Product Details

• Actors: Cal Pozo
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Parade Video
• VHS Release Date: October 24, 1996
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 630423628X
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #22,746 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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  #5 in	Video > Special Interests > Dance > By Instructor > Cal Pozo
  #8 in	Video > Special Interests > Dance > Salsa

• This item is part of The Cal Pozo's Learn to Dance in Minutes Series.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Well organized and appropriately paced, dance instructor Cal Pozo's Salsa Merengue includes instructions and demonstrations for this classic Cuban dance. Using his standard teaching method, Pozo starts with an explanation and history of the dance and includes animated footprints stepping out the moves, the perspectives (front and back) of each partner, and finally, a full-out demonstration. He begins with the fundamentals of the "Cuban motion," as he calls it, which is "all in the hip." Mastering the merengue requires more than just memorizing the steps. The dance springs from this essential hip movement, and if you don't get a feel for it, you won't get a feel for the dance. Therefore, Pozo spends a good part of the tape slowly and clearly explaining posture and weight emphasis on the foot, to ensure that you'll be able dance the merengue without looking like a robot. One annoyance is the beginning of the video, an excessive eight minutes of people dancing the steps you are waiting to learn. Fast forward through once you've seen it the first time, and you are on your way to merengue. --Beth Massa

From the back cover

Salsa and Merengue are the Latin dances of the moment, and the moves danced to the hit song Macarena have made it the first latin line dance to sweep the country. All three are fun and easy to learn with Cal Pozo, America's best-selling dance instructor. Dancing Salsa, Merengue and doing the exciting rhythm of Latin Music. In minutes, you'll be moving your feet and your body--with true Latin Salsa flavor--thnaks to Cal's Platinum Award-winning Three-Step teaching system: Step One: Foot movements are shown in either slow motion or animated foot prints. Step Two: "Reversed View" places you right behind the instructor, making learning fast and easy. Step Three: Pointers on leading, following and technique will give you a smooth, polished appearance in minutes. Alone or with a partner, you'll enjoy any of Cal Pozo's "Learn To Dance In Minutes" series over and over.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I was looking for!, February 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Cal Pozo's Learn to Dance in Minutes - Salsa & Merengue (DVD)

I loved it! I learned to dance salsa and merengue with confidence. The lessons are each very short. If you are a fast learner, know a little already, and don't let the lady's shapely legs distract you you can whip through the DVD and be dancing in the clubs in an hour! The section for Merengue seems very short, but they packed a lot of steps in those lessons. Maybe they thought it was easier to pack it all up instead of breaking them into more sections. Here are the lessons covered in this DVD: * Intro: Salsa & Merengue * Latin Dance Basic Elements * Cuban Hip Motion * Dance Position * Salsa Steps - Basic Salsa Step Lesson: Male, Female - Salsa Quarter-Turn Lesson: Male, Female - Hip to Hip Lesson: Male, Female - Hip to Hip Combo * Salsa's Mambo - Basic Mambo Step Lesson: Male, Female - Underarm-Turn Step Lesson: Male, Female - Crossover Lesson: Male, Female - Crossover Combo * Macarena * Merengue - Basic Merengue Step Lesson: Male, Female - Merengue Turns Lesson * Credits * Promotional

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Very basic beginner's video, September 9, 1999

By A Customer

This video is the most basic of the 56 Salsa/Mambo video's that I know of. It is a gentle introduction to Salsa,Mambo, Merengue. Best suited for people with no dance experience or two left feet. It is a good introduction to learning to dance from a video but if you are already going to classes you would learn these steps in your first class. I enjoyed this video.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars don't waste your money!!, March 7, 2005

By	M. Zavodnik (pittsburgh) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Cal Pozo's Learn to Dance in Minutes - Salsa & Merengue (DVD)

this was the 2nd salsa "how to" dvd I purchased. The first one "the quick & dirty guide to salsa" was such a gem, I assumed I would have excellent luck once again with this dvd. The old "follow the footprints" is soooo dated. if you are serious about learning to salsa - this is NOT the one for you. this is the basic of all basics. If there was a rating option of zero,this video would win hands down. I threw it away - since I would feel guilty re-selling it to some poor salsa hyped sucker on amazon. really, it is that bad. i rolled the dice a 3rd time & got lucky with edie the "salsa freak" & al"liquid silver" espinoza. i know i am being a bit harsh - but I really do look at reviews when i'm not quite sure of what i'm buying. i appreciate the inside scoop, so i figure i will do the same.