Kick off 2014 Country Dancing!

Calling all Country music lovers! Looking for a fun night out Country dancing? Then, sashay your way over to Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ, on Saturday, January 11^th, 2014 for an evening of live music and dancing with one of Phoenix’s top County bands, Two-bit Shotgun. This exciting band offers a variety of Country and Bluegrass music, along with some Rock and Pop favorites and is known for fantastic music and a wonderful time. Mark your calendars now for this electrifying event!

We encourage current students, former students,  and non-students alike to participate in our dance party, so no need to feel like you have to already know how to Country dance in order to attend. To kick things off, we start with a beginner Country Swing dance class, at around 8:15, where you will learn some basic moves and how to navigate around a crowded dance floor. You will also learn about leading and following, as well as how to hold your partner in a correct dance frame.  Sounds like a really fun way to get started, doesn’t it? Even if you already know how to Country dance, it will still be a lot of fun to take part in the class, or if you prefer, you can sit it out and enjoy watching.

Once the class concludes, then the party really begins with Two-bit Shotgun playing some great tunes for listening and dancing! They will performing a mixture of older and newer Country tunes for dancing to Country Two-Step, West Coast Swing, Country Waltz, Nite Club Two-Step, and Country Swing. Two-bit Shotgun really knows how to inspire people of all ages to kick up their heels two-stepping, swinging, and waltzing their way out onto the dance floor!

The Country dance party is from 8-11 pm, so feel free to drop in any time, but come early if you do want to participate in the group class. In addition to dancing, Dance FX Studios will be offering some yummy snacks and beverages for you to enjoy throughout the evening.  With all the dancing you will be doing, it is a perfect opportunity to refuel and get back out on the dance floor! The cost is only $15 per person, in advance, or $20 per person at the door.  Talk about a cheap date! You can purchase your tickets on our website, by phone, or in person- whichever works best for you.  Feel free to bring your friends along too- the more the merrier! 

Our dance parties are an excellent opportunity for our students to meet and mingle with fellow students and for those who are new to our studio it’s the perfect chance to see what we can offer you , as well as just having a fabulous time. Our instructors will be on hand to dance with everyone and to offer assistance with your dancing throughout the night. How great is that?  If you have any questions about dancing or lessons, feel free to ask any of the instructors- they are very friendly and accommodating and love to help everyone.

If you are looking to fit in in a few private Country dance lessons prior to next Saturday night’s dance, it’s not too late! Private dance lessons are available by appointment Monday through Friday from 12 to 8 pm and on Saturdays from 11 am to 4 pm. Dance FX Studios is located at 1859 W. Guadalupe Rd, in Mesa, AZ, on the south east corner of Dobson and Guadalupe. We are minutes from Gilbert, Chandler, downtown Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe, Arizona. 

So, do not hesitate, hop on the website or give us a call, 480.968.6177, to make a reservation now- you know this is something you really want to do. Think of all the fun you, your partner, and your friends will have spending the night listening to an awesome live band and dancing the night away! Come meet the staff of Dance FX Studios and see how much fun it is to Country dance on Saturday, January 11^th, from 8-11 pm. Hope to see you there!

Wedding Workshop for 2014 Brides and Grooms

Planning to get married in the new, upcoming year? Wouldn’t it be great to have some assistance getting a number of ideas for planning your wedding from various wedding professionals? Well, are you ever in luck! DanceFX Studios in Mesa, Arizona will be hosting a Wedding Workshop on Saturday, February 22^nd from 11:30 am-3:00 pm. This is an ideal opportunity for brides and grooms to be able to explore a variety of possibilities for the big day- all in one place! Why not take some of the stress out of preparing for your wedding by attending our exclusive workshop?

For over 12 years, Dance FX Studios has been helping plenty of couples in the Phoenix East Valley prepare for their special day with wedding dance lessons. Whether your vision is a simple first dance or a more elaborate choreographed routine, we will work with you to create a cherished memory that will last forever.  We start couples off with our wedding consultation that includes obtaining information about the wedding, finding the perfect song that suits your personalities, and a dance lesson. From there, you and your consultant can then determine exactly what is needed to make you and your fiancé dazzle everyone on the dance floor with your customized routine!

We are inviting 40 couples to participate in exclusive vendor shopping, dancing, and setting up appointments for your wedding day’s most crucial details on your list including catering, the cake, flowers, hair, make-up, and more. There will also be time to try some yummy samples from our featured caterer. What a treat! Our onsite florist from Bobbie's Flower Shop for the day will be on hand to help with your floral arrangements for the wedding and reception, so no need to worry about coming up with ideas on your own. Not to mention, we offer a 30 minute mini dance class so we can help you to really make an impression at your reception.

Brides, have you thought about the look you want to achieve for this all important day? Well, rest assured- our hair stylist and make-up artist will be here to discuss various options to make you feel confident and even more radiant for the wedding. Why wait for the last minute to make this decision? Just think, knowing ahead of time how you want your hair and make-up to look and scheduling an appointment in advance will help take some of the stress out of having to make that decision later on, when you have so many other things to plan. And also for the brides- you will have the opportunity to actually look at and try on wedding dresses. With an array to choose from, we are sure you will find the dress that is just perfect for you. How fun and exciting!

Additionally, we will have a raffle drawing with some awesome giveaways! We are in the process of finalizing our vendors, promotions, and schedule and will keep you updated on our website to let you know when everything is in place for this exceptional event. In the meantime, give us a call now, 480.968.6177, to reserve your space and ensure you are one of the lucky 40 couples to join in the festivities of this awesome event!

If you have a wedding to prepare for, do not hesitate to mark your calendars and call for Dance FX Studios’ Wedding Workshop coming up soon!

Love doesn't make the world go round, love is what makes the ride worthwhile.
~ Elizabeth Browning ~

Learn to Line Dance at Dance FX Studios!

Line Dancing is a unique, engaging form of dance that is mainly danced to Country music. Its likeness is also seen in many Folk dances. Great for Bridal Party dances, group dances, and parties, you can learn Line Dancing at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona. Near Tempe, Chandler, Scottsdale, and Queen Creek in the Greater Phoenix area, we can choreograph Line dances and teach steps to any group! With our Create-A-Class offers and Wedding Packages, you’re sure to find what you need with us.

This type of dancing typically involves a choreographed dance consisting of repeated sequences of steps. Groups of people, without regard to gender and usually without touching each other, dance in lines or rows facing each other or in the same direction. The dance steps and moves are executed at the same time and in synchronization. Some Line Dances require the lines of dancers to face each other, some take place on a circle formation, and some involve the dancers following a leader in a line around the dance floor. 

Popular opinion sometimes seems to be that Country Western music spawned Line Dancing, but it actually only caused resurgence of its prevalence. The Country music genre has many “danceable” songs, a trend started by Billy Ray Cyrus. After Cyrus recorded “Achy Breaky Heart” in the early 1990s, many other artists began to record songs that could be adapted for Line Dancing, and the dance gained popularity. “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” by Brooks and Dunn, “Hillbilly Bone” by Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins and “Country Girl (Shake it for Me)” by Luke Bryan are all also Line Dance favorites, as well as many other very popular Country songs.  Country Line Dancing would be an entertaining addition to your upcoming wedding reception or your next group party. With our Create-A-Classes geared for groups and packages for Wedding Receptions, we can choreograph steps and teach them to your bridal party or host a class at a gathering! With many years in the dance business, Dance FX Studios has plenty of experience coming up with just what our clients want and “mending” left feet.

Many types of Folk dancing incorporate Line Dancing, where dancers dance in unison in certain formations. The Balkan countries (those in the Southeast corner of Europe) including Greece, Italy, Croatia and Romania, have histories rich with traditions like Line Dancing, which still exist today. Dancers of many Folk dances, like Balkan dances, can form pairs of lines facing each other, create circles to dance on, or engaging audiences by dancing around the floors. In Folk dances like these, dancers oftentimes are connected by holding hands or shoulders or holding each other’s’ belts. This is unlike Country Line Dancing, where the dancers do not maintain physical connection.

Besides Country Line Dancing and Folk dances emanating the Line Dance style, many other types of music have accompanied Line Dances, like Latin, Jazz, disco, pop, and Swing music. Here’s a list of some Line Dance songs that you may have already boogied to:

• “Cotton Eye Joe” by Rednex
• “Jump On It” by Sugarhill Gang
• “Macarena” which has a few versions, but was originally done by Los del Rio
• “Chicken Dance” which most of us have done for ages
• “Electric Slide” by Marcia Griffiths

Explore The Sensuous Argentine Tango

When watching a couple dancing the Argentine tango, you can almost feel the passion between them, as they focus solely on each other, shutting out the rest of the world. This dance is exceptionally intimate and romantic and can help to awaken the desire in your relationship with your partner.  Wouldn’t that be nice? The Argentine tango is an ideal way to emotionally connect with each other, as well as providing an opportunity to share a unique endeavor and spend some time alone together.

If you have been thinking of taking up a new hobby, or maybe you have seen people doing the Argentine tango and thought, “Wow, that is definitely something I would love to learn”, then now is the time to do something about it! At Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona, we have been teaching this sexy, exotic dance to many students in the past decade with private tango dance lessons. Private dance lessons are the best way to learn any new dance, since your lessons are customized for you and your rate of learning. Sounds very inviting, doesn’t it?

For those of you who may not be familiar with the Argentine tango, it began in Buenos Aires, Argentina in the late 19^th century in the lower-class districts on the outskirts of the city in bars, cafes, and courtyards. The themes were usually about ordinary men, their troubles, the city and memories. This led to the tango becoming a depiction of Buenos Aires and its inhabitants.

In the early years of the twentieth century, the tango began its journey to Europe when dancers and orchestras from Buenos Aires toured the major European cities. The Argentine tango became a huge hit in the key capitals, such as Paris, London, Berlin and Rome. At the same time it was also becoming very popular in New York. In 1913 the tango really peaked all over the world since it was now the dance everyone wanted to learn! Rudolph Valentino soon became a sex symbol, especially in the United States, as a result of his sensual portrayals of this dance in the movies. 

By the 1920s, the Argentine tango moved out of the lower-class areas and started to become a more reputable form of music and dance. This era, known as the "Golden Age" of tango, was the most impressive, with people from all stages of society packing the dance halls dancing this erotic dance. The Argentine tango finally became accepted all over the world and is still a popular dance folks enjoy today.

The Argentine tango can be danced in a variety of styles and accompanied by different types of music, fluctuating in tempo and basic movements. The main categories for this tango style are open embrace and close embrace. The open embrace has the couple standing further apart and allows them a wider range of movement. In a close embrace, the couples dance very close to each other and frequently actually touch shoulders and heads. What a great way to rekindle intimacy and desire back into your relationship!

In addition to the romance that can be reignited while learning the Argentine tango, it can also improve your confidence and coordination. It has been proven that this dance enhances motor skills and balance, as well as your memory.  The Argentine tango is a great choice for expanding your mind and lifting your spirits.  So, not only will you have a great time dancing, but you will become more intimate with your partner, boost your self-esteem and increase dexterity.  Can you believe that something this much fun can also be so beneficial?

Are you ready to get started? Great! Give Dance FX Studios a call at 480.968.6177 to begin this beautiful journey of passionate, romantic dancing.

The Rich History of the Bolero

The term “Latin Dance” refers to types of ballroom dance and folk dance and includes a wide range of dances originating in Latin America, Cuba and Puerto Rico. Popular social Latin dances include Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Bolero, and the Argentine Tango. Here at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona we teach all of these dances! Not only are these dances exciting and sensual, they have interesting histories as well. Today, we will delve in to the unique story that is the history of the Bolero dance.

The Bolero originated in Spain, but there are both Spanish and Cuban versions of the dance. Dancer Sebastiano Carezo is credited with inventing the dance in 1780. Fusing two dances, the Contradanza and the Sevillana, Carezo created this combination dance that has a moderately slow tempo. The Spanish Bolero is performed to music which is sung and accompanied by castanets (hand-held percussion instruments) and guitars.  It is danced by either a soloist or a couple. In Spain, during the 18th Century, the Bolero actually had many different names. It was called 'Escuela Bolera', 'Baile de Palillos' and 'Goyescas'. Bolero originated as a fusion of popular dances and classical ballet in order to produce a dance that was fit for shows, and not just for fiestas. Classical Ballet steps were added to the Bolero in Castilla-La Mancha, an area in central Spain where the famous Spanish text Don Quixote is based! The Spanish Bolero was spread by performers who danced the Bolero in other countries in Europe and it soon became the dance to know in many European capital cities. The Bolero also benefited from the contact with European Romantic and Post-Romantic Ballet, from 1835 to 1880.

The Cuban Bolero originated in Santiago de Cuba in the last quarter of the 19th century. Most historians agree that the first Bolero was written by Cuban Jose “Pepe” Sanchez in Santiago de Cuba around 1885. While it is debatable, this version of dance is probably the first more widely known Bolero, so it is accepted that Sanchez gave the formal origin to this genre and its classical style. Cuban Bolero is accompanied by guitar and percussion and has evolved from music in canteens to serenade music. Sanchez was an untrained musician with a great deal of natural talent. Most of his pieces are lost, save a dozen or so, because he never wrote his compositions down. The romantic touch of Bolero allowed it to spread through all classes, and the technological advancements like the radio, help to spread it all over. The Bolero and its music have been perpetuated through vinyl discs, television and cinema. 

While learning to dance is a great experience, sometimes we are removed from the rich history and unique origins of the dances we learn. You can learn the steps and styles of many Latin dances at Dance FX Studios, including the Bolero! If you have never taken a dance class and are interested in starting, our $40 Introductory Offer for Private Dance Lessons is perfect for you! You will learn the proper dance form, a few dance floor tips, and you can discuss with your instructor the kinds of dances and venues you’d like to take your skills to. If you already know how to dance a few styles and want to join in on the Latin fun, we have Holiday Specials happening now! Check out our Gift Cards page and see what kind of steals we have for you this Holiday Season.

Learn to Dance To Your Favorite Tunes With Us At Dance FX Studios!

The New Year is just around the corner- a time to reflect on the past year and maybe make some  changes in your life.  Change can sometimes be a little scary, but without it, we cannot move forward and experience new things in our lives, which really is beneficial for all of us. What about a new hobby or activity that will be fun and rewarding? Do you find yourself tapping your feet to music, moving to songs you enjoy? Then, social dancing like the Country Two Step, Salsa or Swing lessons may be just the ticket! 

Social ballroom dancing is a pursuit that can be used for any occasion from weddings to nights out on the town and something you will have with you forever and talk about beneficial! Dancing is an ideal way to relieve tension, keep fit, and boost your confidence, to name just a few of the benefits. At Dance FX Studios, in Mesa, AZ, we have been helping so many people in the Phoenix East Valley area to learn to dance with private dance lessons. We would love the opportunity to provide any singles or couples with the skills and tools to become self-assured dancers.

OK, so now you are intrigued, but where do you go from here? Perhaps you just are not sure what type of social dancing you would like to learn. Well, let’s start with the music- what type of music do you prefer and find yourself wanting to move to? We are going to explore some possibilities that may help with that decision.  And keep in mind, we do not limit you to just one dance, you have the option of incorporating several different types. The advantage to this is that this will make you a more versatile dancer, so that you will be able to dance to a variety of music, from something slower that is more romantic to something faster where you can really shake it up!

Dance FX Studios is thrilled to announce that now as a student, you will have access to our Spotify account, for a variety of playlists so that you can practice any of the dances you have learned at home.  So, if you are drawn to the Latin dances, like the Argentine tango, Salsa or Bachata, you can login to our account and find our playlists for these dances. To get to our playlist, "Like Us" on Facebook and then follow this link. Those of you who love the romance of tango, you may want to listen to “La Yumba”, by Osvaldo Pugliese. Songs like “Yamulmau”, by Joe Arroyo are great for dancing to Salsa. For the Bachata, try “Obsesion”, by Aventura. These are just some of the Latin dances that are available.

Maybe you prefer something fun and lively- then Swing music like the Jitterbug is a perfect choice! Not only will you find some classic swing music, but also some contemporary swing as well. Check out our Jitterbug Swing playlist for songs like “In the Mood”, by Glenn Miller or “Tell Him He’s Yours”, by Michael Bublé.  After trying out a few of these, you will feel rejuvenated and it will be hard to sit it out!

For all of you Country music lovers, learning the various types of Country dances are made for you! From Country two-step to Country waltz, we have it covered. Check out our various Country playlists on Spotify. You will find songs like “Knew All Along”, by Alan Jackson, or “Ain’t That Love”, by Kenny Chesney and will have a great time dancing around to your favorite songs with moves that you have learned in your lessons.

Think of how beneficial this will be to the learning process! As you progress in your lessons, you will be able to pick a song and know which moves to apply to that particular dance and how to put together your own moves, with what you have learned with your instructor.  What a great feeling that will be and how impressive you will be when out on any dance floor!

Why not give it a try? You will be so glad you took the first step towards trying something different and so much fun.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Social Ballroom Dancing is Popular in Arizona

When most people think of ballroom dancing, a couple in formal attire waltzing around an elegant ballroom might be the first thing that comes to mind. While this is ballroom dancing, the Waltz is only one type of ballroom dance and this is only one setting where ballroom dancing skills might come in handy. In reality, there a many more forms of ballroom dancing and you can dance in so many social settings! That is why we at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona teach social ballroom dance lessons. Located in the East Phoenix Valley, we are close to many metropolitan areas of the Valley. Arizona is a great state for dancing, especially Phoenix and its surrounding areas. As the Arizona Guide says; “Live music, great entertainment and an array of great clubs make the Greater Phoenix area the state’s most stimulating nightspot. Dance clubs throughout Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale play a variety of music, from country and western to hip-hop, top 40, salsa and techno.” We can teach you the elegant Waltz if you so desire, but we also offer dances like the Salsa, Argentine Tango, Country Two Step, the Jitterbug and more! With so many different styles and types of dances, there truly is something for everyone. Let’s discuss some popular dance styles and you will see how much variety there is in ballroom dance.

One very popular style of dance in our area is Country Western. Country Western dancing includes Country Two Step, Country Swing, Country Waltz, Nite Club 2 Step, West Coast Swing, Country Cha Cha and Line dancing. Each type can be danced to different types of music. For example, the Country Swing can be danced to "Chattahoochee" by Alan Jackson, "Chicken Fried" by Zac Brown Band and "My Kinda Party" by Jason Aldean. The Country Two Step is especially well known in Arizona and is often danced to songs like "Honey Bee" by Blake Shelton and "Good Girl" by Carrie Underwood.  Toby Keith’s Bar and Grill in Mesa is a great place for popular Country Western dances, as is Cactus Moon in Mesa. We can not only teach you the skills you need to impress anyone on the dance floor, but also how to stay safe and comfortable on the dance floor that can become chaotic on a bustling honky tonk night!

Salsa and Latin dancing is also very popular in the Phoenix area.  Because we live in the Southwest, Latin influence is prevalent in more than just the food in Arizona. In addition to Salsa, Merengue, Cha Cha and Bachata are also must-knows in the Latin dance scene in Arizona. The Tango is a sexy, romantic social dance that will also help you embrace your inner flirt. Latin dance lessons are great for couples to spice up the romance, but singles, do not shy away from learning to Latin dance! Latin dance lessons will bring out an outgoing, passionate side of you that may have otherwise been lying dormant. Popular Latin dancing music for Merengue includes "Save the Last Dance for Me" by Michael Bublé and "Enamorame" by Papi Sanchez, "Mi Corazoncito" by Aventura for the Bachata, and "Sway" by Michael Bublé for the Cha Cha. For Salsa dancing, we would recommend Pepin in Scottsdale and San Felipe in Tempe, AZ. Mijana Restaurant in Tempe is a good place for Tango dancing, and they have Tango Thursdays. You can take your partner on a date much more exciting than dinner and movie after lessons at Dance FX Studios! Or you’ll be able to meet someone new on any Latin dance floor with the skills we can give you.

Swing dancing is also a favorite of Arizonans. Dances that can be referred to as Swing dancing include the Lindy Hop, Charleston, West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, Jitterbug, and a few others. The Jitterbug Swing can be done to "I Want to Hold Your Hand" by the Beatles or "Peggy Sue" by Buddy Holly. You can dance the West Coast Swing to "The Way You Make Me Feel" by Michael Jackson and "Lady" by the Commodores. The Duce in Phoenix, which was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives is a great place for Swing dancing!

With so many styles and places to go dancing in the Greater Phoenix area, there is no reason dance lessons won’t prove useful! Get yourself out there and have some fun at our local dance haunts and enjoy music that is great for dancing. We will even share our music playlists with you each Wednesday on our Facebook page so you have new tunes to practice to! Come join us at our Dance Parties here at Dance FX Studios, which are perfect for getting together with other individuals from the studio and putting your skills to use. With our Introductory Private Dance Lesson Offer, you can also see which dances will suit you best and learn some dance basics. You’re sure to get hooked!

Give the Gift Of Dance This Year!

Do you have someone on your holiday shopping list that is hard to shop for? Someone who has everything or is really picky? Maybe you have been married for ages and want to surprise your spouse with the gift of an activity you can do together. If you have a partner you have been dating for a bit and want to give them a present that will show you really care, the gift of dance lessons at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona will do just that! Social ballroom dance lessons, in Salsa, Swing or Country Two Step or even the Argentine Tango are a gift that keeps on giving, because anyone who learns can take these skills with them everywhere they go for the rest of their life. If you live in or near Chandler, Tempe, Queen Creek, Glendale, Scottsdale, or Phoenix, Arizona our dance studio is close to you! You can make dance skills attainable for any of your loved ones this holiday season with us.

Having been around for 12 years, Dance FX Studios knows just how to teach you and/or your partner, spouse, or friend how to dance, whether they have two left feet or not! Our unique style of teaching will keep you engaged and smiling while learning many dances, from the exciting Country Swing to the romantic Bachata. Our $40 Introductory Offer on a gift card is a great way to give someone a taste of dancing. Even better, it comes with a festive box and bow!  You can come in and see our studio, meet our instructors, learn some basics of dancing and sample a few styles with this offer. You are sure to get hooked when you see how fun and rewarding learning to dance really is!

Dancing is so beneficial and can be much more than just a pastime. Anyone you give the gift of dance to will benefit from its numerous perks. One such perk is how dance is a great form of exercise. One lesson at Dance FX Studios can burn anywhere from 250 to 560 calories! Dancing keeps you on your toes and challenges you to think quickly and learn new body movements, enhancing key connections in your brain. It fights depression and anxiety, and, as we discussed in our Dance Your Social Anxiety Away blog, you can become a more social person when you equip yourself with dancing skills! The self-confidence of anyone you gift lessons to will definitely experience a boost and they will be on the road to a healthier, happier self. AND they will have the skills that you helped them obtain for the rest of their lives and will be able to dance in any social setting!

Help us help you with that difficult person to shop for this Holiday season! With our Holiday Savings Event and awesome Introductory Offer for private dance lessons, the perfect gift for anyone can be yours. Whoever the recipient may be, they will gain new skills and reap the benefits of dance while having FUN with us at Dance FX Studios!

Now's The Time to Plan your 2014 Wedding!

Getting married in 2014? With so many details to take care of, you may not have thought about dancing at your reception. Are you and your fiancé ready to dance the night away feeling confident dancing in front of your family and friends? If not, you may want to prepare now for your first dance and dancing throughout your reception. Instead of waiting for the last minute to learn to become a confident dancer and stressing out about looking good on the dance floor, don’t hesitate- get started now!

Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ, part of the Phoenix East Valley area, has been helping numerous brides and grooms prepare for their wedding, beginning with our wedding dance consultation. This hour-long consultation is only $20 and will allow us to learn more about your vision for the wedding, help you with your wedding song selection, and give you a mini dance lesson. No matter what type of dancing you would like to do, we will give you exactly what you are looking for in a customized first dance created just for you! Whether you want something classic, like the Foxtrot, something playful, such as the Swing, or a something a little spicier with sassy Salsa- it is completely up to you.

In order to show you what we can do for you, we recommend that you schedule a wedding consultation as soon as possible.  Keep in mind that you need to be realistic about how long it may take you to learn a new skill that you may not have tried previously.  It does take time to learn and become proficient with your dancing. If you want a customized, choreographed first dance, we suggest giving yourself 4-6 months to really have your first dance routine down. This way, you and your fiancé can feel totally assured in your abilities and dazzle everyone out on the dance floor!

In addition to the first dance, you may also want develop the skills to be able to dance throughout your reception. Dance FX Studios in Arizona can easily add this to your wedding dance lessons! Learning social ballroom dances will not only be beneficial for your big day, but will also provide you with the expertise to be able to dance the rest of your life for any social occasion. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to use this new skill-set long after the wedding?

As we all know, with everyday life being so busy, it really is difficult to be able to find the time to do something fun and beneficial as a couple, especially when you have to plan a wedding.  Dancing is the perfect opportunity to leave everything behind for a little while and just enjoy yourselves out on the dance floor. Dancing together, you  will feel more connected and in touch with each other throughout the process of taking wedding dance lessons. 

Dancing is the ideal hobby for couples to ensure a lifetime of teamwork, trust and time together as well as a romantic way to relax that cannot be found with other activities.  Additionally, what a great way to shed some extra pounds and get more fit, so that you both look even more spectacular in your wedding attire! Since you will be coming in for your lessons anyway, you can now rest assured that you will also be getting a workout, as well.  What an awesome bonus!

Why wait? Start planning ahead for your wedding first dance and give us a call at 480.968.6177 to you set up your wedding dance consultation. Get on your way to making lasting memories for yourselves, family, and friends!

All About Swing Dancing!

Swing Dancing can be enjoyed with many kinds of music, including Country music, Big Band or Swing Jazz music, Rock and Roll and more! It has many varieties that make it an especially versatile dance to learn. If you have ever been interested in learning to Swing dance, come give us a try at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona. We will prepare you to be a confident and comfortable Swing dancer in no time! Until then, learn more about the Swing and its array of styles with these fun facts. Did you know that....

-The Swing Era occurred during a period that was full of despair (1935-1945). Racism, gender discrimination, poverty, war and adolescent turmoil were all very much prevalent. The Great Depression (1929-early 1940s) and World War II (1939-1945) both took place at the same time that Swing was thriving.

-Dean Collins was considered one of the greatest male Swing dancers during the Swing Era. He got his big break by choreographing dances for the film "Let's Make Music". This was followed by choreographing dances for and dancing in a long list of movies, including Hellzapoppin', Dance Hall, Playmates, Buck Privates, Ride Em' Cowboy, The Talk of the Town, Springtime in the Rockies, Kid Dynamite, Junior Prom, Living it Up, and more. He is considered a pioneer of the West Coast Swing.

-A scene featuring the Jitterbug, a variation of swing, was cut from the Wizard of Oz. It evidently took five weeks to rehearse and record and cost $80,000 to produce start to finish.  The scene included blue and pink Jitterbugs that bit people and caused them to dance. It was too upbeat, perhaps, for other, darker themes of the movie and was cut when the movie needed to be shortened.

-Swing Jazz music is also known as the Big Band sound. This type of music was characterized by strong rhythms and “call and response” trends between sections of the band. Swing music was dubbed with its name after Duke Ellington’s record, “It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing” became a hit. During its peak prior to World War II, Swing Jazz was the most universal and widespread genre of music in the United States. 

-West Coast Swing is one of few dances that highlight improvisation.  This variation of Swing, distinguished by its “elastic” moves, is also known as "Western Swing" and “California Swing”. California designated as the style as the Official State Dance of California in 1988.

Here at Dance FX Studios, located in the Phoenix metro area, we offer social ballroom dance lessons, including all of the Swing types discussed above! With our unique teaching style and outstandinginstructors, you can learn a variety of dances you might be interested in, whether it is the passionate Salsa, the fun Country Two Step, or multifacted Swing Dancing. We have great Holiday Savings right now and our $40 Introductory dance lesson offer will not only get you hooked; it comes at a bargain, too!

Kick Up Your Heels This Holiday Season!

It does not seem possible that the holidays are now upon us! Many of us are looking forward to going to holiday parties with family, friends, and coworkers. How festive! Now we know that with parties comes music and with music, dancing. What is a party, after all, without music and dancing?  This may be the ideal time to do something you have been meaning to do for a while- learn to dance! Learning social dances like the Country Two Step, Swing or Salsa is not only good for parties, but for other events as well, such as going out to clubs or weddings.

This time of year gets pretty hectic with holiday planning, shopping, card writing, cooking, etc. So, why not take some time out of your busy schedule to relax and have fun? At Dance FX Studios, part of the East Valley region in Mesa, Arizona, we would love to help you become a competent and confident social ballroom dancer, whether it’s learning sassy Salsa, the steamy Argentine Tango, or the swinging Jitterbug. The best way to get started is with our Introductory Offer, a one hour private lesson for only $40 (per couple or single). Wow- such a deal! This is a great way to sample a few dances at one time, in case you can’t decide which type you like best or if you just aren’t sure where to start.

If you are tired of not being able to kick up your heels, this is a good opportunity to do something about it. And the sooner you get going, the better! Dance FX Studios is offering some excellent deals on private dance lessons through the holidays, so now is the time to not only begin learning to dance, but to continue on with lessons at a terrific savings- very important at this time of year!

During the holidays it can get a little stressful trying to get everything done, so why not give yourself a break and take the time to do something to help relieve some of that tension? You certainly deserve it! Dancing is a perfect way to leave all your worries at the door and just focus on enjoying the moment. When you are concentrating on dancing, there just is no room for stressing out, so why not do something that is so beneficial for you?

The great thing about learning to social dance is that no matter the occasion, rather than watching everyone else having fun dancing, you’ll be prepared to grab a partner and glide your way across the dance floor. You will now have the confidence and skills to be a participant rather than just a spectator. Let’s be honest, isn’t that something you have dreamed of doing? Let Dance FX Studios help you on your way to realizing your dream and have a fabulous time while doing so!

You may be thinking-“How in the world am I going to find the time during the holidays to learn to dance?” That is a fair question, but like anything in your life, sometimes we just have to make the time to do something that really is good for us, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally, as well. Dancing is one of the few activities that can do this for you and with your busy schedule and taking care of others throughout the year, aren’t you entitled to do this for yourself?

So, don’t hesitate! Enhance your holidays learning to dance and give Dance FX Studios, close to Chandler and Tempe, AZ a call at 480.968.6177 to schedule your first social dance lesson. Happy Holidays!

Lift Your Spirits With Dance This Season!

In light of the upcoming holidays, let us share with you how to combat the seasonal stress with dance lessons in fun dances like Salsa, Swing, Country Two Step and more! Traveling, shopping, budgeting, cooking, and preparing for holiday festivities can bring a long list of tasks and frustrations that encroach on your holiday cheer.  Oh what fun it would be to not to focus on the negative during this happy time of year and dance your way through the holidays! Social ballroom dancing is good for your health, mental well-being and stress maintenance during the not-so-fun aspects of the holidays. 

Did you know that stress, if left unchecked, can cause chemical imbalances in your body? This can lead to serious illness by weakening your immune system. The improved muscle and heart function and increased oxygen levels in your body that come with dancing can atone for these negative effects of stress. Irritability, poor memory, aches and pains, sickness, and sleeping and eating more than usual are just a few symptoms of stress that goes unchecked. (Yes, there is a reason for your bah-humbug attitude!)  Managing your stress is so important for your health, during the holidays and throughout the rest of the year. Dance FX Studios, one of the most established social ballroom dance studios in Arizona can help you combat stress all year round. With our great deals on private dance lessons and our Black Friday offers, the holidays are an even better time to get moving! If you live near Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, or Queen Creek, we are THE place for you to learn to dance.

Dance, whether it is the Country Two Step, the saucy Argentine Tango, or the passionate Bachata, is an excellent form of stress relief for many reasons. It provides an enjoyable level of healthy stimulation that improves your overall well-being both physically and mentally. Physically, dance is a great form of exercise. It helps muscle coordination and reduces the tension in muscles and glands that our bodies hold onto when we get stressed.  Dancing also requires you to think about multiple parts of your body and how certain movements and parts of your body feel. This can help you become more in tune with your body physically and become appreciative and aware of what is going on with yourself. Stress can attack your body in various ways, so when you are in tune with yourself, you are better at knowing when you are stressed and what you need to do (or not do) to relax. This is especially important during the holidays when it is easy to become overwhelmed and when you otherwise may not know why you are feeling sick, isolating yourself, or acting extra cranky. You can release negative emotions in your private dance lessons and the endorphins we talked about in our blog “Dancing Keeps You Happy During the Holidays…” will recharge your mood.  You will be working off holiday munchies and getting yourself revved up to accomplish what you need to all season long! 

Self-awareness, self-confidence, and self-expression are enhanced through dancing and are all beneficial any time of the year. Mentally, dance spurs the growth of connections in your brain, since it requires you to constantly think about where your body is and where it needs to be. This improves the coordination of your muscles and how well your brain controls and keeps track of the rest of you. Keeping your stress in check is made easier by this self-awareness as well. Dance is also beneficial emotionally in a few ways. When you let yourself loosen up in a lesson at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ, dance can become a great outlet for the various things you may be feeling during the holidays, both positive and negative. Focusing on your lesson, your partner if you bring one, and the music you’re moving to can take your mind off of your growing holiday to-do list and give you the clarity and energy necessary for tackling it all. The more aware of your body and feelings you become, the better equipped you are to know when stress is taking over.

With our current deals on lessons and classes, now is as great a time as ever to get started on those Big Band Swing lessons and Zumba Fitness classes! They also make a great gift for loved ones. We can help you fight off the stresses of the holiday season and maintain your cheer at Dance FX Studios. Don't wait until the New Year to get involved in the fun. You'll be glad you did!

Dancing Keeps You Happy Through The Holidays...

As we have mentioned in previous blogs, social ballroom dancing, including Swing, Salsa and the Country Two Step, is excellent for your health and well-being in so many ways. Namely, it serves as a form of exercise, relieves stress, and strengthens neural connections in the brain. During the holidays (can you believe it's already that time of year again???), exercise and stress relief are vital. Even though the minutes you have to spare seem to get filled with other activities like meal planning and decorating, staying consistent with your dancing will keep you smiling all winter long. Let us help you keep up the holiday cheer this season with Dance FX Studios' holiday dance and fitness specials and Black Friday deals on private dance lessons, Zumba fitness classes and group dance classes for couple. If you live in Arizona, Dance FX Studios is THE place to go to learn to dance, get re-charged, unwind, relax and prepare for those favorite relatives to pay you a visit.

The holidays are meant to be cheerful and festive, but with all of the stress of dealing with dramatic cousins and creepy uncles, spending way too much money on presents and groceries, and keeping up appearances at countless holiday parties, sometimes the joy can be hard to find. Many people find themselves down in the dumps this time of year, whether they have a history of depression or not. Lessons at Dance FX Studios in the Phoenix East Valley of Arizona can help you break the cynical cycle! Dancing the Merengue or Cha Cha or even dramatic Argentine Tango can wipe away that negativity and help keep you on track for a pleasant time with relatives. Let’s also explore how dance lessons assist with exercise, exposure, and expression all year round.

Dancing, as we discussed in “Dancing Through The Holidays…” is a fantastic form of exercise. Exercise is known to help combat depression. This means dancing will help you fight off the holiday blues and help you find some cheer this season! The release of endorphins in your brain is one major benefit of physical activity. When you exercise, endorphins are released by your body and they interact with receptors in your brain. These receptors reduce your perception of pain and trigger a positive feeling in your body. This feeling is very similar to that which morphine creates. Perhaps you have heard of the “runner’s high” that people experience after they run or workout. This “high” that instills a positive, energetic mood is created by the release of endorphins from physical exercise. One unfortunate aspect of depression is low self-esteem. You can improve your self-esteem with regular exercise, and dancing itself will boost your confidence as you learn new skills and can see your new abilities carry over to your social life. Get yourself moving with Swing, Tango, or Country lessons and you can experience the benefits of dance and great physical activity all wrapped into one!

Although our instinct when feeling depressed or grumpy is usually to veg on the couch with the DVR and some snacks, social support is actually very helpful for people with depression, even if it is seasonal. Joining group activities and classes and exposing yourself to positive social settings can be very beneficial during the holiday season when you might feel this way. Dance lessons at Dance FX Studios are a great way to get yourself out of your funk and doing something for yourself, not to mention dancing is very fun! After some lessons, you can take your new array of abilities to social settings and let loose in a new way you weren’t capable of before. You can bring a partner to your dance lessons and share the great experience with them, helping spread holiday cheer and to grow closer with that person. This provides physical activity and emotional comfort for you and your partner if you choose to bring one.   

Zumba fitness classes are also a great way to get involved in a positive group activity that will get you moving through the holidays! Learn fun, easy-to-learn dance routines that will keep off the pounds and get the body begging for more.You will be working out without even knowing it as you dance Salsa, Bachata and even a few Country dance moves in Zumba fitness classes at Dance FX Studios (held 3 times/week).

Not only is exercise a great way to battle depression and the Grinch that threatens our holiday cheer, self-expression is also beneficial. Self-expression has been recommended by professionals to help mild to moderate depression for quite some time. Sometimes depression can steal your sense of creativity and fun, but expressing yourself as a means of fighting depression helps you find that part of you again. You can exercise your imagination through many venues, dancing included! Dancing will help you “vent” creatively, whether you consider yourself an imaginative person or not. Your creative juices will be flowing again and our instructors at Dance FX Studios can help you loosen up and relax while keeping your lessons positive and upbeat, increasing your positive emotions and using your smile muscles.

Whether you are thinking of learning to Two Step or Ballroom dance, getting your groove on with Zumba, Latin or Swing dance classes with our Holiday Specials, Black Friday Deals, and Zumba Memberships, is a wonderful way to breeze through the season with joy. Beat those holiday blues at a bargain with our help at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ. Now it's your turn to pry yourself from the couch, put the peppermint bark away, and come dance with us!

Social Ballroom Dancing for the Real World

Ballroom dance includes a variety of partner dances from the Foxtrot to the Tango, Swing, Cha Cha and more. It  is enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world because of the many benefits that ballroom dancing has to offer including relieving stress and learning a new hobby. Because of its performance and entertainment aspects, ballroom dance is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and television. Many TV shows have caused a wave of popularity to come over the world of dance. Shows like Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, America’s Best Dance Crew, and Dance Academy have exposed the world of dance and its many facets to the world which has sparked interest in prospective dancers, professional or not. Even Friends had an episode where Joey was drawn into ballroom dancing. With all this exposure and growing popularity in watching serious dancers show off their moves, many people of the general public want to join the craze but not to the same extent. This brings up the question: “What is the difference between social ballroom dancing and competitive ballroom dancing?”

To begin, social ballroom dance lessons focus on equipping you with the skills you need to dance in any social situation where dancing occurs. With private social ballroom dance lessons in all of the most useful styles of dance in Arizona like the Country Two Step, Swing and Salsa, you will be prepared for holiday parties, nights out on the town, date nights, weddings and the like. Social dance lessons are a great way to meet new friends, relieve stress and enjoy a fun and exciting new hobby. 

With social dance lessons at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ, we will also teach you cool dance moves, proper dance form and posture, how to connect with your partner on the dance floor, how to lead or follow your partner, how to navigate around a crowded dance floor and so much more! When you join us at Dance FX Studios and invest in yourself with social dance lessons, you will gain much more than just dance skills. You will learn to move with confidence, poise, and good posture. Dancing is a great form of exercise that gives you a workout without even knowing it. Even better, FUN is included in the lessons at no extra charge!

Competitive ballroom dancing is also an option for those who love the idea of taking their dancing to a higher, more serious level. With competitive ballroom dancing lessons, students prepare for competitions where they will be judged on criteria like poise, posture, body alignment and shape, frame, timing, expression, and presentation. Competitive dancers take lessons that are geared toward perfecting specific technique and choreography for upcoming competitions. They fine tune their skills and their bodies to the type of dance they are going to compete in. Competitive ballroom dance studios can be found around Phoenix for those who want to master the art of ballroom dancing.

At Dance FX Studios in the Phoenix East Valley, you will learn technique and follow a syllabi much like a competitive dancer would, but in a more relaxed environment. All of the skills you acquire will apply directly to the “real world” outside of the studio to social settings where you can bond with your partner, unwind from your day and have a great time. 

At Dance FX Studios, we teach social ballroom dancing to people who live all over the Phoenix Valley. We are located in Mesa next to Gilbert, Chandler and Tempe, Arizona for East Valley residents to come and enjoy fun and useful dances. We recommend that beginner dances start with our Introductory private dance lesson for singles or couples for just $40. Private dance lessons will put you on the fast track to becoming a great social dancer.

If you want to dance like a star and apply practical new skills to your social life, check out our lessons at Dance FX Studios today!

Zumba Fitness Toning Classes

As we all know, exercise is a very important part of everyone’s health regime. It relieves stress, controls weight, speeds metabolism, strengthens the immune system, improves mood, combats health conditions and diseases, promotes better sleep, and boosts energy. An impressive list, right? At least 30 minutes of exercise is recommended every day, but sometimes it’s hard to find the motivation to get moving. Whatever the excuse... "Sweating isn’t fun, I have so much to do, I’m tired, There’s not enough hours in the day"; the recommendation is still there and exercise is still great for your well-being. If you haven’t found something to keep you motivated and active, maybe Zumba® fitness classes will get you off the couch! Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona offers Zumba classes three days a week: Mondays and Wednesdays 6-7pm and Saturdays from 10-11 am.

Zumba® is a unique, exciting exercise program that incorporates dance and aerobics. It combines choreography from Latin dances like samba, mambo, cha cha, salsa, merengue, bachata and more-even Country dancing and Swing are incorporated into Zumba classes!  Our high energy instructors at Dance FX Studios are all lively and positive and are sure to get you revved and moving in any of the hour-long classes we offer. The music is pumping and everyone is smiling while the instructor is grooving right along with the “fitness party”.

There are eleven variations of Zumba® and here at Dance FX we offer three of these variations. One of the most popular types of Zumba® is Zumba® Toning. In this type of Zumba® class, there is more focus on strength training exercises within the dances than a normal Zumba class. It’s basically circuit training: a few minutes of cardio followed by a few minutes of strength training, accompanied by more cardio, and so on. This combination creates a higher-calorie-burning exercise than regular Zumba. Maraca-like Toning Sticks are used, which are weighted and used to the beat of the music to enhance rhythm, build strength, and aid in toning the target zones, like arms, abs, and thighs. These tools also help in shaping other muscles throughout the body. Not only will you enjoy your time in the class, you will also love the results! This class is geared towards creating a toned, shaped look of the arms, legs and core. Your posture, balance, coordination, agility, bone density, joint mobility, and more will all improve with Zumba® Toning (and other Zumba® classes too!). Zumba® Toning is an outstanding way to sculpt your body and get an aerobic exercise while having fun and dancing!

If you’re looking for a new exercise routine, a new hobby, or even if you don’t have an exercise regime at all, come to Dance FX Studios in the Phoenix East Valley of AZ and try out Zumba® Fitness! You can join the craze with our great Membership Packages and Newcomer’s Specials. Visit the website for packages and the Zumba® class schedule.

Dancing Through the Holidays...

Though it seems to have crept up on us, the holiday season is upon us!

It is so easy to fall out of regular physical activity routines and put your hobbies on the back burner when the holidays roll around. Family comes to town, gatherings need planning, meals require prepping, and the list of to-dos seems to keep growing and growing. Whatever you do this holiday season, don’t let your dancing fall behind! The holidays can be stressful and dancing can help you stay sane through it all. Not to mention, social ballroom dancing is great exercise, which is much needed to work off that extra comfort food that is such a part of the holidays. No need to feel guilty this year about indulging if you’re keeping up with your dancing! We are always happy to see you here at Dance FX Studios here in the Phoenix East Valley, AZ to help you to keep moving and having fun throughout the winter.

Dancing, from the Country Two Step to the Swing, Tango and Salsa, is an excellent form of exercise. It is a great way to raise your heart rate, work off unwanted body fat, and build lean muscle. Social dancing uses a wide variety of motions to engage multiple muscle groups in an effective, dynamic way. And, since this is also cold and flu season, regular workouts like dancing can even help you ward off sickness! 

Sticking with exercise throughout the holidays is much more likely if the activity is enjoyable, and dances like the Swing and Cha Cha are tons of fun! You are much more likely to get fit and stay fit if you are having a great time while exercising. Dancing burns a significant amount of calories so get moving and breeze through this season in your favorite jeans without fear. :)

The types of dances that will get you the most results this holiday season vary in style from Country to Latin.  Depending on your weight, muscle mass, gender, and intensity, you can burn up to 650 calories in an hour with us at Dance FX Studios. How much effort you are putting into your dancing also affects the amount of energy required. Dancing can actually burn as many, if not more, calories as more traditional forms of exercise like running and lifting weights. It is very easy to “plateau” in a workout routine, but if you switch up the types of dances you learn and learn many styles, you will keep your physical activity fresh! Here’s a list of different dance styles and an estimate of how many calories you can burn while dancing them. We offer all of the following types here at Dance FX Studios, near Tempe and Chandler, AZ!

• Salsa – Roughly 405 to 480 calories are burned in an hour of Salsa dancing.

• Swing – Different moves and styles of Swing dancing can change the intensity of this dance. You can burn between 300 and 550 calories depending on how high impact the style is. Swing dancing can easily expend even more if you perform intensive maneuvers.

• Country Western – Again, energy expended relies upon the speed and difficulty of the movements, but Country dancing typically uses up 290 to 420 calories per lesson.

• Zumba – Zumba is an exceptional way to burn calories, as it is designed to be an exercise class that provides toning as well.  Anywhere from 350 to 650 calories can be burned in a Zumba class!

• Cha Cha – An energetic dance with a steady beat, the Cha Cha can burn from 260 to 530 calories.

• Waltz - As a simple, yet elegant ballroom dance, the Waltz can burn 140 to 275 calories. If a faster paced song is danced to, even more calories can be expended.

• Tango – The Argentine Tango can burn from 150 to over 220 calories per hour!

Whether you taking private dance lessons or Zumba fitness classes at Dance FX Studios, we can help you to keep trim this holiday season. We have great specials during our Holiday Savings Season to give you even more reasons to stay on track! Take advantage of great private dance lesson deals now through December, 2013. If you've never tried Zumba, we also have a new member special so you can give it a test run, or we have great membership deals if you want to continue with your classes. Give us a call at Dance FX Studios and keep moving this holiday season. Do it for you! 

Zumba Fitness Classes-Great Workout, Great Fun!

Being healthy and fit is not just about trying to fit into a smaller pair of jeans. Although this is a great advantage and motivator, being fit is really a lifestyle choice. In today’s society, many people are looking into improving the quality of their life and are taking the necessary steps to achieve this goal. Keeping this in mind, we at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ have the perfect suggestion for getting and staying fit- Zumba® fitness classes with us!

You may be asking- what is Zumba® fitness? Well, Zumba is a dance-fitness workout class that integrates great music, exciting Latin dances such as Salsa, Swing, Cha Cha and Merengue along with exciting, easy-to-learn moves that are all choreographed into easy-to-learn dance routines. Sounds like a lot of fun, doesn’t it? Well it is! In addition to getting into shape, you will also be releasing stress and tension, increasing your cardio and improving your muscle tone. Because of the enjoyment, versatility and fun of Zumba, instead of dreading going to class, you actually look forward to it! 

At Dance FX Studios, the leading social ballroom dance studio in the Phoenix East Valley area, in addition to our private dance lessons, we offer Zumba fitness three times a week. A great advantage of taking Zumba at Dance FX Studios is our sprung wood floors. It’s incredible how sprung floors can really affect your workout since they absorb shock and reduce the impact on your body. You will really feel the difference and your body will be most thankful.

Kicking the week off, Frankie Valenzuela teaches our Monday night Zumba class from 6-7pm. Frankie has been teaching Zumba® fitness at Dance FX Studios for years and he packs the room every week. His personality, energy, and love of teaching Zumba spills over into his sessions and his students just love him! In addition to Frankie’s regular Zumba, he also teaches Zumba Sentao on the second Monday of each week. Zumba Sentao is a Zumba variation using a chair that focuses on using body weight to strengthen and tone the body. So, whichever style of Zumba you choose will definitely be fun and beneficial. Come and check it out!

Dance FX Studios also offers Zumba fitness classes on Wednesdays  from 6-7pm with Kisha Klein. Kisha has also been teaching Zumba at Dance FX Studios for a while. Her sessions are empowering and butt-kicking!  In addition to the dance moves, she integrates a lot of fitness/bootcamp moves into her choreography. Kisha’s students love her style as she has a very dedicated following. On the last Wednesday of each month, Kisha instructs Zumba Toning. Zumba Toning focuses on the abs, thighs, arms, and other muscles, while also adding body sculpting and cardio, using toning sticks. If you’re looking for a high energy, versatile workout, this is the one for you!

Lastly, we offer Zumba fitness classes on Saturday mornings, from 10-11am. Maggie Colecchia leads Zumba Toning each week. She has been teaching Zumba at Dance FX Studios for the past year. Maggie discovered Zumba years ago when she herself needed to lose weight and get healthier.  Not only did she change her diet, but she was so inspired by Zumba, that it motivated her to stick to her lifestyle change and she has since kept the weight off for years.  Maggie‘s story is great encouragement to those who are looking to get in shape.  She loves helping others to achieve their fitness goals by approaching each class with enthusiasm.

Whatever your reason for coming to Zumba fitness at Dance FX Studios, you will find each class therapeutic for the mind, body and soul.  Dance FX Studios, near Tempe, Gilbert, and Chandler, Arizona welcomes everyone to come try Zumba out. Who knows, you may also become a Zumba® fitness enthusiast and find you just can’t live without it!