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Country dancing Tempe Arizona

Stand Tall! Posture Matters.

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Country dancing near Tempe ArizonaIn social partner dancing, great posture is everything! When attempting to connect with another person, it’s important to realize that how you hold yourself affects her, and vice versa. With nice posture, you’ll have so many more opportunities on the dance floor that an untrained or unaware dancer might not have. Here are a few ways that your perfect posture will aid you in becoming a confident social dancer.

  1. You’ll be a better leader! By sending clearer signals to your dance partner because you are holding yourself upright, you will be a better leader than most, right off the bat. How nice is that!? Of course, you could go out Country dancing and fling your lady around the floor like I see so many guys do out here in the Arizona Country bars, OR you can stand up tall and really take command as a leader with finesse. Less really can be more! You see, standing up allows you to send very clear and direct signals through your dance frame from you to her. In fact, without standing up straight, you can never ultimately be a great lead, since she will constantly be confused about your intentions. This is not the kind of leader that you want to be, right?
  2. Your balance will improve. With great posture, you will be more in control of your balance, once again making you a better lead or follow on the dance floor. Good balance means that you can be more efficient in your movement and in charge of your awesome dancing experience. Balance is key in turning as well, and who doesn’t love to turn while Salsa, Swing or Two Step dancing?
  3. You’ll lower your risk or shoulder, neck and back injuries. When you pull your shoulders back and tuck in your tailbone, you’ll be properly erect and ready to go, avoiding a chance of injury by holding your body “like a dancer”. A wonderful exercise for beginner social dancers who want to reduce risk of injury is to lean against a wall and bend your knees slightly. Keeping your back flat against the wall, from your shoulders to tailbone, is your focus. From there, try to stay that straight as you step away from the wall, and see if you can maintain that position. That is the posture that you will need for each one of your dances. The key is not to look like a “ballroom” dancer, but to simply hold yourself well so that you can stay safe and have fun dancing. Hunching over is never ideal and will put you in her dance space, which will cause unwanted aches and pains.

Whether you’re Country Western dancing or Salsa dancing, posture is important. With Private Dance Lessons in these and other popular social dances, you will learn how to hold yourself and your partner to enjoy social dancing to the fullest.

If you live here in Phoenix, Arizona with us, stop by and sign up for an Introductory Dance Lesson to discover the fun of social dancing! We will get you started with healthy habits to make you a confident and comfortable social dancer before you know it!

 

Arizona Country Dancing

Give Back To YOU This Summer!

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Arizona Country DancingDo you feel exhausted, overworked, and burned out?  In our Western culture, we are encouraged to hurry about:  Work our 9-5 jobs, pick up the kids, walk the dog, get groceries, make dinner, and oh, don’t forget to go to the gym too!  It’s so easy to wear yourself out from living this busy lifestyle.  Some have been doing this routine for the majority of their lives just begging for the day they can retire and catch a breath.  But then what?  Perhaps you have retired, and you’re actually wondering what to do now that you no longer have that 9-5 job or those little munchkins running about the house.  I’ll tell you what you do.  Social dance.  Dance?  Yes, you dance.  Think Country Two Step dancing, Latin Salsa dancing, or the fun of Swing dancing. Sound a little more exciting?? Here’s why I think your tired soul needs dance to spice up your life.

First, you deserve it. Be good to yourself.  You’ve mastered the art of “everything”, from child rearing to your job.  There’s no situation you haven’t handled with the grace of an Olympic ice skater balancing porcelain plates on her head and finger tips.  So now is the time to give back to yourself.  Do something that is not only fun, but good for you too.  Social dancing is one of the best leisure activities a person can do for him/herself.  The benefits of dance are all over the spectrum, but today I’m going to touch on the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of getting your feet moving on the dance floor.

 

Physical:

The physical benefits of dancing are numerous.  I could write you a book on all of them, but I’ll keep this short and sweet for your sake.  The most pronounced are increased balance, posture, and flexibility, but if you aren’t interested in those, you can be sure of increased muscle tone (and who doesn’t want more of that?).  The benefits don’t stop there.  Social dancing, from Bachata to Ballroom, is also good for boosting the immune system and reducing your chance of heart disease.

 

Mental:

Oh, the mental benefits of dancing!  Here’s a shocker for you.  Did you know dancing can dramatically reduce your risk of acquiring dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease?  It’s true!  A study done by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City over a 21 year period, discovered dancing reduces the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease by an incredible 76%!  The study tested both physical and mental activities such as reading books, completing crossword puzzles, playing golf, tennis, and walking to name a few.  The study revealed dancing reduces your chance of dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease more than any other physical activity.

 

Emotional:

Ever notice how dancers have a certain aura about them?  They seem to be more confident and comfortable in their own skin.  Ever wonder why?  The reason, dance allows people to become more aware of their bodies and expressive with the movement of it.  Social dancing gives them a safe, creative environment to be themselves.  It also reduces the amount of tension an individual holds.  Wouldn’t you feel great after a night out on the town Salsa dancing? Many people dance to shake off the stress of a long day at work.  They may recharge their batteries in a hopping social scene such a club, bar, or ballroom floor.  Others love the simplicity of going home pushing the living room furniture to the side, plugging in their favorite Country or Swing dance tunes, while taking it easy with their partner, letting the music slide over them, and allowing the dance to melt their cares away.  Whichever you prefer, dance is the perfect stress relief outlet for anyone.  And who knows, it may add to the romance in your life and create a few new friendships.

Now that you have discovered just some of the benefits of becoming a confident dancer, it’s your turn to give dancing a try. Dance FX Studios’ New Student Offer for beginner dancers is a great place to start if you live here in the Phoenix East Valley. Come experience the joys of social ballroom dancing and see how you can spice up your summer in no time.