Learn to Dance Salsa, Swing, Two Step and More in Private or Group Dance Classes

So, you’ve been thinking about learning to dance. You keep meaning to get around to it, but haven’t made the commitment. You’re tired of going out to the clubs or attending a special event where everyone is out on the dance floor having a great time, while you sit on the sidelines. What’s available out there? Do you take private lessons or join a group class? How do you get started?

Well, today we’re going to shed a little light on this subject. Becoming skilled at social dancing like salsa, swing or Country two step is like a journey, you have a beginning place to start and you look ahead towards your destination. If your “destination” is to look good on the dance floor anywhere for any occasion, private dance lessons are your best bet. One-on-one instruction is the quickest way to become an accomplished social dancer. Each private dance lesson is tailored to your style and ability to enable you to reach your dance goals in the shortest amount of time. Private lessons allow us to go deeper into the material, giving you all the tools you need to become a successful dancer.

Private dance lessons can actually save you money. Although you invest more up front, in the long run private lessons are the key to retaining the skills you’re developing. Learning to dance is similar to learning to speak a foreign language. If you want to converse in French and went to class only once a week, it would take much longer for you to become fluent in the language. The same is true for dancing. Your muscles and your mind will retain the information much better when your lessons are kept close together. Remember, this is a journey, so enjoy the ride!

Individual lessons are also a great way to connect with your dance partner. As you spend time dancing together in private lessons, your relationship will begin to progress on a much deeper level. Social dancing is a perfect way to intimately bond with your special someone as you embrace each other while moving to the music together. Dancing is the single most romantic way to enhance your partnership as it brings you together in mind, body and spirit. Who wouldn’t want to add more romance to their relationship?

What if you don’t have a partner? No worries. With one-on-one private lessons, you will dance directly with your instructor and the focus will be just on you. This will allow you to develop your skills a little quicker, since it’s all about you, and in no time he/she will turn you into a skillful dancer, build up your confidence, and prepare you to have a great connection with anyone. So, the next time you’re out at a club or any event, you’ll be the one out on the dance floor kicking up your heels!

OK, so what about a group dance class? Group classes are an excellent way to meet new people, explore new dance styles, and have a great time at a lower rate. And, since the classes are held just once a week, it’s an ideal way to fit dancing into your busy life. Group classes are also useful as supplements to private dance lessons. They allow you to apply what you’ve learned in your private sessions to an environment where you need to dance among other people, similar to going to a club or special event. After all, the majority of the time you go dancing does involve other dancers, so why not acquire those skills in a group class before you try it out at a venue.

Group dance classes are also progressive, so each class will build off of the previous week’s class, allowing you to become more a confident and comfortable social dancer with the specific dance you’re being taught from week to week. For some, focusing on a specific dance just once a week within a group may be better suited to their needs. Maybe you just want to try salsa or the Argentine tango or maybe you’d also like to attempt country and swing, but want to take each class one at a time- no problem. You can do that with group classes and they can be used as a way to learn at a low monthly cost. So, no matter how busy your life becomes, there is always time to devote an hour a week to get closer to your ultimate goal of becoming a fabulous dancer.

Private dance lessons are available by appointment Monday-Friday, from 12:00 to 8:00 and Saturdays, 11:00-4:00. With our easy-to-understand concepts and teaching techniques, you will soon discover how simple it is to learn multiple dances at the same time. Rather than waiting a week between group classes, you can come in several times a week to strengthen your steps and techniques.

Group classes are 4-week sessions that begin near the beginning of each month and include Latin, swing, Argentine tango, and Country two step and Country Swing. The classes meet throughout the week, Monday-Thursday, at 6:00 and 7:00 pm. Our summer classes are scheduled a little different and are broken out into either singles or couples classes in country and Latin. They are being held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, also at 6:00 and 7:00 pm. Please check out our group class schedule for more details.

Are you ready to get started? Dance FX Studios is the perfect place to go to begin your journey of dancing. We are conveniently located at 1859 W. Guadalupe Rd, in Mesa, AZ, just minutes away from Phoenix, Scottsdale, Chandler, Tempe, and Gilbert. Give us a call at the studio, 480.968.6177, to schedule a private dance lesson or to enroll in one of our group dance classes. You’ll soon be on your way to becoming an awesome dancer!

Building Teamwork Through Group Classes

Looking for something to do this summer to help your staff or co-workers get along better? Is your team no longer motivated? Do you have trouble communicating with each other at work?

How about trying something new, exciting and entertaining? Instead of the usual team building activities, how about taking the whole crew out to learn to dance?  Staff members will learn to work together as a unit and depend on each other while also learning to salsa, swing or even Country two step! Dancing is a great bonding experience and helps to strengthen work relationships and create a team environment.

Social dancing has so much to offer any individual. To start with, it’s physically quite beneficial.  If you and your colleagues spend most of the day without much activity-maybe sitting behind a desk staring at a computer screen- dance lessons be great to get up and start moving! Instead of each person heading to the gym, jogging or playing golf, dancing is a nice change of pace that your group at work can do together. It’s something fun and different from the usual work-out routines or happy hour getaways. Whether some of your associates need to lose some weight, get in shape or for those who want to keep in shape, dance classes are a great way to do it!

After a long day or week at work, people can start getting stressed out and that’s not good for anyone or for business. They start getting impatient, losing their temper, and becomes less productive. Dancing is an excellent way to de-stress and get the team back on track. It takes your mind off of your worries and allows you to just live in the moment and not think about the million things you need to do. Let yourself go and pick up a new hobby like the sexy Argentine tango graceful waltz and you will soon start to feel the pressures melt away.

Another benefit of dancing together is making a connection with your co-workers. At work it can sometimes be difficult to actually get to know the people you work with, beyond a business perspective. Social dancing helps you to really bond and add a new dimension to your professional relationships. Getting closer with teammates can lead to better understanding, mutual respect, and trust. When you have a group of people getting to know each other and having a good time together outside of the office, this can make a very positive impact in your work environment. Your personnel will now be talking about dancing and their lessons together, rather than complaining and gossiping about each other. When employees are happy and active, they tend to be more productive, which is a win-win situation for everyone!

Learning to dance is so fun and easy- anyone can do it. Even those who think they have two left feet will be surprised with how enjoyable and effortless dancing can be. It can boost your confidence and self-esteem which helps you to have a more positive outlook. When you have a positive outlook, everything in your life improves and this is definitely contagious. Suddenly all of those around you become more optimistic as well. Think about it- when you are happy, you project that out, you smile, and you greet everyone with “Good Morning”, “How are you?” etc. Watch their reaction, they are now smiling too and will most likely pass that on to the next person in the office. You have now started a chain reaction of positivity- what a great feeling!

Are you ready to take that first step, literally?  Great- now where do you go to begin? Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ can definitely help to bring your employees together. We offer dance lessons that are perfect for your needs of building that perfect team. Create your own group classes at a day and time that fits your company's schedule and we will do our best to make it happen . Group dance classes are ideal for four or more people.  Is there a specific type of dance your group would like to learn? Do you want to learn just one dance or a couple of dances? You decide, just let us know. So, whether it’s Swing, Latin, or Country, we can help. Maybe the Argentine Tango is something they all want to try, great- we can do that with a customized "Create-A-Class". You may find that some of the staff decides to branch off and start taking private lessons on their own to continue what they’ve learned, improve, or maybe try another style of dance. Once you get started, it’s hard to stop and why should you?

And, keep in mind, our Create-A-Class option is great for outside the office as well. Whether it’s a group of friends that want to get together for a night out doing something out of the ordinary, a family that wants to get closer, a wedding party that wants to rock their socks off at the wedding, or maybe a few couples that want a romantic date night- we’ve got it covered.

Dance FX Studios is centrally located in the Phoenix East Valley and is open for private and group dance lessons for adults Monday-Friday, from noon-8 pm and on Saturdays, from 11 am – 4 pm. Check out our website or give us a call at 480.968.6177 when you’re ready to get started strengthening your team. You’ll be so glad you decided to finally take that step to learn something new and exciting!

Join Us for an Evening of Country Dancing This Wednesday!

What are you doing this Wednesday evening? Do you have plans to go to a movie or hang out with a friend? Would you like to try something FUN and exciting as an alternative to the same old, same old? Then come out Country dancing with us at Dance FX Studios this Wednesday, June 19th, 2013! If you live in the Phoenix East Valley and have always wanted to learn to Country Two Step or Country Swing dance, this could be the perfect chance for you to get started! This Wednesday evening, we are heading over to Cactus Moon in Mesa, Arizona for another night of Country dancing with new friends and current students. That's right, you do not have to ever have danced before to participate in our events! Dance FX Studios hosts "Night's Out" around Phoenix monthly for all levels of Country (and Latin) dancers from beginners to advanced.

We will kick off our Country Night Out around 8 pm at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ for a Country two step dance class. The class, which is around 40 minutes in length, will include some helpful tips from one of Dance FX Studios' accredited instructors as to how to navigate around crowded dance floors in the "real world". We will also be showing you how to lead and follow anyone as well as some cool moves that will keep you on the dance floor all night long. Beginner dancers, do not fret, we will give you the basics to help you succeed on the dance floor. Feel free to grab one of the Dance FX Studios' instructors if you need a couple of other tips to help you feel more comfortable-that's what we are here for!

By 9 pm, everyone will meet over at Cactus Moon to dance. Upon arrival, you will receive a drink ticket that you can use for any of the drink specials that are included in the menu provided by the bar. Yes, these are alcoholic beverages if you so choose, so please sign up to our Night's Out only if you are 21 or older. Dancing with the staff ends at 11 pm, but hang out for a while if you want and continue to dance with others. It's such a fun night that you won't believe how fast 11 pm rolls around!

Dance FX Studios' Night's Out are always a great time for all! Give yourself a chance to meet new people, learn a rewarding hobby and relieve stress in a fun and healthy way. For those who can plan ahead, take advantage of our early bird special for the Night Out at $25 per person. Or, sign up a few days before the event for $35 a person. Either way, the investment in yourself is so worth it! You now have a new group of friends to go dancing with and the fun is about to begin!

While becoming a confident Country dancer may not happen in one evening, our Night's Out will get your feet wet and give you a great starting point for conquering any social dance scene. To really prepare for any County dance opportunity, take a look into our introductory offer for private Country dance lessons. With private lessons, you can learn at your own pace and with your own learning style to get the fastest results in the shortest amount of time.

Dance FX Studios is located on the border of Tempe and Chandler, Arizona in Mesa. We are just minutes from the 101 highway, making the drive convenient for East Valley, Scottsdale, Queen Creek and Phoenix residents. Beat the heat this summer and join us for some cool, refreshing clean fun! YEEEEHAAAW!

Get Ready For Your Wedding Day with Dance Lessons!

Your wedding is coming up or maybe it’s your son or daughter, best friend, sibling that is tying the knot.  You are so excited and can’t wait for the big day! There is so much to plan and prepare for that at times you find yourself overwhelmed with it all and can lose sight of what an exceptional and unforgettable day this will be for you, your family, and friends.

Of course, you know you need a place to have the wedding, dresses for the girls, tuxes for the guys, flowers, invitations, and more- all the things to help make it a memorable wedding day.

One detail you may not think of initially is dance lessons for your wedding. If you are the bride or the groom, have you thought about your first dance together? As parents, family or friends are you ready to strut your stuff out on the dance floor? This is something that is definitely worth thinking about and planning out for in advance.

As the happy couple, make your first dance one to remember with a customized, choreographed wedding dance or, maybe basic wedding dance lessons, that will help you to feel comfortable on the most important day of your life.  Either way, wouldn’t it be great to create that magical moment that will last forever?

In addition to the fun of learning to dance, you and your fiancé will be able to enjoy some time together away from all of the wedding preparation stress. With dance lessons, you will be able to dance together forever, a life skill that you will use at any occasion from other people's weddings to holiday parties and more.

Consider kicking off your reception with an exciting first dance that your friends and family will be sure to remember. You can start with something plain and simple and then break out into a spicy Salsa, a tantalizing Tango, a sizzling Swing or a cool Country Two-Step choreographed dancing routine. What a great way to impress all of your guests and leave them with something to talk about for years to come!

How about including the wedding party? Dance lessons for bridesmaids, groomsmen and even extended family members are a great way for everyone to unwind from all of the wedding plans and enjoy this special time together.

And, let’s not forget about the parents. An honor dance with mom or dad is a touching way to say thank you for all that they have done for you. A cherished dance as daddy’s little girl or mom’s special man will ensure special memories that you can treasure forever.

After the wedding, when you are back from the honeymoon and ready to settle into your lives together, keep in mind that social dancing is the perfect way for newlyweds to keep the romance alive. It allows for time with each other, a “date night” doing something different (rather than the usual movies and dinner). It’s also a great way to connect with each other on a more intimate level. We believe that dance lessons for couples are essential for a healthy, happy life filled with passion, teamwork and ongoing courtship.

So, has this given you some food for thought? Dance lessons are a fun way to spend time with your loved ones in preparation for your wedding. They also provide an opportunity to relax, get closer, and just enjoy each other.

Over the past decade, Dance FX Studios has choreographed thousands of first dances for brides and grooms. To get you started, we offer an hour-long wedding dance consultation which includes getting to know you, your ideas for the first dance, and of course, dancing. We will also help with important details such as finding the perfect song that suits your personalities and the type of dancing you envision. Hour-long packages are personalized for your time frame, dance ability and overall concept. Certain packages even include music editing for you and your dj to have on hand.

If you would you like to include your bridal party or parents in a special dance, please see our Create-A-Class options for rates and availability on private group dance lessons. It is recommended that you plan for private group dance lessons at least 4-6 months prior to the wedding so plan accordingly in order to shine on that dance floor.

For Arizona residents, you can get started on your dream dance with us at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ. We are located at 1859 W Guadalupe Rd in the Phoenix East Valley.  To begin with your wedding consultation, feel free to give us a call at 480.968.6177 or contact us by email. We are available and excited to get you ready for your big day with openings by appointment on Monday-Friday, from 12:00-8:00 pm and Saturdays, from 11:00 am-4:00 pm.

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding and we look forward to hearing from you!

Fun Facts About How the Swing and Foxtrot Began...

Social ballroom dancing has quite an interesting history with a variety of dances that include salsa, swing, Argentine tango and Country two step. It seems like more and more these days, people are discovering what a joy and how beneficial dancing can be for everyone. Let’s take a look at a few more really fun and exciting dances to see how they originated (see our previous blogs for more on the history of other exciting social dances).

The foxtrot was first revealed in the summer of 1914 by Vaudeville actor Harry Fox in his various appearances in vaudeville shows in the New York area. As part of his act, Harry Fox was doing trotting steps to ragtime music, and people began referring to his dance as "Fox's Trot." The foxtrot was eventually re-named but it officially originated at the Jardin de Danse on the roof of the New York Theatre.

A beautiful, romantic and fluid dance, the foxtrot is composed of fairly simple walking and side steps. It is often associated with the smooth dancing style of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. It is a standard ballroom dance, and serves as a good foundation for social dances.

The foxtrot was the most significant occurrence in all of ballroom dancing. The combination of quick and slow steps allowed for more flexibility and provided much greater dancing pleasure than the one-step and two-step that it replaced.  Variations of the foxtrot include the Peabody, the Quickstep and Roseland foxtrot. Even swing dances such as the lindy and the hustle are derived to some extent from the foxtrot.

Many people mistakenly think that foxtrot is a difficult dance to learn, but this is usually because they are thinking of more complicated styles of the dance that are used mainly in performances and competitions. Basic social foxtrot is fun and simple to learn, and an excellent dance for beginners.

So, if you would like to learn to be the next Fred and Ginger, the foxtrot is a great place to start! What a great way to get closer to and have a great time your significant other, while also looking graceful and smooth on the dance floor.

Swing dancing is another popular social dance and can compel even non-dancers to tap their feet and snap their fingers. It makes you just want to get out there and dance!

The swing is a combination of several American dances (lindy, ragtime, jazz and blues). The history of swing dates back to the 1920's, where the black community, while dancing to contemporary Jazz music, discovered the Charleston and the Lindy Hop.

In 1926, the Savoy Ballroom opened its doors in New York. Nightly dancing attracted most of the best dancers in the New York area. Stimulated by the presence of great dancers and the best black bands, music at the Savoy was largely swinging jazz. One evening in 1927, following Lindbergh's flight to Paris, a local dance enthusiast was watching some of the dancing couples. A reporter asked him what dance they were doing, and it just so happened that there was a newspaper with an article titled, "Lindy Hops the Atlantic," which he noticed and responded with "Lindy Hop" and the name stuck.

In 1934, band leader Cab Calloway introduced a variation of the swing with a song called "Jitterbug". With the discovery of the lindy hop and the jitterbug, many people began dancing to the contemporary jazz and swing music as it was evolving at the time, with Benny Goodman leading the action.

In the late 1930's and through the 1940's, the terms lindy hop, jitterbug, lindy, and swing were used interchangeably by the news media to describe the same style of dancing taking place on the streets, in the night clubs, in contests, and in the movies.

Dance schools did not formally begin documenting or teaching the Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Lindy, and Swing until the early 1940's. At the time, the ballroom dance community was more interested in teaching Latin-type dances such as the Argentine tango, merengue, and cha cha.

From the mid 1940's to today, the lindy hop, jitterbug, lindy, and swing, were shortened and refined by ballroom dance studio teachers in order to adapt their teaching methods to less experienced students taking dance lessons. As a result, the social dance studios developed the East coast and West coast swing.

Learning how to swing dance can be a great way to connect with your dance partner, have a great time, and learn something new that can be used at any event from a Rock and Roll concert to a wedding.

To learn more about the foxtrot and swing dancing, check out Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona for private dance lessons. In addition to these dances, we also offer Country, salsa, and Argentine tango dance lesson-just to mention a few. Private lessons are the most effective way to learn to dance, with your lessons being tailored just for you. They provide you with the tools and skills to be able to connect with any dance partner.

Dance FX Studios is located at 1859 W Guadalupe Rd, Mesa, AZ. We are available for lessons Monday-Friday, from 12:00-8:00 pm and Saturdays, from 11:00-4:00. So, if you want to learn to be able to dance at your next event or a night out on the town give us a call 480.968.6177 and begin your journey into becoming a confident social dancer.  You can be the one out there on the dance floor dancing the night away, instead of sitting on the sidelines thinking, “I wish I could do that.”

The History of Argentine Tango and Salsa

Let us take a journey into the history of two very popular social dances, the Argentine tango and the salsa! Social dancing has been around for centuries and there are multitudes of dances from many countries and cultures, making dancing a universal hobby that connects us all together.

It is interesting to see where some of these dances began and how some have transitioned from the traditional to the more modern.  We will begin with two useful social dances that are popular today; the Argentine tango and the salsa. Both the Argentine tango and the salsa are beautiful, passionate, romantic, playful, and sexy! They are practiced throughout the world with many styles and variations from place to place.

To start, we will take a look at the Argentine tango...

The traditional Argentine tango was influenced by the Tango Habanera, which does not resemble the Argentine tango we know today. The Tango Habanera began from two types of Tango: the Milonga and the Tango Flamenco. The Tango Habanera was popular in the 1880’s but fizzled out towards the end of the century. It has been exclusively associated with the first styles of the Argentine tango.

Many tango aficionados agree that the true patterns of Argentine tango dancing that we see today originated in 1938-1940 with the tango singer Carlos Gardel. The Golden Age of Tango took place in the late 1940's and early 1950's. Many world recording companies began setting up offices in Buenos Aires, which resulted in countless recordings of tango orchestras and singers.

Today in Buenos Aires or Río de la Plata, there are three forms of Argentine tango: Salón, Fantasía, and one for the stage. With the Argentine tango becoming so popular throughout the world, other forces have been shaping the dance. The stage tango was originally intended for English speaking people.

Outside Argentina, people from North America had their first exposure to tango from the show and dance companies from Buenos Aires. At the end of the shows, many people from the audience requested classes on the tango. They were very excited by what they had seen and were anxious to get started learning to dance.

Countless people around the world are eager to learn this popular, beautiful and intimate dance and are finding that the Argentine tango is actually based on walking steps, making it a dance that anyone can learn.  For all of you couples out there, what a great way to become closer, more romantic and in tune with each other- how beneficial for your relationship!



While this is a brief overview of the Argentine tango, we have many other blogs for you to read that will give you more fun and cool tango facts to uncover.


Now, let us find out more about the Salsa...

Salsa is not a dance that is easy to define. Who invented salsa? The Cubans, Puerto Ricans? Salsa is a concentration of many Latin and Afro-Caribbean dances. Each culture played a large part in its evolution. Although it is not exclusively Cuban, credit must be given to Cuba for the origin and ancestry of the creation of this dance. The salsa also occurred with variations and influence from other countries like the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Puerto Rico, among others.

New York created the term "Salsa", but did not create the dance. The term became popular as a nickname to refer to a variety of different music, from several countries of Hispanic influence: Rhumba, Són Montuno, Guaracha, Mambo, Cha cha cha, Danzón, Són, Guguanco, Cubop, Guajira, Charanga, Cumbia, Plena, Bomba, Festejo, Merengue, among others. While many of these dances maintain their individuality, others were mixed together to create the Salsa.

Salsa varies from place to place. In New York, for example, new instrumentalization and extra percussion were augmented to some of the Colombian songs in order for New Yorkers to feel more comfortable dancing to the rhythm and beat of the song, since the original arrangement was not easily recognized.

The important thing is that Salsa is played throughout the world and has obtained the influences of many places.  Salsa dancing today is a staple among popular and useful social dances-especially here in Arizona.  People love the excitement and fun they have when dancing-not to mention what a great workout they get just by having fun through dance! Depending on your size, salsa dancing can burn off anywhere from 250-520 calories in an hour. So, not only are you having a great time and getting closer with your partner, but now you may also go down a few sizes. How great is that?

If all of this has inspired you to take the initiative to get out on the dance floor, Dance FX Studios is the place to go. We are the premiere social dance studio in the Phoenix East Valley and offer useful dance steps for the everyday person. Learning to dance can be a little intimidating, but no need to fret, the instructors at Dance FX Studios will give you all of the tools that you need to succeed out on any dance floor!  In addition to the Argentine tango and salsa- Country, swing, and other Latin dances are available in both private and group dance classes at Dance FX Studios.

Dance FX Studios is located at 1859 W Guadalupe Rd. in Mesa, AZ, at the corner of Guadalupe and Dobson.  Our hours of operation are Monday – Friday from 12:00-8:00 pm and on Saturdays from 11:00-4:00 pm. For more information, give our studio a call today at 480.968.6177 or visit us online.

Grab you dancing shoes, grab a partner, (or come solo) and head on down to Dance FX Studios!  Instead of watching people dancing and thinking, “Why can’t I do that?”, you will be well on your way to being one of those great dancers on the dance floor too with a few lessons under your belt!