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Country Two Step dance lessons

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!

Swing dance lessons AZ

What Are Your Goals This Summer?

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Swing dance lessons in ArizonaGoals. Everyone has them in one form or another. Have you ever made a goal for yourself, and before you know it six months have gone by without a result in sight? You are not alone! One of the main reasons why people don’t end up following through with their goals is because goals usually equate to work in our minds. Here at Dance FX Studios in the Phoenix East Valley we can help you set goals to find new ways to relieve stress, lose unwanted weight, or even add romance, all through the fun and excitement of social dance lessons!

At Dance FX Studios, we are intentional about goal setting and reaching what you want and deserve through dance. We spend the time necessary to get to know you and understand your dancing goals, or goals in general. It’s crazy to think about how learning to Country dance or Swing dance can help you to shift other areas in your life for the better, but we have seen it time and again here at the studio. For example, one of our recent clients came in to us for an opportunity to meet new people as he was new in town. Before long, his confidence was through the roof and he was frequenting Country bars to Two Step and Country Swing dance several nights a week. He met all sorts of new friends with similar interests and settled into Phoenix in no time.  As our main priority, we can set similar goals for you too to make sure that what you want to gain personally is reached through your experience with us.  We recognize everyone has a different vision for himself or herself regarding dancing, so we will always customize a program specific to your wants.

Specifically, for those of you with dancing goals go becoming a confident Latin dancer or Tango dancer, the biggest question to ask yourself is ‘What kind of dancer do I want to be? A show-stopper? A competitive dancer? An amazing social dancer?   Am I wanting to look natural or flashy?  Where do I intend to dance?’  A goal or vision is an essential piece of WHO you are, and it is something you want to carry forward into your goal setting with one of our incredible instructors.  When determining your goal, make it not only realistic but true to you.  We want you to be excited and comfortable about your vision for yourself.  It is a lot like rock climbing.  You are finding your rope, your lead, and the journey is upward from there.  Let us help you build confidence and achieve your vision for you.

With solid direction and purpose, and by sharing your goals with someone new that can help you to achieve them, you not only create accountability but motivation as well.  This allows others to give you the tools you need to help you move forward.  Our instructors at Dance FX Studios are trained to work with you to paint a clear picture of your goal, present a plan of attack with obtainable milestones, and constantly remind you of where you have been and where you are going.  It is easy to feel discouraged when you’re staring at a massive, seemingly insurmountable mountain, but here, at Dance FX Studios, we help break larger intimidating aspirations into smaller, more achievable stepping stones!  We create a definitive plan of action and start working on it right away!  Therefore, you hit milestones, become more motivated, and visually see progress happening!

We want to encourage you to believe in yourself.  Fuel your ambition by inspiring yourself to aim for things you may not have thought possible.   By asking ourselves what we really want and constantly re-assessing our goals, we gain the benefit of introspection and self-reflection.  We can figure out what it is we really want in life, and then make it happen.

Our motto here at the studio is to “Work smart, not hard.”  We want to get you to your goal in the smartest way possible.  Be adaptive, purposeful, and focused, but don’t limit yourself; you have transformative potential!  We know it.  Let us help you reach your dancing goals, and remember if you get knocked down, get back up, dust off your pants, tighten up your dancing shoes, and continue to move forward using all the knowledge you’ve gained.  Don’t wish for it, work for it in a fun way.  Do something today that your future will thank you for.  Start now!  Our Introductory Offer is just $25.  We can help you start your dancing journey today.  We look forward to meeting you soon!

Ballroom Dancing Arizona

Kick Up Your Heels With Country Dance Lessons!

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Ballroom Dancing in Mesa, ArizonaThere are so many fun dance classes to choose from, it’s hard to decide which style of dance is perfect just for you. From the Country Two Step to the Salsa and Swing, each dance style offers a plethora of benefits.  Just a few of the benefits you can receive from knowing how to dance include: increased confidence, meeting new people, a long list of health benefits and weight loss. But the real question is, what dance will “do it” for you. What dance will “have you at hello” or “complete you”. We live in Arizona, and Country dancing is very popular, so why not try putting an extra kick in your step by learning  to Country dance?

Are you interested? Then put on some Kenny Chesney or Miranda Lambert and keep reading to find out what Country dances could be perfect for you…

The Country Western Waltz is the perfect partner dance that allows you to get close and cozy with your partner as you move across the dance floor together. The Country Western Waltz is mostly progressive, moving counter-clockwise around the dance floor. Both the posture and frame are relaxed, with posture bordering on a slouch. The exaggerated hand and arm gestures of some ballroom styles are not part of this style.

The music of Country Waltz songs usually has the word “waltz” in the title. Early Country Waltz music includes “Tennessee Waltz” written by Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King in 1946. Patti Page recorded the song in the 1950s and it became her signature song. More recently Norah Jones recorded a version of the “Tennessee Waltz” and currently there is a lot of good music for dancing the Country Waltz which shows the Waltz is still very popular.

Put a Little Two-Step in Your Step! Another popular Country dance is the Two-Step, which has a more upbeat tempo. As with other Country Western dances, there are different versions of the Two-Step including the Texas Two-Step and Arizona Two-Step. Dance partners generally begin in closed position with the leader facing the line of dance. Traditionally the follower stands facing the leader where the leader places his right hand over his partner’s left shoulder. In the more contemporary styling the frame is formed by placing the right hand under the follower’s left arm and on her back. In either case, the leader holds the follower’s right hand in his left hand at about shoulder height.

Express your inner Cowboy as you move through this style of dance that is all about having fun and enjoying the sounds of some great and sometimes more patriotic versions of Country music. Examples of Country Two-Step songs are: “All my Ex’s Live in Texas” by George Strait, “A Better Man” by Clint Black, “Love’s Got a Hold on You” by Alan Jackson and “By the Dawn’s Early Light” by Marcy Brothers.

The West Coast Swing is a partner dance with roots from the Lindy Hop. The rumor is this slotted dance was developed because Hollywood films love the dance and asked dancers to perform it in a way that the camera could capture the sides of their bodies. Therefore the dancers had to stay in the same plane when dancing, they also did this to avoid going in and out of focus. The distinctive elastic look that resulted, is from its basic extension-compression technique of partner connection. West Coast Swing is danced primarily in a slotted area on the dance floor. On crowded dance floors a couple will “claim” an area while other couples cooperate and establish their own slot parallel nearby other dancers.

Swing music is one of the most eclectic forms of Country music. It’s free-wheeling diversity also shows up in rock and roll, an example is Kid Rocks “All Summer Long”. Based in traditional string band music, West Coast Swing is also found within traditional pop melodies, jazz improvisation, blues, and folk music. West Coast Swing may be danced to almost any music in 4/4 time. You will find recordings of Swing music by popular artists such as: Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Tim McGraw, Randy Houser and Carrie Underwood’s popular song “Cowboy Casanova”.

Dance lessons help you gain confidence in all your abilities.  Even if you feel that you have to left feet, our instructors at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona will show you how easy it is to Country dance.  So kick up your heels and learn a Country dance style of your choosing and you will be sure to have great time anytime you step out on a dance floor.

couple dancing

Learn to Social Dance in Arizona

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couple dancingIf you have been taking Salsa, Swing or Country dance lessons with us at Dance FX Studios here in Arizona, you are probably familiar with what we know it takes to become a confident social dancer: practice, practice, practice. Whether it be at home in your living room or out socially, practicing what you have learned in your private dance lessons is key, of course as long as the practice is done correctly. Whether you’re learning Latin, Swing , or Country dancing, here are a few tips from us at Dance FX Studios when it comes to reviewing what you have learned:

 

1. Take Time to Count the Music

 

Counting music is an incredibly important aspect of dancing. If you aren’t a natural at hearing beats of music, private dance lessons with us at Dance FX Studios are a great asset. Your instructor can give you the tools to help you to find the beat in multiple types of music from Salsa to Swing and Tango to Two Step. Once you get the key tips from us that you need, try to count any music you hear anywhere from in your car, at the grocery store, to the gym, wherever! With enough time, instruction and effort, hearing the beat and internalizing music will become second nature. Then, applying your cool dance moves to the beat will make you look that much more natural.

 

2. Walk Through Your Moves

 

Is that underarm turn giving you a hard time? Go through the steps over and over until you no longer have to think about it. Repetition is the key to success here, so walk take time off the social dance floor to walk through your footwork until it feels natural. Just remember to take nice, small steps while you’re practicing. You can also take video of steps and combinations that are challenging you in your private dance lessons to view and practice on your own.

 

3. Shadow Dance

 

It’s difficult to practice lead and follow without a partner, but you can get serious benefits from practicing solo. You can focus on maintaining a solid frame and leading moves on your own when you pretend you have a partner in front of you. Hold your dance frame as you would with a partner and pretend that you are leading or following. We use a big exercise ball here at the studio, give that a try!

 

4. Dance With a Comfortable Partner

 

The best way to practice is ultimately with another person. If you have a go-to partner, be it a significant other, friend, or other person, practice together in a comfortable environment. This is the time to try out any new moves or techniques you want to work on without feeling intimidated. During practice time, try not to help “remind” each other of the other person’s parts. Focus on making your own parts great and let your dance instructor help you to fill in any holes with things that don’t feel right. Taking notes while practicing will help to remind you of what needs to be worked on.

 

5. Dance With a NEW Partner

 

The true test of your lead or follow is to give it a whirl with someone you don’t know. The goal is to be comfortable and able to dance with anyone, right? Once you’re pretty comfortable with your moves, it’s time to dance with a new partner. So grab a friendly looking stranger at that Salsa club or in the Country bar and give it a shot.

 

Dancing is so much more than just fancy footwork, but the steps are the basics of dance. The sooner you feel comfortable with those feet, the sooner we can show you all of the cool stuff that you can do with your body. From turns to wraps, you can truly enjoy social dancing here in Arizona once your feet are on auto-pilot and you can focus on leading or following. That’s when the fun really begins and you can make the dance all your own!

 

Private dance lessons at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona will give you the tools and confidence you need to become a proficient social ballroom dancer. Once you have those tools, practicing is very important, so be sure to do it regularly and correctly. If you live in the greater Phoenix area, come check us out! We are located in Mesa, Arizona, near Tempe, Chandler, Scottsdale and Phoenix. Take advantage of our $40 Intro Lesson Offer and you, too can be on the fast track to becoming a great Salsa, Two Step, or Swing dancer!

Are Private Dance Lessons For You? We Think So!

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Need to improve your golf swing? Want a better singing voice? Everyone knows that private lessons are the best and quickest way to advance a new skill. Social dance lessons are no different. Here at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona, we strive to offer the best private dance lessons in the greater Phoenix area. From Salsa to Swing and Tango to Two Step, you deserve top notch instruction. What should you expect out of a quality private dance lesson from us? Let’s talk about it!

Customized Dance Programs
Not everyone learns the same way. Some people are auditory learners, some need visual assistance, and some just need to feel it. In a private dance lesson at Dance FX Studios, whether you are learning to Country Swing or dance the Bachata, your instructor can focus on your particular learning style to guarantee the best results. You also get to make sure that you are focusing on the dances and styles you WANT to be learning. You can’t promise control like that in a group setting, or even at other dance studios for that matter.
Flexibility
Private dance lessons are available at Dance FX Studios 6 days a week, by appointment. When life gets crazy, private lessons offer the flexibility to work around your hectic schedule, instead of vice versa. And, since you choose when you come in, you get to be in charge of how fast you progress! Repetition and consistency are two key factors in learning a new skill, so being able to make it into the studio as often as you want is a total game changer.
Goal-oriented Learning
Private dance lessons with us involve goal-setting and focused instruction to help you achieve said goals. Because of the personalized attention towards your specific needs, private dance lessons at Dance FX Studios get you to where you want to be in the shortest amount of time possible-on that dance floor! Whereas group classes tend to focus on the general overview of a dance, private dance lessons can dig deep into the material. Not only does this lead to better instruction, but quicker progress!
If you live in the greater Phoenix area and want to grow as a dancer, check out our website. Dance FX Studios is located in Mesa, just off the 101 and the 60. We offer private dance lessons in everything from Country dancing, to Latin, to Swing to Argentine Tango! With an introductory offer of only $40, there’s no reason to NOT join us.
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!

Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona Helps Couples and Singles Learn to Dance

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Taking dance lessons is truly a wonderful thing to do for yourself and your partner in so many ways. As a couple, you can help your relationship grow stronger and try something new together while learning a new hobby together. If you are single, learning to dance gives you not only dancing skills, but also a sense of confidence and a fresh array of settings to meet new people. Located in Mesa, Arizona, Dance FX Studios serves people from all over the Phoenix metropolitan area. We offer both singles and couples dance lessons in Country dancing, Swing dancing, Tango dancing and other social ballroom dances.

With over 12 years of experience, Dance FX Studios is the best place you can go for dance lessons, whether you want to learn by yourself or with a partner. Our Introductory Offer is an hour long and only $40 for either a couple or one person. In this first hour with Dance FX Studios, you will learn dance basics including form, how to navigate around a crowded dance floor, how to connect with your dance partner and a few steps that are useful in whatever setting you see yourself dancing in. Your instructor will also discuss why you want to learn to dance and where you want to take your dancing abilities as you develop them. Our focus at Dance FX Studios is social ballroom dancing; we want you to be capable and confident to take what you learn in the studio out to places like Country bars, Salsa clubs, Tango milongas and weddings. This is what sets us apart from many studios in the area and excites our students.

As a single man or woman, dance lessons with us at Dance FX Studios will prove to be a great asset. Having the ability to dance in any social setting is something that will stick with you for the rest of your life! It may not come overnight, but the challenge and satisfaction of gaining these new skills will prove useful over the years when you find that you can dance in any social setting. Challenging yourself to learn something new will boost your confidence and give you a spring in your step. This manifests not only on the dance floor, but also in your work and personal life. Your new poise and spirit will prepare you to tackle projects and demands at your workplace with more assurance than before. When you go out with friends or by yourself, you will be able to enjoy yourself on the dance floor and potentially meet a new dance partner. Who knew that Salsa dance lessons could give you all of that and more?

Our students who take lessons as a couple reap many benefits together as well as individually. Individually, each half of the couple is challenging themselves and developing their own skills and confidence; an awesome thing to do for oneself no matter the venue or situation. Together, the couple learns to work together and help each other in lessons and practicing on their own. When dancing, the man leads and the woman follows, which improves communication and trust within the pair. Swing, Salsa or Two Step dancing is a hobby a couple can take anywhere. Imagine the new possibilities for date nights! Frequently the couples that take lessons at Dance FX Studios make a date of the nights they have lessons. They work out their schedules so they can go to dinner after their lesson and enjoy each other all evening. We also offer Couples Group Classes, which are a great way to learn or practice Country Two Step, Jitterbug, Salsa, and Country Swing dancing and meet other couples learning to dance.

Taking dance lessons at Dance FX Studios will prove to be a great decision for you and/or your partner. With our Introductory Offer, Couples Group Classes and dance parties with live music, chances are there is a dance opportunity that will work for you, your schedule and your budget. Check out our website or call us today to find out more about how you can add excitement in your life and relationships with dance lessons!