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Ballroom Dancing Techniques Help You To Dance With Confidence!

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couple country dancing in AZ

 

As you may know from reading our previous blogs, the key to comfortable, fun, and confident social dancing, from Country dancing to Latin dances like Salsa and Bachata, is strong leading and following skills. Looking great on the dance floor, before learning all of the trendy spins and dips, means establishing confidence as a leader or follower. There are many aspects to this, but one important concept of social ballroom dancing is the “foot follows the frame” rule.

 

When first learning, beginner social ballroom dancers tend to focus on the steps more than they need to. With so much focus on the feet, steps can be exaggerated and emphasis on what really matters, the connection between two within the dance frame, is lost. With an unsure top half, dancers can look a little awkward or get frustrated because their dancing suddenly feels clumsy or awkward. The key, though, is to think not of the footwork, but rather of the frame! If you move your frame with purpose and surety, your feet will follow suit. Keeping your feet under your frame and maintaining your center of balance is important to looking cool, calm, and collected on the dance floor. If your feet and frame are out of synch and your feet leap out in front of you, your movements will look jerky, on the other hand. If your body’s core is centered over your feet, the support system, your movements will look more flowing and continuous. This will lead to a more relaxed, natural look in your movements and poise.

 

As a leader in your Country, Latin, Swing or Ballroom dance lessons, perhaps you have heard from your instructor that you need to direct your partner with your upper body and “guide” her with your frame.  The frame should be the one doing the driving, turning, and spinning, not the feet. Your partner has no contact with your feet, so a  connection cannot be made and communication is therefore lost if you use your lower half. With the upper half, however, your partner can feel your intentions and true leading and following in ballroom dancing, and partner dancing in general, can be achieved.  As a follower, you know that you can better understand your partner and feel where they are leading you when the connection and communication are strong through the frame. In the same light, you should let your frame listen to your leader, with your feet following and staying beneath your weight.

 

It’s definitely not to say that you should only move your upper body and that your feet will magically follow, but rather that you should put the focus on your frame and keep in mind that your feet should follow your frame through all movements. This will help in always maintaining your center of balance.

 

If you are thinking that the strength of your frame and the synchronicity of your feet and frame could use a little help, ask your dance instructor for assistance in that area in your next dance lesson. Not taking lessons yet? Join Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona for the best social dancing lessons in the Valley! With our unique curriculum and talented instructors, you will get started on the right foot on the path to becoming a confident dancer and have a BLAST doing so! You can begin the fun and excitement of social partner dancing with our Introductory Offer, a full hour of instruction and good times for just $40. Learn a new hobby and make this Summer count with dance lessons at Dance FX Studios.

latin dancing in mesa az

Latin Dance Lessons in Mesa, Arizona

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latin dancing in mesa azHave you been feeling a little bored and ho-hum lately? Do you think you need a new hobby? Does your love life need a little kick start? Try Latin ballroom dancing lessons! Unleash your sassy, spicy side with Latin dance lessons at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona. We have been teaching couples and singles Latin dances like Salsa, Bachata, and Argentine Tango for 13 years. We specialize in teaching our students to become fearless, excited social dancers who are capable of dancing anywhere!

 

When you learn to Latin dance, you will learn to be the life of the party! Latin dances are known for being exciting and sassy, bringing out the sensual, passionate side of anyone who partakes. Salsa dancing is the most popular social Latin dance style in the world. From tapas bars and clubs in Spain to the streets of Latin America to the Salsa dance clubs here in Arizona, people all over the world LOVE Salsa dancing. Salsa is engaging and exhilarating, making it the perfect dance to learn if you want to spice things up and enjoy a change of pace.

Another popular social Latin dance is the Bachata – a dance from the Dominican Republic that will surely get you shimmying and shaking! Like the Salsa, Bachata is also fun and flirty and will let you express yourself like you never thought possible.

The Argentine Tango is a very special dance that is known for being romantic and sensual. When you learn to Tango, you will be introduced to a whole new world of movement and expression that you will fall in love with! You and your partner can explore this world together and enhance your communication skills while enjoying an intimate activity together. Latin dances bring out the inner flirt in everyone; you will be amazed at how you can open up and thoroughly enjoy yourself while dancing!

If you are feeling a little apprehensive about learning to dance, don’t worry! Dance FX Studios’ Latin Private Dance Introductory Offer is perfect for dipping your toes in the proverbial waters of dance. Your instructor will get a feel for how you learn and will discover what you want to get out of dancing, allowing them to create a lesson plan that’s just right for you. You will get out on the dance floor and learn some of the basics of dance, like who leads and who follows, dance frame, and more! For more information about what we offer, give us a call at the studio from noon to 8 pm at 480-968-6177 on weekdays and 10 am to 3 pm on Saturdays, or stop by during business hours. There’s no need to wait any longer, come learn a fiery Latin dance today!

Staying Fit for the Holidays with Social Ballroom Dance Lessons

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Stuffing, pies, candies, roasts, rolls and so many more holiday dishes tempt us throughout the holiday season. No matter what holidays you and your loved ones celebrate, chances are there are a few traditional dishes that you look forward to every year. Sometimes, the holidays serve as an excuse to eat absurd amounts of food and satisfy our sedentary side by relaxing with friends and family. Exercising and routines fall to the wayside this time of year when traditions, traveling, and feasting take over. By the time the New Year rolls around, we might find ourselves swearing off the lifestyle we’ve embraced of less than ideal diet and exercise routines. This year, join us at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona and you won’t be regretful of what you eat. Yes, you can break the cycle and take ballroom dance lessons as a couple or just for you! The only fitness resolution for the new year that you’ll be making is to stick with dance lessons all year long. Whether you see yourself dancing the sensual Argentine Tango with your partner, doing the Country Two Step at a local Phoenix Country bar, or Swing dancing to your favorite oldies, stay active this holiday season and ring in the New Year with a new hobby – social ballroom dancing! If you’ve never taken a lesson with us before, take advantage of our $40 introductory lesson offer in which you can learn a few basics of dancing and sample some styles if you’re not sure which dance(s) you’re interested in.

Ballroom dancing with us at Dance FX Studios here in Phoenix can enhance your life in so many ways – by boosting your self-confidence, improving your balance and coordination, relieving stress and more! One of the most important benefits of dancing (at least this time of year) is the great exercise it provides. Treadmills can be boring, cycling can get intense and lifting weights at the gym might not be very appealing, but dancing is a challenging, FUN way to get moving! Chances are your body is not used to moving in the many directions and ways that dancing requires it to. Moving backwards, side stepping, leading your partner in many directions – they’re all advantageous for your body! You will work muscles you didn’t know you had, or maybe ones you just haven’t used since before Halloween!

In addition to the toning dance lessons can provide, you can break a sweat and burn off the holiday cookies you’ve been indulging in! Each type of dance offers different movements and tempos and, therefore, burns a certain range of calories. For example, Salsa dancing for an hour can burn up to 480 calories! Country Western styles like the Country Swing and Country Waltz can get you moving and use between 290 to 420 calories, depending on the speed and difficulty of the moves. In every hour-long lesson of learning to dance the Cha Cha, anywhere from 260 to 530 calories can be burned- yeah to Latin dancing!. Zumba fitness classes are specifically geared for exercise and can use up to 650 calories! That’s definitely a few cookies’ worth.

While one lesson alone won’t lead to a fit you, regular lessons will definitely exhibit results! With our Holiday Savings Event, Introductory Offer and Zumba membership deals, we can help you kick up your heels this holiday season while reaping the many benefits of dance. Find yourself dancing into 2014 with joy!