As seen with many, many other dances, there’s not only one part of the world that falls in love with a dance as cool as the salsa! Join us today.

Join Us This Wednesday for Salsa Dancing!

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Do you know how to Salsa dance but you never find the time (or courage) to make your way out to a Salsa club? Would you like to learn to Salsa dance because you know how fun, sexy and exciting it is? Well join us this Wednesday evening for a night out on the town to one of our favorite local Salsa dance clubs. This Wednesday, February 27th, the staff and students of Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ are heading over to Dave and Buster”s in Tempe for Salsa, Bachata, Merengue and Cha Cha dancing on their rooftop terrace.

For just $25 per person, a Night Out with Dance FX Studios will include a Salsa dance class for beginners (with more intermediate Salsa moves included), your first drink at the bar and Latin dancing with the Dance FX Studios’ staff and students until 11 pm! Our Night’s Out are a wonderful opportunity to get out to local Salsa dance places with other singles and couples who are also learning to Latin dance. Additionally, you will have the Dance FX Studios’ staff to help assist you out on the dance floor if you have questions about your dance moves.

You have never danced Salsa or Bachata before but you want to come anyway? Good for you! In between now and Wednesday, we can get you started with an introductory Latin dance lesson to learn the basics of Salsa, Bachata and Merengue one-on-one with a Dance FX Studios instructor. Our introductory lesson is just $40 for an hour-long sampler of up to 4 Latin dances. With an introductory Salsa dance lesson, you will become acquainted with how to lead or follow as well as how to connect with your dance partner. Singles can dance directly with their instructor for an even faster way to get to their dancing goals.

Beyond your introductory lesson, you can further explore Salsa and Bachata dancing with more individual dance lessons. Dance FX Studios is the only purely social dance studio in the Phoenix valley, you you will be sure to fit in to any Latin dance club easily within no time. You will definitely be on your way to becoming a great social Latin dancer with lessons from us!

Now that you know you would like to join us and you know how to get started learning to Latin dance, don’t hesitate to sign up today! Here is a link to reserve your spot for our Latin Night Out: https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ASP/adm/home.asp?studioid=12406 . To begin with private dance lessons, get started by clicking here.

We hope to see YOU this Wednesday night at Dance FX Studios for our Latin Night Out! The party starts at 8 pm at the studio and we will head over to Dave and Buster’s from there. For an unforgettable evening with new friends, join us for our Latin Night Out.

Salsa Dancing…Get Addicted!

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istock_000004681092smallSalsa dancing can make you come alive! It is an energetic and fun dance that will have you wanting more. With private or group Salsa classes, you’ll be shaking your hips in no time!

THE SALSA BASIC: There are many different types of Salsa dancing but this month we will cover the basic steps for one of the most common styles. In Salsa dancing, there are four beats but only three of them are going to involve taking a step. You can also count out all eight beats, but similarly only six will have steps to them.

To start off, face your partner in closed position or hold hands. If you choose to hold hands, the leader (usually male) will hold his hands as if he were holding two cups and the follower (usually female) should put her hands within the top of his. For the first step, the leader should take a step forward with his left foot and the follower takes a step backwards with her right foot. The second step involves the leader taking a step in place with his right foot and the follower taking a step in place with her left foot. The third step is going to bring your foot back into starting position, so the leader should be moving their left foot back and the follower should move their right foot forward. The fourth beat is a pause so you do not have to move at all. That completes the first four counts.

The next four beats are similar to the first four, but they are just slightly different. The leader is going to step back onto their right foot for the fifth beat and the follower is going to step forward with their left foot. As you may have guessed, the sixth beat has the leader stepping in place with their left foot and the follower stepping in place with their right foot. The last actual basic step includes the leader stepping forward with their right foot and the follower stepping back with the left foot, so they are both back in starting position. Finally the last beat of the sequence, the eighth beat, is just a pause with no movement. That completes the last four counts of the Salsa basic.

Pretty easy huh? Well if you liked that little taste of Salsa dancing you should come on down to Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona. Dance FX Studios offers Private Latin Dance Lessons and Group Salsa Dance Classes. For more information about our private Salsa dance lessons, go to https://dancefxstudios.com/dance-lessons-mesa-arizona/ .  If you would like to take Group Salsa Dance Classes, you can find more information at https://dancefxstudios.com/dance-classes-mesa-arizona/ .

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.

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.

Soar With Salsa Dance Lessons!

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Salsa class Tempe AZPut some pep in your step with Salsa dance lessons. Salsa dancing is a part of the Latin dance family that has playful and passionate feeling to it. Surprisingly, believe it or not, Salsa dancing will help with your balance and coordination. The reason why this is, is because of the constant shifting of weight and other movements associated with Salsa dancing.

If you are particularly clumsy or do not have very good coordination in your movements, Salsa dancing can help you gain confidence in these areas as well. Previously stiff and maybe even awkward movements will be able to be more fluid and flow gracefully with the help of the quick changes in body positioning done in Salsa dancing.

Along with balance and coordination, Salsa dancing can help make you more confident about yourself and with your self-expression. The sensuality of the dance that comes from the energetic and even sexy movements that are associated with Salsa dancing may become apparent in your demeanor as well.

There are many other benefits to Salsa dancing, ranging from physical, mental, and even spiritual. The benefits you may receive from Salsa dancing may not be the same as everyone else’s, so why don’t you see for yourself what Salsa dancing can do for you.

Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona, offers private and group Salsa dance lessons. Private Salsa lessons allow a couple to focus on what their needs are with a more personal approach. The introductory offer that is available is 1 hour-long private Latin dance lesson to get started receiving the benefits of salsa dancing. If you would rather take a group Salsa dancing class, group classes are held on Tuesdays at 7 pm for beginners. Get out on the dance floor and enjoy Salsa dancing today! You won’t regret that you did!

More On The History Of Salsa

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Salsa Dancing Tempe AZLet’s take a look at the origin of Salsa. It is more that just a Cuban dance; still, the dance’s origins and initial developments are credited to this location.

Many people think that the term ‘salsa’ is an all encompassing term to describe all Latin American dance styles… on the contrary! Salsa is a very distinct dance style, with different beats, styles and overall feelings than other Latin American creations. In fact, the term ‘salsa’ itself is not Latin American—instead it is rooted in New York.

Original salsa dancing was inspired by the Cuban music style, Son (a Spanish word which translates to mean ‘sound’). Son was quickly adopted as the dance’s working name. Later, a country-esque version of Salsa would arise as well. Along with its Cuban counterparts, such as the cha-cha and the mambo, Salsa was popular in the 1940’s.

The fast paced and beautiful movement drew in many people to Salsa. Its footwork has been danced to beat of piano, conga drums, and even the cowbell. Son music and dance are even what helped bring the drum into much of the mainstream music.

Today, Salsa has taken the world by storm with many different styles of the dance being created including, New York, Colombian, Rueda de Casino, Miami, and Los Angeles. Each of these different versions of Salsa typically has only a few changes in the timing for the basic steps which are used universally for the dance. As seen with many, many other dances, there’s not only one part of the world that falls in love with a dance as cool as the salsa!

You too can get in on the excitement that can be felt while Salsa dancing! Learn to dance Salsa in Mesa, Arizona at Dance FX Studios. We offer both private and group salsa dancing classes for you to enjoy.

History of Salsa Dancing

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about salsa dancingSalsa dancing is one of the most popular social Latin dance styles world-wide!  People from all walks of life enjoy the energy, passion and party-like feel of the dance.  But where did this dance and its music come from? Let’s explore….

“Salsa” is a partner dance form that corresponds to Salsa music.  Musicologists and historians have very diverse opinions on how Salsa dancing came to life.  Most seem to believe it was born through many decades of dancers gradually accepting the name as many styles of music and dance steps became melded together. Others learned that “salsa” music began centuries ago in the islands of the Spanish Caribbean, in a context of slavery and colonialism.  Yet, no one will deny that Salsa dancing is connected to 20th century New York City and the growing, thriving Latino community there. As the Spanish American war of 1898 ended Spanish colonial rule, displaced Puerto Rican agricultural workers migrated from countryside to town, and from island to island.  The transplanted workers from Havana, San Juan, Santo Domingo and other areas brought all of their traditional sounds to New York City.

Because of this “mixture,” the word “Salsa” was eventually adopted.  Salsa is the same as the Spanish word for sauce – or in the case of dance music – flavor or style.  The very first time the word was heard on the radio was in a composition by Ignacio Piñeiro, dedicated to an old African man who sold butifarras (a sausage-like product) in Central Road in Matanzas.  The song is titled Échale salsita.  The major chorus goes “Salsaaaaa! échale salsita, échale salsita.”  During the early 1950’s, DJ “Bigote” Escalona announced tunes that were danceable with the introduction:  “The following rhythm contains Salsa.”

Styles of music travelling from Cuba and Puerto Rico fused their African, Cuban and other Latin-American rhythms together as they migrated into New York between the 1940s and the 1970s.  There is a debate as to which country originated Salsa – Cuba or Puerto Rico.  Since Salsa is one of the main dances in Puerto Rico and is known world-wide, many people give Puerto Rico the credit.  However, the dance steps currently being used to Salsa music come from Cuba.  Those steps, though, were influenced by many other Cuban dances such as Mambo, Cha’, Guaracha, Rumba, Yambu’ and others.  Thus, the debate continues.

With the combined elements of Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican, African and other music styles, Salsa music can typically be recognized by the complicated percussion rhythms and the faster tempos.  The sounds are vibrant and inviting and attract dancers of all levels straight to the dance floor.

Salsa dance is exciting, full of variety and appealing to almost any social dancer looking for fun and exhilaration.

YOU can learn how to Salsa at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona.  We offer both private classes and group lessons, teaching dancers the spicy flavor of this hot Latin dance.  Phoenix offers many Salsa venues so you’ll be able to take the skills we teach you into any real-world situation with confidence!