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How To Be The Most Popular Social Dancer In Arizona!

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swing dancing couple in ArizonaMost of us have been to a Country bar or Latin dance club and noticed that not everyone is having a good time. Some are feeling lonely, sitting out all, or most of the dancing, while others are having a blast, constantly in demand. These people have an air of joy and confidence around them. When dancing with this person, either as a leader or a follower, both appear to be having a great time. Why and how do they do it? What are the personal qualities, habits or skills that lead to success on any social dance floor? Believe it or not, beyond building confidence by taking dance lessons, to truly become a great social dancer there is another aspect which is important: dance etiquette.

If you live here in Arizona, visit us at Dance FX Studios in Mesa to gain that self-assurance needed to conquer any social dance floor. We will not only teach you how to be a talented social dancer, but we also do our best to impart dance etiquette into your education. Etiquette is important to use throughout our daily lives, however it is especially necessary in social dancing. Building a good reputation in any dance scene, be it Country Two Step dancing or Swing dancing, by being a considerate and enjoyable partner, as well as someone who knows how to make their partner look and feel good too, is a social dancer’s best asset.

Here are some etiquette ideas to follow whenever you are out dancing. Using these few simple tools will increase your popularity on the dance floor as you and everyone you dance with will have a great time, ensuring your reputation for the future whenever anyone finds you on that floor.

The first rule of etiquette is: practice good hygiene. Brush your teeth and use a mouth wash, shower and apply deodorant and dress appropriately for the style of dancing atmosphere you will be attending. If you apply cologne or perfume, apply it lightly. No one wants to be overwhelmed with smell even if it is the very best smell that person could imagine.

Whether you are asking women to dance or being asked, dance with everyone, make it fun and never stick to one partner, even if they match your dance ability. Accept requests to dance as much as possible. Keep in mind that if you decline a dance, you yourself cannot dance until the end of that song as others will notice that you are rejecting offers, meaning there will be fewer requests to dance.

Always be considerate of everyone dancing on the dance floor. In the Arizona Country bars here, we find crowded dance floors, often with untrained Country Swing, Country Two-Step, or other styles of Country dancers who try out flips, aerials or choreographed steps that are dangerous to nearby couples. Dance FX Studios teaches students exactly how to navigate around this type of chaos, avoiding injury, without being rude or cutting dancers off on the dance floor.

Dancing no-no’s include: do not force your follower’s arm or hand to make her turn, no back-leading when you are following and no pushing or pulling dance partners into position. Forceful leads or follows are never appreciated and you make your dance partner look awkward or off balance. Dancing together is a two-way partnership, one person agrees to lead and one agrees to follow. Show your respect by sticking to your part of the dancing connection.

Being a great leader requires skill and patience. If you have not yet learned a particular dance like: the Foxtrot, Swing, Bachata or Argentine Tango then keep taking private dance lessons and practice until you are ready. Always go and explore new social ballroom dances when you are at the point where you can  understand how they work. Even when a leader is dancing with a great follower, if the lead has no idea what he is doing, the follower cannot follow.

Never blame a dance partner for mistakes that happen while dancing together. Whether you are the lead or the follower – no teaching on the dance floor! Corrections may make a partner feel embarrassed or humiliated. Do encourage your partners, as this builds confidence and makes them happy to dance with you.

Find ways to be entertaining, keeping in mind that you and everyone around you are out dancing hoping to meet people, have a great time or find romance. Dancing do’s include: being playful, smiling, showing appreciation and keeping your focus off yourself and on your dancing partner. Above all, have a sense of humor. If something goes wrong, keep things light and fun.

The best way to enjoy success as a social dancer is to help everyone you dance with to feel happy and enjoy the experience of dancing together. The funny thing is, when your partner is happy, you will be happy too! Succeed at this task and you will never have a shortage of enthusiastic partners to dance with. You are there to have a good time and so is the other person. No matter what, make it fun!

If you want to learn how to be a great social dancer and you live in Arizona, start now with us at Dance FX Studios! We are located on the Tempe – Mesa border and only a few extra minutes from our neighboring towns Chandler and Scottsdale. We hope to see you here on our dance floor learning styles of ballroom dancing like Jitterbug, Salsa, Country 2 Step and Country Waltz here at Dance FX Studios in the Phoenix East Valley very soon!

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Empowering Your Leader on the Dance Floor

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couple salsa dancing in ArizonaLadies… Wouldn’t it be amazing if your man wanted to take you out Salsa dancing or Country Two Stepping this weekend? How wonderful would be if it was HIS idea to dance the night away, rather than hanging out at the bar or staying home? Most women love to dance, but there are a couple of things to remember when it comes to our men and dancing.

1. Guys can’t fake it: Did you know that most men secretly wish that they could twirl you across the floor with ease? They would love to naturally have the confidence and skill set to bust a move Country Swing dancing or during a steamy Latin dance song. Then why don’t they just take you out there and do it? Because most men need to have the information on how to do it right before they can give it a try. “Faking it” as a leader is too large a risk when in it comes to looking “stupid” on the dance floor.

After training leaders on how to dance for almost 20 years, we hear the same story time and again. “If I knew what I was doing out there, surely I would take my wife out dancing.” Simply put, most men want the safety of knowing how things work so they can execute their dance moves with full assurance of success.

How do men get that certainty they desire when it comes to social dancing? Our recommendation: Private Dance Lessons. With one-on-one instruction, guys can receive the tools they need to shine at a Country bar, wedding or Latin dance club. Whenever music is being played, you can go out and have some fun with a competent leader who is empowered.

2. By “helping” him on the dance floor, he will never be the leader you want him to be.: If you are seeking that empowered, competent guy on the dance floor, then ladies, please, please don’t “help” your man by doing his job. We know you want to be turned, twisted and swept off of your feet, but leading yourself is the opposite of empowering your man.

Unlike most of forms of dance, partner dancing gives men both the tools and confidence they need to become a better leaders on and off the dance floor, empowering them to become more decisive and assertive for the women they lead and life in general. I mean, what woman doesn’t like a man to “take charge and make things happen?” Great thing is that it also teaches women to truly “follow and enjoy the ride”; so for all you powerful ladies out there, by learning to Salsa or Swing dance with your man, you can actually relax and be confident in knowing that he can take charge while having fun at the same time. So now you can relinquish the need to “help” and let him do his thing. He will walk away proud, and so will you with such a great leader by your side.

Certain dances like Jitterbug Swing and Nightclub 2 Step, give a firm establishment of roles on who leads and who follows. This clear definition allows men “come into their own element” by teaching them how to lead a woman across the dance floor with a progressive physiology, sense of decisive action and forward-thinking mentality, while simultaneously training women to “be fully present in the moment” and give their multi-tasking minds a much needed rest! By teaching men and women how to dance in such a way, can you now see why this skill can be both transforming and liberating? If you live in Arizona area, we at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona challenge you this New Year to try partner dancing for yourself and reap the benefits that it has to offer. With dance lessons, you will not only be adding romance back into your relationships and improving your health, but you can also change your life for the better in more ways than you can imagine!

 

Country Two Step Dance Tips for Tonight’s Night Out

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Tonight’s the night! Are you ready for an evening of Country Two Step and Country Swing dancing? What about a little Country Waltz or Nite Club 2 Step? It’s not too late to come and join in the action with us at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ for our Country Night Out on the town at Spurs Saloon in Chandler, AZ. For some of you, tonight will be a milestone as it will mark you first night taking your dancing out of the studio and into the “real world”. No need to panic, the instructors of Dance FX Studios’ will be by your side as you venture out onto a new dance floor for the first time. Plus, as you may already know, your Night Out does include a pre-event Country Two Step and Country Swing class to freshen up your memory and even teach you something new!

For you beginner Country dancers who may still be a bit anxious about your first Night Out, here are a few last minute tips to make tonight a success…

1. Breathe: Seems like it would just come natural, but breathing is one of those things we tend to forget to do when we are nervous. As you prepare for tonight, realize that each and every one of us has had a first time out Country dancing. That is the beauty of the Night’s Out with Dance FX Studios! You will be surrounded by beginner, intermediate and advanced Country dancers so you can see others at your level, to know that you are not alone, as well as have something to strive for in your own Country dancing as you progress. No one is stopping to watch you, so take a deep breathe and try your best. It may be scary, but we will all be with you on your first go around.

2. Stick to the basics: Again, the beauty of social dancing is that it is not a competition. You do not have to out-do the guy dancing next to you to enjoy your night at your level. Give only those moves that you feel confident with a try first. Play around with mixing and matching 2 or 3 moves and see how that works for you. From there, if you are feeling like you can go further and explore a more challenging step that you have learned, give that a whirl and see what happens. What’s the worst that can happen? At the end of the day, you can at least say that you got out on the dance floor and gave things a go. You’ll be one step closer to building your confidence each and every time.

3. Follow the flow: Leaders, take a few songs to observe before getting out on the dance floor. See what you’re working with before jumping in. Are other dancers mindful of the directional flow in the Country Two Step or is everyone just flinging their partner around in a chaotic manner? Knowing the general feel of what you about to get into is key to fitting in and doing great. Once you have an idea, protect your partner by avoiding the “wild horses” on the dance floor (as I like to call them) and staying within a space that is comfortable for you to move freely. If the dance floor is crowded, use you navigational tools that you learned in your Country dance lessons at the studio to help you get through each dance with ease.

There’s still room for you to join us tonight at Spurs Saloon in Chandler, AZ. Dance FX Studios’ Country dance Night Out includes a group dance class, your first drink at the bar and dancing until 11 pm with us. Beginners, don’t let being new to dance hold you back. Use the tips above, plus what you may have learned in your private Country dance lessons and get out there for a fun Night Out that we are sure will be your first of many to come!

Did You Know??? Fun Facts About Swing Dancing

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Jitterbug Swing dancing for couples and singlesFun Facts About Jitterbug

The Jitterbug is a fun, playful, fast-paced swing style dance that everyone can fall in love with! But there’s more to it than meets the eye. Did you ever wonder where the name came from? Or why it’s one of the more upbeat social dances? The Jitterbug is full of fascinating history and facts:
* Jitterbug is a broad term that can cover a multitude of dances, including the Lindy Hop, Jive, West Coast Swing or East Coast Swing.
* The jitterbug is a partner dance that is usually performed to big band or jazz music. It consists of a variety of steps, kicks, jumps and turns that are based on set basic movements. It is more lively than salsa, country two step, or other popular social dances.
* The Jitterbug name came from witnesses of the dance style describing the dancer’s movement. The upbeat, bouncy movements from the swing dance appeared to be slightly frantic. The original word came from a description of alcoholics who suffered from the “jitters” or the shakes.
“Jittersauce” was once used as a slang word for alcohol.
* During World War 2, Europeans were warned not to involve themselves in Swing dancing because it was a “rude” American dance. However, in preparation for D-Day, thousands of people came out to learn the dance, which assisted in boosting Jitterbug dance popularity.
* The word Jitterbug was coined by trombonist and drummer Harry Alexander White for first using it in the 1900’s. However, Cab Calloway is often incorrectly given credit for the term because of his 1934 song titled “The Jitterbug”. The song is what made the swing style a household name.
* In the 1950’s, Jitterbug overtook the Lindy Hop as the more popular or “in” dance form. The Jitterbug is said to be a slightly less aerobatic version of its predecessor.