From the Country Two Step to the Salsa and Swing, each dance style offers a plethora of benefits. Join us and learn different styles.

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Ballroom Dancing Arizona

Kick Up Your Heels With Country Dance Lessons!

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Ballroom Dancing in Mesa, ArizonaThere are so many fun dance classes to choose from, it’s hard to decide which style of dance is perfect just for you. From the Country Two Step to the Salsa and Swing, each dance style offers a plethora of benefits.  Just a few of the benefits you can receive from knowing how to dance include: increased confidence, meeting new people, a long list of health benefits and weight loss. But the real question is, what dance will “do it” for you. What dance will “have you at hello” or “complete you”. We live in Arizona, and Country dancing is very popular, so why not try putting an extra kick in your step by learning  to Country dance?

Are you interested? Then put on some Kenny Chesney or Miranda Lambert and keep reading to find out what Country dances could be perfect for you…

The Country Western Waltz is the perfect partner dance that allows you to get close and cozy with your partner as you move across the dance floor together. The Country Western Waltz is mostly progressive, moving counter-clockwise around the dance floor. Both the posture and frame are relaxed, with posture bordering on a slouch. The exaggerated hand and arm gestures of some ballroom styles are not part of this style.

The music of Country Waltz songs usually has the word “waltz” in the title. Early Country Waltz music includes “Tennessee Waltz” written by Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King in 1946. Patti Page recorded the song in the 1950s and it became her signature song. More recently Norah Jones recorded a version of the “Tennessee Waltz” and currently there is a lot of good music for dancing the Country Waltz which shows the Waltz is still very popular.

Put a Little Two-Step in Your Step! Another popular Country dance is the Two-Step, which has a more upbeat tempo. As with other Country Western dances, there are different versions of the Two-Step including the Texas Two-Step and Arizona Two-Step. Dance partners generally begin in closed position with the leader facing the line of dance. Traditionally the follower stands facing the leader where the leader places his right hand over his partner’s left shoulder. In the more contemporary styling the frame is formed by placing the right hand under the follower’s left arm and on her back. In either case, the leader holds the follower’s right hand in his left hand at about shoulder height.

Express your inner Cowboy as you move through this style of dance that is all about having fun and enjoying the sounds of some great and sometimes more patriotic versions of Country music. Examples of Country Two-Step songs are: “All my Ex’s Live in Texas” by George Strait, “A Better Man” by Clint Black, “Love’s Got a Hold on You” by Alan Jackson and “By the Dawn’s Early Light” by Marcy Brothers.

The West Coast Swing is a partner dance with roots from the Lindy Hop. The rumor is this slotted dance was developed because Hollywood films love the dance and asked dancers to perform it in a way that the camera could capture the sides of their bodies. Therefore the dancers had to stay in the same plane when dancing, they also did this to avoid going in and out of focus. The distinctive elastic look that resulted, is from its basic extension-compression technique of partner connection. West Coast Swing is danced primarily in a slotted area on the dance floor. On crowded dance floors a couple will “claim” an area while other couples cooperate and establish their own slot parallel nearby other dancers.

Swing music is one of the most eclectic forms of Country music. It’s free-wheeling diversity also shows up in rock and roll, an example is Kid Rocks “All Summer Long”. Based in traditional string band music, West Coast Swing is also found within traditional pop melodies, jazz improvisation, blues, and folk music. West Coast Swing may be danced to almost any music in 4/4 time. You will find recordings of Swing music by popular artists such as: Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Tim McGraw, Randy Houser and Carrie Underwood’s popular song “Cowboy Casanova”.

Dance lessons help you gain confidence in all your abilities.  Even if you feel that you have to left feet, our instructors at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona will show you how easy it is to Country dance.  So kick up your heels and learn a Country dance style of your choosing and you will be sure to have great time anytime you step out on a dance floor.

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Learn to Social Dance at Dance FX Studios

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Social ballroom dance lessons are so beneficial to adults of all ages for a multitude of reasons. Not only can you be active and tone up, you can also relieve stress, improve your self-esteem and confidence, build and strengthen relationships, liven up your social life and so much more! If you live in the Phoenix East Valley, lucky for you, Dance FX Studios has been a leading social dance studio of Arizona for over 12 years! Located in Mesa, Arizona just off of 101 Freeway, our studio is close to many cities of the Valley, including Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, and Scottsdale. We offer several ways for you to learn and explore the world of social dancing, but our most popular services are group dance classes and private dance lessons. Whether you want to learn to dance Country Two Step or dance the sensual Argentine Tango or Salsa for your next night out at a Latin club, we have dance lesson programs just for you!

Group dance lessons are a great way to practice what you are learning in your private dance lessons. You can also learn dance basics in a group setting with friends and newcomers. Our current group classes are for couples, or friends that pair up together, so you and someone you know can come and learn together and share the cost. You can also meet other couples who are learning to dance just like you, extending your social dancing circle and help you to make new friends with similar interests. Our group classes beginning April 7th, 2014, are progressive dance classes, meaning that each week your class instructor will build off the previous week’s lesson, incorporating new steps and tips each week. This creates a more efficient, productive way to learn. You will get the most out of your 4-week lesson package this way! These progressive group classes are just $75 per couple for all four weeks of classes. On Monday nights, we offer Country Two Step, Tuesdays are for Salsa, Wednesday is for Country Swing and Jitterbug Swing takes place on Thursdays. All of our group dance classes are at 7 pm. Sign up today to reserve your space!

Private dance lessons are the best way that you can become a skilled, confident dancer in the least amount of time. In private lessons, you and your partner (if you bring one) will receive personalized instruction, one-on-one with your instructor. You don’t have to wait for any feedback; your instructor is there with you the whole time! While group classes are an excellent, fun way to learn, private dance lessons are much more effective if you want to become a a confident social dancer in a shorter amount of time. Many of our private lesson students take what they learn in their lessons to group classes, practicing and getting extra feedback through group classes. Each lesson in our private lesson packages is personalized to you and your capabilities, learning styles and goals. We understand that everyone is different; they learn differently, want different things and need different things. Our unique mode of customized instruction is what sets us apart from other studios in the area! You can see for yourself what we mean by trying out our $40 Introductory offer. You will get an hour of tips and dance basics on the floor, as well discussing what you want to get out of learning to dance, which helps us create the perfect set of lessons just for you.

Now that you know more about what makes what we offer so great, get in touch with us to schedule your first visit! If you want to learn to Country Swing, Salsa dance, Jitterbug Swing and so much more, Dance FX Studios is just what you need.

Swing Dance Party with Come Back Buddy

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Get ready for a night of Swing dancing that you won’t soon forget! It is that time again where we feature live music in different genres from Country to Swing and Argentine Tango to Salsa at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona. This time, Come Back Buddy, a throwback band who features oldies hits from Buddy Holly and beyond, will pay us a visit on Saturday, March 9th for great music and FUN!

Dance FX Studios’ Swing dance party kicks off at 8 pm with a complimentary Swing dance lesson for beginners. That’s right, bring your friends to this “open to the public” event and get them hooked on Swing dancing too! After our Swing dance class, you can get out on the dance floor with dancers of all levels, from beginners to advanced, in a non-intimidating space and enjoy great music until 11 pm.

“What is so great about Swing dancing?” you may ask. Well, how many hobbies can you think of that are not just fun and exciting, but are a great source of exercise, stress relief and romance? Swing dancing offers those benefits and so much more. If a challenge is what you are looking for, the amount of moves that you can learn while Swing dancing are endless! If you just want time with your special someone, what else can give you that “swept off of your feet feeling” besides Swing dancing? Lift your spirits with Swing dancing and swing dance music and learn to dance to see for yourself how much fun there is to be had.

For a great way for beginners to join in our Swing dance party with confidence, it’s not too late to try come in to Dance FX Studios for an introductory Swing dance lesson. Our introductory lessons are just $40 for an hour-long sampler of several styles of Swing dancing. Did you know that there are 24 variations of Swing dancing? We will show you just a few during your introductory lesson along with how to have a proper Swing dance frame and how to establish a connection with your dance partner. Private introductory lessons are set up by appointment Monday through Friday from 12 to 8 pm and on Saturdays from 11 am to 4 pm. We would LOVE to share our passion for dancing with you!

Get your tickets now for our Swing dance party on March 9th! You will be guaranteed an evening of amazing music, dancing and FUN!