Dances Categorized as Ballroom Dancing

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Most likely you have heard the term Ballroom dance, but did you know that not all dances fall into the category of Ballroom dancing? There is even a World Dance Council that determines what is and what isn’t part of a certain Ballroom dance classification. Categories that are used to classify dances include International Standard or International Ballroom, International Latin, American Smooth, and American Rhythm.

Usually Ballroom dancing refers to those dances within the International Standard/Ballroom and International Latin groups. International Standard/Ballroom includes the Foxtrot, Quickstep, Tango, Viennese Waltz, and Waltz. Those that are included in the International Latin category consist of Cha Cha Cha, Jive, Paso Doble, Rumba, and Samba. However, in the United States of America and in Canada, there exists another style, the American Style of dance. This consists of American Smooth dances and American Rhythm. In the American Smooth group you will find The Foxtrot, Tango, Viennese Waltz, and Waltz. In the American Rhythm category, the dances include Bolero, Cha Cha Cha, East Coast Swing, Mambo, and Rumba.

As you see there are many similarities in the Ballroom dance classifications, they even use similar techniques for both International and American styles. However, International Standard/Ballroom only allows closed dance positions while American Smooth allows both closed and open movements, and even separated dance movements. Every once in a while a dance will get added or removed as Ballroom dance is scrutinized. Some of those dances that are sometimes referred to as Ballroom dances include Hustle, Lindy Hop, Merengue, Nightclub Two Step, Salsa, and West Coast Swing.

If you are interested in learning more about Ballroom dancing and even taking a Ballroom dance class or two, Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona, offers Adult Private Ballroom Dance Lessons and a variety of Group Dance Classes. Try out our introductory offer of $40, 1 hour-long, Private Ballroom Dance Lessons. If you would like to find out more information about this offer and other dance classes we have available, please visit

Local Country Dancing Venues

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istock_000003993390medium1Arizona is definitely a western state as we have plenty of Country Western restaurants, bars, and nightlife. If you are new to the Phoenix area or just want to try your hand out with some Country Western Dancing, here is a list of spots around the valley where you can get a taste of Country Dancing.

1. Buffalo Chip. Located at 6811 E. Cave Creek Road Cave Creek, AZ 85331, Buffalo Chip’s has live music and dancing 7 nights a week. Find out more about this venue at http://www.buffalochipsaloon.com/

2. Graham Central Station. They are located at 7850 South Priest Drive Tempe, AZ 85284. Graham Central Station is open Wednesday 7PM-2AM, Thursday 6PM-2AM, Friday 6PM-2AM, and Saturday from 7PM-2AM. They have four different areas/rooms in this nightclub with different types of music playing in each, country being in one room. Find more information on their website at http://www.grahamcentralstationtempe.com/

3. Greasewood Flat. They are located at 27375 N. Alma School Parkway Scottsdale, AZ 85262. They have live entertainment from September through June from 6PM-10PM Thursdays, 7PM-11PM Fridays, 2:30PM-11PM Saturdays, and 2PM-10:30PM Sundays. See their website for additional info: http://greasewoodflat.net/

4. Reata Pass. Located right by Greasewood Flat at 27500 N. Alma School Parkway Scottsdale, AZ 85262. They are Scottsdale’s most historic and iconic western bar and restaurant and they have live music on Friday and Saturday nights from 5PM-9PM. http://www.reatapass.net/

5. Rustler’s Rooste. Located at 8383 South 48th Street Phoenix, AZ 85044, Rustler’s Rooste has live Country Western music 7 nights a week. Get more info at http://www.rustlersrooste.com/

6. San Tan Flat. They are located at 6185 West Hunt Highway Queen Creek, AZ 85142. They have live music every Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Find out more about San Tan Flat at http://www.santanflat.com/

There are many other places around the Phoenix valley to go Country dancing, but this is merely a few of them. Find one nearby your house or plan to visit them all! If you are interested in taking some Country Dance Classes come into Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona. We have Private Country Western Dance Lessons and Group Country Two Step Dance Classes available. Sign up today at https://dancefxstudios.com/ !

Where Salsa Came From

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istock_000014467721small1Did you know that the dance called “salsa” might not be what you think it is? It is actually a particular style of Latin dance that was developed in New York by Puerto Rican and Cuban immigrants in the 1960’s and 1970’s. The original dance that the Salsa was inspired by was the Cuban Son. Son, a Spanish word meaning sound, was from the 1940’s and also referred to a particular type of Cuban music style. Like the population of Cuba, this type of music was to combine influences of its mixed culture. That is probably why the Salsa has strong African influences as well as Cuban.

Similar to how Salsa was born from the Cuban Son when it came to New York; different versions of Salsa emerged as it traveled through different places and countries. Changes in the dance could range, but it usually was just slight variations in timing that would be the only changes made to the dance. Some of the different styles of Salsa dancing include Columbian or Cali Style, Cuban or Casino Style, Miami Style Casino, Salsa Rueda or Rueda de Casino, Los Angeles Style, and New York Style. As you see, the Salsa traveled across Latin America and North America, but it also made its way around Europe, Australia, and even parts of Asia and the Middle East.

As interesting as the history of Salsa is, it is much more enjoyable if you learn how to dance the Salsa. Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona, has private Latin dance lessons and group Salsa dance classes. To get started with private Latin lessons, we have an introductory offer of $40 for an hour-long one-on-one dance lesson. Salsa group classes are held each month for 4 consecutive weeks. Check out our group class schedule for upcoming Latin dance classes.

Learn the “Jitterbug” Swing Basics

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istock_000014389223mediumThe Jitterbug is a fun and easy variation of Swing dancing if you are just learning how to dance. It is fun for all ages and is a great way to relieve stress. In the next couple paragraphs we will cover some of the dance steps for the Jitterbug just to give you an idea of what it is like.

The Jitterbug can be danced in either an open or closed dance position. An open dance position is where you are primarily connected to the other dancer at the hands. The closed dance position is where you hold your partner’s hand in one hand and have your other hand around their shoulder blade or shoulder. This depends on if you are the leader (usually male) or follower (usually female).

Surely you have heard of dance steps referred to as slow and quick steps. In the Jitterbug the steps are as follows: slow, slow, quick, quick. The first step uses two beats of the music and has men stepping with the left foot and women stepping with their right foot. This first move is going to be done with your feet about shoulder width apart and you will be stepping onto that first foot in place. The second step will also be in place, men with their right and women with their left. This step will also take two beats to the music. The third step is where it gets fun. Men are going to take their left foot and step backwards, the placement should almost be in line with the back of their right heel. Women will do the same with the right foot and place it in back of their left heel. It does not have to be touching the other foot, but place it comfortably behind the other foot. The final basic step is to step in place with the right foot, for men, and left foot, for women. Both of the last two steps, the step back and the step in place, take up one beat of music each, so it is rather quick.

Those are the four basic steps that make up the Jitterbug basic. They are going to be the foundation of your dance and will repeat often. Other moves will be added in, but these four are the basics. After you have completed all four steps, when you go to repeat your first step again you will have to move the left foot (men) or right foot (women) back under you from the rock step to the position where your feet are about shoulder width apart.

This is merely the beginning of the Jitterbug.  If you would like to learn all of the tricks, spins, and dips, you will need to take a  Swing dance class. After all that is what makes the dance really fun! Learn about Jitterbug Swing dancing with private lessons at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona. The fun of Swing dancing is just about to begin!

Get Close with the Argentine Tango

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istock_000004680724small1When you hear the word Tango, you probably think of a seductive dance. Many people are familiar with the Ballroom Tango, a precise dance with very little to no room for improvisation. You may recognize it for its staccato movements and quick head snaps. Another form of Tango, which you may not recognize as easily, is the Argentine Tango. It is a little more difficult to recognize because there is a lot of variety and improvisation to this dance. However, if you are accustomed to watching different types of dancing, you may notice the difference in the dancers’ frame.

When you look at the dancers’ fame in the Ballroom Tango, they are going to be close at the hip, while keeping their upper bodies separate from one another. On the other hand, Argentine Tango is going to be more relaxed and have closer contact with the upper body instead of the lower body like with the Ballroom Tango. There are also many embrace options to choose from when it comes to the Argentine Tango.

Some of the embraces or styles of frames include the close embrace, open embrace, square close embrace, and reverse embrace. The close embrace is where the dancers’ chests are closer together than their lower body, even having a possibility of their heads touching as well. In open embrace, the dancers can have as much space as they would like, but arms have all the contact. The connection in the arms enables the dancers to still communicate between each other. The next embrace is the square close embrace. This embrace is where both chests touch each other as the dancers lean in toward each other. Finally is the reverse embrace, which is when both dancers dance in the same direction, facing the same way.

If the Argentine Tango has peaked your interest, come into Dance FX Studios and learn how to dance the Argentine Tango today! Dance FX Studios has private Argentine Tango dance lessons and group Argentine Tango dance classes. See how amazing it is to learn to dance Tango today!

Ballroom Dancing Pointers

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istock_000002455320smallHave you been anxious about taking your first Ballroom Dance Lesson? Well don’t get too worked up before you have even tried it. Here are a few tips to help prepare yourself if you are planning to take a Ballroom Dance Class or have just started taking one.

1. Be Comfortable. Don’t think just because it is a Ballroom dance class that you have to come into class in your Sunday’s finest. You should wear clothes that are comfortable for you and allow movement. However, when it comes to shoes you may not want to be too comfortable. The rubber soles of tennis shoes tend to grip the floor, which is not ideal for dancing. Other shoes that are not ideal for the dance floor are flip-flops and sandals. Since a lot of movements in Ballroom require backwards movements, you can easily lose your shoe, trip, or even fall. You should be comfortable, but not risk injury.

2. Be on Time. Make sure you arrive a few minutes before your dance lesson starts. This gives you time to mingle with other classmates, get your proper footwear ready, and get settled before the dance class starts. Late arrivals usually miss the first couple of steps, which can cause them to be thrown off until they are able to catch up again. It is also somewhat of a distraction to the students and teacher who have already begun the lesson.

3. Practice. Everybody knows that practice makes perfect, well this applies to Ballroom dancing as well. It will help immensely if you practice right after your dance class or later on within the same day. If you have issues with remembering, then you can even take some shorthand notes to help you remember. But if you are a visual learner, that may not work for you. In this case you can have someone film you while you practice the moves you just learned right after the class, just make sure you have the instructors approval to stay later to do so. Another way to help you remember your dance steps is to teach it to someone. Whatever your preference, just make sure you get those moves down and don’t forget to practice.

4. Have Fun. This is probably the reason why you wanted to sign up for Ballroom Dancing Lessons in the first place. Just remember to have fun. Take a deep breath if you have to, but don’t be reluctant to shake things off. In time you will be able to get the dance steps, but until then relax and enjoy.

If you need to sign up for that first Ballroom Dance Lesson, come into Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona. Dance FX Studios offers Private Ballroom Dancing Lessons and Group Dance Classes. For more information, please visit https://dancefxstudios.com/ballroom-dancing-mesa-arizona/ .

Country Two Step: Get the low down on this Hoedown

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istock_000001582768xsmallYou may have heard it referred to as the Texas Two-Step, Country Two Step, or just as Two-Step, regardless of what you call it, the Country Western Two Step is a fun dance to learn. It is a progressive partner dance, meaning that you move counterclockwise around the dance floor. The leader in the partnership (usually the male) will face the line of dance and the follower (usually the female) will stand in front of her partner.

The basics of the Country Two Step include four steps that follow this pattern: Quick, Quick, Slow, Slow. You are also able to start with the two slow steps followed by the two quick steps as follows: Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick. The first step for the partners involves the leader stepping forward with the left foot and the follower stepping back on the right foot. The frame, which is how the upper body is placed during a partner dance, can either be opened or closed. An open frame is where the connection between the partners is mostly at the hands, as opposed to a closed frame where there is more upper body contact and even support.

This is merely a basic introduction to the Country Two Step, it would be best to learn more about the Two Step by taking a Country Two Step Dance Lesson. At Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona, we offer both Private Country Dance Lessons and Group Country Two Step Dance Classes. You are just in luck because our next 4-week session of Group Dance Lessons starts during the first week of every month! The Group Country Two Step class will be held every Thursday.

Additional information about our Private Country Western Dance Lessons can be found at the following link https://dancefxstudios.com/country-dance-lessons-az/ .

 If you are interested in the Group Country Two-Step Dance Classes, please feel free to visit
https://dancefxstudios.com/dance-classes-mesa-arizona/ .

Salsa Dancing in Phoenix, Arizona

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istock_000004405376medium2Are you wondering where to go so you can put your newly found Salsa dance lesson skills to use? Well you are in luck because here are some places where you can go Salsa dancing in the Phoenix area. Ranging from bars, restaurants, clubs, or a combination of the three, we will cover a variety of spots where you can showcase your Salsa dancing. As you may have noticed when you tried searching for a spot for yourself, it is a little difficult to find places that have kept their Salsa and Latin dance nights going. Many of the sites and information out there is dated, but here is a list of some of the Salsa Dancing venues around the Phoenix area that seem to be still running:

1. Pepin Restaurant. They are located at 7363 Scottsdale Mall Scottsdale, AZ 85251, and offers open Latin dancing every Friday and Saturday from 10PM

2. Mijana. They are located at 1290 N. Scottsdale Rd., #107 Tempe, AZ 85281. Mijana also has Latin dancing on Fridays starting at 9PM.

3. Dave & Busters. This venue is at 2000 E. Rio Salado Pkwy, Tempe, AZ 85281. They have Latin dancing on Wednesdays starting at 7PM.

There are probably more venues out there, they just do not have websites or have a page devoted to their Latin dance nights that are easily accessible to the public. If you are interested in taking Salsa dance lessons or Latin dance lessons in the Phoenix area, come into Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona. Dance FX Studios has private Latin dance lessons and group Salsa dance classes.

Get to Know the Jitterbug

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istock_000003278041medium1A fun, lively, and great dance to learn is Swing dancing. With its easy and playful moves, Swing dancing will leave you coming back for more. Just like with many other dances, there are several styles of Swing dancing. One style that you can learn is the Jitterbug.

The Jitterbug is a Swing dance that was popular during the 1920’s that was influenced by the Charleston and Lindy Hop. It was during this time that swing bands also became popular. During a concert at the Paramount Theater, teens started dancing in the aisles in a way that one newspaper reporter described as “jitterbugging.” What started as a slang term for an alcoholic’s tremor (the jitters) became the new name for a jerky type of dancing that we know today as the Jitterbug.

The Swing dance moves of the Jitterbug gave it its name because of the left and right, front and back rocking motions that make up the dance. Although the basics of the Jitterbug sound very simple, they can also become very advanced. Once you progress through the Jitterbug, you can learn more advance moves like spins, turns, and even aerials!

Like many other dances that were just starting out, the jitterbug was pushed aside and regarded as too suggestive and obscene. It wasn’t until the 1930’s and 1940’s that the Jitterbug broke through the society’s views of proper and became a social dance. The Jitterbug made its way across the United States and even into Europe. By the mid-1940’s, the Jitterbug mad a great breakthrough and was even considered to be a form of Ballroom dancing.

Come into Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona, and learn how to Swing dance! Dance FX Studios has both private Jitterbug Swing lessons and group Jitterbug dance classes. Take advantage of our introductory offer of $40 for an hour-long private Jitterbug dance lesson to get started with Swing dancing today.

The History of the Argentine Tango

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Colourful houses in Buenos Aires La BocaOne dance that is sure to bring a smile to your face and your heart is the Argentine Tango. It is a dance that has the ability to transport you to another time and place and connect you to the love of your life once again. Surely, you know about the sensuality, romance, and passion of the Argentine Tango from different television or cinematic productions, but do you know where the Tango originated?

The Argentine Tango originated sometime in the late to end of the 19th century near Buenos Aires. At first, the dance was considered inappropriate with lewd and obscene dance movements. Even the music that the Argentine Tango was danced to had sexual content and obscenities in it. To gain more admirers of the dance, the Tango also had a less racy form that was taught to mid to high-class families.

Eventually the Tango gained enough favor that it traveled to Europe. Argentina, during the early 1900’s, started to become increasingly wealthy, eventually becoming one of the richest nations in the world. It was during this time that Argentinean people were able to travel to Europe and they brought the Tango with them. From there, the Argentine Tango traveled very quickly and was introduced to big cities around the world. The Tango even made its way to New York. After spreading around the world, the Tango arrived back to Buenos Aires, but this time it was greeted with open arms.

If you are interested in learning more about this dance that has spread like a wildflower around the world, come into Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona. At Dance FX Studios we have private Tango lessons and group Tango dance classes. Experience the beauty and passion of Tango dancing for yourself!