Dance lessons sweep Valley residents off their feet

Whether it is the Arizona Two-Step or the Tango, the Valley has got the country and ballroom dancing scene.

Dwight and Sandy Nelson are instructors at Graham Central Station. Sandy said that the man is the leader on the dance floor and she discourages women from correcting men’s dance moves. If a man is dancing wrong, Sandy suggests taking him to Dwight or herself for correction.

“A woman should say to the man, ‘I have a problem with the way you are leading me. Why don’t we go see Dwight and Sandy?’” Sandy said.

Lance Long grew up in a conservative family where dancing was considered a sin. Today, Long dances at the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) on Thomas Road and 48th Street. After going out to Harold’s in Cave Creek in 2006, he was inspired to learn Two-Step.

Long then taught as an instructor in Lithuania in the summer of 2007. Today he dances four to five times a week.

“Arizona Two-Step is not practiced outside of Arizona,” Long said. “It was invented in Tucson due to Arizona dance floors being too small. Everyone else in the U.S. thinks that the Two-Step means what Arizona calls the Progressive Two-Step. Arizona Two-Step is stationary to fit small dance floors. Progressive Two-Step requires that dancers move around a large dance floor.”

Long said that the famous dance move called the “sugar push” was so named because it mimics a guy trying to sneak a kiss and a girl pushing him away. Instructors have recently changed the name of the dance move to a ”push break.” “It destroys the historical significance of the dance move,” Long said. Long added that the popular West Coast Swing actually has its origin in the Hustle and Fox Trot.

Kelly Sower has been doing ballroom dancing for five years, but she still considers herself a novice. “Start slow with Fox Trot. Learn something faster with Swing. If you like Latin, try Merengue and Salsa. Beginning dancers should avoid starting with Tango as it is a little more difficult,” Sower said.

The free dance lessons take place every Thursday, and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at the Rockin Rodeo room of Graham Central Station located just south of Elliot Road on Priest Drive in Tempe.

All the owners ask in exchange for free dance lessons is that participants buy a drink at the bar and tip the bartender. Thursday night is beginning Two-Step, Polka, Waltz, Cha Cha, Swing. Saturday night is advanced lessons. Go to Crystalwarebelts.com for more information.

Fatcat Ballroom is located on the corner of Thunderbird Road and 32nd Street in Phoenix. You can learn Tango, Salsa, Merengue, Samba, Rumba, Cha Cha, Swing, Fox Trot and the Hustle in the ballroom. Cost is only $5, which includes a two-hour dance lesson and an all-night party. Go to Fatcatballroomrocks.com for a calendar of dance lessons.

Handlebar J’s in Scottsdale also offers free country-dance lessons, but a two-drink minimum is required. Another place for inexpensive dance lessons is the Paragon in Tempe.