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West Coast Swing dancing

How to Partner Dance to Top 40 Hits…

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West Coast Swing dancing in ArizonaSo Country dancing doesn’t intrigue you, and you aren’t interested in Latin dance styles of dance either. Maybe you are tired of going out dancing at all your regular bars and your “go to” style of just shaking around is getting old. What you really need is a dance style that you can use when your favorite pop or top 40 jams are playing, right? Well…guess what? There is an official dance that you may not know about, but you’ll surely want to learn…it’s called the West Coast Swing!

West Coast Swing is generally regarded as one of the most challenging social dances because it is filled with unique concepts, like the leader and follower doing different things at the same time. However, like the Argentine Tango, which is also quite unique and special, the West Coast Swing is one of the most rewarding dances you will ever attempt, and we at Dance FX Studios believe that West Coast Swing is well worth a try. So if you are a dancer needing a challenge, or simply someone who wants to discover a worthwhile skill, this one is for you!

Here is a bit of history about the dance and the reasons why this may just be the perfect partner dance for you.

The West Coast Swing evolved from the East Coast Swing in California and quickly moved from spin-off dance status into its own separate dance category with a feverous following. As I mentioned earlier, aside from Argentine Tango, the West Coast Swing may be the most intricate partner dance taught.  The West Coast Swing is a slotted partner dance, meaning it is danced along a line, also described as a track. For this dance the follower generally moves forward and back along a track while the lead steps on and off the track as he changes her momentum and direction.

There are a few stories that attribute the reason for the slot.  The following story seems to make the most sense because the Hollywood film industry has a wide-reaching impact over what becomes popular. This was especially true in the 1930’s and 40’s, as movies were the biggest media influence. At that time the wide-angle camera had not been invented yet, so producers had the dancers line up and dance in a straight line to create the camera shots. In this way, the film captured dancer’s profiles instead of their backs as they rotated. Since they moved this way for the entire dance, the audience was able to see a lot more of the “West Coast Swing” and then go home and repeat it. The film version of the dance became such common practice that the slots stuck. Pretty interesting evolution of a dance, don’t you think?

Here are a couple of other facts about the West Coast Swing dance…

  • Triple steps can be tricky and the West Coast Swing is full of them! Very few social dances use triple steps because they require a strong sense of rhythm. Triple steps also demand a high level of control over the body center, making them not as easy as steps in other dances.
  • Dancing in open position requires a good frame. There are a lot of ways for closed position dancing to compensate for a weak frame, but in open position, if you don’t maintain your own frame, you’re lost. With the West Coast Swing as one of your dances, you will learn to develop an amazing frame in both positions, making you more well-rounded as a dancer.

If you’re looking for a new obsession, the West Coast Swing is an exciting dance to pick up. At Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona, you can take beginner West Coast Swing dance lessons with or without a dance partner. Dance lessons for singles or couples offer so many benefits, from stress relief to weight loss. Join us in the joys of learning to dance, letting loose and having fun with West Coast Swing lessons today!

Swing dancing for Beginners

Do More Than Mingle if You’re Single!

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Arizona Swing dancing for BeginnersThe number one place for singles to meet people out of 100 top picks is by taking a class that interests them. Learning something new, where you show up in person, is a great place to meet people with similar interests. Beyond the idea of learning any old subject, we at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona suggest that you invest in a skill that moves you from a number of one into a number of many, with social dance lessons! That’s right, just by investing in yourself and exploring cool dances like the Country Two Step, Salsa or Swing, you will get to know others in no time.

One isn’t such a lonely number. It is actually an approachable number. Especially approachable where dancing is happening!  Let us teach you in a short period of time how to be a great social dancer and watch your social circle expand, with very little effort. If you are male, become a great leader on the dance floor and watch the ladies line up to be swept off of their feet. Ladies…every guy loves a great follower, one who makes him look great on the dance floor. Both roles allow a party of one to easily become two or more, whether you go out social dancing by yourself or with some friends!

You can learn a variety of social ballroom dances at Dance FX Studios including Country dances, Latin styles, Swing dancing and, the sensual Argentine Tango, our signature dance. This is a great way to meet people and join an awesome, diverse and friendly social group. The very nature of partner dancing is social and everybody loves to meet new people in a comfortable social dance scene. Today, practically every city in the world has a local Country Western, Swing, Salsa or Tango dance scene.  Why not join Dance FX Studios and learn these dances and more?! Our friendly instructors have been teaching people how to be great social dancers for almost 15 years here in the Phoenix East Valley.

If you know how to dance, no matter where you are, you will find a welcoming community of great people to hang out with.  Dancers love to meet up and dance with new dancers.  Being able to instantly connect with people anywhere in the world you happen to find yourself is one of the best things about learning to dance. Never leave Arizona? That is fine too! Phoenix area dance events are a great way to easily meet other locals as well as people from other places.

In a hurry to meet other people and worried that a short time dancing won’t get you on the dance floor as soon as you’d like? The truth is, basic steps, done correctly and on tempo, is more fun for you and a partner than a bunch of complicated patterns done badly and off-time. Smooth and sure is better than fancy and mediocre, so give yourself a little time to learn the language of dance so you can shine on any floor. Of course, as you progress in your dance skills, those complicated patterns will look smooth as butter too. The rhythm of the music and the movement in partnership make social dancing one of the most satisfying experiences you’ll ever have!

Dancing provides an ideal social climate in which to meet new people. And since learning to dance is a skill that stays with you for the rest of your life, the benefit of being able to continuously meet new people will never disappear. Don’t wait another minute to start dancing. There are so many wonderful and exciting styles of dance to choose from Salsa to Country Swing dancing and Bachata to the ballroom Foxtrot. Take advantage of Dance FX Studios’ New Student Offer for a private dance lesson for a single or a couple and see how easy learning a new skill will be!

What are you waiting for? Get up and book your New Student Offer for Private Dance Lessons and go have some fun this Summer.  Dance FX Studios located on the corner of Dobson and Guadalupe, near Tempe and Chandler, and a few minutes more from Scottsdale! Feel like you have two left feet? Let us help you go beyond just mingling with a skill used to meet lots of new people and change your life today! Give us a call at 480.968.6177 or visit our website now for details!

Country dance studios

Learn to Social Dance and Gain Confidence!

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Country dance studios arizonaDo you enjoy having fun? Want to meet new people, learn a new hobby, try something new? Social ballroom dancing, like Country Two Step or Salsa, is just what you have been looking for! Learning to become a confident social dancer will create a new favorite pastime for you that you can take anywhere and enjoy anytime! And speaking of fun, dancing is nothing short of a blast! Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona has been helping couples and singles discover how much fun and how beneficial dancing really is for 13 years. We have taught couples who are looking to spice up their love life, single women who are preparing to Salsa dance with Latin men abroad, and single gentlemen who want to learn to sweep the Country gal of their dreams off of her feet. No matter your reason, or even if you don’t have one, social dancing at Dance FX Studios is bound to change your life!

 

Meeting new people and having an active social life has been known to increase happiness, relieve stress, and make for more confident individuals. Are you the kind of person who beelines for the sidelines and waits for someone to chat with you? While there’s nothing wrong with being a wallflower, aren’t you ready to have some fun? Social dance lessons will give you the confidence and the skills you need to be a great leader or follower and connect with anyone on the dance floor. Doesn’t dancing the night away and making connections with new people sound better than staring at the dance floor, sipping a drink all night?

 

Learning new things and trying new activities is such an important, exciting part of life. After all, variety is the spice of life, right? Well luckily for you, there is plentiful variety in the world of social dance! No matter your personality or interests, there is a dance that will speak to you! The spicy Salsa is perfect for unleashing your inner flirt and expressing your sensual, sassy side. Latin dances like the Salsa and the Tango are great for couples who are looking for a little somethin’-somethin’ to ignite the loving feeling all over again. Country dances like the AZ Two Step and Country Swing are great for those country folk who love to go out with their boots on and enjoy country music.  No matter what you are into, you can try any and all types of dance, and you are bound to find something you LOVE!

 

Not only will you learn so much about yourself and thoroughly enjoy the stress relief and self-expression you experience in your dance lessons, but taking what you learn at our studio and using it out in the “real world” will truly show you just how wonderful dancing is. If you think social dance is just what you need, try our Private Lesson Introductory Offer for just $40! One of our outstanding instructors will discuss why you want to dance and what kind of dance you want to learn, and you will get out on the floor and start learning! Call or visit us today, we are so looking forward to meeting you!