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wedding dance lessons AZ

Get Ready For an Astounding “First Dance”!

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wedding dance lessons ArizonaWe at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona are experts at helping brides and grooms WOW their guests during their wedding receptions. We create beautiful, one-of-a-kind, built for the couple, rocking or twirling, “first dances” so you can Rock Your Reception. We have been the premiere dance studio in Arizona for wedding couples for almost 15 years.

Are you engaged? Then you may be headed over to our studio soon for a Wedding Dance Consultation. Before your first visit, we recommend that you do a few things before coming in. A little preparation before you walk into our dance studio and meet with our Wedding Dance Consultant will help us to help you as you are on your way to a fun adventure that you, and your guests, will remember forever!

Discuss with your fiancé your vision for your first dance. Knowing what your partner wants to look when you are both dancing at your reception, and being on the same page with the types of dance he or she feels comfortable dancing, is half the battle. Showing up at your consultation with your wedding dance consultant as a unified couple who knows what they want will speed the consultation questions along and allow the two of you to begin the exciting part of learning to dance that much faster. 🙂

Have 1 to 3 songs picked out as wedding dance options. Your wedding dance song is going to be a special one for all of your future years together so let’s not waste any time picking out the perfect music! A bit of musical guidance can go a long way for your choreographer; giving us an idea of your musical personality. Some songs work better than others, so once we know where to begin, we can get you going on the dance of your dreams. Finding that “must have” song, or a variety to pick from, saves lots of time. If needed, we may also suggest options to choose from; especially when we understand the musical direction you both are interested in.

Bring in a photo of your wedding dress or wedding attire. Don’t worry; your future husband does not need to see it! We, however, would love to know what you are wearing. This information will be very helpful for your choreographer. We want to make sure that everything goes absolutely perfect on your big day. Knowing what kind of dress you plan to wear helps us plan your routine with that bell skirt or long train in mind. Our desire is that you sparkle your very brightest on the dance floor, and this means taking your wedding attire into every dance step consideration.

Know your budget! Learning to dance or attending a dance school to gain a skill like dancing is an investment. Keep in mind that once you have this skill, you two can enjoy it together forever! You can share dancing again and again at many occasions as you move through your lives. How fun would it be to repeat your first dance at your 50th or 60th wedding anniversary? When you realize that you are investing in yourselves and your relationship, the value of using our studio for an amazing “first dance” goes up.  Have an idea of what you are able to spend and be open to a simplified idea of what your “first dance” should look like.

If you live in Arizona, we hope you plan to schedule a Wedding Dance Consultation with us at Dance FX Studios in the Phoenix East Valley. Our mission is to help you to look and feel your best on that dance floor on the biggest day of your lives.

Laughing couple learning wedding dance in Arizona

How to Dress Your Man for the First Dance

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Laughing couple learning wedding dance in ArizonaLet’s give the men a shout-out in this blog! Most of the time, we talk about what the blushing bride is wearing, how she should do her hair, what shoes to wear, and so forth. At Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona we’re especially concerned about the lady because a bride in 4-inch heels and a fitted mermaid dress is going to be a lot more difficult to deal with than one in ballet flats and a ball gown – at least when it comes to the ever-terrifying first dance. But at this studio, we also like to keep the guy in mind. When you’re thinking about your first dance, be it a simple and sweet slow dance or a fun Country Two Step, the man’s wardrobe choice can have a definite impact. Let’s kick off this week by talking about a few of the guy’s choices and how it affects your first wedding dance.

Jacket On vs. Jacket Off

What kind of dance are you doing? More importantly, what mood are you going for? Is the jacket fitted around your shoulders with room for you to comfortably lift your arms? These are all incredibly important questions to ask yourself. If you have broad shoulders and the jacket is a bit snug, it may be in your best interest to take the jacket off. You want to be able to turn your girl smoothly, and a tight jacket can take that away in a heartbeat. If your jacket will work either way, consider the style. If you’re going for a classic ballroom dance like the Foxtrot or Waltz, keep the jacket on… You’ll make Fred Astaire proud. Any other style will work nicely either way.

Suspenders vs. Belt

This one is personal preference, but if you’re going for a flashy first dance, you can have a lot of fun with suspenders. The bride can play with them, you can play with them, whatever. Suspenders can be incorporated into fun choreography much easier than a belt can. If that isn’t a big deal to you, then go with your gut (although I love suspenders, personally).

Tie vs. Bow Tie

This one is another area to where we can play in your first dance. It’s a little cheesy, but who doesn’t love dragging their new hubby onto the dance floor by his tie? Okay, maybe that isn’t for you, but here’s something to keep in mind: If you’re going the tie route – and you aren’t incorporating it into your dance – make sure you have a nice tie clip. You don’t want the tie to become the center of attention because it decided to Salsa dance on its own! This is your dance, so keep the tie in check. Want to go with a bow tie? We can’t play as much, but it’ll definitely stay put.

Dress Shoes vs. Sneaker/Boots/Etc.

I actually don’t have too much preference when it comes to the guy’s shoes. Dress shoes are probably the easiest to dance in, unless you’ve got some boots for your Country Swing Dance. Sneakers are definitely the hardest in terms of keeping the steps smooth (thanks, rubber soles), but it just takes a little extra practice. Any shoe you choose will work, just make sure you give yourself time to break them in before the wedding. You won’t regret it!

If you have any other questions about your first dance, or don’t even know where to start, come visit Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ. We’ve helped thousands of bridal couples create the perfect first dance for their wedding and would love to help you, too. We offer everything from fully choreographed, show-stopping routines to simple, basic wedding dance lessons. We’re just minutes away from Tempe, Chandler, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Gilbert, so give us a call and book a wedding dance consultation to talk shoes, music, dancing, and more!

Contact us to begin your dancing journey…

 

Private dance lessons are available by appointment Monday-Friday from 12-8 pm and on Saturdays from 10 am-3 pm. For more information, call us today at 480.968.6177.

Wedding Dance Lessons

Dealing With Different Floor Types For Your Arizona Wedding

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Wedding Dance Lessons | Dance FX Studios | Types of Dance FloorsEverything is ready to go for your big day. You’ve figured out your hair, dress, shoes, napkins… EVERYTHING. But have you planned ahead for your dance floor? Plenty of venues allow for you to bring in a portable dance floor, but not everyone wants that for their day. As wedding dance specialists, we at Dance FX Studios have a few tips for each type of flooring you might encounter for your reception. We’ve helped thousands of brides with their first dance and have dealt with every kind of flooring imaginable, so we know a thing or two.

Wood

Congratulations! You have the best flooring possible for your dance. Whether you’re in heels or flats, dancing Foxtrot or Salsa, you are good to go. Just be careful of rubber soles if you want to turn easily. If you’re doing something more in the realm of hip hop, you might want to switch over to sneakers. (Bonus points if your dance floor is sprung!)

Tile

Not too bad. Tile is a pretty okay dance floor, as long as it is evenly set. When looking at the venue, take note of any uneven spots so you know to avoid them come dance time. Also, be wary of your heels! You’ll want to stay on your toes and the balls of your feet during the dance so your heel doesn’t get caught in the grout.

Concrete

Generally even ground to dance on, but it can be incredibly painful if you (Heaven forbid) fall. Steer clear of sticky shoes because the concrete has enough grit to stabilize you. It isn’t impossible, but you’ll definitely have to work a little harder if you’re trying a smooth dance like Nite Club 2 Step. I might opt for something like Jitterbug so you can use the bounce of it to travel instead of anything glide-y.

Grass

Grass is the heel’s enemy. If you didn’t know this already, shame on you. Invisible heel stabilizers are out there and can add some girth to your heel while keeping you stylish, but I recommend dancing in flats or even barefoot. If you are dealing with beautiful golf course grass, your feet will be safe going barefoot. If it’s rough to the touch, invest in a pair of comfy flats that won’t fall off when you try to turn. As tempting as those flip flops are, just be aware that they are probably going to fall off mid-dance and cause a bit of a hazard.

Cobblestone

Cobblestone is beautiful and a little terrifying to dance on. Take one for the team and take the heels off… Your ankles will thank you later. It’s like taking concrete and tile and putting it together with EVEN MORE GROUT. Flats, flats, and flats. You don’t get another option. If you’re going for a Country theme and decide to dance Two Step, cowboy boots will work out just fine.

Uneven/textured/stone tile

Again, we’re getting into scary territory. As gorgeous as this flooring can be, it isn’t very conducive to a beautiful first dance. If you absolutely must dance on this type of floor, take a solid walk through and find the most even patch. Even your comfiest flats can catch on uneven tile if you aren’t on the lookout. Pick your feet up with each step, and try to pick a dance that doesn’t require any dragging steps. I’d also recommend a trial run on the floor ahead of time if the venue allows it.

Have a different flooring type and need help figuring it out? If you’re in the the greater Phoenix area, give us a call at Dance FX Studios. We offer everything from crazy, choreographed first dances, to simple, basic wedding dance lessons. You’ll receive personalized attention from a wedding dance specialist who can help you pick the right dance for your venue, song choice, and vision. Book your consultation today!

Contact us to begin your dancing journey…

 

Private dance lessons are available by appointment Monday-Friday from 12-8 pm and on Saturdays from 10 am-3 pm. For more information, call us today at 480.968.6177.