Get your dancing shoes on! Learning how to do ballroom dance is challenging enough as it is.

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What You May Not Know About Salsa Dancing

salsa dance lessons near Chandler ArizonaAs most of you know, we’ve kicked off Latin month here at Dance FX Studios, gearing up for our Spring Fiesta Latin Dance Party on Saturday, April 23rd, 2016. Tickets are only $25 per person, and with dozens of eager dancers, it will be a great opportunity to practice all of your Salsa, Bachata and Merengue dance moves! But have you ever stopped to wonder — how did we get here? Why are there all of these different Latin dance styles? Who came up with all of this? Well if so, you’re not alone. As with many things, we can learn so much by breaking down the roots of Latin dancing.

Humans have been dancing since the beginning of recorded history. No other form of self-expression or art has been around longer. In primitive times, dancing accompanied ancient rituals, spiritual ceremonies, and social gatherings. While the oldest piece of dance evidence dates back over 9,000 years, the period when dancing first became widespread can be traced to around 2000 BCE. The Egyptians often used music and dancing to convey messages and share history. This continued to evolve through time, until the next large expansion – the Renaissance.

During the Renaissance, music evolved dramatically, and with it, so did dancing. It wasn’t until this time that many European countries began to even document dancing, so our history and understanding is slightly limited. Dance styles began to come and go with each changing era, and as Europe stepped into the 1800s, societies became less conservative. Women began wearing less restrictive clothing, and dancing became more energetic with the inclusion of skipping and hopping. Shortly thereafter, around 1844, began the “international polka craze”, which led to the creation of the waltz.

While no single country can exclusively claim the credit for creating Salsa dancing, due to its widespread range of influences, the pieces started coming together in Cuba. Our first piece of the puzzle stems from Western Africa, where people danced to primarily drums and claves. It was known as the rhumba, although it looks nothing like our present-day idea of rumba. The second piece of the puzzle comes from England; specifically English country dance. It spread to France as “contredanse”, and then to Spain as “contradanza”. By the time it reached Cuba in the 1700s, it was “danza”. As danza grew and evolved in Cuba, it became known as “danzón”. By combining the traditional Cuban music with the African rhythms that were brought to the Caribbean via the slave trade, the Cuban “són” was born. Since African slaves were converted to Christianity upon arrival in Cuba, they continued to dance their traditional rhumba and preserved their religion by creating code words to refer to their own Gods. Elements of the rhumba were integrated into the evolving són.

During the roaring twenties, radio waves finally reached parts of the Caribbean, and due to prohibition, more Americans were traveling to Cuba to partake in their adult beverages. Swing and jazz music were incredibly popular in the states, and Cubans became infatuated with the brass sound, quickly incorporating it into their own music. In the 1930s, brothers Orestes and Israel “Cachao” Lopez were performing a danzón piece with a few other musicians when suddenly Orestes busted out into a completely improvised piano solo that dazzled everyone – even the other unsuspecting band members! They later titled the piece, “Mambo”. The word mambo in Bantu (a language of West Africa) means ‘conversation with the Gods’.

By 1943, Pérez Prado, who was actually good friends with Orestes Lopez, began to call his own brand of music “mambo”. He debuted this new sound, along with a brand new dance style which he also coined as mambo, at La Tropicana nightclub in Havana, Cuba. More upbeat than Cuban music, it featured the same claves, maracas and bass, but it began leaning heavily on piano and brass instrumentation, due to the jazz influences of American nightlife. It was here that he became known as the “King of Mambo”. As times became harder, many Cubans emigrated to Miami and New York, bringing with them this new sensation.

Mambo reached it’s peak in the 1950s, as dance studios, resort hotels, and nightclubs offered lessons to the public. This watered-down version of the dance removed the technical and sometimes dangerous acrobatics, and focused more on incorporating moves people already knew. As the music continued to evolve and accompany more brass instrumentation, salsa began to come alive.

The 1960s saw rise to artists such as Tito Puentes (the “king of mambo”) and Celia Cruz (the “queen of salsa”). The first record label to truly market a music genre of “salsa” was Fania Records, known by many as “the Motown of salsa”. They allowed young musicians to explore a new sound combining the tropical music of Cuba, with big band jazz and American R&B. As this sound matured in the 1970s, we saw the rise of merengue, hip hop, disco, and even the hustle! As these new dance styles intertwined with the mambo, something new was born. It was much more partner-focused, and was danced in a closed frame. We know this dance as the salsa.

In the United States, there are three styles of salsa that we find. Miami-style, which closely resembles Cuban salsa, most likely due to its geographical location. Cuban style is much more rounded, bent knees, and it’s actually not a slot dance (so no crossbody leads!). New York-style salsa, which was strongly influenced by swing and jazz music, and naturally features more swing stylization, as well as hip hop and funk elements. And finally, we have the LA-style, which is typically more flashy with extra spins, acrobatics, and belly dancing components. If you are a Dancing with the Stars fan, what you’re seeing most of them perform is the L.A. style.

Just as the name “salsa” connotes, it’s a mixture of many ingredients, all of them very different from each other. But when you chop each one up into pieces and put them together, it creates something deliciously spicy. You too can discover Salsa dancing with beginners Latin dance lessons from us at Dance FX Studios in the Phoenix East Valley. We’d be privileged to share the opportunity of our love for dancing with you!

dancing in the woods

Ballroom Dance Tips

dancing in the woodsAll of our social ballroom dance instructors here at Dance FX Studios in Arizona are top notch. They go through rigorous training and receive ongoing education to learn even more technique so as to be as knowledgeable as possible for their students. Having been a leading social ballroom dance studio in Arizona for 13 years, Dance FX Studios has seen it all and we will turn any individual into a confident social dancer. Be it the Country Two Step, Jitterbug Swing, Salsa or the Argentine Tango… our instructors have got you covered with top notch quality dance lessons!

One aspect of our instructors off-the-floor planning is creating Teacher Tips. These tips are helpful tidbits of information related to social dancing that are created to help students about things that are helpful to know.

This week’s Teacher Tip comes from Bethany, one of Dance FX Studios’ top dance instructors. Bethany was only two years old the first time she set foot in a dance studio. Born a performer, she spent her youth singing, competing in gymnastics, and trying out many facets of the dance world with learning ballet, modern, jazz, tap, musical theatre dance, and partner dance. For the past eight years, Bethany has been singing, dancing, and acting on both professional and non-professional stages.

Originally from Texas, when Bethany moved to Arizona to attend ASU and earn a degree in Musical Theatre Performance, she discovered how much fun social dancing is. She fell in love with dancing Salsa, Bachata, and other Latin dances, and eventually branched out to other styles. With many years of experience dancing many styles of dance, Bethany definitely knows a thing or two about dancing. Here is her tip this week:

“Get your dancing shoes on! Learning how to dance is challenging enough as it is. Make your life SO much easier by investing in a pair of proper dance shoes – be it smooth ballroom, Latin, character, or even some jazz shoes. You wouldn’t go to the gym in flip flops, so don’t let the dance floor be different. You’ll be amazed at how much easier turns are when you change out of rubber soles and into leather or suede. Not only are dance shoes specifically built to make your dancing smoother, but they can also help you transition into a dancers mindset. So go out and make that investment in you and your dancing.”

Take it from Bethany and put your best dance-shoe-clad foot forward! Not sure which style is best for you? Ask your instructor during your next dance lesson for advice on which type of dance shoe is best for you. Not taking lessons? There’s no better time than now to come check us out with our private dance lesson Introductory Offer. Call us at the studio at 480.968.6177, send us an email at [email protected] , or come visit us during business hours from noon to 8 pm on weekdays and from 10 am to 3 pm on Saturdays. We look forward to meeting you and helping you to reach you dancing dreams!

Cumbia: An Expressive Latin Dance

The Cumbia, a dance much like Salsa, is a source of great pride for individuals of Colombian heritage. This type of dance is very expressive of the way of life and culture of Colombia, adhering the cultures of African, European, and indigenous Colombian peoples. Dance is all about self-expression and is a source of pride and art for cultures all over the world. At Dance FX Studios, we take interest in how much dances and their rich histories really mean. In today’s hectic world, we can take dance and turn it into something personal and expressive for ourselves. Our studio has been showing students the beauty of numerous dance types for over a decade! Latin dances are especially wonderful for self-expression and releasing your creative, wilder side. The sexy Salsa, exciting Bachata, and playful Cumbia are all wonderful sources to consider. Since learning about and respecting the story of every type of dance is important, let’s discover more about the Cumbia, one of many exciting Latin dances that we offer!

Traditional Cumbia music is influenced by three interesting cultures, allowing for each culture to shine through in special way. The rhythm of the drums of Cumbia music comes from the influence of African cultures.  Wind instruments, especially flutes, chime in, reflecting Indigenous influence. Melodies, costumes, and choreography are thanks to European influence. The word Cumbia derives from the African word “cumbe”, which means dance, and the origin of Cumbia music comes from the days of slavery in the 1600s. Slaves from West Africa brought dance traditions with them to Latin America, one of which was of men vying for female attention by dancing in front of women. It is believed that this style has influenced the birth of Cumbia. Where exactly Cumbia was created has been debated, as the birth places of most dances usually are. One thing for certain is that Cumbia arose from a cultural mix of African and Indigenous roots. One suggestion is that Cumbia was born in indigenous country somewhere around the region Pocabuy Banco or Magdalena. Others argue that Cumbia must have been born in Cienaga (Magdalena) or Soledad (Atlántico). The only sure thing is that it was near the settlements of African descendants, brought as slaves to Colombia. The popularity of Cumbia music rose in the 1950s and 60s, and today in Mexico, Colombia, and other Latin American countries, young artists and dancers are embracing the style of music and dance again. Some are striving to preserve its traditional sound and steps, whereas others are putting their own spin on old traditions, incorporating non-traditional instruments and bringing the influences of other cultures to it.

Dance has proven to be a powerful source of creativity and self-expression all over the world! You can join the fun with lessons at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ. We are located just off of Price Freeway on the Southeast corner of Dobson and Guadalupe.  Our Introductory Offer is a great way to see what types of dances, like the fun Latin dances or maybe some Country styles, will get you moving. You will have an entire hour with your instructor to discuss this and get out on the dance floor to start learning and having FUN! Give us a call at 480.968.6177 or stop by today to get started today.

Salsa Dancing…Get Addicted!

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

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

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

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

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

Soar With Salsa Dance Lessons!

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

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

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

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

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