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A man in a purple shirt dancing with people

Make Dancing Your Date Night Adventure!

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couple's dance lessons in arizonaAre you and your sweetheart looking for a new hobby, or just trying find something new to do on a spontaneous date night? If you live here in Arizona with us, then you need to head on over to Dance FX Studios in the Phoenix East Valley! We have everything you need to have a wonderful night of bonding, connection and romance. 😉

Now you may be in your regular habit of the “dinner and a movie” kind of date night, but why not get out and try something new together, like couple’s dance lessons? Couple’s dance lessons are actually what every twosome needs to break up the monotony of  daily routines and schedules. Think about it. Would you rather be taking Private Country Two Step Dance Lessons, or going to that same old Italian Restaurant…again!? First, you can do both. After all, you will be burning up to 500 calories on your dance lesson, so you may want to eat first and dance off that pasta after. Now that’s a plan!

Once you get into the rhythm of regular dance lessons as a couple, your bodies will feel a connection you’ve never felt before. Salsa dance lessons are a fantastic way to reignite the flame, for example, and who can’t use a bit more passion at any stage of their relationship? Or how about lightening things up with some Swing dance lessons? Swing dancing is so versatile and useful that you almost have to have it on any occasion. From Country bars to weddings, you will definitely use your fun Swing dance moves!

When you visit us, the choice is up to you on what you want to explore. We will teach you a variety of social ballroom dances that will cover all of your social occasions from date nights to going out on the weekends with friends. With any dance style you pick, the point is that you’ll be learning and growing together as a couple, and therefore taking full advantage of what dancing is all about. Good for you!

We know that dancing is the key to any successful relationship, so why not make it a part of your weekly routine?  Once you learn your roles on the dance floor as leader and follower, you’ll be having a blast “working” together in harmony. There’s absolutely no better way to build confidence in your relationship than leaning how to literally move as one.

At our studio, couple’s come to escape from it all. Leave the kids with Grandma, or a sitter, and come invest time into each other. Not only will you both be happier and healthier, but everyone else around you will be too.

So don’t just take my word for it. Get out there and start making some real memories! If you don’t live in Phoenix, AZ, find an adult dance studio near you and start taking some couple’s ballroom dance lessons. We’re here for all the lucky ones who do live in town. Come on in and start your journey together as a more confident couple here with us. You have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain!

Ballroom Dancing as Physical Therapy!

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ballroom dancing mesa azDid you or someone you know recently endure an injury that required therapy or some type of physical rehabilitation? Oftentimes a doctor will refer you out to a normal Physical Therapist, and that’s wonderful, and also very helpful. However, there are many different ways to rehabilitate yourself, while also strengthening your body, getting in shape and gaining confidence.

I bet you didn’t know that Ballroom dancing is so effective for getting those muscles back in working order. If you had surgery, specifically heart, knee, or one that requires movement for rehabilitation, you can use Ballroom dancing as an alternative to other forms of exercise to strengthen your muscles.

Do you have hunched shoulders and an aching upper back due to bad posture? You can also remedy this with Ballroom dancing. Ballroom dancing can help you learn to lengthen and align your spine through the constant use of better posture. As you may know, your frame in Ballroom dancing is very precise, and is kept as such throughout the dance. Being in this position actually helps put all of your organs in alignment, as well as the spine.

Partner dancing can be very helpful with both the stretching and strengthening of your muscles while maintaining a very low-impact on your joints as well. At the Flagstaff Medical Center, they use monthly Ballroom dance classes as part of their Cardiac Rehabilitation program. Heart patients get a great support network along with some aerobic activity to help improve their balance, stamina, and mental acuity. Another great reason why Ballroom dancing is so effective for cardiac rehabilitation comes from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. According to them, dancing can lower your risk of coronary heart disease and does wonders to decrease high blood pressure, which causes even more health problems.

So if you are looking for a fun way to get your body back on track after rehabilitation, you should definitely try Ballroom dancing! It is not as mundane as things like walking, jogging and some other exercises might be, so you know that you will definitely enjoy yourself. After all, don’t we all deserve a little something to enjoy in life?

Oftentimes you will find that when you ask people what they like so much about Ballroom dancing, they will reply that it lifts their spirits. However, don’t just take our word for it. In one particular case in San Diego with student Beverly Weurding – who was previously diagnosed with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) and was told that she would not be able to walk, climb, dance, or play sports- she experienced extreme muscle distortion and pain, which would lead her to need the use of a wheelchair. After years of being unhappy, she thought she might be able to “experience the joy of dancing while in a wheelchair.” After a lot of searching on her part to find a dance instructor who was willing to work with her, she learned some of the amazing health benefits that came with Ballroom dancing. Even for her, she experienced what many of you can, this includes better balance, muscle strength, flexibility, range of motion, increased coordination, and positive emotional and psychological effects.

Don’t put this on the back burner any further. If you or someone you know is currently going through some type of physical therapy, then you owe it to yourself to explore all the options you have. Normal physical therapy can cost an “arm and a leg”, and just doing that isn’t going to benefit you very much beyond your scheduled appointments. However, dancing can give benefits that’s last and build throughout your life! There’s almost no way to begin taking dance lessons without finding out just how many amazing things come along with! So don’t waste any more time, and get on down here to Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ to start your healing journey!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Relax During Your Dance Lessons

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 arizona Country dance lessonsYou pull into the parking lot of your local dance studio when suddenly you realize, you have no recollection of driving there. The entire time you should’ve been focused on the road, you were thinking about maintaining a solid dance frame, not rocking back too far on your heels, or leading with your torso when you’re dancing the Argentine Tango. You have a few extra minutes before your dance lesson starts, so you grab some coffee. You notice your hands shaking mildly, as the anxiety is building. You’re so worked up about doing a great job and nailing all of your moves, that you can’t relax. As soon as you get out onto the floor, your body decides not to cooperate. When you want to go left, you find your right foot has a mind of its own…

Sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. As a professional ballroom dance instructor at Dance FX Studios, the best advice I could give my students would just be to RELAX. Usually this will happen within the first few minutes of getting out on to the floor after a long day at work. However, when the anxiety lingers, that’s when I find my students having the most difficult time, whether we are Swing dancing or Country dancing. I have noticed that with just a few coping mechanisms in place ahead of time, your Private Dance Lesson can get off to a much better start.

First… When push comes to shove, I tell my students to “walk it out”! If you’re struggling with a new Salsa dance combination, FREEZE! Stop dancing for a minute so your feet can catch up with your brain and simply walk through it. By taking some time to go through your moves in slow motion, you give your body more of a chance to create the muscle memory for each skill. Once you feel more confident in walking mode, you can slowly increase the speed to polish up your transitions in and out of each Latin dance move.

Next, breathe and be patient with yourself. Just like most things in life, learning new skills takes time, and social ballroom dancing is no exception. Fred Astaire certainly did not learn to dance in a day, and it most likely will take you a bit more time too. It’s rare for almost anyone to have a complete natural ability in any sport or physical activity immediately, so give yourself time to discover and grow. With patience and great instruction, you can certainly do almost anything. If you have ever tried learning how to play a musical instrument, you probably know that you played more “wrong” notes at first than “right” ones.

Finally, know that repetition is not a punishment! Think back to Kindergarten for a moment. When you were learning how to write the alphabet, the teacher didn’t just show you once and expect you to do it perfectly thus forward. Instead she probably started with having you trace each letter several times before trying to freehand your own. Then, you wrote line after line of abc’s until you didn’t really have to think about how to shape each letter. Dancing parallels this to a tee. First you have to learn how to hold your pencil (or partner). Then you have to learn how to move your pencil across the paper (or your partner across the dance floor). Then you learn how to shape each letter (or move) robotically. After a few months of practice, you can write without having to think too hard about what shape each letter makes. How soon you can start writing in cursive smoothly will depend on how often you practice.

Ironically, adult dance lessons can be more stressful than they are relaxing in the initial stages of learning, but the end result will be a wonderfully enjoyable and quite relaxing hobby that you can use for years to come. Give yourself and those you love the gift of Private Dance Lessons to get the best results on the dance floor in the shortest time possible. Guaranteed, you will have a skill that will impress others and provide hours of fun for many years ahead!

 

A Unique Perspective on Ballroom Dancing

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swing dance lessons near Chandler AZIf you watch Dancing With The Stars, you know how elegant, sexy, passionate and fun ballroom dancing is, but did you also consider the therapeutic value of learning to dance? That’s OK, most people don’t. They only see the end result, which is a beautifully executed dance that is impressive to watch. To get that result, though, we go through many stages of growth, from discovering how to lead with confidence to giving up control to tapping into sides of our personalities we didn’t know we had.

Ballroom dances, whether we’re talking Waltz, Swing or Salsa, are thrilling to watch, but the journey of learning to dance is actually much more rewarding than the final product. If you’re looking to grow into a better version of yourself, I would like to suggest that you too learn to ballroom dance. 🙂

Now, before we go any further, you may not know it, but there are two types of ballroom dancing; competitive and social. The first I already spoke on, and that is the Dancing With The Stars version of memorizing a routine and then performing it at a competition or in a show. The second way to explore ballroom dancing is by gaining knowledge on how to take what you have learned to a social dance floor. For example, if you’re going to a wedding, a Country bar with friends, or to a holiday party, you will need to learn to social dance, not competitive ballroom dance.

Social dancing is very practical and quite popular. You can actually gain many benefits from knowing how to social dance, maybe even more than studying formal ballroom dancing. Let’s take a look at some of the unique benefits you can gain by discovering social dancing so that you can gain a new perspective on ballroom dancing.

First, if you take beginner’s Country, Latin or Swing dance lessons with your sweetheart, you will be giving each other a romantic gift in the form of a skill that you can use on many occasions throughout your lives. From Aunt Sally’s third wedding reception to that dreaded holiday work event that always has an oldies band, you will soon be able to get out there and dance at any event that presents itself. Why sit out and watch when you can strut your stuff with your partner in crime…

Social dance lessons will also reignite a flame for couples that may be in a “funk” due to kids, life, work or whatever else may have crept into the way of keeping you close. On one or two nights a week, you can make it a “date night” and take time for just the two of you by setting up couple’s dance lessons with each other on a weekly basis. How romantic would that be! Making quality time for each other is the key after all, right?

If you’re single, learning to Country Two Step or Salsa dance is definitely for you. Social dancing is an awesome way to meet new friends (who also love to dance) and maybe to even line up few dates, if that’s what you’re looking for. Regardless, when you invest in dance lessons as a single, you’ll be adding a smile to your face each time you come in, shaving off pounds from the calories you’ve burned, and filling up your cup, so to speak, each week.

Social ballroom dance lessons are finally, but most importantly, key for building that social confidence in you that you may be lacking. While you may be self-assured at work or in your home life, gaining confidence on the dance floor is a really fantastic feeling. You can literally sweep someone off of their feet when you know what you’re doing out there on the dance floor, and that’s a wonderful feeling!

Give yourself the gift of knowing how to dance. Find an adult dance studio near you and see how much fun you’re missing and how you can make a difference in your overall happiness just by learning to dance! With so many cool styles to check out, from Country to Latin to Swing dancing, you’re sure to find something that excites you.

Five Reasons Why She Leads Herself on the Dance Floor

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East Valley Country Western dance lessonsYou’re out at your favorite County Western bar with your buddies Two Stepping the night away and there she is. Back against the wall is the prettiest girl in the place and she’s locked eyes with you. Victory!

Knowing that every girl loves to dance, you invite her onto the floor to Country Swing dance with you. Things start out fine, then all heck breaks loose as she begins to lead herself into a bunch of turns and dips that you don’t know! What is going on here? You’re supposed to be the leader, right? You ARE the lead on the dance floor, so why is this happening?

Well, there are many reasons why women lead themselves on the dance floor; fear, trust and insecurity are just a few. Most of the time, she doesn’t even realize she’s leading. She’s so used to “helping” or “compensating” for her partner that it has just become a bad habit. There are ways that we can break this habit for her, but that’s for another blog. For now, let’s explore why she leads herself in the first place.

Lack of Information: OK, let’s assume that this pretty lady has never been on a dance floor and has no idea what it means to follow. She may very well be yanking you around simply because she doesn’t know what else to do. Let’s face it, most people do not take Country Dance Lessons, they wing it. Or they watch the uninformed dancer next to them and they mimic what they do. It’s not her fault in this case. She just needs more information on what it means to be a follower on the dance floor.

Fear of not Looking Good: Then there’s the woman who does know what to do, but may be afraid that you won’t make her look good, so she turns and twists herself to show off or have fun. Unknowingly, this fear is not only preventing her from having the good time she is seeking, but she will ultimately get annoyed that she is “doing all the work” on the dance floor.

Trust: The other form of fear she is feeling is the fear of you not knowing what you’re doing. This leads to a lack of trust and sometimes into her leading herself to avoid being flung into others and treated like a rag doll on the dance floor. If this was ever happened to you, you know what I’m talking about. So many guys push and pull their partner on the floor, without being mindful of how she feels, that it can be scary! Guys, if you want her to relax on the dance floor, take care of her.

Insecurity: She knows that you’re in charge, but she can’t handle what that means. She doesn’t necessarily feel confident in her Country dance skills and doesn’t want to make a mistake, but she’s nervous and almost can’t help herself but take over and lead. Unless she tries to control the situation, she doesn’t know how it will turn out. I say, give her a break here. It all comes down to her nerves With a few dances and some trust, she will hopefully start to feel a bit better and will allow you to do your thing.

Fun: She just wants to have a good time! It doesn’t matter who you are, she’ll do what she wants, when she wants to. In her mind, she can give herself a better time on the dance floor than you probably could. OK men, what can we do about these ladies? Well, have a dance or two with her, and if she keeps wanting to turn herself, move on.

You’re going to run into all types of dance partners when you go out Country dancing. If you’re looking for a sure fire way to gain control as a leader and stay in control, I recommend that you make the investment in your self by signing up for Private Country Dance Lessons. Working directly with an instructor will give you the tips and tools that you need to be that ultimate leader on the dance for anyone who comes your way. You will also be much more self-assured, which will give her a chance to relax and enjoy being swept off of her feet. Now that sounds like a good time!

Am I Too Old To Salsa Dance?

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Salsa lessons mesa AZMany people think that old dogs can’t learn new tricks. They think that going out Salsa dancing is only for the young. I say no! That is so not the case! Like fine wine, we can all age gracefully and get better with time, especially when we continue to challenge ourselves to grow and learn.

Did you know that discovering new things at any stage of our lives is not only exciting, but healthy in mind, body and spirit? As we age, it is essential to keep active and social, not stagnant and alone. By giving Salsa dance lessons a try, you will benefit in so many ways. From making new friends to sharpening your mind, Salsa dancing may be just what the doctor ordered!

If you’ve heard the incredible statistics on how ballroom dancing, which includes Latin dancing, keeps dementia at bay, you know that you’re never too old to learn to dance. In fact, being older and learning to dance as a new hobby is a wonderful thing! Check out this statistic: As compared to doing crossword puzzles, riding bikes and reading, social ballroom dancing was 76% more effective in warding off dementia in patients at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. Now that’s amazing! Interestingly, swimming and playing golf had zero effect on aging patients in terms of memory improvement.

Salsa dancing will also get that heart rate up, keeping your blood pressure low, and creating a happier, healthier you! And, with increased endorphin levels because of all of that movement on the dance floor, you’re sure to be smiling and having a blast!

Socially, Salsa dancing, like many other ballroom dances, is a fun and exciting approach to meeting new friends. Sure, you can meet people in all different ways, but the joy of social dancing with people with similar interests, provides a unique opportunity to connect with others. Social dancing is just that…social! When you share what you love with others, you’re no longer alone. And regardless of your age, being a part of a community gives us purpose and passion.

You can be hip and cool at any age when you know how to Salsa dance! Explore ballroom dancing for yourself and see how it can help you physically, mentally and socially. Get off the couch and on to the dance floor for Beginner’s Private Latin and Ballroom Dance Lessons . You’re never too old to join in the fun!

 

Put Down Your Phone and Dance!

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adult dance studios near Gilbert AZAre you guilty of hiding behind your phone? So many of us are! With Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, email and internet all on one device, who needs interaction with a live person?  As you may well know, we all do. For a fantastic way to connect with others, put down your phone, get off that chair and try social dance lessons.  You’ll be so happy you did!

What is social dancing? Social dancing is what you use when you are at a wedding, in a bar, or at a nightclub with friends. I also refer to social dancing as partner dancing, because social “ballroom” dancing is performed with another person. As opposed to competitive ballroom dancing, social dancing is not choreographed, making it somewhat challenging but extremely exciting to learn and use.

Popular social dances include Country Two Step, Swing, Salsa and even the dramatic and sensual Argentine Tango. While all of these styles are practical to know for upcoming events and opportunities where music is played, you can start by learning just one style of dance at a time. This way, you can have a blast at a Country bar all night long, or at a Latin dance club, if that’s more your style.

Within each dance style, there’s plenty to of cool dances to explore. For example, if you enjoy Country music, I suggest that you learn these dances: Country Two Step, Country Swing, Country Waltz and West Coast Swing. They’re all great to know for different reasons, and your bases will be covered whether the music is slow, mid or fast tempo.

If you’re more into Latin music, very popular here in the southwest region, you’ll definitely want to take dance lessons in Bachata, Salsa, Merengue and maybe even Cha Cha. Trust me, you don’t want to finally get the courage to show up at a Latin dance club and only know one dance style. Be versatile, it’s so much more fun!

Social dancing is a hobby and skill that you will use time and again throughout your life. While the newest and greatest electronic devices are always going to be there to get sucked into, why feel close to someone via Facebook when you can physically appreciate time with another person face to face. That physical connection is irreplaceable by a device and is definitely required for us humans to thrive and be happy. We’ve all heard social studies on the importance of human interaction, so, for your own social, mental and emotional health, grab a new friend and dance!

If you’re looking for a nearby adult dance studio, and you happen to live in Phoenix, Arizona, come visit us at Dance FX Studios. We specialize in creating confident social dancers so that you can enjoy dancing anywhere. It’s time to put down that phone and get on the dance floor, we’re waiting to share in the joys of social partner dancing with you!

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Is Learning to Social Dance Part of Your New Year’s Resolution?

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social dance classes near Chandler ArizonaHave you always wanted to learn to Country dance, Swing dance or maybe even Salsa dance? What’s been holding you back? Is it a lack of time or money, or are you waiting to find a dance partner? Are you possibly intimidated about taking that first step into your local dance studio? All of these reasons for passing up your chance to dance are valid, however time is not standing still and you are missing out on a wonderfully exciting hobby!

Maybe 2016 is your year to learn to social dance. If you’re thinking that it is, congratulations! What a great New Year’s resolution! You’re about to have what may turn out to be the best year of your life, and I can say that with absolute confidence. It’s truly unbelievable to think about all of the ways that knowing how to social dance can be a game-changer for you, but let me try and highlight three ways dancing can enhance your life, and you be the judge if it’s something you may want to explore in the year ahead.

  1. Knowing how to social dance builds confidence. Could you use a little more self-assurance in 2016? Who couldn’t! When you discover how to social dance, especially through Private Dance Lessons, you are putting yourself on the fast track to uncovering a fun and useful skill. With each Swing or Latin dance lesson, you will get better and better, so that your stale weekends of lying on the couch with Chinese food and a Red Box can be replaced with nights out with new friends dancing and having fun! Think about it, Country dancing with your buddies, or sitting at a bar or in a theatre. While all can be fun, only social dancing gives you ways to impress others, show off your abilities and even get some exercise, without realizing that you actually are “working out”.

Since so few people actually take the time to learn how to dance correctly, it’s pretty wonderful when you are one of the rare ones who actually knows what he/she is doing. With a little time and effort, not only will you have partners lining up to dance with you, but you will be making time for yourself to shake that unwanted stress and connect with someone special, if that is your intention.

2. Speaking of which, social dancing, which encompasses all of the fun and popular dances today, from Bachata to Argentine tango to Swing dancing, can be very romantic. If you’re lacking in that department, whether you’re single or not, going out to dinner followed by an evening of dancing once a month can be just what the doctor ordered. For couples that have been together for a number or years, dance lessons can help you to re-connect and re-establish working as a team, both of which are quite essential for a truly intimate relationship.

Newer couples can get things started on the right foot with couple’s dance lessons. At my dance studio, we (somewhat) jokingly refer to couple’s dance lessons as “insurance” for a long-lasting relationship. Although, after 20 years of watching couples grow closer together through their dance lessons, I don’t think it’s much of a joke at all.

Singles can really get a head start in the dating game by knowing how to social dance. Imagine the date night possibilities…they’re endless! Again, if you meet out social dancing, and you are one of the few who know how to dance, you’re putting yourself ahead of the pack when it comes to being attractive to other dancers, and that’s never a bad thing.

3. Social dancing is a huge stress reliever! Ways to manage stress are at the top of most people’s list regardless of what year we are coming into. Why not find a fun way to let it all go and “shake it off” with social dance lessons? You’ll find that when you’re in a dance class, that it’s virtually impossible to be bogged down by work or anything else for that matter. Your full attention will instead be towards something healthy, relaxing and beneficial to YOU.

The year 2016 is just a few days away! Make learning to social dance your New Year’s resolution. If you live in Phoenix, Arizona, come visit us at Dance FX Studios in the East Valley. We are minutes from Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe and Scottsdale, Arizona, just off the 101 highway.

We at Dance FX Studios focus on creating confident social dancers for any occasion. Don’t let life pass you by without the joy of knowing how to dance. Visit us for a fun, new hobby that will bring you years of enjoyment ahead.