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dance fx studios

Physical Benefits of Ballroom Dancing in Arizona

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Many of you know that social ballroom dancing can be a rewarding hobby. In order to be great at popular social dances like Country Two Step, Swing and Salsa dancing, dance lessons are in order. Did you ever realize just how beneficial dance lessons are your physical health? Though it doesn’t seem like exercise in the traditional way we think of lifting weights and running, dancing actually offers a total body workout. When you Cha Cha or Swing dance, you use all of your major muscle groups and improve your cardiovascular health as well! With ballroom dance lessons, you will become more toned, and your heart will thank you too. Located in Mesa, Arizona, Dance FX Studios has been a leading social ballroom dance studio for many years, helping couples and singles enjoy the benefits of dance, while having fun!

Getting fit should be pleasurable, not boring. Ballroom dancing, from the Waltz to West Coast Swing, can actually burn as many calories as a gym workout. For many people looking to get fit, the dance floor offers an exhilarating alternative to the drudgery of the gym, and experts say sticking to an exercise regime is much easier when it’s not a chore. It makes sense – if you enjoy what you’re doing, you look forward to it and won’t be looking for excuses for why not to go. With the stress relief and fun that comes along with Country and Latin dancing, you will be surprised as to just how much you are enjoying a work out regime.

Depending on the dance, like Country Swing, Bachata or even the sultry Argentine Tango, ballroom dancing can burn anywhere from 250 to 500 calories an hour. It is considered a moderate form of exercise, about the same as a brisk half-hour walk on a treadmill. Even better, fast-paced dances like the Salsa and the Cha Cha, can be equivalent to a weight lifting session at the gym (but much more glamorous!). Dancing also improves flexibility, aiding in the relief of chronic pain and stiffness. Wouldn’t you rather be out somewhere at a Latin dance club or Country bar here in the Phoenix East Valley area kicking up your heels dancing, instead of being on a treadmill? You can meet new people with similar interests and let off some steam while enjoying the music, food and culture of our great area! Way better than the gym, right?

If you have noticed a drop in your motivation and energy levels, taking ballroom dance lessons may just help. Research has found that dancing can increase energy levels. A lot of us have sedentary lifestyles, working in offices behind computers and studying for several years in schools and universities. This lack of activity and physical stimulation can take away our energy and leave us feeling drained. Once you get yourself out on the dance floor and put a little Swing dancing or Country dancing in your life,  your metabolism will rev up and get that blood flowing so you will feel yourself starting to come alive again!

Dancing sounds pretty great, right? But what if you don’t even know where to start or you are afraid that you won’t be a good dancer? That’s where we come in! Dance FX Studios here in Arizona has been teaching adults of all ages and abilities to gain the confidence and skills they need to let dance affect their lives in a great way. From the ever popular Country Two Step to the sexy Tango, it doesn’t matter which dance you learn first. Give ballroom dance lessons a try and you will see your body transform itself before long.

Are you ready to experience this enjoyable and beneficial alternative to the gym? Private dance lessons at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ are made by appointment Monday-Friday from 12-8 pm and on Saturdays from 11 am-4 pm. To get started, we suggest you begin with our Introductory Special, only $40 (per couple or single) for a one hour private dance lesson. We are confident that one hour is all we need to show you our unique method of teaching and how invigorating dancing can be for YOU!

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!

“Giddy Up” For A Night With Two-bit Shotgun

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Do you love Country music as much as we do? Come listen to one of Phoenix valley’s top Country Western bands play right here at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona next Saturday evening, April 13th! That’s right, Two-bit Shotgun are making their third appearance at Dance FX Studios after two successful nights of Country dancing and fun!

How does the night work for those of you who have not been to one of our dance parties with live music? We will kick off next Saturday night, April 13th, 2013 with a beginner two step class so that everyone can learn the basics to one of Country’s most popular dance styles. In the group two step class for beginners, you will learn a turn or two plus, and most importantly, how to navigate around a crowded dance floor with ease. This concept is our main focus at Dance FX Studios as social dancing in Arizona is what we are known for and what we do best! Get some great pointers on how to lead and follow the two step as well as how to hold your dance partner in a proper dance frame. What you won’t learn (for you die hard AZ Country dancers) is flips and tricks on the night of our Country dance party. We at Dance FX Studios want to show you how to be safe Country dancers with exciting moves that will make your partner comfortable and relaxed.

After our two step class for beginners, you will enjoy amazing music by Two-bit Shotgun! Two-bit Shotgun plays around the Phoenix valley as well as out of state on the southwest. They play a lot of crossover Country rock as well as a few oldies for those that enjoy traditional Country music. We have found them to be the perfect choice for our Country dances as they play tons of Country swing, Country two step, nite club two step, Country waltz and West Coast swings. Two-bit Shotgun are a great fusion of old and new and they seem to appeal to all ages.

Dance FX Studios’ Country dance party is from 8- 11 pm. We will be offering light snacks (chips, veggies etc.) and desserts for you to enjoy in between dances. Cover charge for this event is $15 per person for advanced tickets and $20 at the door per person. Tickets can be purchased by phone, on our website or in person for your convenience. As always, our live music events are open to the public. Bring your friends and meet new ones as you listen to great music and dance!

By the way, Dance FX Studios instructors will be present at this event. If you have questions on how to do a certain step, feel free to ask, that’s what we are here for! 🙂

If you are looking to squeeze in a few private Country dance lessons in prior to next Saturday night’s dance, it’s not too late! Private dance lessons with us, the only strictly social dance studio in Phoenix, are scheduled by appointment Monday through Friday from noon to 8 pm and on Saturdays from 11 am to 4 pm.

Dance FX Studios is on the south east corner of Dobson and Guadalupe in Mesa, Arizona. We are minutes from Gilbert, Chandler, downtown Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe, Arizona. Come meet the staff of Dance FX Studios and see how much fun it is to Country dance on Saturday, April 13th!