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dancing in class

Preparing for Private Dance Lessons

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So, you’ve taken the leap and signed up for social ballroom dance lessons. You have always wanted to learn to Country Two Step, Salsa or Swing dance here in Phoenix, Arizona. Good for you for trying something new! You will soon discover the world of social partner dancing and its many benefits. But, what now? What should you remember and what is there to expect in your private dance lessons? We at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona want you to thrive on that dance floor. We want you to be confident and comfortable, with all of the tools that you need to really shine out there at any Country bar, wedding or Latin club. With over a decade of experience training the everyday person useful social dances like Country Swing and Argentine Tango, we have come up with a few things that you should keep in mind when attending your private dance lessons.

1. Be Comfortable. Even though traditional “ballroom dancing” may bring some swanky scenes to mind, there is no need to wear your Sunday best when you come to your private dance lessons with us Dance FX Studios. In fact, we want you to be as comfortable as possible since we will be preparing you to dance out in the real world, from Country bars to Latin dance clubs. Comfortable clothing that allows movement is best-as opposed to tight skirts or jeans-so that you can move freely . For shoes, we do not recommend wearing tennis shoes or flip flops, however a pair of heels with straps around the ankles or Cowboy boots will be just fine. (Rubber soles of tennis shoes tend to grip the floor, which is not ideal for dancing.) Also, since dancing requires backwards movements-mostly for the ladies-in which you can easily lose your shoe, trip or fall, those straps will really come in handy. Comfort is key, but appropriate shoes are a must.

2. Be on Time. Make sure you arrive a few minutes before your private dance lesson starts. This gives you time to mingle with other students, get your proper footwear ready and get settled. Additionally, learning to dance is an investment. Make the most of it by coming in early and getting ready to dance! Arriving late to a lesson results in a loss of the time you have paid for and the time that your instructor has reserved for you. Another fun part of coming early is that you can relax for a bit and watch other dancers while you wait for your lesson to begin.

3. Practice. Everybody knows that practice makes perfect! The fun and easy homework assignments that your Dance FX Studios’ dance instructor gives you will include great ways to practice and apply what you learn here at Dance FX Studios. If your memory is less than stellar, then you can even take some shorthand notes to help you remember steps and movements. If you are a visual learner, you can record parts of your private dance lesson for review. Dance FX Studios’ Nights Out, In House Dance Parties, Group Dance Classes and going out on your own are all also great ways to practice. Whatever your preference, just make sure you get those moves down and don’t forget to practice.

4. Have Fun. You probably signed up for dance lessons because you want to have some fun, right? Take a deep breath if you have to, but don’t be reluctant to shake things off. In no time, you will be able to get the dance steps, so don’t get discouraged when you don’t nail something right away. Frustration and loss of confidence in your abilities will actually hinder your performance even more, so breathe, smile, and enjoy yourself!

If you are ready to sign up for your first private Country, Latin or Swing dance lesson, come into Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona, or give us a call today at 480-968-6177. Dance FX Studios offers Private Ballroom Dance Lessons, Group Dance Classes and social events. To get a taste of what we offer, try our private dance lesson Introductory Offer. You can learn  the basics of several fun social dances as well as tips for how to be a great social dancer. Also, meet with your instructor to discuss where you see yourself dancing so they can maximize your dance goals. Our Introductory Offer is only $40, and you are sure to get hooked! And when you do come in, don’t forget to be comfortable, be on time, practice and have FUN!

Fun Couples’ Dances to Enhance Your Relationship

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Dancing is a personal, intimate activity that you and your partner can share and experience together. Each type of dance, like the sexy Tango, playful Swing dancing and the romantic Waltz, evokes different emotions and moods. We have been teaching couples to dance for over twelve years at Dance FX Studios. As one of Arizona’s best social ballroom dance studios, couples come to us to learn to dance for weddings, special events and for social activities. Our studio is located in Mesa, Arizona, near several cities in the Phoenix East Valley. Being in such a big metropolitan area, we have had students from areas all over Arizona take lessons with us. We also have great deals on lesson packages. With Valentine’s Day just a few weeks away, we have three great specials going on now that are perfect gifts for your Valentine!

Latin dances are known for being flirtatious and sexy. With the Argentine Tango and Salsa, partners can express their sensual, intimate sides. Dances like these are a sure fire way to spice up your love life and create a deeper connection with your partner. The Tango and Salsa involve partners dancing more closely and require more communication and connection through dancers’ bodies. Oftentimes, Tango dancers’ faces are touching, maximizing the intimacy of the dance. The Cha Cha is lively and flirtatious dance that is full of passion and energy. It will liven you and your partner up and get you excited about each other! Country Western dances like the Country Two Step and Country Swing are more playful and lighthearted. Dances like these are great for going out to Country bars with friends or as a date and blowing off some steam while having fun as a couple. Elegant dances like the Waltz will have you and your partner enjoying each other’s company while moving gracefully round the dance floor. Our instructors are capable of teaching you and your partner any dance like these and turning you both into dancers!

Our Valentine’s Specials are here! You can do something great for your relationship, learning to dance, with any of our great deals. One popular option is our Sweetheart Sampler; for just $40, you and your partner will learn basic dance form, how to handle a busy dance floor and how to connect while you dance in a full 50 minute lesson. With the Be Mine package, you will save almost $100 off of five private lessons! The two of you can learn together and explore how fun and exciting dancing together really is. At the discounted price of $199 (five lessons is usually $295), you and your loved one can pick which dances you would like to know and learn them at a great price. Last but definitely not least is our The Total Package offer. With this package, you get both the Sweetheart Sampler and Be Mine offers in one for another discount! At $215, you save about $120 off of six lessons total. This package will surely prepare you both to have some fun on the dance floor together and hooked on a new activity for just the two of you.

Treat yourself and your partner to dance lessons and you will definitely discover how beneficial dance lessons are for your relationship. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, so now is the perfect time to do something for and with your loved one! Our holiday deals are the perfect opportunity to save some money without sacrificing your experience at all. Our Gift Cards page has all the details about our current specials, or you can call us, email us, or visit the studio today!

 

The Sensual Styles of Argentine Tango

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Alluring, sensual and intimate are just a few of the words you may use when talking about the Argentine tango. A dance of romance and passion, it is one of the most well-known dances all over the world and is currently enjoying a considerable revival throughout much of Europe, the United States and South America. Many people just love the appeal and closeness that arises from this dance, which is why so many couples are excited to learn this spicy dance. Wouldn’t you like to reignite those flames of desire with your partner?


 

Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ, is the perfect place to learn a variety of social ballroom dances with private dance lessons ranging from the Argentine tango to Country dancing.  Learning to dance is an ideal way to learn a new skill or hobby that you will utilize throughout your life, no matter the occasion. It can be difficult to find time to spend with your significant other, so learning to dance together allows you to make the time each week doing something enjoyable and beneficial for both of you. What a welcome change that would be! Also, the Argentine tango is a great way to really connect with that special partner on a very intimate level.


 

Now, let’s talk about some of the styles of Argentine tango. There are various influences on the many styles of this dance, ranging from the tempo and type of music that accompanies the dance, to the space available on the dance floor in any particular venue. Nearly all the styles are danced in either the open embrace position where couples have space between their bodies or in the close embrace where they connect chest-to-chest. Let’s see which style best suits your personality!


 

We will start with Salon style tango which was the most popular style of tango danced up through the Golden Era of the 1950’s when milongas (tango parties) were held in large dance venues with tango orchestras performing. It regained popularity again in the early 1980’s and is still prevalent today. Salon tango is typified by slow, deliberate, and smoothly implemented moves. The emphasis is on precision, evenness, and musicality. Couples embrace closely but the embrace is flexible, opening slightly to make room for various figures and closing again for support and poise. The walk is the most important element, with dancers usually walking about half to three-quarters of the time during a song. So if you can walk, this dance should be a breeze for you to learn.

 

The Milonguero style of tango is characteristically danced with a slight leaning posture that usually connects at the shoulders of the dancers. In most cases it is danced in a close embrace with the woman’s head and body very close to her partner and her left hand placed far behind her partner’s neck. Sounds quite cozy, doesn’t it? The couple maintains a constant upper body contact and often does not loosen their embrace to accommodate turns.

Next is the Orillero style tango,  a style of dance that developed away from the cities, in the outskirts and suburbs where there was more freedom to move since there was usually more available space on the dance floor. This style allows both dancers to take additional steps outside the embrace. It is danced in an upright position and uses various accompaniments, such as swift foot moves and kicksand can be danced in both open and close embraces. Can you see you and your partner kicking up your heels to this dance?

And last, but certainly not least is Tango Nuevo, which is a dancing and teaching style. As a teaching style it emphasizes a fundamental exploration of the dance.This variation is mostly a methodical approach that looks at the structure of the dance to find new combinations of steps and moves. It is danced in an open and loose embrace in an upright posture with much of the emphasis being placed on each dancer to maintain their own alignment. From this teaching style, developed a new and unique style of dancing we now call, you guessed it- Tango Nuevo.

 

As you can see there are many variations to the Argentine tango and today, we covered a few of these styles. Learning this dance can be a lot of fun and easy to learn at Dance FX Studios. Why not give it a try? You and your partner will be glad you did!

 

Dance For The Health Of It!

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Gilbert Dance Classes for couplesAs we age, there are many things to look forward to; maturation, increased confidence and retirement are just a few. But not often will you look forward to aging itself. In fact, many people spend a good portion of their lives trying to prevent or reverse it.

Little did they know that we might be able to stop time in its tracks… with Tango? It’s true! Not only Tango, but dancing in general has been shown to help slow the aging process. In the last two decades the rate of disability among older people has declined dramatically. Much of this decline can be contributed to the encouragement of a more active way of life. Exercise (along with a healthy diet) is the most recommended lifestyle change in order to prevent premature aging.

How you might ask? In fact, there are many ways in which dancing can improve your overall health. Regular exercise keeps the skin firm, improves skin elasticity and promotes an overall beautiful glow. Building muscle also helps prevent osteoporosis, especially in women, and arthritis can be prevented (or lessened) through regular aerobics as well. Even thin people need exercise—for they can suffer from high blood pressure and heart disease too.

Harvard itself recommends 30 minutes daily aerobic activity to keep muscle tone, heart-lung fitness, decrease the chance for type II diabetes, and to ward off many different types of cancer.

Most importantly, the dance exercise truly needs to become part of a regular routine in order to be effective. The more you practice, the more you will be able to slow down the aging process. Practice makes perfect, right? Find a regular routine of and stick with it if you want to fight against aging.

So dance and dance often!