Product Details

• Actors: Gigi;Pedro
• Directors: Debdoot Das
• Format: Dolby, NTSC
• Region: All Regions
• Number of discs: 3
• Studio: Digifilm
• DVD Release Date: November 29, 2005
• Run Time: 450 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000CCFLMI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #175,870 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Revolutionary first-ever true multi-angle dance tutorial DVD. From basics to super advanced this DVD series contains 78 authentic Cuban Salsa moves. This series condenses years of Salsa dance instruction in three concise DVDs that document the greatest Cuban Salsa tradition that until recently was obscured by the embargo on Cuba. This set is the most revered Salsa instructional in the world.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: HEALTH/FITNESS UPC: 880240110062 Manufacturer No: 11122

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spice Up Your Inner Dancer! Dazzle and Captivate!, March 3, 2006

By 

Erika Borsos "pepper flower" (Gulf Coast of FL, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Quick & Dirty Guide to Salsa - Complete Collection (DVD)

This 3 DVD set of basic, intermediate, and advanced salsa dance lessons is by far light years ahead of any other similar lessons out there! The multi-angle progammable feature personalizes the lessons to meet individual needs. It feels like having a dance instructor right next to you. Like no other DVD out there: this feature shows you the steps from different positions. Having learned traditional dances from the Balkans, Central and Western Europe many years ago, I know there is nothing better than getting behind (or next to) someone who is an expert dancer. *This* is exactly what multi-angle programming feels like! In my case, the second angle was the most effective means to best learn the dance patterns. With a delightful delicate Latino accent, Gigi, the primary instructor, explains and demonstrates each set of moves using catchy phrases and an easy to follow count. Her enthusiasm is contagious as she shows you the dance routine and provides several practice sessions allowing you to master each new set of moves. It is obvious Gigi and her partner and coinstructor Pedro love to dance, their energy and enthusiasm for salsa makes the lessons come alive. Each session builds your confidence as you master new sensuous patterns of movements that match the heated rhythms and music of the Caribbean (Cuba and Puerto Rico).

DVD ONE is the BASICS. Without difficulty I mastered all the *essential* dance patterns in one session. This means I could do the patterns called: "Forward and Back", "Side to Side", "Back Rock Steps". "Back Rock Turn", "Abajo", "Exhibela", "Dile Que No", "Guapenado", and "Enchufla" on my own following Gigi and most of them without much effort to salsa music. The other patterns called, "Adios Con Le Hermana", "Candado [Enchufla Doble]", "Parriba", and "Kentucky {Ronde}" are more elaborate and require a partner in most cases. They include learning hand holds and turns with unique arm movements which can not be done properly without a second person. Anyone with a good sense of rhythm and desire to learn salsa would love DVD 1. DVD TWO, INTERMEDIATE builds on the basics, adding more complicated combinations of steps and arm movements with patterns designed for couples who are ready to razzle and dazzle out on the dance floor. While I could follow Gigi and Pedro's fine instructions, these patterns require a strong committment and more time to master the impressive combinations of exotic patterns. DVD THREE is for ADVANCED learners, who can not get enough salsa dancing (which will be most people who learn the basics [!!!] that is why this 3 DVD set is so great - all levels are taught at a very reasonable cost compared to taking "live" dance lessons). It contains outstanding instructions which display the most energetic and exciting sessions, along with some eye-catching moves ... showcasing why salsa has become so widely popular in the past couple of years.

This 3 DVD set of salsa dance lessons receives my most heartfelt and sincere endorsement for those who love to dance. My recommendation is, buy this 3 DVD set of lessons, learn the basics and with the money you save, go on the Enchantment of the Seas (Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines) ship to the Bolero Lounge and dance to the salsa music of "Sol Y Arena" [Jan. 2006] or "Conjuncto Bravo" [Sept. 2006}. Disclaimer: reviewer receives no fees or benefits from Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines... Go dazzle and captivate! Erika Borsos (erikab93)

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good way to learn the footwork and turns of Salsa dancing, April 4, 2006

By 

Craig Matteson (Saline, MI) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Quick & Dirty Guide to Salsa - Complete Collection (DVD)

Look, I am NOT a dancer. And I am a classical, not a salsa musician. However, I found the disk quite entertaining and helpful. Gigi and Pedro do not come across as so elegant and skilled that it seems impossible for the average person to copy. Yes, both know what they are doing and are quite fluent in what they communicate.

The instruction on the disk allows you to watch their whole demonstration from beginning to end or go through each set of steps and turns lesson by lesson. You also have THREE choices of camera angle. The default is from in front. You can also choose looking down from above, or from the back. This multi-view method allows you to see things in the dance that a simple 2D presentation from the front actually hides.

The names of the steps are given in Spanish, but even if you don't speak the language you will pick up on the names quickly; it is not hard.

I did miss the discussion of how to communicate dance steps through hand motions that I have seen in another salsa series. One isn't going to call out the names of the steps as Gigi and Pedro do throughout these disks. It is the subtle way one moves the hands and touches the partner that communicate what is to be done next and that is as much a part of learning the dance as the footwork.

Still, a pretty darn good set of instructional disks.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good video, August 26, 2006

By 

M. Padro "Anthro geek" (Salt Lake CIty) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Quick & Dirty Guide to Salsa - Complete Collection (DVD)

It's a great program, and a wonderful step by step visual guide. But it is intended for those who intend to learn Cuban Salsa. I didn't realize that when i purchased it, and it was quite a suprise to learn how different L.A. style is from Cuban. So my only word of advice is to know what style(s) you are learning before you buy this product, and be aware that the salsa in this DVD set might not be the salsa you already know. But if you are interested in learning Cuban or just get some new ideas to wrk into your routine, then this DVD is worth the price tag.