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How to Become a Better Latin Dancer

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salsa dance instruction near Chandler AZDo you love to Latin dance? Me too! Whether I’m dancing Salsa, Bachata, Cha Cha or Merengue, I truly enjoy the freedom I feel when I’m Latin dancing. Latin dancing is playful, flirty, sensual and a great way to express yourself and let go of life’s worries, but it doesn’t always feel great when you’re a newer dancer. It’s very typical to not feel smooth and fluid in the beginning, so be patient with yourself, and your partner if you have one. Here are a few of my favorite tips so you can become a better Latin dancer in a shorter amount of time. Enjoy!

  1. Focus on your frame. Leaders, although your footsteps and patterns can seem like a priority, Latin dancing, like all partner dances, can only feel comfortable with someone else when you have a great dance frame. We followers can’t feel what your feet are doing, but we can feel a loose frame that is not guiding us on the dance floor. In return, we ladies tend to try and “fill in the gaps” and lead ourselves, which takes away from your role as a leader, and frankly disempowers you completely. Never a good thing on the dance floor. So guys, focus on your dance frame first, then we followers can make you look great by being able to understand and follow what you’re trying to lead.

If you’re wondering what your dance frame should look and feel like, that’s great! I’m going to suggest signing up for some Private Latin Dance Lessons to make you a confident social dancer. Private Dance Lessons are the only real way, in my opinion, to get the detail and technique tips needed to thrive in partner dancing. Yes, Private Dance Lessons are more of an investment both time and money-wise, but you will get the results you’re looking for in a more efficient way that will last long term when you take the time to learn correctly from the start.

2. Keep it simple. Oftentimes beginner Latin dancers try to show off with the more flashy or “cool”-looking dance moves as a way to impress the person they’re dancing with. Guys, keep it simple. I firmly believe in the concept of “less is more”, especially when it comes to dancing. Once you know what your partner is capable of, and you’re sure that you have a great connection with her on the dance floor, then you can layer in some more advanced moves on the second or third dance with the same partner.

3. Be aware of your surroundings. If you don’t already know this, many Latin dances do not travel. Instead, they rotate in place on the dance floor, making Latin dances, like Salsa and Bachata, “spot” dances. That being said, it is key to be mindful of your surroundings. It would not be fun to dance with a person who runs you into others, right? That will happen unless you know what’s going on around you.

Keep your eyes up, leaders, dance within the space you’re standing in, and keep it nice and simple for your follower on the first dance, and you should be ensured at least a second dance, hopefully many more, with that beautiful woman you’ve been eyeballing. There’s really nothing more exciting, in my opinion, than dancing with someone. Social dancing, be it Latin dancing or otherwise, is a fantastic way to connect with someone new or someone special, so enjoy it! Keep on dancing and, to grow and be that leader or follower that you have always wanted to be, find a local dance studio near you to take some Private Dance Lessons. You’ll be so glad you did!

Country Dancing AZ

Why You Should Take Salsa Dance Lessons

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rsz_1rsz_dsc05475Latin dancing is HOT! HOT! HOT! Did you ever think that taking Latin Dance Lessons here in Arizona, or anywhere for that matter, can do so many things to help improve your life? From increased confidence to stress relief to a romantic means of connecting with your special someone, knowing how to Latin dance can give you these benefits and so much more! You won’t want to miss out on your chance to dance with us at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona. Here are a few more reasons why YOU should learn how to Latin dance…

First and foremost, all Latin dances, from Salsa to Bachata, are very sexy.  If you’re one of the many who don’t feel naturally sexy, or are too shy to let that side of you out, what better way to release your inner tiger or tigress than with private Salsa or Merengue dance lessons? You will soon have an amazing new confidence while also having fun shaking your hips on the dance floor.  In time, we will build on your Latin dance skills by showing  you how to blend your moves together, make them look smooth and natural, and even get you dancing on time to the music. (This is extremely important and key to looking sexy!)

Being a confident lead or follow on the dance floor is not as common as you may think. Having that type of confidence at any club is a magnet for guys/girls who want to dance. You may even inspire someone to get up and dance! All of your friends will want to know where you took your Latin Dance Lessons as soon as they see you step onto the dance floor. Everyone will want to have the chance to dance with you, and obviously you will accept the offer to show them how smooth your moves are. With a series of Salsa dance lessons under your belt, you’re sure to be successful because our amazing dance instructors will make a great dancer out of you.

When you finally decide to go out and practice what you’ve learned from your Private Latin Dance Lessons with us, you will meet some amazing new people. The type of people you meet will have the same hobby as you, (Dancing of course) and you will connect in ways that ordinary non-dancers won’t. If you’re single, this is a great opportunity to meet someone! Having a partner in life who likes to go out dancing with you is a great type of partner to have. You will never run out of places to Salsa or Bachata because there are endless Latin night clubs in Arizona. If you are dating someone already or married, then this is a great hobby for the two of you to begin together. On the weekends you can get a sitter and have a steamy date night Salsa dancing the night away!

If you want to learn a new hobby that is playful, creative and a great way to relieve stress, Latin dance lessons are the way to go! If you want quality lessons with amazing teachers who have taught for decades, then come see us at Dance FX Studios. Our New Student Offer for Salsa or Bachata dance lessons is the best place to start. We can’t wait to show you our smooth moves!

 

 

Salsa Dance Class AZ

Couple’s Country Dance Classes and More!

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Salsa Dance Class in ArizonaAre you ready for a new and exciting hobby in 2015? Then come join in the fun with us at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona! As one of Arizona’s leading dance studios for the past decade, we are going to assist you in becoming a confident social dancer this year. In our new Group Dance Classes for couples, you will learn cool and popular social dances including the Country Two Step, Salsa and Country Swing.

Your wallflower days are coming to an end as you take your first steps onto the dance floor. The only question to ask yourself before you begin is “Which dance should I learn first?”. That’s a tough one. If you see yourself in the favored Country bars these days with friends or even a date, then we suggest that you kick off your dancing journey with the trendy Country Two Step. The Country Two Step is medium tempo, not too fast and not too slow, so it’s perfect for beginners who are getting their dancing feet wet! What’s also wonderful about the Country Two Step is that there are several styling variations of it, so you will never get bored, or bore your partner with the basics. The Country Two Step also has lots of impressive moves that will surely sweep any Cowgirl off of her feet. The Country Two Step class for beginners is every Monday at 7 pm, starting on the first week of each month and lasting for 4 weeks total.

Then there’s the Salsa. What an awesome dance to explore! Salsa dancing is always useful as there is an abundance of Latin influence here in the southwest. What’s amazing and intriguing about Latin dancing in general is the passion and freedom that comes from exploring sensual dances like the Salsa, Bachata and Merengue. Salsa dancing includes lots of sass and playfulness with all of that hip shaking. Be prepared to have fun learning lots of turns and cool dance moves in our Salsa Group Dance Classes. Dance FX Studios’ 4-Week Salsa dance class for beginners is held each Tuesday at 7 pm, re-opening on the first week of each month for new couples.

Finally, if you love Country music, you have got to learn to Country Swing dance! The Country Swing is fast, furious and tons of fun! In this most popular dance, you will learn various turns and spins that will make you one to watch on the dance floor. Country Swing is useful and lively and is one dance that you don’t want to pass up this year. Remember Country music lovers, Country Thunder is coming up in the next few months, so now is the time to throw on those boots and learn to dance. Our Country Swing dance classes for beginners are held on Wednesdays at 7 pm, beginning anew at the first of each month.

If you’re ready to get this dancing party started, get signed up for the 4-week class of your choice today. February’s classes are just two short weeks away and you want to reserve your spot early to be guaranteed to be a part of the fun. The best part of our 4-Week Group Dance Classes is that they are only $75 per couple for the entire month! That’s a steal, especially for quality social dance instruction from pros that have been teaching for years here in Arizona.

Check “learn to dance” off of your bucket list this year and have a blast with a hobby that you can enjoy for many more years to come! We look forward to seeing you in the coming months at Dance FX Studios!

 

 

Swing dancing in AZ

Social Dance Lessons-The Perfect Holiday Gift!

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Swing dancing in ArizonaHow many gifts can you think of that promote health, romance, positive brain training and relaxation all in one? I’d venture to say very few, if any, other than social ballroom dance lessons for couples and singles. That’s right! Social ballroom dancing is fun, trendy, healthful in mind and body, and a great means of unwinding after a long day at work. This holiday season, you can gift your best friend another card to The Cheesecake Factory, or you can get her and her hubby out of the restaurant booth and onto the dance floor. With the gift of social dancing, you can expect not only a big, fat THANK YOU from your recipients (you know they have secretly always wanted to learn to Country Two Step, but are too afraid to bring it up to each other), but you can also expect the following:

1. A happier couple. A couple that dances together, stays together. OK, that’s not a saying, but it sounds right on the mark to me! Social dancing, think Country, Latin or Swing, enables couples to connect on not just a physical level, but also by working together for a common goal: having fun and looking great! Partner dancing takes two; a great communicator (the leader, or male) and a great responder (that would be the follower, or female) to work well. Both have to do their parts in a way that supports the other. How great is that!? Just like in “real life” off the dance floor,  teamwork makes for a great experience on the dance floor. Then, and only then, can everyone involved truly have a great time. With this deeper and more intimate connection, couples can parent better, relax more and create a happier home. Watch those daily stresses of your friends melt away as they now have a go-to hobby to take the pressure off at the end of each day (not to mention a fun activity for date nights and other social gatherings).

2. A busier friend. Do you have any single friends whose social lives could use a little “sprucing up”? Give them dance lessons for the holiday season and watch their social calendars fill up. With social dance lessons in the right studio, one’s social life can flourish. What better a way to meet others than while doing something that you love? And, since dancing is also an intimate hobby, what a unique and healthy way to meet someone special? You can hand your friend a gift card for dance lessons and know that you are giving so much more ultimately. Now that’s a gift!

3. A more confident friend(s). Once your friend is bitten by the dancing bug, the best part of their journey kicks in: increased confidence. Think about it. How many people can actually dance the Salsa well or look amazing Swing dancing? Very few can say that they can dance with confidence. This skill is one that quickly spills into other areas of life, and for the better! You may see a spike in sales if your friend is in that field (I have seen this with my own eyes), or a few more dates lined up for that one-time wallflower. The gift of confidence? Priceless.

If you live in the Phoenix valley, we can give you all of these benefits, just by learning to dance. Come visit us at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ and watch yourself and your loved ones transform into healthier, happier people. Gift cards are a wonderful way to get the ball rolling. And, from now until 12-25-14, you can get a return on your investment! For every gift card, you purchase over $100, you get a $25 credit towards dance lessons for yourself! It just doesn’t get any better than that. 🙂 A fun way to get started is with our Newcomer’s Offer for private dance lessons, but we also have group dance classes for your enjoyment. Happy holidays from us to you!

country 2 step dancing

Salsa, Swing and Two Step Classes in Arizona

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Starting this April 2014, Dance FX Studios will be offering 4 week progressive couple’s group dance classes again. Group dance classes are a great way to either practice what you learn in private dance lessons or learn some basics in a dance of your choice. You and your partner will learn proper dance form and cool new steps, as well as how to be comfortable on any dance floor. It is a great way to gain a new skill set and try out a new hobby! You could also meet other couples to go out dancing with – it’s called social dancing for a reason, right?

Dance FX Studios is located just off of Price highway (101 highway) on Dobson and Guadalupe in Mesa, Arizona. We are so close to cities like Tempe, Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, and Phoenix that we get couples from all over the Valley and beyond that come to learn here! If you want to learn to dance Country Two Step, Salsa, Country Swing, or Jitterbug Swing, our group classes are a great option! Each class is offered on a different day every week and they are always at 7 pm at Dance FX Studios.

What’s different about these new classes in comparison to the ones we have had so far in 2014 is that these classes are progressive. Every week, your certified Swango instructors build on what you learned the previous week and new steps and tips are offered each week. The classes are offered for four consecutive weeks beginning on April 7th, 2014. All classes are open to couples with NO dance experience! With Dance FX Studios’ unique style of instruction, you will learn key tips in each dance to make you comfortable on any social dance floor within a short time. Even if you have taken lessons before and know more than just the basics, you will learn at Dance FX Studios what most other places don’t teach: how to be a SOCIAL dancer. You will learn how to lead and follow, how to navigate a busy dance floor and more!

On Monday evenings, the Country music gets cranked and couples learn to Two Step with our certified instructors. Country Two Step is a fun dance and it is particularly popular here in Arizona. With so many Country bars and venues in our area like Denim and Diamonds, Toby Keith’s and Cactus Moon, there’s no doubt you will find a place to show off your Two Stepping skills!

Tuesdays nights are Salsa nights, where couples embrace their flirty side and shimmy to great Latin music. Latin culture is very prevalent here in Arizona, making Salsa one of the top three most useful dances here! You and your partner will have the opportunity to spice things up, adding some sassy excitement to your lives. Dance lessons are a great way to strengthen communication skills and Salsa dancing is a more sensual, intimate dance that is perfect for connecting with each other!

Country Swing dancing will become the highlight of your hump day with Dance FX Studios’ Wednesday night Country Swing classes! This dance is very playful and exciting and is also very prevalent in our area. The bars and clubs can a get a bit rowdy when couples are Swing dancing, so we make sure to teach couples how to stay safe and still have tons of fun!

On Thursdays, couples can learn the Jitterbug Swing. What is so great about this dance is that you can dance it to so many types of music! It is versatile and perfect for any couple wanting to learn a new hobby and enjoy themselves out on any dance floor. Dance FX Studios will get you ready for any club or party with this social dance that anyone can learn. Jitterbug is lively and exciting and sure to keep you on the floor all night long!

Get registered today for Dance FX Studios’ 4 week group dance classes. They are just $75 for 4 weeks of classes as a couple. What an awesome deal! Before long, you too will be able to shine on any social dance floor, whether you are at a Latin dance club or a Country bar.

All About the Bachata

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When was the last time you danced? The desire to dance is one of the most primitive and instinctual senses within human beings. It has been said the dancing is older than anything except eating, drinking, and love. These things are the rhythm of life… and rhythm is the basis of dancing! It is a fact that emotion does inspire the body to move. Society and conditioning have taught people to suppress this natural response, but this primal desire is there all the same. Even though you may have not danced in awhile, or ever at all, you do have this instinct imbedded inside you. So why not listen to those instincts and get out there and dance!

There are a number of dances that are available to learn and sometimes it can get a little confusing as to which dance best suits an individual’s preference. What type of music do you like? Do you want to be able to dance anywhere, from clubs to weddings? Would you like to reconnect with your partner? Today, we’re going to talk about ballroom dancing and, more specifically, a sensual Latin dance called the Bachata.

An increasing amount of people are becoming more interested in Bachata dancing, as there are so many advantages to learning this dance and becoming familiar with the music. Some of the many benefits involve building confidence, learning a new skill, making new acquaintances, as well as, improved hand and eye coordination. For many fans, Bachata is simply a form of entertainment or escapism with enchantingly exotic music and intimate dancing. What a great way to reconnect with your partner or connect with someone new!

OK, so what exactly is the Bachata? Bachata is a both a dance and a style of Latin music from the Dominican Republic. It has elements of other Latin genres and styles and is relatively new, emerging from the rural areas of the Dominican Republic in the 1950’s. Bachata songs are often about country living and love, both passionate romance and hurtful heartbreaks- it is very similar to the American blues. Even though Bachata dancing is different from Salsa or Merengue, the intensity and sensuality is just as strong, if not more so.

Because of its humble origins and subject matter, the Bachata was not popular at first. It was originally considered music for the poor and uneducated. This, however, didn’t stop the Bachata artists who continued playing and writing songs for their few faithful fans. As the years passed Bachata music evolved, borrowing styles and rhythms from modern genres like Latin pop music. Today, Bachata has gained popularity and recognition- it has left the rural countryside of the Dominican Republic and is now popular in major cities throughout the world!

Sound intriguing? Let Dance FX Studios, Arizona’s leading private ballroom dance studio, located near Tempe and Chandler, help you to become skilled in Bachata dancing. We are available for private lessons Monday-Friday, from 12-8 and Saturday, from 11-4. Give us a call at 480.968.6177 to begin this new and exciting adventure!

At Dance FX Studios, in Mesa, AZ, we have helped so many people learn to ballroom dance-including styles such as Country, Swing, Latin, and Argentine Tango. We have changed apprehensive and self-conscious beginners to confident and competent dancers and would love to do the same for you! A great way to get started with Latin dance lessons is with our Introductory Offer, for only $40 per couple or single. This one hour lesson is all we need to show you how much fun learning to dance can be for anyone. Learning to dance is a skill you can use anywhere, for any occasion, and is something you will have with you throughout your life. How many other things can offer you that? Add a little passion into your life with Bachata dance lessons or another style of your choice-either way, you’ll be enjoying a hobby that will keep you moving for years to come.

Discover More About the Cha Cha and Merengue!

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In a previous blog, we covered a brief history of the salsa and Argentine tango. Today, we are going to explore a few other popular social Latin dances. Latin dancing is  popular everywhere-especially in the southwest where we are here in Arizona. From Latin clubs to private parties, knowing how to Latin dance will come in handy! Get inspired to hit the dance floor and shake those hips because ANYONE can become a great Latin dancer-even YOU!

Let us begin with the Cha Cha, a vibrant, flamboyant and playful Latin dance. The carefree and lively feel of the Cha Cha gives it a unique sense of fun for dancers all over the world.

The Cha Cha is an interpretive social dance, born from the fusion of progressive American and Latin music. The initial purpose of learning this dance was for weight change. Originally known as the Cha-Cha-Cha, it became popular in the 1950’s and was a spin-off of the Mambo. Eventually it evolved into a separate dance, known today as the Cha Cha.

The Cha Cha was immensely popular from the beginning and is a dance that has never gone out of style. It is a constant favorite at weddings because of its versatility with many genres of music. In fact, the Cha Cha can be done to Country dance music, oldies and Hip Hop, in addition to Latin styles. This dance is very easy to learn, and, once you have the basic pattern down, can be done in a crowded room or a wide open space. For social dancing, this is a plus as you can dance the Cha Cha anywhere with ease.

To this day, the Cha Cha has remained one of the most popular partner dances. Less sensual than the Mambo and less erotic than the Bolero, it is exciting and fun to dance. Everybody loves the Cha Cha!

Next, let us tell you about the Merengue. Whenever someone pulls out their hot Latino tunes and starts playing the Merengue, there’s a party! What’s great about the Merengue is that it is based on simple marching steps. There’s an old saying: “If you can walk, you can dance the Merengue.”

The Merengue is the national dance of the Dominican Republic, and also to some extent, of Haiti. It has been around since the early years of the Dominican Republic (in Haiti, a similar dance is called the Meringue). It is very likely that the dance took its name from the confection made of sugar and egg whites due to the light and bubbly character of the dance or because of its short, precise rhythms.

By the middle of the nineteenth century, the Merengue became quite popular in the Dominican Republic. It was used for every dancing occasion in the Republic and is vastly prevalent throughout the Caribbean and South American. It is one of the standard Latin American dances.

There is a lot of variety in Merengue music and tempos can vary a great deal. The Dominicans prefer a sharp quickening with the pace towards the end of the dance. The favorite routine at the clubs is a slow Bolero, which then breaks into a Merengue, and then becomes similar to a fast Jive towards the end. The ballroom version of the Merengue is slower and has a modified hip action.

The Merengue was introduced in the United States around the New York area. It increased in popularity in the U. S. and the rest of the world with its peak years occurring between the 1970s and the turn of the twenty-first century. It had a lot of competition with other Latin dances, but eventually won a foothold in the club scene. Ideally suited to small, crowded dance floors, it is a dance that is easy to learn and really fun for all!

There are so many exciting and popular social ballroom dances to discover. See upcoming blogs, and even previous blogs, on Dance FX Studios’ website to learn about the history of the Swing, Country two step and more. To get started learning these popular dances today, so that you can join in on the fun tomorrow, try out our introductory offer for just $40! You will soon see how dancing really is FUN and EASY to learn and enjoy. Become a confident social dancer after a few private dance lessons and see how many doors will open for you. Dance FX Studios is located in Mesa, Arizona in the Phoenix East Valley, just off the 101 highway for your convenience.