Posts

Discover the Passion Behind Bachata Dancing!

/in /by

Latin dance lessons Tempe ArizonaPassionate. Sultry. Heart-pulsing. These are just a few ways to describe the sexy Latin dance known as bachata. Bachata is a newer dance style that originated in the Caribbean, and it’s just downright fun! Growing in popularity, it comes on almost as often as salsa music does these days in the clubs.

While bachata was invented over 50 years ago, it took about 25 years for it to find its place here in the United States. The music is infectious and as soon as it comes on, you’ll find yourself struggling to NOT get up and move!

Bachata began in the Dominican Republic in the 1960s, mostly to slower music. Dancers would create a square shape across the floor. The music featured an emphasis on every fourth beat, which translated a larger hip movement on that count (a signature style of bachata dancing). This type of bachata is now referred to as Dominican Bachata or Authentic Bachata.

As bachata migrated West and found its way into American schools in the 1990s, dancers evolved the square shape into a side-to-side pattern. Oddly enough, the name for this ‘revised’ bachata is Traditional Bachata. This is the style we continue to dance socially in the states. In addition to authentic and traditional bachata, there are subcategories such as modern bachata (an off-shoot of traditional bachata with more salsa elements and exaggerated hips), bachatango (a bachata – tango fusion), and of course, the competitive ballroom version.

Bachata would not be what it is today without artists such as Jose Manuel, Ramon Cordero, and Rafael Encarnacion. They truly shaped bachata music in the Dominican Republic. This exciting new sound traveled to New York with the help of Luis Vargas and Antony Santos. Similar to American blues, bachata was born from emotions such as romance and heartbreak. The Dominican Republic was an ever-changing, dynamic place to be at that time. They were no longer ruled by a dictator who promoted censorship and cultural degradation. Self-expression began taking on a new definition, and lyrically, it was a dramatic time in their history.

If you enjoy Latin music and culture, or just want a fun way to stay active, bachata is the perfect dance for you. It’s incredibly easy to learn, and quite useful here in the southwest! Current artists that have an excellent array of bachata music include Romeo Santos, Prince Royce, Aventura, and Pitbull. Almost half of the music that comes on in Latin clubs is bachata so it’s a great one to know!

At Dance FX Studios here in Arizona, we offer private Latin dance lessons as well as adult Group Classes. Schedule your next bachata lesson today and get those hips popping!

couple's dance lessons Arizona

Engaged Couples, Keep Your Marriage Alive With Dancing

/in /by

couple's dance lessons near Tempe ArizonaAttention all lovebirds…Congratulations you’re engaged! You’re getting married and there’s lots to do! In preparation for your big day, you’ve begun wearing your matching FitBits, you hike Camelback mountain every Sunday before the football game, and you’re hitting the gym as a duo. That’s wonderful, but there’s one activity that you’re missing in your routine…couple’s social dance lessons!

With couple’s dance lessons in popular styles like Swing, Salsa and Country Two Step dancing, you will be killing two birds with one stone. Not only will you be prepared for your wedding dance, which is a great thing, but you will be investing in each other with a new hobby that will keep you close for a lifetime.

Keeping date nights going even when you’re married is a must, so why not spend your weekends keeping active by going out social dancing? What kind of music do you enjoy listening to? Both Country music and Latin music are huge right now so give Country dance lessons or Salsa lessons a shot and turn your boring date nights into an evening of dance and romance. It’s so much more exciting to get dressed up and go to a Latin dance club or a Country bar and dance the night away than sit in front of a movie screen. Don’t you agree?

Social dancing is also key for couples because it helps tremendously with strengthening your communication. You see, on the dance floor, it takes two individuals to work together for one common goal to feel right. There is one leader (the man) and one follower (the woman) and the way they act and react makes partner dancing an amazing experience, or not. When you take couple’s dance lessons, you can each learn your roles on the dance floor so that you can really enjoy dancing together! It’s a wonderful feeling to experience, and every couple can have it. What’s important is that you get the training you need from your local dance studio so that you get started dancing together on the right foot. (Did you catch my dancing pun?? 🙂 )

A couple that dances together, stays together. I’ve said this for the last 20 years and it’s really true. Make the time to discover how to dance together for your wedding and beyond and see for yourselves what dancing can do for the two of you. Speaking from personal experience, I know that if my husband didn’t dance, I would be missing out on a romantic activity that we could enjoy together on date nights, at holiday parties and at other people’s weddings. Luckily I married a dancer, and you can too, by starting your journey into learning to dance today.

If you live in Phoenix, Arizona, try out Dance FX Studios’ New Student Offer for beginner’s dance lessons for couples. You can get on the fast track to becoming confident social dancers in no time for your wedding and beyond.

Check “Learn to Dance” off of Your Bucket List

/in /by

Ready to check “learning to dance this year” off of your bucket list? Let us help you with dance lessons for adults at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona! We offer Salsa, Swing, Country Western, Hip Hop and Argentine Tango dance lessons to singles and couples who are ready to get their groove on this year. Dance FX Studios is the perfect fit for anyone who wants to become a great social dancer. We will prepare you to shine anywhere there is a dance floor from a wedding to a club, bar or even on a cruise. If holiday parties weren’t your thing because you and to sit on the sidelines and watch everyone else get down on the dance floor, now you can join in the fun after a few dance lessons under your belt.

Some of the numerous benefits of knowing how to dance may also lead you to check off more of that bucket list that you had previously thought. Did you know that Salsa or Swing dancing for an hour can burn up to 400 calories? Dancing is sooooo much more fun that joining a gym. You also work more parts of your body all at once while dancing. Release endorphins, lift your spirits and get an amazing workout in private or group dance lessons.

With dance lessons at Dance FX Studios, the only purely social dance studio in the Phoenix metro area, you may also meet that special someone. Both group dance classes and private dance lessons are a great way to find new friends, potential dance partners or more… Check that one off of the list! Or, you can reignite that connection you once had with your sweetheart. Check, check! It’s never too late to bring the romance back by learning to dance Tango or Two Step. Make him your leader and sweep her off of her feet for a happy twosome with dance lessons.

What about gaining confidence while learning a new hobby? Dance lessons can give you that too! Not many guys know how to dance well. You can be one of those guys who knows what he is doing on the dance floor! Or, be that girl that the guys all want to dance with because you make them look so good. It’s a win-win when you both know how to dance.

As your bucket list shrinks, all with the help of dance lessons, you may wonder “How do I get started with dance lessons?” We suggest that both singles and couples begin with private dance lessons. This way, we can help you to know and understand your roles on the dance floor. Down the road, group dance classes are great supplements to private instruction.

Dance FX Studios offers a $40 Introductory Offer for couples or singles to get started with the basics. See for yourself how FUN and EASY we make learning to dance! Check out our website or drop by our location on the South East corner of Dobson Rd. and Guadalupe Rd. in Mesa, Arizona. We are in the Phoenix East Valley, just minutes from Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert and Scottsdale, Arizona.