Couple doing a lift for dance

To Routine or NOT To Routine?

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Couple doing a lift for dance routineWith our Boo Bash Halloween party coming up, our awesome instructors at Dance FX Studios have been slaving over some really cool dance routines for our students. But as a social dance studio, shouldn’t we be super anti-routine? Actually, no! Although we are opposed to students only learning routines, it’s actually a great idea to learn a short dance routine as a supplement to your other private dance lessons. Whether you’re taking Argentine Tango dance lessons or trying your hand at  Country-Western dancing, personalized routines are the perfect addition to your learning.

Why shouldn’t I just learn routines?

The reason we are against the idea of pattern- or routine-based learning is simple. If you are doing the same moves over and over in the same order, you’ll never learn to be creative on the dance floor. You’ll also never be forced to truly lead or follow, because you already know what’s going to come next. If you hope to lead or follow anyone on the floor, you need to be constantly mixing different elements together. It’s a whole different story if you’re looking to compete or dance professionally, of course. But as a studio based solely on social dancing, we want your creativity to be nurtured just as much as your technique!

So how can routines help?

Routines are the perfect place to clean up and work on proper technique. If you already know exactly what moves are coming up next at all times, you can focus all your extra attention into the details. How is my foot placement? Am I really leading this turn correctly? What am I doing with my hands during this? Routines are amazing tools for smoothing out transitions and solidifying any problem areas in your dancing.

Not only do you get to hone in on your dancing, but it also gets you an inside view of how a professional would interpret your song. Building your own creativity on the dance floor is essential for a successful dancer, but it helps to see how a pro would do it. Watching their thought process and seeing how they interpret the music into movement can really help you with your next attempt at Salsa dancing. Sort of a “monkey see, monkey do” kind of thing, but with a lot more individual thought.

Should I perform my routine?

It isn’t necessary. A lot of routines are really just meant for your personal gain. They are specifically built for your education and entertainment. If the opportunity should present itself and you feel up to it? Go for it! Even if you just want to be a social dancer, performing can really up your confidence. By executing a routine in front of an audience, you can leave behind some of that stage fright you have at your local dance spots. Also, who doesn’t love to show off a little? If your studio is having a showcase, invite your friends and family! They’re probably dying to see what you’ve been working so hard to achieve.

No matter what you’re looking for, whether you want to Swing dance at a local country club or you want to perform on So You Think You Can Dance, routines can be a definite addition to your dance education. As long as you are with good instructors who are guiding you to your dancing goals, routines are awesome! Want to see some killer routines in action? Join us at Dance FX Studios for our Boo Bash Halloween Party on October 18, 2014! We’ll have games, performances by students and pros, and plenty of social dancing. Want to get some moves under your belt before then? Come on in for a few private dance lessons or our awesome group dance classes to prepare! We’re in Mesa, AZ just off the 101 and the 60 with easy access from every major city in the greater Phoenix area. Give us a call and start dancing today!

Contact us to begin your dancing journey…

 

Private dance lessons are available by appointment Monday-Friday from 12-8 pm and on Saturdays from 10 am-3 pm. For more information, call us today at 480.968.6177.

Playing at Dance FX Studios

Introducing Our New Student Offer!

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Playing at Dance FX Studios in MesaHave you always wanted to bust out some killer Country Two Step dancing at your favorite country bar? Are you curious about how to find the best Salsa dancing lessons in Arizona? Every studio is unique, so you want to know what you’re looking for. If you’re looking to learn in a fun-loving, motivating studio, come check out Dance FX Studios in Mesa! Not only do we offer a completely different teaching and learning style, we’ve just brought out a killer New Student Offer for you to try.

What makes Dance FX Studios so special? We are the only studio in Arizona that focuses on 100% social dance. This means that we focus on true lead and follow techniques. By ditching the patterns and routines of a standard studio, we are able to help you learn how to communicate on the dance floor. These skills allow you to get out and dance with anyone and everyone comfortably! Whether you’re joining us for Argentine Tango lessons or want to learn to jump, jive, and wail with Swing dance lessons, you’ll be able to impress anyone on the dance floor. Not only do we help create some of the best leaders and followers out there, we also focus on floor navigation, creativity on the floor, and the fundamental relationships between dances. Our unique teaching methods allow you to try out multiple dances at once while progressing in all of them. How cool is that?

Social partner dance is all about being able to deal with the music, your partner, and everyone else on the floor. We help you explore every area of dance so you can be as successful as possible. If you’re still unsure of what you’re looking for, your best bet is to come join us for an introductory lesson. We’ve just come out with a brand new introductory offer for our new students that allows you time to discover your dancing needs. For just $25 you can come in for 2 30-minute private lessons with one of our skilled instructors. In this time you are introduced to a number of dances based on your favorite style of music and where you’re hoping to dance. This is the perfect time for you to be sure that we are the studio for you! This also gives your instructor time to get to know your learning style so that we can build you an entirely customized plan. Everyone learns differently and has their own goals, so why try teaching everyone the same way, right? That’s what we thought! Dance FX Studios has been helping the greater Phoenix area learn to dance for over a decade. Offering everything from Ballroom dance to Latin dance to Wedding dance lessons, our goal is to make you the most comfortable and confident dancer out there! We’re located just off the 60 and the 101 in Mesa and have danced with people from every side of the valley. Give us a call at 480-968-6177 or email us at [email protected] to set up your introductory lessons today!

Contact us to begin your dancing journey…

 

Private dance lessons are available by appointment Monday-Friday from 12-8 pm and on Saturdays from 10 am-3 pm. For more information, call us today at 480.968.6177.

Teacher and student dancing

Arizona Wedding Season is Coming!

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Teacher and student dancing in Mesa, ArizonaFlooding or not, wedding season is upon us! Since it’s usually too hot for Summer weddings in Phoenix, our wedding season falls a little later in the year. Whether you’re planning a Fall or Winter wedding or you’re looking to be a Spring bride, now is the time to look into one of your biggest moments… Your first dance! At Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ, we accommodate every bridal couple we can, no matter what your budget or time frame. We offer different types of wedding dance lessons, so which one is right for you?

Is your wedding elegant and classic? If you want to sick with a more standard wedding, it doesn’t mean you have to stick with the prom sway. We can help you learn a simple and sweet first dance that doesn’t take away from the simple beauty of your big day, but still makes you look like a star. Whether you have 6 months or 2 weeks, our wedding consultants can help you create the perfect first dance, without it looking overdone or choreographed.

However, if you’re looking to be a little more of a rockstar, we also offer Rock Your Reception wedding dance lessons! This can be anything from a fun Swing dance number to a a flashy Salsa dance routine to anything you else you can imagine. Although we specialize in partner dance, we have done our fair share of wild and crazy first dances. Although these usually need a little more time – we recommend starting dance lessons at least 6 months before the wedding – we can also help you rock it out with a crash course. Just be ready to sweat!

Now, we do more than just make you look great for your first dance… We also want to help you shine for the rest of the reception! We offer social dance lessons (at a discount when we do your first dance!) for brides and grooms who want to keep dancing all night! If you’re having a Country wedding, why not learn how to Two Step? You’ll have Country music playing all night, so you might as well be able to dance to it. Dance FX Studios is known for our unique teaching style that focuses on true lead and follow. Instead of just teaching routines and patterns, we teach you how to really communicate on the dance floor so you can dance to all your favorite songs, instead of just one.

Still don’t know what to do for your first dance? Stop by our studio in Mesa, Arizona and meet with one of our wedding dance consultants. We’ve choreographed thousands of first dances, so we can hep you figure out what is right for you. We will also help you find the right song, dance style, and answer any questions you may have about your big day. If you aren’t interested in wedding dance lessons, but still want to get out on the dance floor, join us for private dance lessons or fun group dance classes! We offer Latin Dancing, Country Dancing, Ballroom Dancing, Argentine Tango and more. Let us make your perfect day even more perfect.

Contact us to begin your dancing journey…

 

Private dance lessons are available by appointment Monday-Friday from 12-8 pm and on Saturdays from 10 am-3 pm. For more information, call us today at 480.968.6177.

Couple partner dancing AZ

Our Favorite Workout… Dance!

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Couple partner dancing in arizonaHow many of you love to hit the gym? My guess is not too many. We know that a good workout is an important part of daily life, but what if going for a run or lifting weights just isn’t your thing? Try a more exciting workout – like dance! Lots of people already know that dancing is awesome cardio. In fact, at Dance FX Studios, quite a few of our new students come in looking to lose a few extra pounds. We’ve talked about some of the amazing benefits that come along with partner dancing before, but today we’re going to talk about how dancing is an all-around work out! Whether you want to dance Two Step, Swing, or Tango, the health benefits of dancing are incredible! Lets talk about just a few of the ways dance can help you improve your physique one song at a time.

Cardio and Calorie Burning

Although the pros on So You Think You Can Dance don’t look like they’re working too hard, they’re definitely getting their heart rate up! A lot of social partner dances are high energy. That means that all those quick steps and turns will get you sweating in no time! Some of the best calorie busters out there? Salsa, Swing (even Country Swing) and Cha Cha! You can burn anywhere from 260 to 530 calories per hour with these fun, uptempo dances!

Flexibility

I know, I know… When you think Ballroom Dance, you think stiff, right? Not true! Although learning to partner dance requires a little work on your posture, you definitely gain some flexibility. If you’re looking to touch your toes again, consider trying the Argentine Tango. With its long, elegant steps and contra-body (twisting) movement, you start to increase your hip, leg, and core flexibility quickly. Stretching before and after your dance is also key. This helps speed up the flexibility process, but helps prevent injury on the dance floor.

Stability and Strength

It isn’t quite the strength training that you get from lifting weights, but there is a degree of muscle required for partner dancing. Sustaining a proper frame is an awesome workout for your arms and shoulders. Be ready to be sore when you’re first getting started! You’ll also notice that partner dancing requires a lot of balance. Just like yoga helps build strength through balance, dancing is the ultimate stability training. You are maintaining your own center while helping keep your partner’s. Double whammy! Remember, you’re throwing around your own body weight throughout the entirety of the dance… If that isn’t a workout, I don’t know what is.

If you want to get in on the fitness revolution, learn to dance! A gym membership won’t do you any good if you can’t convince yourself to go. Dancing is a fun, social activity that can make you break a sweat and a smile. Join us at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ for private dance lessons or group dance classes. We’re located just off the 101 and the 60, minutes away from Tempe, Chandler, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Gilbert. Try out a variety of dances (variety is key to a successful workout) such a Argentine Tango, Salsa, Foxtrot, and more. Our professional instructors are here to help get you on your path to help and happiness, so call us today!

Contact us to begin your dancing journey…

 

Private dance lessons are available by appointment Monday-Friday from 12-8 pm and on Saturdays from 10 am-3 pm. For more information, call us today at 480.968.6177.

Dance teacher adjusting students

Swing Dance Party with Come Back Buddy!!

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Dance teacher adjusting students in ArizonaWho loves live music? Who loves free food? Who loves Swing Dancing?

Dance FX Studios does, that’s who.

We’re having a super fun Swing Dance Party this Saturday at 8 and we’re really excited about it! If you’ve never been to one of our parties, you’re definitely missing out. Dance FX is all about using the skills we teach, so we have regular dance parties ranging from Swing Dance, to Country Dance, to Kizomba Socials! These events are for anyone and everyone, as long as you have a passion for dance! Whether you’re a current student, an old student, or someone who just wants to test the waters, you’re more than welcome to join in on the fun. Let’s talk about what fun things you can expect!

Live Music with Come Back Buddy

Come Back Buddy is an incredible band that has played at a number of our Swing Dance Parties. One of the most popular Swing bands in the Valley, we are stoked to have them again! Come Back Buddy rocks it out with a variety of music styles, including Jitterbug, East Coast Swing, and good old Rock n’ Roll! (If you’re more of a Country buff, don’t worry… Country Swing translates really well into Jitterbug. They’re related!)

Dance Lesson Included

If you’re new to dance, you can still rock the night away with us. Towards the beginning of the party, one of our awesome instructors will teach a fun Swing Dance class. This is the perfect opportunity for newcomers to get their feet wet. Learn a few basics and practice them all night long! We also throw in a cool bonus move for those of you who already have some moves under your belt.

Instructors Galore

The best part about a dance party at a dance studio? The instructors!! Our friendly-faced staff will be there all night to answer questions on and off the dance floor. Instructors are there if you need a dance partner, but feel free to pull one of us aside and ask questions! Whether you’re stuck on a move and need some help or just want to talk about joining our FX Family, we’re here for you.

Party!

Most importantly, it’ll be a party! Live music, refreshments, and plenty of dancing. If you’re in the greater Phoenix area, come join us in Mesa, just off the 60 and the 101. Admission is only $15 ahead of time or $20 at the door, so call ahead! The party is from 8-11 this Saturday September 6, but swing by (Get it? Swing??) anytime and get your dance on! If you need a little more confidence on the dance floor before you’ll party, join us for private dance lessons or group dance classes to learn a thing or two. If Swing isn’t your thing, we also teach Country Dance, Argentine Tango, Latin Dance, and more! Call us at 480-968-6177 and get your dancing shoes on!

 

Private dance lessons are available by appointment Monday-Friday from 12-8 pm and on Saturdays from 10 am-3 pm. For more information, call us today at 480.968.6177.