Learn to Salsa Dance Video Series, Vol 1: Salsa Dancing Guide for Beginners

Excellent! I have all three of the first DVDs in the Learn to Dance Salsa series. I like them all. The instructors are excellent. The main instructor, Evan, describes every move you're to make to a tee. He explains, demonstrates, then talks you through it as he does the move along with you. By the end of the DVD, you'll be exposed to the basic step, a couple turns and doing dance combinations with a partner.

If you're looking for a good dance DVD to help you learn to Salsa dance, this one is a good one to go with.

Bells and whistles you will not find on this DVD. About as hi-tech as it gets is the picture-in-picture technology so that you can have a close-up view of footwork. But that's a good thing. Instead of trying to distract you with "cool stuff" the makers of Learn to Dance Salsa Beginner's volume 1 focused on providing sustenance.

The sustenance offered up on this DVD comes in two forms: direction and information. The directional information is, of course, the dance lessons. The basic step is taught piece by piece from the counts you're supposed to step on to the steps themselves. How to do basic turns is also addressed during the beginning portions of the DVD and by the time you get to the second half of the DVD, you'll find yourself intertwined with your partner performing patterns. Did you catch that? The partners thing? Well that's another reason why this is a great DVD. The lessons are for partners, which makes sense Salsa dancing is a couples dance. Right from the beginning of the DVD, when the basic step is introduced, the lessons are taught with partners in mind as the instructors demonstrate to foot movements for each. Additional information concerning partners taught includes: (1) stance / frame, (2) tips for the leader on what to do to let the follower know which way they want the follower to go as well as how the follower can recognize those signals, and (3) what both the follower and leader need to know before heading out on the dance floor.

As for the informational sustenance, it comes at the end of the DVD (or the beginning if you're the overzealous type) as the special features. Once again, the information isn't just fluff. The features include a brief history of Salsa as well as tips on Salsa etiquette. (Bet you didn't know there was such a thing.) Now, the topics addresses are quite common but the delivery of the tips (quite comical) is reason enough to take a peek. Besides, the tips remind you how to be courteous when the situations described occur-something that's very important in any social dancing environment.

Bottom line: Learn to Dance Salsa volume 1 for beginners is a great DVD to help you learn Salsa so if that's what you're looking for, you've found it.

We had such a wonderful time learning to Salsa dance with this DVD. It was perfect pacing for us and the amount of information given wasn't overwhelming in the least.

The instructors are a young lady, Moira, and a young man, Evan. Evan gives a majority of the instruction and shows the man's role in the Salsa dance while Moira shows us ladies what we're supposed to do.

There are a lot of different things taught on the DVD. As you would expect, the first part is very focused on the basics so you learn the counts for Salsa music and the basic step followed by everything you need to know so you can dance with your partner without stepping on his toes. Now, this is the point my husband and I are at but fast-forwarding through the DVD, I know that we are in for some really fun stuff once we get there. Looks like we'll be learning how to do some turns and some dance routines. I wasn't expecting to be able to do a full routine once finishing the first DVD, the second, maybe, but not the first, so that was a really exciting to find out. My husband and I are happy that we chose this DVD from Salsa Crazy.

I decided it was time for me to learn to dance...but I knew learning in public was out...so I ordered the Learn to dance Salsa series. I like it, mainly because it is so basic, this first one in particular, but I mean that in a good way though. The thing about the DVD is that you start off slow. Real slow. The DVD starts off with a lesson on counting. Now, that may sound elementary but you'll be thankful for the lesson as you get further into the DVD. The counting basically drills it into your head the counts you're supposed to move on and the ones you pause for in order to do the basic step. They make it so easy. And forget about looking awkward doing the move. The coordination of which hip is supposed to move in sync with the foot movements is also described. Next comes a lesson on turning to the left and the right. It's trickier than it sounds but definitely a move that you can get down pretty well if you practice it in between "lessons".

I also really liked the fact that the DVD had a male and female instructor to show both the leader and follower parts and that the instructors don't wait until 4 DVDs in to start teaching you how to dance with a partner. The portion on couples begins with a quick demonstration and explanation on how you should stand and where to hold one another. The instructors also clue you in to the "4 points of contact" that make it easier for leaders to know what to do to let followers to know the type of movement they want / where they're taking the follower on the next move.

After that, the lessons turn to well, turns. Turning to the right, actually. After that, be ready to move on to doing the basic step, with the outside (right) turn and a move called an open break (so the follower can go ahead and turn). By the end of the DVD, you will also learn a few beginner salsa patterns (routines).

Once the DVD is all said and done, you'll know how to do the basic step-with a partner-and how to do the basic step while turning together. You guessed it. Just enough to get you out on the dance floor and feel like you really know what you're doing.

I gave in. At my fianc?'s request, I started to learn how to Salsa. I gotta say the DVD is good. Even an idiot, completely uninterested (like I was) could learn from this DVD. I picked up a thing or two the first go round and darn it if I didn't learn that DVD through and through after a month...and then moved on to the second! I thought the music was fun, and that the instructors were really clear. Plus, the close ups were a great way for me to see what moves I was supposed to be making when I was unclear.

(This was my first go at a Salsa DVD and I was VERY pleased. See my other reviews.)