Loosen Up With Social Dance Lessons!

With school back in session and holiday season coming up, stress and tension abounds! From figuring out Halloween costumes to organizing Thanksgiving dinners to early present shopping, there is quite a bit to stress about. So how do you plan on relaxing through the multitude of holidays? At Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona, we plan on dancing!

It's not too late for you to also join in the fun! Breeze through this holiday season with ease and holiday cheer and discover a new hobby through social dancing. It's as easy as 1-2-3! See what we mean...


1. Give us a call at 480-968-6177 to take advantage of our New Student Offer: Two 30-minute private dance lessons for just $25! This great introductory offer is for you or for you and a guest, should you decide to come in as a couple. Both singles and couples are always welcome and experience is never required to get started with dance lessons at Dance FX Studios. In your New Student Offer, you will explore the basics of cool and popular styles of social partner dancing including Salsa, Swing, and the ever-popular Country Two Step. You will also learn some useful social dancing tips that will set you up for success at those upcoming holiday parties.

2. Come check out one of our dance parties as part of a date night or with friends. At our upcoming Halloween "Boo Bash" next Saturday night on October 18th, for example, you will have a chance to let loose, meet new people and learn to dance in a beginner dance class! What a fun way to spend an evening!

3. Sign up for one of our 4- Week Group Dance Classes. You can learn to Jitterbug Swing dance, Two Step, Salsa and Country Swing in our 4-week dance classes for couples. Grab a buddy or come with your sweetie and enjoy 4 classes of fun! Dance FX Studios' 4-week dance classes are held just once a week, during the weekdays, so your weekend holiday plans will never be compromised while learning to dance! How cool is that!?

See for yourself how, when you're dancing, nothing else matters! Relax, unwind and re-boot in between planning for those holiday parties and getaways and learn to social dance with us at Dance FX Studios. We are located on the southeast corner of Dobson and Guadalupe Rds in Mesa on the border of Tempe and Chandler, AZ. Give us a call to get in on the action today! We'll see YOU on the dance floor!

Swing, Swing, Swing! All About Swing Dancing in Arizona!

When someone says the words, "Swing Dance," what pops in your head? Do you imagine a world in black and white, full of suspenders, zoot suits, and fedoras? Or do you picture a more modern world with cowboy boots and jeans? Both are completely valid images, because there are actually many types of Swing dance! At Dance FX Studios, we teach a few of the different types of swing dance. Not sure which one you're looking to learn? Here's a simple break down of each type we offer so you can have a better idea of what you might be interested in:

Jitterbug Swing

Jitterbug is a super fun dance to get started out with! Comprised most of marching or traveling steps and rock steps, Jitterbug is known for its cool rubber band action and bouncing steps. Dancers are continuously switching places with one another and rocking away from each other, while throwing in fun twists and turns. The rhythm is generally slow-slow-quick-quick. Because of the limited steps and the fact that it doesn't travel, Jitterbug is danced to fast tempo music. This is what keeps the dance exciting without tons of extra footwork. It's the perfect dance to learn if you're looking to get introduced to the world of Swing dancing. (*Fun fact! Jitterbug, although intended for Swing music, can be danced to practically anything if it's fast enough. It's sometimes referred to as Rock and Roll dance!)

East Coast Swing

East Coast Swing is a little more of a challenge than Jitterbug. The shape of the dance is generally the same, as you keep the rubber band action and switch places with one another. The difference comes in the timing. East Coast Swing is danced with triple steps, meaning you take 3 steps in 2 beats of music. The rhythm is tri-ple-step-tri-ple-step-rock-step. Although a lot of the same moves from Jitterbug can transfer over from Jitterbug, the trickiest part comes with the bounce. Instead of bouncing with each step, you bounce with the beat. So, your bounces are on time, while your footwork is syncopated. Because of the extra footwork, East Coast Swing is usually danced to slower music. Think Big Band and crooners when looking for the perfect practice music!

Country Swing

Country Swing is the newest of these Swing dances, or at least it is the newest to be recognized. Country Swing dancing is very closely related to Jitterbug, maintaining the same timing of slow-slow-quick-quick. The moves are generally the same, but the styling is quite different. Cut out the bounces, add in a little more glide from some cowboy boots, and you've got Country Swing! A lot of Country music is too fast for Arizona Two-Step, so Swing is the best option. Country Swing is also a great space saver for those packed bars, so it's a good one to keep in your back pocket if you want to be a Country dancing machine.

West Coast Swing

West Coast Swing is one of the coolest Swing dances out there and by far one of the hardest. Although it maintains the idea of generally staying in one dance space on the floor, the shape is completely different. Dancers stay on a slot in order to keep the floor spacious and safe for everyone. The general rhythm is walk-walk-tri-ple-step-tri-ple-step, although this rhythm varies throughout the dance. West Coast Swing also maintains a type of rubber band action, like all Swing dances, but it looks and feels quite different from the others. West Coast can be danced to a variety of music, from R&B to Country to 80's pop. All it requires is a solid beat and some funk to play with!

No matter what style you want to rock, we can help you jump, jive, and wail! Dance FX Studios has been around for 13 years now to get people out on the dance floor through private dance lessons and fun group classes. Even if swing isn't your thing, we offer everything else from Country dance, to Latin dance, to Tango. If you live in the greater Phoenix area, check out our studio in Mesa just off the 60 and the 101. We're a hop, skip, and a jump away from Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale, and Phoenix, so call and set up an introductory lesson today. Just remember... It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!

P.S. Want to check out some Swing Dancing in person? We're having a Swing Dance Party September 6 from 8-11PM with live music by Come Back Buddy! Only $15 ahead of time or $20 at the door, join us for a Swing dance lesson, refreshments, awesome music, and lots of dancing! Not only will there be plenty of students and other dancers, but there will be instructors available to ask questions or steal a dance. Newcomers welcome!

Get Ready for Country Thunder 2014!

Arizonans love all things Country… Toby’s Keith I Love This Bar, Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row, rodeos, Cowboy boots and best of all, Country dancing and music!! Country Thunder is a huge country music festival that is held right here in the Phoenix Valley.  Already have tickets? How exciting! Not going this year? Come to our Country Dance Party with live music instead! It’s on April 12th, Saturday evening, from 8-11 pm, so you could even squeeze in some Country dance lessons in before you go! Knowing your stuff will keep you safe and having fun all weekend long. Country Two Step, Country Swing and Nite Club Two Step will all come in handy there, and we at Dance FX Studios are the best place in the Valley to teach you! We are located in Mesa, so close to so many cities in the Phoenix area, making us the perfect social ballroom dance studio for you.

Our unique style of instruction and customized dance lesson packages ensure that you will get the most out of your lessons, which exactly what you need in a time crunch! In our Introductory Lesson for just $40 per couple, you will learn some Country dance basics, proper dance form and how to lead and follow, as well as how to navigate a crowded dance floor and connect with your partner.  After you get hooked during this first lesson, you can enroll in a five-lesson private dance lesson package. These five hours are full of more customized instruction with one of our great instructors, in which you will learn steps and moves that you can combine and use to any song at Country Thunder!

Single guys, knowing how to dance is NOT girly, you will be a hot commodity at the festival if you are able to twirl the country ladies all weekend. Not to mention, your skills will come in handy even after the party ends, at bars and clubs all over Arizona.

Ladies, besides packing and making sure you have all the right outfits, what better way to prepare for a music and Country dancing filled weekend than learning to dance?? We can equip you will the skills you need to be swept off your feet ever so gracefully by the cowboy of your dreams!

Couples, you’ve got tickets, camping passes, and a list of all the provisions and refreshments you need for the weekend, but what are you going to do the entire four days? Listening to music or faking it on the dance floor is fun for a while, but you will surely enjoy yourself so much more if you take lessons! We will teach the ladies to follow their capable and confident leading men on the floor, while also helping your communication skills and intimacy as a couple.

Country Thunder is right around the corner, and dance lessons should be on your to-do list! We can prepare you will the skills and tips you will want and need to safely and confidently boogie the whole weekend. Best of all, you will have so much FUN in your lessons and at Country Thunder! The Country dance party list here at Dance FX Studios is filling up fast, so buy your tickets ahead of time for $15 a person. Two-bit Shotgun with be playing, and drinks and dessert will be provided. Dip your toes in the dancing waters with our Intro Offer; you are sure to get hooked! See you soon, Country friends.