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All The Reasons You’ll Love Swing Dancing!

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swing dance lessons near mePeople all over the world are beginning to see the many benefits of social ballroom dancing (think Salsa, Swing and Country Two Step),  and are starting to take up adult dance lessons in their local areas. In this day and age of information, it’s easy to find a dance studio near you, but which dance to start exploring first can feel overwhelming.

Maybe you love Country music and oldies, Reggae and 80’s tunes. That’s OK.  Swing dancing covers all of these genres and more. That’s just one reason why you should absolutely love this dance! Let’s take a look back and see where this amazing dance came from, and how it evolved to be so amazing today.

Swing dancing can be traced back to almost 100 years ago in Harlem, New York. From the early years of the prohibition, to the very inception of the internet, to today, Swing dancing has lasted for generations, and hasn’t lost any popularity among the youth.  You could be at a bar or at a wedding, hear a few seconds of Frank Sinatra, and can’t help but tap those feet and get moving out of your seat.  Music from the Swing era is loved by many people, transcending years of cultural change. In fact, people from all over the world listen to American music from the 1920’s through the ’50s,further spreading the love for Swing dancing world-wide.

For some of us, social ballroom dancing can feel intimidating at times. If you are shy, Swing dancing can be a wonderful opportunity for you to sharpen your people skills, make new friends and come out of your shell. You see, dancing is a language that doesn’t require words, so it can be easier for some, once you know how to speak it. It’s incredible that dancing offers an unspoken connection between two people-even if they don’t come from the same country.

Another reason for you to love this amazing dance is that you can pretty much Swing dance anywhere in the world. For instance, the European Swing Dance Championships, founded in 2011, is held annually in different European cities. In 2011 and 2012 it was held in Barcelona, Spain. Swing dancers from all over the world attend and compete in the dance contests, or take part in workshops taught by top international instructors. It doesn’t matter where you’re from; Swing dancing is truly a global hobby that is enjoyed by all.

By far one of my favorite things about Swing dancing is that dancing offers an incredible cardio workout that doesn’t require a machine. I’ve done extensive research about the many health benefits that comes along with social ballroom dancing, but I can never seem to list all the benefits in a single post simply because there are SO many! Sure you could go to the gym and run in one place on the treadmill while watching some terribly depressing story on the news, but wouldn’t you rather dance? I know I would! Dancing around to old-school music, and getting a workout at the same time?! I can’t think of a better way to stay fit.

I could literally spend all day here writing down the great benefits that come along with learning how to dance, especially Swing dance. Or…you can come in to Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona (if you happen to live here in Phoenix) and find out for yourself why more and more people are taking adult dance lessons here with us. Together, we’ll transform you into an amazing and confident social dancer in no time!

Country Western dancing AZ

Country Dance All Summer Long!

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Country Western dancing in ArizonaDoes Country music invoke happy thoughts? Do you find yourself tapping your feet, smiling, and maybe even singing along to your favorite tunes (even if it’s in the shower)? Build upon those feelings by learning to Country dance! Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona has been teaching social dance lessons to singles and couples in the Phoenix valley for 15 years. Many students come in specifically for Country dances! There are three popular styles of dances done to Country music here in Arizona that you MUST know 🙂 : Country Two-Step, Country Swing, and Country Waltz.

Country Two-Step is one of the most common dances in the bars. It is a fun and easy dance with twirls, twists, and turns! There are two varieties of Country Two Step dancing: Progressive or Rhythm. The only difference between the two is that one travels (Progressive) and the other is mostly stationary (Rhythm). Both are great to know in preparation for going out dancing, however, in Arizona, Rhythm Two-Step is done almost exclusively out in the bars because it is effective for crowded dance floors.

Country Swing was recently recognized as one of the many Swing dance variations! It does have certain guidelines, which includes cool turns, spins, and combinations, that help keep you on time with the music while having fun on the floor. It is also adaptable to music other than Country which makes it great to use at either a wedding or a bar! This dance is higher energy, fun, bouncy and often results in many smiles!

Country Waltz is a progressive dance that has a more relaxed look to it than other Waltz styles. In the Country Waltz, the frame, hand and arm gestures are not exaggerated. This is a great dance to have in your back pocket for slow Country songs. Remember to keep that romance alive!

Cowboy boots are always welcome, but not necessary. In the end, we want YOU to have a great time! Dancing can be a relaxing, fun, new hobby for you to partake in whether you are dancing with a partner or just solo. This is a skill you’ll have for the rest of your life!

If you are interested in learning how to Country Dance in Arizona, give us a call at (480) 968-6177 to try our Introductory Offer for Country Dance Lessons. We are available Monday through Friday from 12 – 8 PM and on Saturdays from 11 AM – 4 PM. Soon YOU will have all the tools to keep you on the dance floor all night long!

Country Swing dancing AZ

Learning to Dance: Cheaper Than therapy and Much More Rewarding!

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Country Swing dancing in AZDance has been an integral form of communication, connecting communities and individuals in every culture and civilization throughout history. Social dancing, from Latin to Swing and Country to Ballroom, brings people together in a variety of ways. We use music and dancing to reenact historic events, to express deep emotion, to celebrate and to romance those we love or hope to love. Dancing also has another use…healing.

When most people think of solving personal issues with therapy, their minds immediately wander to psychotherapy, psychoanalysis or clinical therapies. Rarely do people consider the activity of social dancing as an effective form of therapy. Interestingly, dance emerged as psychotherapeutic tool back in the 1940s. Today, research continues to support the use of dancing for a variety of mental stressors and is utilized for individuals, couples, families and groups in crisis.

If your relationship is in crises “dancing is uplifting, enjoyable, engaging, and includes the added advantage of non-verbal communication, which enables participants to express their feelings without words when normal communication channels are absent or broken down” (Strassel et al., 2011). Learning to partner dance, from the Country Two Step to Salsa dancing, focuses on developing a strong connection between two individuals. Moreover, social dance lessons teach the man to be a great leader and the female to follow.  What’s great for couples is that they work out relationship issues without realizing that’s the effect, all while having a great time!

Therapy through dancing is especially useful for couples with medium to severe distress, marriages dealing with infidelity, elderly couples suffering from depression or anyone with anxiety or dementia. For dementia in particular, dancing has been documented in peer reviewed journals as being the top beneficial exercise for Alzheimer disease prevention.

Dance therapy has four valuable components: social, musical, skill learning and physical exercise. Social Dancing may also be particularly beneficial for group and family therapy because the benefits of dancing include: increased self-awareness, improved self-esteem, increased connectivity of thoughts, feelings and actions, improved verbal and non-verbal communication, greater social interaction skills, enhanced relational trust and increased ability to recognize, decipher and express feelings appropriately (Bojner-Horwitz, Theorell, and Anderberg, 2011).

Dancing is a social activity because it is done with another individual and/or a group of people. This human to human interaction is important for all psychological functioning. Adding the component of music, the body is listening, looking, moving and reacting. The results are that dancing reduces stress as well as pain, decreases anxiety and improves relaxation.  How wonderful is that?! Additionally, repeat interaction among other people where a common hobby is comfortably shared, like going Country Swing dancing at a local event, strengthens inner feelings of belonging to community.

Taking dance lessons may be the therapeutic tool that is right for you. It is clear that dance movement has the ability to instill positive life changes by developing and enhancing the relationship of the body, mind and spirit. It’s also easy to see how learning spicy Latin dances, like Bachata or Merengue, helps the imagination and the emotions. Performing any social ballroom style of dancing allows for an increased ability to adapt and to respond to changes in the environment. This means even stressful work relations will improve if the work group participates in social dancing. Imagine what this will also do for morale and productivity!

Isn’t it inspiring that you can do something as fun as Country Dancing, Latin Dancing or even group dance lessons as a bridal party and get the benefits of therapy to resolve issues within couples, family or friendships!? Whether you are getting along in all of your relationships or not, social dancing is sure to enhance your life. For all of you Phoenix residents, let us impact you with social dance lessons at Dance FX Studios. Before long, you’ll see the perks of knowing how to dance for yourself.

Swing dancing lessons Arizona

Live The Life of Your Dreams and Dance!

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Swing dancing lessons ArizonaSo often here at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona, newcomers take that first step into our dance studio years after they have first dreamed of learning to dance. They share with us that knowing how to Swing dance, Salsa dance or even Country dance has been a hidden desire that they have put off for so long. In fact, there are some people that say that they have been wanting to learn to social dance for 25 or more years! “So what has held you back all of this time?”, we often ask. The number one reason, of course, is fear. Fear of not being “good” at dancing, or fear of looking foolish, are the main sources of anxiety. Ballroom dancing can be intimidating, mysterious even. But don’t let your fear of the unknown hold you back from exploring one of the best hobbies for you mentally, physically and spiritually. If you do, you’ll miss out on this…

1. Connecting, or Re-connecting, with your mate. Oftentimes, we work with couples who are in dire straits when it comes to their relationship. We are seeing them at the tail end, when nothing seems to be going right. Thanks to the tools that we use in social ballroom dancing, we can  assist any couple in getting back on track in their love life. How so? Well, do come in and take advantage of our New Student Offer to find out for yourself. 🙂 What you should know is that dancing requires teamwork, and fosters appreciation for a deeper level of communication-non-verbally, of course. Salsa or Swing dancing, for example, will actually bring you closer together, just by clearly establishing your roles on the dance floor and by accepting and assuming those roles. This alone, believe it or not, really does help.

If you’re a couple that does not have “issues”, Tango or Two Step dance lessons are a fun way to keep the passion and romance alive! Having a romantic, go-to hobby on the weekends, like social dancing, is so much more rewarding than sitting in a movie theatre. We know that couples who dance together, stay together.

2. Relaxation. Social dancing is a wonderful way to de-stress and unwind after a busy day or week. When you are dancing, there’s no way you can think about that deal that fell through, or how much you can’t stand your supervisor. So, come invest in yourself by discovering an exciting new interest and giving yourself the gift of rejuvenation and self-care. 

3. A Fun Way to Workout! Does anyone “love” to workout? I know that I don’t! But I do absolutely love to dance! When you are Latin dancing for an hour or Country Swing dancing, you better believe that you’re going to be burning calories (up to 500 per hour) without realizing that you’re getting a workout! And, you’ll also be working muscles that you didn’t even know that you had! Isn’t dancing great!?

Now that you know just a few of the many reasons why you can be living a more rewarding and passion-filled life through dance, it’s your turn to take that first step into our studio. If you live here in Phoenix, Arizona, come visit us at Dance FX Studios in the Phoenix East Valley. We are located near Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert and Scottsdale, just off the 101 highway for your convenience. Life’s too short to not dance! So give us a call today at 480-968-6177 to let us help you start making your dreams come true.

Swing dancing in Arizona

Swing Dancing-It Isn’t Just for Cowboys

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Swing dancing in ArizonaWhat is “Swing” dancing? Swing dancing is fun, high energy (which is great for exercise) always evolving and changing form of dance with lots of fun turns and exciting music to match. New versions of old dances are inevitable and the rabbit hole of Swing dancing goes as deep as you want it to.

You might be surprised to learn how many different kinds of Swing dancing there is!? Just look at all these titles below … they are all variations of Swing!

Lindy Hop

Balboa

Collegiate Shag

St. Louis Shag

Jitterbug

Lindy Charleston

Eastern Swing

East Coast Swing

West Coast Swing

Western Swing

Boogie-woogie

Carolina Shag

Imperial Swing

Jive

Skip Jive

Modern Jive

Rock and Roll

Acrobatic Rock’n’Roll

Washington Hand Dancing

Push and Whip

Modern Swing

Mo-Cathy or Silly Swing

Out of the list of Swing dance choices above, the 5 top dances that can be utilized most for social dancing are: the Lindy Hop, Balboa, Shag, East Coast Swing and West Coast Swing.

Here is a little bit of history about these dances. The Lindy Hop was the original Swing, and it emerged during the 1920’s to 30’s. It was followed Balboa and Shag-two dances that are also in the Lindy Hop family. The East Coast Swing is a simplified version of the Lindy Hop and comes in triple, double, and single-time varieties. Single time is commonly referred to as Jitterbug, although the term “Jitterbug” originally referred to anyone who danced Swing.

The West Coast is a modern version of Lindy Hop with a different twist on the style. Originally, Lindy Hop dancers looked down on West Coast dancers, nick-named “Westies” and vice-versa. Today both styles of dancers tend to appreciate each other’s swing version a bit more.

So now that your interest is peaked, how does one go about learning Swing dancing? Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona recommends starting with either Jitterbug or West Coast Swing by taking private dance lessons. This way you can dance swing to a variety of music and have lots of fun doing it. Private instruction is the fastest way to become a great Swing dancer.

In fact taking private one-on-one dance lessons is the fastest way to becoming a great social dancer of any style of dance you are interested in.  Dance FX Studios teaches just about any style of social ballroom dance popular today including Country and Latin Styles. Why not try out the dance of your choice today by taking advantage of our New Student Offer of only $25 for an hour lesson!

social ballroom dancing AZ

Beat the Arizona Summer Heat on the Dance Floor

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social ballroom dancing in ArizonaA friend living on the East Coast yesterday said she was looking at snow and waiting for Spring to show up. I told her that if she were here with us in Phoenix, Arizona, she would feel like she was skipping Spring and heading straight into Summer!  Our hot summer is upon us (even though we’re only in April), but don’t put your workout routine on the back burner just because it feels too hot to exercise.  I love being outdoors for exercise whenever possible, but exercising in an air-conditioned gym or house is the best way to keep cool. For the best Summer workout, come join us at Dance FX Studios in the Phoenix East Valley and see how you can Swing, Salsa and Two Step dance your way into that bikini body. No more boring trips to the gym for you! Mix up your workout routine and dance your way into a healthier you!

While the majority of Americans are starting to head outside and get their bodies moving, here in Arizona we have the tendency to retreat indoors just like we do during the cold winter months. This means reduced social interaction, lack of exercise, gloomy moods and, like the wintertime for most Americans, we become sedentary and pack on pounds.  Here are some excellent reasons to take up dancing as a new hobby and beat the Arizona heat…

Wear your sexy Summer clothing! Put on your strappy heals, that little black dress, those Cowboy boots, your linen shirt and skinny jeans! That’s right, since it is air-conditioned inside our dance studio, all of those wonderful Summer clothes that are too hot to wear outside, won’t go to waste. The same Summer clothing that will only get tight if you don’t move that body, can be worn on your private dance lessons as you discover the fun and excitement of Latin dancing, Swing dancing and Country Western dancing. Whether you are single or you have a partner – dress up for your dance lessons and practice your dance moves till the sun goes down! Then head out to dinner, and go Country or Salsa dancing, right here in Phoenix!

Increase your social circle by meeting new people! What better way to meet new people than by learning to be a great social dancer! Learn Salsa and hit the Latin clubs, make new friends and expand your social circle.  Explore Country Swing dancing and become a regular at cool and popular events like Country Thunder. Learn a slow, romantic dance and go anywhere: a casino, wedding, jazz club or work function, and be prepared to shine. Think about all the new experiences you will have because you took Private Dance Lessons. Develop a skill you can use over and over again, throughout your life, just about anywhere!

Use dancing as your primary form of exercise!  Social dancing gets you to to the right target heart rate for burning fat. Vigorous, prolonged dancing, when your heart rate goes up, equals cardiorespiratory fitness, one of the few ways to keep colon cancer at bay. Frequent dancing has also proved to have the greatest benefit for warding off Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, while many other summer activities like biking, golfing and swimming had zero effect on cognitive and mental acuity. Wow! It’s amazing how doing something so much fun like Salsa dancing, Swing dancing, and Tango dancing can have so many physical benefits.

Now stop and ask yourself, are you prepared to beat the heat this Summer? Are you going to slim down, have fun and meet new people when it’s 120 degrees outside?  The answer is YES! Yes you are … because you can take advantage of Dance FX Studios’ New Student Offer right now by calling 480-968-6177! For only $25, you will get a 50-minute Private Dance Lesson that will start you on your dancing journey today!

Dance FX Studios also offers: Group Courses, Semi-Private Dance Instruction, Wedding Dance Lessons, Corporate Team-Building Dance Classes and more! Visit our website for more information about the dances we offer and more about a studio that has been teaching people how to dance socially for almost 15 years! We are conveniently located at 1859 W. Guadalupe Road, #105, Mesa, Arizona on the corner of Dobson and Guadalupe, minutes from Tempe and Chandler, AZ.