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!