Why Dancing is for ALL Ages!

Did everyone have a wonderful and safe Memorial Day weekend? What a great time to relax, enjoy family and friends, and have fun!

And speaking of having fun, when is the last time you danced? As we discuss often in our blog "All About Ballroom Dancing in Phoenix, AZ", dancing is so beneficial to every person in so many ways.

Today, though, we’re going to reach out to the 50+ age group with some exciting tips that may motivate you, your partner, and your friends to get on out on the dance floor for some social dancing. If you’re under 50, you can pass this cool information on to your parents, aunts, uncles, or grandparents- you’ll be glad you did.

Whether you are learning to swing, salsa, or Country two-step, dancing can be magical and transforming. It can rejuvenate a tired soul; compel your spirit to soar; release locked-away creativity; unify generations and cultures; inspire new romances or rekindle old ones; generate long-forgotten memories; and convert sadness into joy.

Dancing is also an amazing way to achieve an awesome mind-body workout. In fact, researchers are learning that regular physical activity can help keep your body and brain healthy as you age. Since dancing requires you to remember dance steps and sequences, it actually advances brain power by helping to improve memory skills.  So, if you’re frustrated because you seem to be forgetting things more often than usual, grab a friend, and go take a few salsa or swing dance lessons!

There is even more promising research regarding the benefits of ballroom dancing. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that social dancing at least twice a week made people less inclined to develop dementia. Research also has shown that some people with Alzheimer's disease are able to recall forgotten memories when they dance to music they used to know. Isn’t it wonderful when you hear music you haven’t heard for a while and it takes you right back to a moment in your life when it meant so much to you and probably still does? It makes you want to get up and dance!

Social dancing can also strengthen bones and muscles without hurting your joints. How great that is for those with joint issues? And when you are smart about this, not overdoing and listening to your body, it really does make a difference.  Did you know that dancing aids in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, which prevents calcium from being absorbed into the bones? How cool is that? Dancing also keeps the joints lubricated, which helps prevent arthritis. Just think, as you are dancing the night away, you are actually helping your body to grow stronger.

Getting out on the dance floor can tone your entire body without you even realizing that you are getting a workout. This is definitely one of life’s “yippee” moments! Maybe next time you try to slip on those jeans that have been getting a little hard to get into will be a breeze after a few months of Country two step or salsa dancing. It's also great to know that dancing improves your posture and balance, so any falling incidents will be less likely to occur. 

Social dancing will increase your stamina and flexibility- who wouldn’t appreciate that? Dancing regularly can reduce stress and tension, something we can all use in these times. It will build your confidence, enabling you to feel good about yourself. When you have that confidence, you project that out and can do almost anything. 

Dancing also provides opportunities to meet people. New friends help you to grow, make you laugh, and support you as you learn. And, as if all of this wasn’t enough, social dancing can also ward off illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, osteoporosis, and depression. 

Wow- Who would have thought that in addition to having fun, dancing could be so beneficial in such a variety of ways? So, if you’re tired of the gym and treadmill and  you are looking for a fun way to stay fit and healthy, it might be time to kick up your heels!

Are you ready to get dancing but not sure where to go to learn? Do you live in Phoenix, Arizona? Then head over to Dance FX Studios, in Mesa, AZ! Dance FX Studios has been leading the pack among local dance studios. From creating the first purely social dancing studio for adults to creating customized social dance programs to offering private lessons, progressive group classes, dance parties with live bands and Zumba® Fitness classes, they have become trend-setters. Come check us out for yourself to see how the benefits of dancing can be yours with our introductory offer. You'll be so happy that you did!

Happy Dancing!

Dance To Live Country Music in Mesa, AZ

Head on over to Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona for a County dance that you won't want to miss! If you love to dance the two step, swing or cha cha, or if you have always wanted to learn how to dance, this party will keep you smiling from ear to ear. Why hit the clubs when you can meet new friends, and dancers, right here at Dance FX Studios? Dancing is a fun, healthy and exciting social activity so forget bellying up to the bar and join us on the dance floor for a night of FUN!  Mark your calendars for Saturday, July 13th from 8-11 pm to partake in the good times.

Here are the details of the evening...

Live Music by Two-bit Shotgun: Dance the night away to live music by popular Country cover band Two-bit Shotgun! This band brings down the house each time they play at one of Dance FX Studios dance parties. With Two-bit Shotgun playing, you can expect to dance to both awesome oldies and new pop tunes. They are a versatile and talented band that will keep you on the dance floor all night long.

Two-bit Shotgun plays in many local Country venues around the Phoenix valley, but none as good as ours for Country dancing. Dance FX Studios has sprung maplewood flooring to cushion your joints as you "get down" on the dance floor. Dancing on a sprung dance floor, versus a cement or tile one, will keep your back and knees in good shape and have your body thanking you for it later. Let loose, be safe and have a blast dancing to Two-bit Shotgun!

A FREE Country Two Step Dance Class: For those non-dancers who are sick of sitting on the sidelines, kick off the evening with a Country two step class for beginners with us at Dance FX Studios. We will show you how FUN and EASY it is to Country dance! In our beginners two step class, we will show you how to navigate around a crowded dance floor- a very important tool for becoming a confident dancer! You will also learn a few turns to practice throughout the night. Dancers of all levels can gain useful tips in our complimentary class so come on time as we will begin the lesson at the beginning of the party.

Our two step class for beginners is a great way to meet new dance buddies and to begin a hobby that can open up so many doors for you. Whether you are looking to gain more social confidence or shed a few unwanted pounds before summertime, dancing is the key. Get a workout without realizing it and expand your circle of friends with dance classes! **Private Country dance lessons are also available at Dance FX Studios by appointment. **

Treats and Refreshments: Burn off a few calories on the dance floor and then enjoy some delicious goodies! Refreshments will also be provided.

Dance FX Studios hosts dance swing, Country, Tango and Latin dance parties with live music throughout the year! We are located on the south east corner of Dobson and Guadalupe Roads in Mesa, Arizona near Tempe, Chandler, Scottsdale and Gilbert, AZ. Our dancing events are open to the public for dancers and non-dancers alike.

Cover charge for this event is $15 per person. For $5 off, use promo code: "TWOSTEP!" when you purchase advanced tickets online. Otherwise, tickets are $20 at the door. RSVP now to attend our Country dance party with Two-bit Shotgun on Saturday, July 13th. It will be a great time for all!

Swing Dance Party at Dance FX Studios!

Do you live in the Phoenix East Valley? Do you love to go Country dancing or swing dancing? If you enjoy dancing as much as we do, then we have a few upcoming events that you won't want to miss! Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona is all about teaching the "non-dancer" to gain confidence on the social dance floor. Through private dance lessons, group classes, in-house dance parties and Night's Out, you can be one of those great dancers! Since all of our events are open to the pubic to Arizona residents, there's no excuse to join us in the next few weeks for our exciting dance parties. :) Below is information on our next event, Dance FX Studios' Swing Dance Party With Come Back Buddy. All other upcoming dancing functions can be found on our website or in future blogs.

Dance Party with Live Music: Join us on Saturday, June 8th for dancing to live music by Come Back Buddy, Arizona's premiere oldies and rock and roll band!   If you are looking for a fun date night, night out with friends or an opportunity to meet new people, our dance party with live music is THE place for you!

Come Back Buddy has played at Dance FX Studios several times over the years and they never disappoint. With great live music at our disposal, we will dance the night away! To get the party started,  a Dance FX Studios' instructor will be teaching a complimentary swing dance class for beginners. If you have never danced the swing before, you can now get out on the dance floor and learn some basic steps to keep you moving throughout the evening. Novice dancers are always welcomed and encouraged to attend our dance parties often so don't hesitate to join in the fun even though you don't know how to dance...yet. :)

Our dance party with Come Back Buddy will give new dancers inspiration to learn to dance and seasoned dancers a great space to enjoy. Dance FX Studios' dance floor is known to be one of the best in Phoenix. Dancers from the Argentine tango, Country, Swing and Latin communities flock to our events a great dancing experience. "Get your groove on" on our maplewood sprung dance floor that provides fantastic cushioning for the joints.

Finally, save a little room for after dinner treats at our dance party. Refreshments and desserts will be provided if you get the munchies in between dances.

Our dance party with Come back Buddy is on Saturday, June 8th from 8-11 pm. Ages 18+ are welcome to come join in the fun! Cover charge for this event is $15 per person in advance online or $20 at the door. Or....save 5 bucks with the promo code SWING! . When you go online to purchase your ticket, be sure to enter the promo code and you will automatically receive $5 off. (Each person's ticket must be purchased separately to receive this discount.) A FREE swing dance class, treats and refreshments, and dancing to live oldies music by Come Back Buddy are included in your cover charge.  Dance FX Studios' instructors will also be present to ask questions to and to dance with all night long. :)

If you have yet to visit Dance FX Studios, we are located on the South East corner of Dobson and Guadalupe, behind Serrano's Mexican Restaurant in the Mesa Pavillions shopping center. We are just minutes from both the 60 and the 101 highways in Mesa and bordering Tempe and Chandler, AZ. Dance FX Studios has been in the East Valley of Phoenix for 12 years. To read more about what we offer and how we can create a comfortable social dancer out of anyone, check out our website, or visit us on Saturday, June 8th at our dance party!

Let's Get Physical and Dance!

Dance! Dance! Dance! :) As most of us know by now, social dancing is beneficial in so many ways to our health and well-being. Dancing is so beneficial, in fact, that we feel EVERYONE should partake in this wonderful and satisfying hobby! Let's explore how and why the physical benefits of dancing is so advantageous for YOU. These benefits include fitness, coordination, cardiovascular conditioning, flexibility, and strength.

Fitness: Dance is a total-body workout that has all the benefits of a long run or a session on the elliptical (and then some).  In a one-hour salsa or swing dance class, for example, you can burn as many as 400 calories. Do that 3 times a week and you could drop nearly 20 pounds in a year without even dieting. You will also tone nearly every muscle in your body, improve your balance, and boost your brainpower!

Have you ever wanted to learn to Latin dance?  Quick, sharp steps, lots of hip action, and a fiery attitude set Latin dances like salsa, merengue, bachata and cha-cha apart from the rest.  These Latin dances work your front and side abs, as well as your back. Abs—from transverse to obliques—and the muscles that support your spine also get a 360-degree workout from the twisting, pulling, and constant back-and-forth movement that you will do in Latin dancing.  A stronger core through dancing improves posture and helps prevent lower-back pain.  Most Latin dances are set to a fast beat (160 to 210 beats per minute) ensuring a higher-than-average calorie burn.

Coordination: Learning to dance can also help improve your coordination skills. For those who are lacking in this department, the benefits of dance exercise, like Zumba fitness classes, might be helpful. Learning routines that you can do again and again will not only assist with balance and coordination, but can also help improve memory. Now you have yourself an all-encompassing workout for your heart, your muscles and your brain!

Cardiovascular Conditioning: As with any aerobic activity, you can obtain excellent cardiovascular conditioning benefits from dances like the swing, cha cha and even the Argentine tango. The movements and control used in partner dancing will not only raise your heart rate, but the combination of the moves with exciting, heart-pumping rhythms, is even more effective. You can condition your heart while you are dancing and enjoying yourself!

  

Flexibility: Dancing is an excellent activity for improving your flexibility. Don't be discouraged by the thought of limber ballerinas doing split leaps. Nobody expects you to bend and move like a dancer when you first begin. Stick with it, however, and you'll find that stretches you once couldn't do will give way to flexibility. Body posture and your overall gait will be improved as your flexibility and strength grows through dancing. 

Strength: Strength is the ability of a muscle to exert a force against resistance. Dancing builds strength by forcing the muscles to resist against a dancer's own body weight. Ballroom dancing builds strength. It involves the use of quick turns, spinning and strutting. These force-intensive actions require strength from your leg muscles so your leg muscles are built up more and more just by doing the regular dance moves.

Would you like to gain these physical benefits and learn to dance? A partner or experience is not required to join in on the fun right here at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona in the East Valley of Phoenix. Dance FX Studios offers both private and group dance lessons in all of the most exciting and popular social dances like Country two step, salsa, swing and Argentine tango as well as Zumba fitness classes! We are open for lessons Monday through Friday, from 12:00-8:00 pm and Saturdays, from 11:00 am-4:00 pm. Check out our website or give us a call at 480.968.6177 for additional information about getting started on your journey to getting physically fit through dancing!

Follow Your Instincts and Dance!

Ever wonder why the moment you hear, say, the latest big hit, you suddenly start tapping your feet or otherwise moving to the beat? Does salsa dance music make you want to get up and shake your hips? Have you ever wanted to slink across the floor in the Argentine tango? Dancing a natural and spontaneous response. In fact, our bodies are wired to sync up our own movements to music. We were meant to dance!  Dancing is a universal phenomenon-even birds and bees dance to communicate amongst each other.

The rhythm response to dancing actually begins in your brain, where musical vibrations intensify timing circuits that prompt you to instinctively move to the music. These same circuits are intertwined with your brain's communication and memory systems. This is why certain songs can trigger emotional reactions. Have you ever found yourself crying to a particular tune?  You may begin singing, swaying and tearing up to a song despite yourself thanks to our the wiring of our brains. While it is a fact that emotion stimulates the body into movement, civilization and conditioning have taught people to suppress this natural response, but the primitive desire is there all the same.

It has been said the dancing is older than anything except eating, drinking, and love, and that rhythm is life… and rhythm is the basis of dancing. The desire to dance is one of the most primitive instincts of mankind. Primitive cultures used rhythmic movements to express themselves and say what they needed to say. In the days when speech had hardy been born, primitive people expressed their emotions by movements. They danced a kind of mime- acting out of their deepest wishes and desires. As time went on, language was developed and the immediate need for mime and gesture no longer existed. However,  the expressive movements of early humans continued. They were adapted as part of the customs of the tribe and, although their origins were not forgotten, they lived on and became the foundation of folk dances.

But while it's true that everyone "feels" the music in this way, it's also true that some people's mind-beat connection is a little stronger. Do you know those dance-loving friends who seem as if they were born to boogie? Well, they may well have been! Experts believe that genetics play a role in complex behavioral traits, however, environmental factors also have an impact. For example, if you haven't had much opportunity to dance throughout your life at parties and such, you may never know that you have a natural talent for it. While it is a fact that emotion stimulates the body into movement, civilization and conditioning have taught people to suppress this natural response, but the primitive desire is there all the same.

The good news... you don't have to have moves like one of the contestants from “Dancing with the Stars” to reap any of dancing's health-enhancing benefits. The brain rewires itself based on use. Therefore, the more time you spend on the dance floor, the more you train your brain to open those feel-good floodgates! And, thanks to all of the mental and health benefits of dancing, the more you dance, the more you will start to increase your overall sense of well-being.

Ballroom dancing is one of the most popular leisure activities in the world. It has universal appeal as dancing is both tremendously enjoyable and a great social asset. Social ballroom dancing is a fun and easy activity suited for all ages. Beginners’ dance steps can be learned quickly and can be applied to all dance floors after a few dance lessons.  If taken seriously, ballroom dancing is a challenging competitive sport. Few people are “natural” dancers, but with a little instruction everyone can dance well enough in any ballroom and enjoy all that dancing has to offer.

Couple's dancing emerged in the 15th century Europe as an adaptation of folk dancing. It was refined by the dancing masters of the time and has continued to evolve into the ballroom dances that we use today, including the foxtrot and waltz. These new dances, fun and lively in character, developed first as a social diversion among the aristocracy of France and Italy and then expanded to every royal court on the continent. The Minuet, the most stately of all court dances, originally came from the peasants of Poitou and the Gavotte from the people of Provence, both in France. The Waltz is from the Landler of folk songs from Southern Germany and the Polka from Bohemia.

During the past few years there has been an explosive growth in the interest in ballroom dancing. All age groups and the social levels are involved. As well, the image of ballroom dancers has changed. Instead of couples, formally dressed in white tie, tails and gowns, dancing in fancy ballrooms, we now see hundreds of informally dressed couples having fun in social dance studios, community centers and similar locations.

 You too can get involved in becoming a confident social dancer with dance lessons from us at Dance FX Studios. Dance FX Studios is in Mesa, Arizona in the East Valley of Phoenix. We offer dance lessons to adults, couples and singles, who are interested in Latin, Country, Swing and Argentine tango dancing. Give our introductory offer a try to see how much fun it is to learn to dance!

Dancing is in our souls and is so great for people of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures. So, put on your dancing shoes, grab a partner, or go it alone! You’ll be glad you decided to listen to your instincts.

Finding the Right Dance Studio for Wedding Dance Lessons

Your big day is just 6 months away and you have yet to begin working on your first dance. Don't fear...you will be great, but don't wait any longer, now is the time to get started with wedding dance lessons. "Which of the many ballroom dance studios in Arizona should we try?", you may be wondering.  If you live in Phoenix, Arizona, let us recommend Dance FX Studios in Mesa the East valley. Why do we suggest Dance FX Studios for as THE place to learn to dance for your wedding? Let us highlight our top 3 reasons...

• The dance instructors at Dance FX Studios have been choreographing first dances for brides and grooms all over Arizona, from Flagstaff to Sedona and Tucson to Queen Creek for over a decade. As a staple in the Phoenix community, we have literally helped thousands of wedding couples to shine on the dance floor on their big day. We will give you a fail-proof, one-of-a-kind dance routine that will leave a lasting impression on your family and friends. 

• We at Dance FX Studios believe that partner dancing should be something that is used more often than on your honeymoon and at holiday parties. With any of the first dances that you will learn at Dance FX Studios that may include salsa, swing, Argentine tango or even Country two step, you will be walking (dancing) away with a new style that you can use anywhere. Why learn a dance that can only be used once in your lifetime? We will how you how fun and easy it is to take bits and pieces of your wedding choreography and apply your dance steps to any social dance floor. You can use the slow, romantic bolero, for example, at other people's weddings or even at your own reception, when the music quiets down. Many other ballroom dance studios in Phoenix will simply offer you a hodge podge of steps that you will never be able to use again in a real-world dancing situation.

• Every first dance created at Dance FX Studios is personalized for our brides and grooms from their vision for their wedding day dance to, most importantly, their personalities.We know that no two wedding couple is alike and, while we may have choreographed twenty other first dances to that same "At Last" song by Etta James, your first dance to the very same song will be conceived just for you. On your wedding dance consultation, we will take the time to get to know you so that we can truly represent who you are as a couple and reveal that on the dance floor. Some of our more conservative couples over the years have preferred to do a traditional foxtrot to add elegance to their wedding reception, while others have chosen to do a swing dance routine to kick off their party with sassy and fun choreographed first dance. Our favorite first dances over the years have been why a normally shy wedding couple wants to completely throw off their guests with an out-of-the-box wedding routine. They opt for something that no one would expect, but that we know everyone will enjoy. This type of "surprise" first dance is our favorite! We enjoy putting anything together that we know will make our brides and grooms not only comfortable, but ultimately proud and excited (rather than nervous and afraid) to get out on the dance floor in front of their guests. We all know how intimidating learning to dance can be, so why not find a place that makes learning to dance fun, easy and stress-free?!

To get started with your first dance at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ, give us a call to set up a wedding dance consultation at 480.968.6177. For just $20, you and your fiance will have a chance to share your ideas, music, dance floor layout and other useful information with your first dance consultant to get exactly what you were hoping for on your wedding day. We will also have a chance to take you out on the dance floor to begin exploring the fun of partner dancing! Your hour-long wedding dance consultation will end with a plan that is customized on the spot for you so that you know exactly what you will need to get to your first dance accomplished.

Wedding dance consultations are scheduled Monday through Friday from noon to 8 pm and on Saturdays from 11 am to 4 pm by appointment. We ask that you bring in several song selections and peruse some of our other blogs on first dances so that you can best be prepared for your consultation.

Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona is convenient for those who live in Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek and Scottsdale.  We are just off the 101 highway and one exit away from the 60 highway. Whether we are near or far, the drive will be worth it for the perfect, customized first dance that we will create just for you!