Customer Reviews

Salsa Crazy Presents: Learn to Salsa Dance, Volume 2: Salsa Dancing Guide for Beginners

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Leading naturally from Learn to Dance Salsa One, this DVD continues the excellent intrustional techniques that make it a standout, as well as plent of additional movements to add to your repertoire, insider secrets and special tips to continue your growth and improvement as a dancer.

Anyone reading my review of Learn to Dance Salsa One will realize that I was very, very nervous about my ability to learn this dance, a style of dance I'd always admired but thought far beyond my skills.

Trust me, if I can do this, ANYONE can. It is not only detailed but clearly explained and the DVD is an excellent value, containing over 2 hours of instruction. The time flies by and before you know it, you've not only gotten valuable info about the various patterns and variations of Salsa but you've been moving for quite some time, getting exercise while having fun.

The "picture in picture" close ups help ensure the beginning dancer gets every step down correctly and there are also full length shots so you can see how your entire body should move. Once you master the basics, it becomes automatic and you'll find yourself amazed to be dancing Salsa and looking better than you'd ever expected! Highly recommended!

Once one has mastered the very important style, posture, and basic moves from the Salsa Crazy Beginners Volume 1, you're ready for more complex patterns. This DVD contains the "Inside Turn" and its many variations, the "Hammerlock", and the "Cross Body Lead" ("the move that separates the beginner from the intermediate"). The instruction is at a much quicker, up-to-tempo pace than in Vol. # 1, and there is more dancing to music (from Benny Velarde y Super Combo) rather than the slowed down verbal counts from teacher Evan Margolis. Evan has a marvelous partner in Moira Denike, who also gives excellent tips for the women. Both have delightful personalities, and are great to watch and learn from. The instruction portion of this DVD is a terrific 1 hour and 45 minutes + an extra warm-up with an explanation of different handholds, and Evan is an extremely meticulous and articulate teacher.

The visual/darkness problems I had with Vol. 1 on my 12-year old television are here solved, with Evan wearing light colored clothes, and Moira showing her spectacular toned legs in a nifty outfit throughout the lesson. There is also an insert box on the lower left-hand corner, which is usually focused on the feet, and is helpful. Bonus extras are Evan's "Dance and Club Etiquette" tips, with the very important topic of "Hygiene"! Since a night of Salsa dancing probably equals several aerobic classes (and is much more fun!), these tips are essentials. There is also the extra warm-up with music, and some funny outtakes. As a former dancer, I really appreciate Evan's technique, his calm, relaxed approach to teaching, and his expertise. If you want to learn Salsa, you can't do better than Salsa Crazy's DVD series.

Turns out that the first couple weeks were the hardest for me. (Took me 3 weeks of regular practice with DVD 1 to get the basic step.) I recently mastered this second DVD and figure that by the time I finish the third, I will finally feel confident about my dancing.

I have no doubt that my progress is because of the great instruction given on the DVDs and the fact that the methods used in the first DVD are the same as in the second and in the third. It's like a real teacher where once you get used to their method, you know what to expect and how to adapt.

I always wanted to dance but time after time I thought I'd proved to myself it just wasn't my thing. Salsa (and these Salsa Crazy DVDs) have shown me that I had the dancing gene inside of me the whole time...just needed the right instruction to bring it out. Thanks Salsa Crazy.

The great thing about the Learn to Salsa Dance DVDs is that they're consistent. The instructors, the close ups, the teaching style, all of it helps you as a student to focus on the dances being taught. Another great thing about volume 2 is that the DVD stands on its own. By that I mean that you don't have to have done the first DVD in the series to be successful with this one (though from some of the other comments posted it seems as though it does help) so they're great for anyone who's looking to start learning Salsa but is too proud to start from ground zero.

The DVDs in this beginner's series are excellent. Not only do the instructors, Moira and Evan tell you what to do but they also provide tips on making learning how to do it easier. This is extremely important when it comes to mastering the turns and patterns and other movements taught on this DVD.

I was hesitant at first about this whole Salsa dancing thing but things started looking up once I got to this DVD. I figured out that I had a mental block or something-years of thinking I was hopelessly rhythm-less-but I'm over it. Had me some fun learning the turns and things taught on this DVD. Bring on number three?.

The best things about the DVDs in this series are the tools used to help make learning to Salsa extremely simple. This DVD, as well as the first, utilize close ups on key movements so that while the instructor is explaining the movements that should be made, viewers can also see what's needs to be done. Also, ample time is given actually practice the steps with the DVD, making watching and pausing to practice virtually unnecessary.

My wife got me this year like I've done her for the past couple years. She got me Learn to Dance Salsa Beginner's 2 as a gift because she wanted Salsa lessons. Turned out to be one of the best gifts I've gotten in a while. We've had so much fun learning to Salsa together and it's definitely helped to keep the spark in our marriage.

I've always been heavy all through my life and salsa was something I never dared trying. It always freaked me out whenever my friends suggested that I should join them for salsa classes. I really wanted to...but didn't want to embarrass myself in front of so many people. Mom got this DVD for me and to my surprise I learnt so much. The music, the steps, instructions...everything is so much in sync. The other day I showed my friends my latest dance moves and they were so surprised coz I never joined any class. I can't wait to progress to the next level. This DVD is awesome. Great buy!

This DVD helped me in so many ways. After my miscarriage I felt the whole world tumbling down on me. I felt so lost and was battling to come out of trauma...the loss of my baby. I lost my focus from everything and without realizing I started wearing double the size of what I used to wear. My best friend gave me this DVD as a gift. I kina ignored it at first but my friend kept insisting that I should watch it. I did and I found it very interesting. I started dancing everyday-every morning and every night and in a few weeks time I lost a few kilos and also felt so much better and fresh. I miss my baby everyday but I don't feel lost any more.Everytime I'm down-I dance!
Salsa is the best medicine that helps you get over everything you wish to forget and thanks to this DVD that makes salsa so simple and so beautiful.