So you’ve decided that you’re tired of bellying up to that barstool and watching everyone else on that dance floor have fun. Why should they be kicking up their heels while you are watching from afar? It’s time for you to learn to dance and you’re ready to finally do something about it. Does this guy or gal sound like you? Then give your local dance studio a call and get the ball rolling!

There’s no better time than now to invest in yourself with private dance lessons. With private dance instruction, you can get great tips on how to lead or follow, how to connect with a variety of partners (or your special someone) and how to actually do all of those cool moves in your favorite styles of dance. If you’re like most people, you have questions when embarking on a new hobby such as social partner dancing. Here are a few of the most common questions along with answers from us, the pros at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ.

1. What styles of dance should I/we learn first? This question comes up often.  You wouldn’t want to begin exploring a dance that is not useful to you as a couple or single, so our instructors begin by asking you what kind of music you enjoy. If you’re a couple that loves Rock and Roll, we will show you how to Swing dance. If you love Country music, the Country Two Step is definitely in order. For those that love Latin music (and it is so popular here in Arizona), of course we will explore the Salsa and Bachata as your two most useful dances.

With so many dance styles to choose from, we believe in quality over quantity, so our suggestion is to start learning 3 or 4 dances, at the most, initially. That will lead us into Most Common Question #2…

2. Can I start with just one dance and go from there? We don’t recommend it. Not only is learning just one dance limiting, but it is also the slowest way to progress. With one dance, you will be sitting out a majority of the night. What’s the fun in that? Taking in at least two styles will keep you out there on the dance floor longer, which is exactly what you wanted, right? Since dancing is healthy and enjoyable on so many levels, you wouldn’t want to take lessons only to find yourself watching from the sidelines again.

In terms of slowing down your progress, learning several styles that are relatable all at once is ideal. You will be working smart and not hard, as well as staying up on that dance floor having a blast!

3. What type of footwear should we wear for our dance lessons? Proper footwear is a main component of partner dancing, believe it or not. For you golfers out there, would you consider golfing with a stick if you didn’t bring your clubs? Or using an apple as your ball if you ran out? Of course not.

For Country dancers, we always recommend a nice pair of leather bottom shoes that you can find at your local boot store. Rubber does tend to stick to the floor, so leather is best. Latin dancers ideally should be in a heel with a strap around the ankle (for ladies) and a leather bottom dress shoe (for guys). Ease of movement is what we’re after here. Think back to the golf analogy when beginning your dance lessons so that you set yourself up for success out there and you don’t waste your time being distracted by your shoes.

Social partner dancing is a skill that makes an impression on others. It’s hard not to be impressed by someone who’s a confident social dancer. Embark on your exciting new journey into the world of social dancing with us at Dance FX Studios! We will take you, the everyday single or couple, and give you the tools to dance anywhere with ease and certainty.

Arizona residents… give our New Student Offer a try and see how dancing can help you to put your best foot forward in any social situation.