. This will give you access to a large amount of videos focusing on moves, sequences, musicality, styling, and patterns related to your account type (leader or follower). The majority of the videos are On1 salsa, however they also include Merengue, Bachata, and Guaguancó movements.

Level of Instruction

Vassili’s instruction is great! Very thorough and easy to understand. He shows his proficiency as a teacher with each video. I particularly enjoyed the musicality videos and have already used some of his styling tips in my teaching and dancing. Some of the videos however have poor audio – mainly due to the mic on the camera being used instead of a lavalier mic (clip on). Still the teaching is of high quality and provides great technique as well as style.

The levels range from beginners to advanced and provide enough content that even if you are a more advanced dancer you will not feel like you are paying for unused material.

Credential Validation

Credentials for a good salsa teacher are not very meaningful to us. We don’t care if you’ve been studying under the most famous salsa instructors or if you’ve learned on your own. We only care if you can deliver the material in an intelligent way, that is fun, safe (cause you CAN break something), and is consistent. Vassili not only meets our criteria, but he also has a very popular studio in Seattle and is continuing to improve himself by studying with other great dancers.

Feeling of Wanting More – Depth of Site

I did find myself watching video after video but with little connection between them. I would love to see a series build up and grow especially for a paid service. That being said there are a great amount of videos on this site that work at a particular move or sequence and explain it very well.

The site is split up between leaders and followers as mentioned above (you signup as either or). Under the followers section, it is still mainly led by the leader (ha inherent pun). It would be great to have more of the ladies teaching. Whether that was intentional to maintain the same teacher, usually Vassili, or there were no followers comfortable enough to teach the majority of the videos, I do not know. Now there is nothing wrong with a leader teaching a followers part (I often do that) but if and when you have the opportunity to utilize a skilled follower to speak to the specifics of a pattern, jump on it.

Look and Feel – Design

When we first started writing up this review the theme that was used on SalsaLessons.Tv was clean but hard to navigate.

Although we are fond of the minimalist look it can sometimes seem barren. It would be nice to have a little more pop under the videos page something that invites you in to the most recent video or into your most viewed series.

UPDATE: SalsaLesson.Tv did update their theme, still in the minimalist vein, but a much nicer theme mainly due to the navigation (see below). Still think it could use more of a flashy video up front (like most recent, most popular, other videos like this, etc). For the beginner do please click on the “Beginners Guide” on your account home page. This will lead you to a break down of videos recommended on a weekly basis to give you a jumping off point so you dont feel lost.

Site and Navigation

When we first logged in it was hard to find a starting point. The navigation between videos was often confusing. The long list of videos made it difficult to follow your tracks on what you have viewed thus far.

UPDATE: SalsaLessons.Tv has updated their site with a much nicer navigation sidebar for viewing their videos.

Pricing

The pricing model for SalsaLessons.Tv is quite interesting – you can signup for free and you get 5 minutes a day to watch a video (enough time to get the gist of the move) OR signup for Unlimited Access for $24/month and view as many videos as you want, whenever you want.

Overall

SalsaLessons.Tv is a great supplement to any dancer who is looking for either getting some basic instruction and/or more advanced moves and styling. At a quite reasonable price, it’s definitely worth a look.

~Ian and Katie

Click the image below to go directly to the SalsaLessons.Tv site.

http://ilivesalsa.com
This routine includes an interesting lead given from the elbow to lead the lady stepping back. Katie is starting healing and we’re stepping it up.

http://ilivesalsa.com
Our lesson from early october – One handed
routines until Katie heals

Our lesson from the 30th – this semester is already flying by!! enjoy the copa-tastic-ness(?)

As promised here is our Quick Fix Lesson from the 22nd of March – by no attention to the pelvic thrusting at the beginning…. sorry Enjoy!

Darlin J Garcia is hosting a SALSA SOCIAL on June 26th!

Free salsa lesson @ 9 pm by Darlin Garcia, special performances @11, and social dancing all night to salsa, bachata, cha cha, merengue and more.

Purchase tickets in advance, or… at the door – $15.
Contact Darlin Garcia for more information or check out http://blueballroom.net

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COME TO THE HOME OF DAVID MELENDEZ IN THE BOOGIE DOWN BRONX AT STARLITE DANCE STUDIO SPREAD THE WORD! “APRIL 10” Hey come to THE EAST SIDE EDITION Social .

Music by DJ BRIAN!

There will be great performances and more… come support the newest generation of the salsa community!!! 2001 Westchester Avenue Bronx,NY 10462 Corner of Westchester Ave & Pugsley Ave Admission: $10

WE WISH ALL OF OUR SUPPORTERS SHOW SOME LOVE

East Side Edition Performance @ the CT Salsa Fest 2009!