How Dancing Affects Your Health

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rsz_1photo_1Did you know that social ballroom dancing leads to an improved memory and other mental health benefits? Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona offers a wide range of options from Salsa to Swing to Country Two Step lessons, that can keep your brain in tip top shape. Now that’s a good thing!

Partner dancing on a regular basis can actually significantly decrease your chance of developing Dementia or Alzheimer’s because you need to constantly use your brain to think of each and every move you do! In fact, Social Ballroom Dance Lessons are said to improve your cognitive skills since it prepares the brain for prime learning and pumps blood to your noggin!

Science also shows that aerobic exercise (such as dancing!) can reverse volume loss in the hippocampus… that is the part of the brain that stores your memories! This way when you are 98 years old, you will still be able to remember all of the great dance moves you learned with us! It also improves the condition of your heart and lungs, which become extremely important as you get older.

Another great benefit to partner dancing is stress relief! Have you ever had days that just never went the way you wanted or planned? We suggest putting on some of your favorite tunes and getting down to the beat! At our studio, we strive to make a comfortable environment for you so that when you walk in the door, the stress can fall off your shoulders and your favorite hobby (dancing of course!) can be ten times more enjoyable!  You will always see beginners, just like you, learning how to make their way around a dance floor. Social Country, Salsa, or Swing Dance lessons can even help with depression, which also releases stress! It’s a win/win! Dancing can lift your spirits and increase your endorphin levels making you all around happier!

Weight management is one more great example of how dancing affects your health. Dancing is a great way for anyone of any age to stay fit and healthy! If you want to have fun at the same time as shedding pounds, then you’ve found your work out. We personally think having actual interaction with another human is more interesting than running on a treadmill at the gym. Our instructors can keep you motivated so that you will continue to dance and practice at home. You might even meet new people during a night out dancing who have some of the same dance goals as you. That just adds one more person that will help you stay in shape with dancing. How cool is that?

So grab a partner (or not), choose the best station on the radio and get down and funky. With our New Student Offer, you can become mentally and physically healthier in no time. Take that first step onto the dance floor with us. You won’t regret it!

 

 

Why You Can’t Learn How to Dance From Videos

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rsz_3photoI’m sure you’re wondering why you need to take lessons at all to learn how to dance. In today’s day and age technology is literally right at your fingertips. Virtually anything you could do without a phone ten years ago, you can do with one now. So why don’t we teach through YouTube or through a live feed? Good question.

Dancing is all about connection. Without an instructor being able to physically make you feel what they are talking about you will have a hard time grasping the concept of connection and won’t be able to dance with every person in the room! Sure, we could have you memorize some moves and you can try to use them when you go out, but chances are you won’t be as successful as someone who comes in to take a Private Dance Lesson with us. Connection is such an important thing to know and we focus a lot of our lessons around this subject because all successful things start with a great foundation. Our foundation being connecting with your partner!

If we just created videos and tried to have our students learn from them they would never be able to ask questions! This a great benefit to taking private Country, Swing, or Salsa dance lessons. You can experience the connection we talked about earlier and when you have a very specific question your instructor will definitely be more qualified than google or YouTube to answer it for you. Different instructors can answer in a way that will click for you. Someone in a video doesn’t know how to give an answer that is custom to YOU! (They can’t even hear your question in the first place)

As we teach our lessons here at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona we can walk around and spot any mistakes that you are making and help you realize what feels wrong and how you can fix it. Since an instructor in a video cannot see you, it is impossible for them to correct you. So when you are confused and trying to figure out the first move they taught you, they are already on to the third one and it becomes overwhelming.

The lady in this partner dancing situation does not want to have to memorize footsteps (this coming from a lady herself) trust us! Women love to be twirled around and, though they may be the leader off the dance floor, as soon as their feet hit the floor they want to be led! So lead your lady over to us and try out our New Student Offer and turn off the computer. You won’t need videos when you have us!

The Perfect Father Daughter Dance

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rsz_1rsz_img_2593Your wedding is supposed to be everything you have ever dreamed about! Some want to feel like a princess with a ball gown and maybe even a tiara. Others like more of the traditional feel, like in a church with a minister and their mother’s old wedding dress. No matter what theme you want for your wedding day, there is one thing that truly makes it special… your first dance with your dad.

Say you’re not as fortunate as others and you have a father who has two left feet. You love him with all your heart, but you also don’t want either of you to be embarrassed at your wedding. Maybe you try to look up some videos of easy father/daughter dances and teach them to him, but it isn’t working. No worries, leave that up to the professionals at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona. We believe that anyone and everyone has rhythm and can dance to a beat…all it takes is just a little bit of training.

With a Wedding Dance Consultation, you and your dad, or your spouse, can sample a few dances and explain to us what you’re looking for in a routine. We then create that dream dance you have always wanted to have since you were little. Even if you think you can’t dance, or your dad is clumsy, we can create simple, yet touching routine that will give your reception a lasting impression for all of your guests.  You will have everyone in the room saying “awhhh…”.

If you want something different that your guests will not be expecting, you can check out our Rock Your Reception Wedding Dance Routines. Usually we have you start out with a really sweet, slow dance (everyone kind of yawns, and maybe even Great Aunt Sally starts to snore a bit) then the music changes and you both look around at your guests, confused, making them feel like someone messed up your entire dance. Plot twist, you and your dad start getting down to the music that was supposedly a mistake and the audience goes wild! It will sure be a wedding reception they will never forget. Great Aunt Sally definitely won’t be snoring by the end of this one!

Let us choreograph a perfect routine for your Father Daughter dance! This is, after all, a moment that you want to remember for the rest of your life, and we can definitely make that happen. With something sweet and simple, or a routine that will make your guests jump out of their chairs, Dance FX Studios can make your visions come to life before your eyes. That way your wedding day can be as magical as ever!

Why Dancing Can be Intimidating

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rsz_1rsz_dsc05806Starting something new and unfamiliar can always be a challenging feat. At Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona we love to challenge our students! Just remember, some things that seem scary at first usually end up being not so bad or even enjoyable after that first try.

Imagine being ten years old again and your family decides to take a day trip to the local swimming pool. The first thing you notice is that high dive and as you watch other kiddos your age jump off you ask yourself… “How in the world can they do that?” All day you sit and watch everyone else have fun and once you finally get the nerve to climb up those stairs you kind of want to back out at the last second. It’s too late though because someone is behind you waiting for their turn to jump. So you do it! Then you realize hey… that wasn’t so bad after all.  You spend the rest of your time jumping off the high dive you swore you would never jump off of. Any type of social dancing, whether it’s Country Two Step or Salsa dancing, is exactly like this…

A lot of times when you go to a bar (a Country one especially) you see tons of couples who look like they know what they are doing because they dip, flip, and twirl with ease. In all reality though, that couple probably only knows what they have memorized and can’t dance with other partners who do not know the same routine they memorized. You really shouldn’t be intimidated or scared to get on the dance floor, because after a few Country Dance Lessons with us you will be looking better than them in no time. Our studio teaches a lead and follow technique which can help you be successful when it comes to dancing with anyone you want, not just the partner you showed up with.

Another factor of dancing that can feel uncomfortable is asking a stranger to dance with you. You don’t know this person and that person doesn’t know you! What if he/she doesn’t like the way you dance? It can all become a big ball of fear and anxiety in the pit of your stomach. If we are being honest, the worst thing that could happen is someone saying no to you, but the odds are in your favor! Just because one person who doesn’t want to dance (maybe they are scared!) doesn’t mean that the 20 other potential dance partners in the room will say no as well! Eventually one of them will say yes and then
you can show the last guy/lady what they are missing out on. 😉

Come and see what we’re talking about. Dance FX Studios can show you that there really is no need to feel scared or intimidated by dancing. With our New Student Offer you can come experience a comfortable learning environment and instructors who can make you feel better about getting up and dancing on the dance floor!

 

 

 

Making Your First Wedding Dance Memorable!

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rsz_1rsz_dsc05662Today I come to you from within Barnes and Noble’s café to talk weddings.  I’m nowhere near getting married soon, but I’ve thought about little special details I’d like to see.  I’m very unconventional, and I have always imagined my day being extremely personal down to the last detail.  I had two friends get married recently.  Their first wedding dance was to an N’sync song, performed acoustically, by a very close friend from college.  When the song began, I stopped in shock… then I cried.  It was beautiful, unique, and absolutely perfect because it was totally them.  That’s how weddings should be.  I feel like when someone looks back on the day they shouldn’t be able to forget whose wedding they attended because every bit of it reflected you and your partner.

I think the same personal touch should be evident in the wedding dances too.  What I mean are the key traditional dances— the First Dance, Daddy/Daughter Dance, and the Mother/Son Dance.  The moments are special and cherished for many years to come.  Just as you spent careful time picking a song to represent the moment, you should also spend time making the dance itself memorable.  The music isn’t the whole moment; it is the dance too.

So I guess my next question is, do you know how to dance on time to the songs you have chosen?  If not, you should consider learning.  All eyes are on you, and I highly doubt you feel adequately represented by slow sways.  When it’s your day, you want a dance that reflects not only your musical selection, but also your personality.  What are your key words for the day?  Simple first dance? Elegant?  Playful? Glamorous?  Earthy?  Cheerful?  Traditional?  Think about those key words for your day, and now think about how you want your dance to look.  Have a picture in your mind?  Good.  Let us help make that vision a reality.

Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ works with hundreds of couples every year to make their wedding dance dreams come true.  Whether your wedding is inside or outside on a beach, a field, a park, or deep within a forest, we can help create something you and your partner will love and cherish for many years to come.  We will teach you how to connect with your partner on the dance floor using a frame, as well as; teach you all the necessary steps and moves for a dance developed to perfectly express your vision.

We can help you and your soon to be spouse achieve all of the above with a Wedding Dance Consultation. The great benefit of learning your first dance here at Dance FX Studios is you also learn a new skill—a skill that never leaves you.  You can develop it further, use it for date nights, or even dancing in the kitchen!  The benefits are endless.  It’s a wonderful investment in you and your partner not just for your wedding day, but also for your future as a couple.

Dancing in the Rain!

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rsz_1rsz_20150714_183203 (2)Welcome to another beautiful day here at Dance FX Studios  in Mesa, Arizona. It is nice and overcast and though the Arizona heat brings humidity, the smell of rain fills the air and we can not help but get excited. Dancing is always fun in an indoor environment, but my personal favorite is dancing with my significant other in the rain or under the bright blanket of stars.

There are many relationship benefits to dancing, whether its a fun and sexy Salsa or an intimate and slow Nite Club, connecting with your partner creates romance and even some stress relief! Imagine you get home from work, it’s pouring rain and the last thing you want to do is drive anywhere. That bar you two usually spend your weekends Country dancing at is so far away! Take a note from the cliche chick flicks, grab your partner and dance your hearts out in the storm! Trust us when we say both of you will be giggling as you run back inside soaking wet. But will it be worth it? Yes!

Private dance lessons can help you build a new hobby as social dancers that both of you can enjoy inside or outside! At Dance FX Studios here in Mesa, Arizona we love helping our couples learn how to create a fun and exciting pastime that will spice up your relationship. Not only will you and your partner be in each other’s arms for the entirety of the lesson, but when you go outside to practice, your neighbors may be sneaking a jealous peek at the two of you through their window, wishing their partner would explore with them the amazing world that is dancing. Please do watch for cars on the road though… 😉

You or your partner may feel a bit weary of Country, Latin or Swing dancing if you have never done it before. This comes with all activities that involve a social atmosphere, but don’t fret, we can help with our New Student Offer for beginner’s dance lessons and once you two start dancing together, the whole world will be blocked out and you can focus on the love of your life right there in your arms. Your stress will fall off your shoulders and your night will end in laughter and love from your one and only.

Dancing together can truly be an amazing experience and will boost your relationship to another level that can only be felt through the connection of dance. The time you put in to learning a romantic activity pays off in the long run for your relationship. You will always want to dance together, even if it is just a simple spin on the kithen floor. When you are turning grey and can’t travel anymore, you can escape reality by pushing back the couches and swaying to the sound of your favorite song with the one person who took those dance lessons back in 2015 with you.

It is starting to rain outside so I may just grab my own partner and head out for a quick slow dance before the sun starts to shine. Maybe you should do the same and enjoy some time together!

Dancing To The Music!

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rsz_1rsz_dsc05818Do you go out social dancing here in Arizona? Do you maybe just sit and watch the dancers from the sidelines? When you watch people dance, you can automatically tell who the REALLY good dancers are, but you may not know exactly what draws your attention to them. They don’t always have the craziest moves (or outfits), but there is something unique about them. They may seem to have great chemistry or that they dance together often, but the most important piece is actually something you’re listening to… the MUSIC! Not only does their dancing seem natural and very smooth, but they are also using the music to guide their movements and interactions with each other. At Dance FX Studios, not only do we teach you how to lead and follow each other, but we also give you all the tools necessary to look smooth and natural on the dance floor which includes dancing on time to the music.

Dancing is an interpretation of music, which means that dancing to the music makes everything you do look that much better. Yes, I know, lots of people just see it as background noise that can be fun to dance to, but music does serve a purpose and can make you look even better as a dancer. It is easy to move as one and on beat if there is a shared comprehension of music.

First, of course, you have to know the rhythm of the dance. Is this song a Country Two Step, a Swing dance or is it something entirely different, like a Latin dance? Once you have a good foundation and your ear is trained, you can then move into dancing with the music. It is important to be in tune to the rhythm, melody and mood of a song so that you don’t seem stiff and disconnected when dancing.  If you have played an instrument before, you have a head start when it comes to developing your sense of musical sensitivity. If you haven’t, don’t fret! Musicality can be taught in your private dance lessons with us!

Now back to musicality. Musicality has two parts: receptivity and creativity. Receptivity is the ability to receive, comprehend, be sensitive to, and have a working knowledge of musical concepts like rhythm, tempo, phrasing, and even mood. Creativity is the ability to connect with accompanying music, interpret it, or phrase and add movement dynamics that relate to music even in the absence of accompaniment, in a way that is unique or interesting.

Learning to differentiate instruments will help you translate what you hear into movement, which will, in turn, give your Country or Latin dancing a more natural look.  As an exercise, find a song you like and listen to it as you normally would. Then play it again but listen only to one instrument, like the drum. Block out every other sound and just focus on the drum until the song is over. Repeat this exercise until every instrument in the song has been followed. Then, try different styles of music. To challenge yourself, look for music with varying time signatures, from other cultures, and outside of your normal range of music genres. When you are breaking a piece of music down, do you find yourself counting it out or just listening to the general flow of the song?  Sometimes counting is necessary, especially when understanding the rhythm of the dance steps, but fixating on counts can create a very mechanical looking dance. If you find yourself struggling to count, look for musical cues. Remember, one of our wonderful dance instructors here at Dance FX Studios will give you even more great tips on how to dance on time with the music. 🙂

Ultimately, musicality affects the movements you choose to do and create with your dance partner. It makes you more interesting to watch and definitely makes dancing more fun! Let us create a natural, unique dancer out of you. Come try our New Student Offer for Latin, Swing or Country dance lessons for beginners and get started on your journey to become a confident social dancer today.

Doing What Makes You Happy…Dance!

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Country Two Step lessons for beginnersI’m in Starbucks again today.  There are two men sitting across from me.  I like to watch people.  These gentlemen are speaking rather loudly, so I cannot help but over hear their conversation.  The men are talking about life and their beliefs.  It sounds like one is counseling the other on his ideal life.  I don’t quite see the happiness in the vision he portrays, but it makes me reflect on what each individual considers to be happiness.  We all are so very different.  One of my favorite versions of happiness is social dancing.

When I began social dancing as a profession (think Country dancing, Latin and Swing dancing), I received a lot of grief for it.  People did not see it as a real job.  They’ve been this way about many things in my life.  But, as those who know me know, I’m a free bird and must try things out for myself.  Over the past few years, I have tried to train my brain not to dwell on others opinions.  Dancing makes me happy.  I think it is important.  I wonder how many people out there haven’t begun dancing because they are afraid of what people will think of them.  They are postponing their own chance at happiness due to fear.

Here’s my advice to you, my dear.  Jump in.  Go for it.  I read an article once explaining how you know you are on to something good when you begin to receive resistance.  I think that is correct.  I think the best things in the world come with some kind of push back.  If you are interested in partner dancing, and you’re receiving some kind of negative or discouraging feedback, I encourage you to fight the negativity!  Take a leap of faith.  I can only begin to tell you of all the wonderful benefits of dance that you will experience when you cross over to the other side.

Give it a chance.  Take some time to relax, de-stress from your busy schedule, or do something fun for yourself. Country dancing, or Latin dancing can give you just that.  Maybe what you really have needed all along is a new hobby and the opportunity to meet new people. Perhaps you and your spouse are in need of a night out and some quality time together away from the kids or work.  Social dancing is perfect for adding a bit of romance to your relationship.  Whatever your reasoning is, don’t let fear prevent you from finding a little piece of heaven in dancing.

Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona (where I teach) offers so many options for individuals or couples seeking to learn to social dance.  We have everything from Latin styles such as Salsa, Merengue, and Bachata to Country styles like the Arizona Two Step and Country Swing.  We also offer less genre specific styles such as West Coast Swing and Nite Club Two Step, so you’ll never be left without a song to dance to.  Whatever your style or preference, we can help you get on the dance floor.  You’ll have our support and encouragement the entire way.  Take part in our New Student Offer, and schedule your introductory dance lesson today.  We are open six days a week:  Monday through Friday from noon to 8pm, and Saturday 11am to 4pm.  I hope today is the day you do something good for yourself.  Take a chance and have some fun. 🙂

Become A Confident Country Dancer!

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Country Swing Dancing in ArizonaNights out are often a lot of fun and generally spent with good friends! Not only do you get some good laughs and great memories, but you get to spend time with people you treasure. Have you ever been out with these same friends and felt left out? Sure, you enjoy Country music and love to go to the Country bars with your friends here in Arizona, but they know how to dance and often leave you sitting, watching, wishing that you could join in on the dance floor. They offered to teach you, but you believe that you have two left feet. Let us at Dance FX Studios in the Phoenix East Valley show you that you’re wrong! Over the last 15 years, we have taught all kinds of people to social dance, including couples and singles.

Now, to get started, you may have built up the courage to try one of those free classes that they offer in the Country bars. If that took you two steps back (no pun intended) confidence-wise, you’re not alone! It’s nearly impossible to learn to Country dance as a beginner in a group setting, with all of the others around you at different skill levels.  Sometimes those classes go by too quickly and all you really learn is the basic and then go out on the floor and the girl starts leading herself through moves. That’s frustrating! Let’s change your experience of dancing from this moment forward. Here at Dance FX Studios, we have a fun curriculum that can make a confident Country dancer out of you!

At Dance FX Studios, we teach LOTS of Country dancing, from the Two Step to Country Swing! We focus on taking a logical (but fun) approach to dance as we help you discover how to be a great leader or follower, and so much more! Our main priority is to help you to develop an awesome connection with anyone on the dance floor. We also want you to understand the rhythms of different Country dances and how to move on time with the music. Of course, you know you’ll learn all of the turns and spins that will help you to really shine out there too!

If you have visited several Country dance bars out here in Arizona, you know how crowded and wild things can be! We want to help you to see that Country dancing can be safe and fun, not just for yourself, but for your dance partner. We have created  some fun exercises that simulate a crowded dance floor so that you can be prepared for what’s to come when you get out there. Once you have a good hold on your Country Two Step and Country Swing, we teach you how to seamlessly mix them together to become a dynamic Country dancer! YEEEHAAAAWWW!

Get started on your Country dance journey with us at Dance FX Studios. Come on in for your beginner’s Country dance lesson with our New Student Offer. We cannot wait to have you in our dance family!

Reconnect With Private Dance Lessons In Arizona

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Country Two Step dance lessons ArizonaGreetings to all the leaders and followers on social dance floors everywhere out there in blog land! Another day here in John’s Little Corner and another day loving life! Speaking of love and life, how is your love life going these days? Is it on track and going the direction it needs to go? Are you sharing things together on a deep enough level? How strong is that bond between you? Whether you are just dating, married, partnered or even the “friends with benefits” type of relationship, going social dancing , from Country Two Stepping to Salsa dancing around Phoenix, truly does help in your love life. So today I want jump into this topic and elaborate on how dancing improves romance at home and beyond!

No matter where you are in your journey to becoming a confident social dancer, one thing is for sure, knowing how to Country, Swing or Latin dance means fun date nights! Even better for those of you who are bargain shoppers like myself, a possible inexpensive date night! If you’re just starting out taking private lessons together, each lesson is a mini date in itself. How cool is that!? Can it be challenging, yes, but the rewards for the challenge are unlimited and everlasting. Think endless romantic opportunities wherever music is playing. Holding your sweetie tight and swaying to your favorite dance music.

If you are half way into your dance lessons and able to complete combinations on a dance floor, there is a sense of accomplishment that you both will share. And when you have reached that level of dance where instruction is no longer needed and you are creating your own dancing moves, then you have made one heck of a memorable date night. How many couples can really do that well? Anywhere you are in your journey of dance (unless you count the gas money for the trip to the Country bar or Latin Club, or if there is a cover charge at the door), a date night of dance costs you $0.00! How awesome is that to know that the investment you made in your dance lessons begins to pay itself back immediately. The more dates you go on, the more payback you get. And the best part is that you will grow more confident dancing each time you give it a try.

More dates! How does that sound to you? A date is time away from work, life and children, and gives you the opportunity to connect or reconnect with your partner. How often do you look around you when you are out, lets say at work or at the store or at a restaurant? I do all the time. You see couples walking next to each other but not holding hands, or even worse they walk behind one another! Or how about the couple at the table across from yours. They sit in silence and look around while they eat, never saying anything more than, “This tastes good”. Depending on your line of work, you may even see similar situations with couples, that no matter what their proximity to one another, there is distance between them. Life does this to us and yet life also gives us the solutions… if we know where to look. Time away from it all, even if for a short amount of time, is key to a successful rewarding relationship. It’s right up there with communication being important to the relationship, and dance solves both of those! Get away and take a social ballroom dance lesson, share in something, create a conversation from that lesson you shared and do that as often as you can. Make time before it is lost, or in many cases too late to try! You will see that even after the lessons are over with you will be closer than you were and have something to talk about and something to share, not just with yourselves, but with others around you.

Let’s not forget romance as it does fade away if you allow it to. And it’s easy to let romance slip from your relationship. You spend all that time in the beginning getting to know one another and learning how the other person lives and has lived. You make compromises and creative solutions to blend your life styles together and once that has been established, then what? We drift apart unintentionally with all life throws at us and since we already know all there is to know about the other we begin to grow silent and lose the connection we worked so hard to build. Dance is all about connection, and as you learn it together, it fills that void of silence between you and opens you back up to one another, just like in the beginning. Now that’s romance! Its not the flowers, chocolates or gifts…romance is quality time together where no matter what is happening around you. Your entire world is right there moving along the track of life with you.

Now hopefully you answered my earlier question with a positive answer, but if not, or if you truly could not answer my question, it’s not too late! The fact that you can see the need for more connection in your relationship is a true blessing that your partner needs to share in with you. So grab your partner’s hand, pull them close, and show them with your body language how much they mean to you. Show your partner how much time you want with them, away from everything else, and let them feel how romantic the two of you are together!
From Johns Little Corner, I’m John, thanks for reading, and I will see you hopefully on the dance floor and not at a silent table across from mine!