The Best of Cosmo Tango (2003)

Rating:
Summary: Nothing like it
Review: There is nothing like this DVD that can be found anywhere. The dancers are just outstanding. The performances are so captivating that you wish there was more, even though there is plenty on each side of the DVD - 90 minutes each. Most of the video uses two cameras and there are no special effects to take away from the great dancers. Very enjoyable video and it can be watched over and over again.

Rating:
Summary: Quantity plus quality
Review: This DVD offers an unprecedented quantity of performances by many of the most famous Argentine tango dancers in the world. The image quality is superior to any VHS tape. All the performances are taped in front of live and enthusiastic audiences, which adds greatly to the authentic feeling of tango being danced in Buenos Aires. Each couple has its own style, and even though people can disagree on what they like, the superior skills of dancers are indisputable. The variety of styles is what makes Argentine tango so special, and what attracts to it a huge crosssection of dance-loving public. This DVD is not cheap, but there is nothing like it on the market, and therefore it's well worth the investment.

Rating:
Summary: Lots to see, but...
Review: This is the first CITA without the participation of Gustavo Naveira, CITA organiser Fabian Salas' co-star in the film The Tango Lesson. So, the opening show on the second side of the DVD is a solely Salas affair. However, the spirit of CITA is still very much Tango Nuevo as in previous CITAs. For example, there are no fewer than three different interpretations of Piazzolla's "Zum" on this DVD. The first side of the DVD presents the first Masters' Show at Teatro La Plaza on Avenida Corrientes which features mainly dancers with a stage tango background, like Carlos Gavito (Forever Tango), Roberto Herrera (Tango Pasion & Tango Argentino) & Natacha Poberaj (Tango X2), and Milena Plebs (Tango X2) & Ezequiel Farfaro. With Gavito one always knows what to expect, and there is no exception here. He dances his signature numbers with new-ish partner Maria Plazaola. Unfortunately, the rest of the 90-minute side is quite uninteresting to me, as I don't warm much to tango-contemporary dance fusion. Ok, I backtrack. There is some salon tango here too, but with Roberto Herrera one wishes he's still dancing with Vanina Bilous, and Julio Balmaceda - one either loves him or hates him - and I hate him. Eduardo Capussi and Mariana Flores - they are fabulously funny as usual, but it's a bit sad to see them perform the same theatrics at every festival, especially since they did the same La Cumparsita routine at the same festival last year (CITA 2002). However, lovers of Fabian Salas and Chicho's nuevo style choreography will have their eyes feasting on the stuff on this side of the DVD. For me, I just hit the "eject" button. The second side of the DVD starts with two Fabian Salas numbers of the opening show. Press "next" button twice. The second Masters' Show follows. Done at the Nino Bien venue, the show is set milonga-style with tables surrounding the dance floor. The highlights of this show are definitely Chiche & Marta, longtime teachers at Torquato Tasso. They may not be much to look at, but their musicality is wonderful. With some of the others, they could be playing "Jailhouse Rock" and they'd still be dancing the same. The next show is the Night of the New Generation (at Salon Canning). It's my first glimpse of Los Hermanos Macana, and I have to say I'm impressed with their showmanship, technique, cheekiness and musicality, even though it took me a bit of getting used to seeing a couple dancing in the same clothes. Nevertheless, they are way, way more marvelous than any same-sex or interchanging leader-follower duo that I have seen. Plus, they are enormously entertaining. Just see the crowd's reaction. The last show on the DVD is the Closing Night at Salon Dinastia which is also set up milonga-style. There are some very good and unexpected bits here: Chicho, with Lucia Mazer, dancing to a rare (for him) non-nuevo Bahia Blanca, Milena & Ezequiel in a rare (for them nowadays) non-Piazzolla, and Capussi & Mariana in a non-theatrical milonga. All in all, it's to Cosmo Tango's credit that they've put a lot of content into this DVD, plus the video quality is excellent, but it's really up to one's individual taste whether there's enough good dancing to merit 79 bucks.

Rating:
Summary: Wealth of tango
Review: Three hours of world's best argentine tango dancers. Almost every dance is new in terms of choreography. The wealth of steps and figures is beyond belief. Several new couples are fantastic, while the "regular" stars are shining even brighter. Excellent addition to my collection of tango videos.