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!

Dance Floor Defense: A Woman's Guide

Hey ladies! We already know that the dance floor is a fun, exciting place to be. If you've taken a few private country dancing lessons or a couple group dance classes, you probably even have some sweet moves under your belt. But how do you guarantee yourself a fun, safe time? Aside from a proper knowledge of your favorite dances, every woman should know her dance floor defense. In other words, you need to know how to accept/reject dances and deal with others on the floor. Most social dancing is still at bars, after all, so it's good to have a game plan for dealing with those who are a little more inebriated than you're comfortable with.

Accepting and rejecting dances

When you're first venturing into the world of social dance, the best way to practice is by getting out on the dance floor! Those swing dancing lessons will only get you so far if you never take them out of the studio. 

The biggest rookie mistake I see? Never knowing when to say no. For the most part, you want to accept dance invitations that are offered to you. After all, you need to practice with multiple leaders to really work on your follow. But there is definitely a time to turn down a dance, so don't be afraid to! There is such a thing as exhaustion - if you need a water break, take one! If you need to turn a guy down to take your break, just be sure to find him later and make up for it.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you are never required to dance with anyone. If you danced with him already and felt unsafe with his lead, feel free to say no thanks! If he seems too intoxicated to dance safely, no thank you. If he's been harassing you or your friends, beat it. The dance floor should always be safe, and you have every right to guarantee that for yourself. Most guys are very accepting if you turn down their invitation politely. After all, there are plenty of other ladies for them to dance with!

(Note: If a guy doesn't accept your rejection or really hassles you about it, don't be afraid to notify security. The majority of dancers are friendly, polite, and understanding... but occasionally you may run into a bad egg. Call him out so he can't harass you or others.)

Mid-dance tactics

A touchy subject for a lot of newer dancers is proximity. Especially if you're checking out the Latin dancing scene, a few of the dances are intended to be danced closely. In no way does it mean that it is required, but it does mean that some men might get into your personal space without your permission. 90% of the time they mean nothing by it, but it doesn't mean you have to be okay with it. So how do you cope when a guy gets too close? 

Strong arm him.

This all comes down to your frame. If you've been to a social dance studio like Dance FX Studios for private dance lessons, you'll have learned how to properly hold your arms and body to dance with a partner. Where is your left hand? On your dance partner's right shoulder. This gives you the perfect leverage to keep your distance when you want it. If he manages to sneak in anyway, don't be afraid to really get your arm in there. I'm talking get your hand on his chest and push. Some guys really don't get the hint, and if you're uncomfortable, there's no shame in it! Don't worry about being rude - he was rude by assuming his closeness was welcome. Luckily, most guys will get the hint long before if gets to that point.

*There's also no shame in avoiding close dances if you know you'll be uncomfortable. Or, make a point to only dance them with people you are comfortable with.

After the first dance

Occasionally you'll have dancers who want to continue dancing with you after your first dance. If the song easily transitions from one Country Two Step dance to another, he may just keep dancing. If you want to continue your dance, go for it! If you've had enough, stop moving and thank him for the dance. This lets him know you enjoyed your time, but you're ready for a break or your next partner. It's generally considered rude for a man to monopolize a woman on the dance floor unless they came together or are specifically dance partners. In other words, feel free to give him a few dances, but try to break them up or stick with 3 in a row as a maximum. That way you can both enjoy each other's company while giving other people a chance to dance!

Need more pointers for the dance floor? Check out Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ for all your social dancing needs. Our instructors are here to prepare you for real world dancing, whether you want to Salsa, Swing, or anything in between! Join us just off the 60 and the 101 for completely personalized private dance lessons or for our super fun group dance classes. After some time with us, you'll be ready to put your dance floor defense to work! (Although, hopefully you won't need to!)

Creative Things to do This Summer in Arizona

Summer's here in full force and who's in the mood to do much of anything!? The Arizona heat will wear you thin if you don't keep mind and body active... indoors at least. If you're feeling creative and want to spice up your summer with some fun, new activities, try these suggestions and watch the hot months fly by just by keeping busy...

1. A cool hobby with an artistic twist is the new combination of mixing wine and paint together in a paint and wine class! There are classes across the Phoenix valley that welcome new to experienced painters to enjoy an evening creating a work of art and pairing that with a favorite alcoholic beverage. These classes are a great way to reconnect with friends and catch up over a glass of wine and a canvas. Enjoy a night of colorful brush strokes along with your partner as a way to heat up your date nights and try something unique. You may even find that you have more artistic abilities than you realize. These classes have step-by-step instructions to help your put your vision onto the canvas without feeling overwhelmed. Painting while enjoying great company and a fun beverage is a fun and easy way to enjoy the summer.

2. Another great way to get those creative juices flowing is trying home brewing! What better way to enjoy this summer than with a glass of your own favorite beer or wine that your created yourself?! Kits are easy to use and very popular these days. Being able to mix and match flavors to find your personal favorite is an awesome way to see how creative you can be. A brewing buddy makes it even more fun! Having somebody enjoy your delicous end result makes the work that much more rewarding. Brewing your own beverage is a perfect segway into a date night with a romantic dinner for two along with your personal favorite recipes. Enjoying each other and your creative drinks is a great way to connect in the summer heat.

3. Not only can you be useful with your hands, but you can also be creative with your whole body this summer-outside of the heat! Social dancing, from Swing dancing to learning to Country Two Step, is a fun way to get fit or stay in shape while still having a blast. Enjoy your favorite music and let go of those summertime blues with a new hobby that will allow you to meet new people, build your confidence and even re-ignite that spark with your special someone.  Social partner dancing is popular and can be used anywhere from weddings to date nights to the Country bars and Latin clubs here in Arizona! Couples use this hobby for a lifetime in terms of adding romance and having something special to do together. Singles are able to meet new friends and express their personalities through their dancing style.

Social ballroom dancing is the ultimate way to express your creative ideas and also able to enjoy time with friends this summer. If you live in the Mesa, Arizona area, come join us for private dance lessons or even try out one of our 4-week group dance classes-either way, you'll escape the heat and develop a new and cool skill! Dance FX Studios is located just off the 101 highway for your convenience. Have  an amazing summer by visiting us and checking out our other ideas.