NOTE: LINDY HOP CANCELLED FOR LABOR DAY HOLIDAY

This week's Monday night Lindy Hop class (Sept. 2nd) is cancelled for the Labor Day Holiday.

Enjoy your day and we will see you next week :)

September Class Schedule!

What dance classes are offered in September you ask?
We answer with a comprehensive listing 

Mondays:
7pm Lindy Hop
Thursdays:
10:30am Baby & Me*
6:30pm Ballroom - Smooth dances
7:30pm Ballroom - Latin dances
Saturdays:
10:30am Creative Dance for ages 2.5-5
11:30am Pre-ballet for ages 6-7*

NOTE: the 2 classes with an * will begin only when 6 students have signed up. Call (928) 862-0118 to learn more or be added to a class list.

Stay Connected...

Looking for more ways to stay up-to-date with what's going on at Dana De Luz Dance Studio and the Sedona Social Dance Scene?

Try this...
click on either link above and you will be rushed through cyber space to the Dana De Luz dance Facebook page or the meetup.com page with all sorts of dance classes and outings in and around Sedona, AZ :)

As always feel free to email or call us at (928) 862-0118 for information on group classes and private or semi-private lessons.

Have a great day and don't forget to dance :)

Dana

Dancing on the 4th and beyond!

Happy IndepenDANCE Day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R1jiVcIGcg

If dancing is a freedom you wish to enjoy on the 4th of July, may I suggest going to Sound Bites Grill?

Some great All-American Swing music will be playing from 6-9pm! The event is part of a benefit for the family of the late Greg Aitken, a fantastic local school teacher, mentor, and musician. This FREE event begins at 4pm... dancing begins at 6pm and... raffles will be held throughout the night. Proceeds from the raffles will be given to Greg's wife and two daughters.  

For the weekend try...

Friday night: 

At the Martini Bar (282-9288) beginning at 7:30p you can break out your Latin moves to the music of the Eric Miller Band. So, ready your rumba and study your samba for the evening. 

Over at Sound Bites Grill starting a 8p is Sir Harrison and the Blues Kings. Blues are always good for West Coast Swing, Argentine Tango and of course, blues dancing.

Saturday night:

At the Sedona Elk's Club, you can enjoy dinner and dancing. It's country music all night with the band Renegades. Spaghetti dinner begins at 5:30p with your choice of meat or vegetarian sauce and dancing kicks off at 6p. Polish up your boots and let them glide along the laminate tile floor. :)

For more country tunes you'll have to venture outside Sedona. The 1000 Trails Clubhouse (on 1000 Trails Road, 928-567-9862, off highway 260 between Cottonwood and Camp Verde) presents Hired Hands every Saturday night, 6-9p playing a good mix of country and rock. Food is served from 5-7p. 

Sunday afternoon:

You can always find dancing at the Cottonwood American Legion from 2-5p!  Throughout July dance music will be provided by these two bands...

-Happy Days, with Charleah Allen, playing great tunes of the 50s, 60s and 70s or... 

-Renegades which plays with a Western flavor, but also adds in some Latin rhythms as well. 

Please, note Sound Bites Grill and Martini Bar have poured concrete floors. Wear shoes that will allow you to spin at least 180 degrees without hesitation.

Now, GO DANCE! :D 

Get your weekend started TONIGHT!

There are some great dance venues this weekend and it begins TONIGHT....

Thursday, April 25th:
Head over to Marketplace Cafe (MPC) in the Factory Outlets in the Village of Oak Creek (VOC). Susannah Martin and Eric Miller take the stage at 6pm to play some Latin rhythms. If your salsa is rusty, come to the group salsa class tonight at 7:30pm at Dana De Luz Dance Studio. Class is being held at Canyon Moon Theatre... also in the Outlet Mall. NOTE: This is a tile floor with deep grout lines. Lower heels are best.

Friday the 26th:
Cliff Castle Casino's Dragonfly Lounge has the X's Band. Get your Latin on because this band plays a huge variety of Latin dance music. Be ready to stay up late. The X's Band doesn't start until 9pm. If you miss them Friday night, come Saturday night for an encore!

Saturday the 27th:
Sound Bites Grill in Uptown has Tom Tayback and the Daddy O's to get you swinging to some rock'n'roll. Whether you dance East Coast or West Coast Swing you can get on the floor. Bring your nightclub 2-step, rumba, cha-cha. waltz, ect., because these guys play everything! It starts at 6pm. NOTE: The dance floor is poured concrete which has texture. Leave the ballroom suede shoes at home and go with a smooth leather instead.

Also Saturday, over in Clarkdale at the 10-12 Lounge, the Sammy Davis Band plays beginning at 8pm. These guys put on a GREAT show for everyone... dancers and non dancers alike. They are a talented band that plays rock, R&B, funk and much more.

Remember if you want to brush up on your dancing, call Dana De Luz Dance Studio at 862-1008 to schedule a private lesson or join our group lessons on Thursday nights (TONIGHT)... Waltz 6:30p and Salsa at 7:30p. Please call ahead to get directions.

Have a GREAT weekend!
Dana

Weekend checklist: Take dance class, practice, go dancing!

Another weekend approaches and every dance enthusiast needs to know where to go dancing.

Let's start with taking a class tonight (Thursday) with Dana De Luz Dance Studio. Join our smooth class at 6:30pm featuring Waltz steps that can be used in other dances. Get things heated up by taking the Salsa class at 7:30pm. For details call 862-0118.

Students often ask about practicing.... how long, how often? Answer: Practice as often as possible even if that means for a short time. 15 minutes a day may be all you can do but it's better than not practicing. Go through as many steps as you can remember CORRECTLY. NEVER practice steps you are unsure about. You don't want to create bad habits. Instead, make a list of steps you need to work on and consider taking a private class for clarification.

Try out your new skills on a social dance floor this weekend.

The best dance spot in Sedona continues to be Sound Bites Grill at the Hyatt Shops in Uptown. Friday night they have Sir Harrison and the Blues Kings at 8pm but I recommend Saturday night dancing with the Rhythmystics at 8pm and Sunday night at 6pm with Susannah Martin & Eric Miller. Rhythmistics plays plenty of swings, rumba, niteclub 2-steps, and fox trots. Martin & Miller are known for their Latin Jazz so practice your Latin dances... you will use them all!


On Sat. April 13th you can combine class and social dancing or just the social part. Head over to Sedona Pilates in West Sedona for a class in beginning NiteClub 2-step at 7pm , intermediate steps at 7:30p, and open dancing begins at 8pm until 11pm.  Your hosts are Joyce and Thomas and the cost is $8.00 for both class and dancing or $5 for open dancing. For more info call Thomas at 301-0770.

In the VOC, Marketplace Cafe has the Michelle Williams & Alan Standingbear duo Friday night at 6pm. They sing a little bit of everything... so be ready for anything. Saturday night at 6pm Seymour and Cyge play Baby Boomer classics.... that means swing, niteclub 2-step, and some Latin rhythms will be danceable. NOTE: the grout lines between the tiles on the dance floor are deep so, wear a lower heel ladies.

Know of another dance venue? Feel free to post it below!


 

Soooo much dancing...

Whether you travel near or far, there are plenty of night spots for dancing in Northern Arizona, this weekend. In fact, you may just want to hop from one spot to the next!

On Friday night the 8th...

- Check out LeAnne Leman and Steve Sandner at Marketplace Cafe 6-9pm in the VOC for some smooth swinging jazz standards, sultry blues & ballads, and romantic bossa novas for your dancing pleasure.  That means you can swing (east or west coast), fox trot, night club 2-step, rumba and even argentine tango your night away.

- Also, the Rhythmistics play at Sound Bites Grill in the Hyatt shops beginning at 8pm. This band performs 60's-70's dance music to groove with your partner freestyle or you can partner dance when you hear the swing, rumba, cha-cha, nightclub 2-step, west coast swing and argentine tango beats they turn out.

Saturday the 9th...

Experienced swing dancers... there's a GREAT DEAL to be had on a Swing aerials class 3-5pm in NAU's Rolle Activities Center, room 103. IT'S JUST $5 per dancer for 2 hours of training! This class is hosted by both NAU and ASU swing dance clubs. You can find more info on Facebook... just search Aerials with ASU! *** NOTE: you will need a partner.***

- At the Sedona Pilates Studio (1350 West State Route 89A)  in the New Frontiers Marketplace Center you can get a dance class and open dancing for just $8.00. The night's theme is a "SoulTrain Tribute" and the dance lesson show you how to combine "free style dance" with West Coast Swing! For more info contact Thomas Felix tfelix88@yahoo.com or call 928-301-0770.

- In Clarkdale, the final Big Band dance of the season kicks off at 6:30pm until 9:30pm with Sentimental Journey featuring vocals by Jeannie Carrol. This is THE BEST wooden dance floor in the area. The glide is smooth and it's got plenty of room to move around. It's $10.00 at the door to get in and light snacks and soft drinks for sale. *** NOTE: Bring your ballroom shoes, They are best on a wood floor.***

- You will find Rosemary Chavez and the Platinum Trio at Marketplace Cafe in the VOC from 6-9pm. They play lots of great fox trots! It's an easy listening easy dancing kind of vibe.

- Sammy Davis Band will have the dance floor rockin' over at PJ's Pub also in the VOC. He hits the stage at 9pm. Sammy plays music for every dance known to man. So, if he hasn't played what you want to hear... just ask him nicely :D

Sunday the 10th...

- Susannah Martin & Eric Miller are at Sound Bites Grill starting at 6pm. Their infectious Latin rhythms  will draw you out on the floor to work your hips. Whether they play rumba, samba, bolero, cha-cha or meringue beats the results are fun to dance to.

Enjoy your weekend! I hope to run into you on the dance floor... well, you know what I mean.

Dana

 

Where are YOU dancing this weekend?

After reading the papers and searching my emails, here are my picks for the best dance spots on Sedona and the VOC this weekend:

Friday the 1st of March...
Check out Rosemary Chaves and Steve Sandner at Marketplace Cafe in the VOC Outlet Mall. They'll begin crooning old standards like Sinatra, some Ellington swing and a little Latin jazz at 6pm.  So brush up on your swing, fox trot, rumba, cha-cha and maybe some night club 2-step. They'll be entertaining from 6-9pm. Ladies a lower heel is best on this tiled dance floor.

Saturday the 2nd...
Marketplace Cafe makes the list again with a couple I just met a few weeks ago... Diversity. Tim and Renee play music from the 1920's to current songs you'll love to sing and dance to.... soulful and fun. Again, Ladies a lower heel is best on this tiled dance floor.

If you don't mind traveling a piece...
Friday and Saturday night at the Ranch House in Rimrock is a great little family band called the Hired Hands playing 6-9pm. {4250 N. Montezuma, 928-567-4492} They are mostly country but they play rhythms to swing, rumba, cha-cha, fox trot, waltz and... of yeah even country 2-step.

Sunday at the Cottonwood American Legion 2-5pm is Happy Days! They know the music that gets people on the dance floor.

Know of anywhere else for good dancing? Please, post below!

NEW "Baby & Me" Dance Class Opens!

Dana De Luz dance Studio is thrilled to announce the brand new "Baby & Me" dance class will open on Thursday, Feb. 21st!

This class has been in development for some time and it's debut is exciting. Class will include stretching, toning, dancing and bonding with baby. Parents and caregivers of infants through 30 months of age are welcome to join us.

"Baby & Me" dance class will be held every Thursday beginning Feb. 21st 4-5pm. Bring a floor mat and towel or baby blanket for you own comfort.

Baby sitting for older children IS available on site. Please, tip the baby sitter.

Class cost is as low as $8. per class with the purchase of a discount card! Please call, Dana, at 862-0118 to be added to the class list.

Join us and bring your friends. Your 1st class is Free!

Our FIRST Community Social Dance!

Our FIRST Community Social Dance and we'll have LIVE music!

Mark you calendars... save your pennies and... bring your friends!

Dana De Luz Dance Studio will host it's first open community dance night
on Saturday, February 23rd from 7-11pm. We are located in the Oak Creek Factory Outlets Suite A-7 next door to Canyon Moon Theatre in the Village of Oak Creek near beautiful Sedona, AZ.

What will it cost to get in?...
Since it's our first community dance we're going to leave that up to you. Simply, leave a donation at the door. We kindly suggest a donation of $15 for the dance class AND open dancing OR $10 for open dancing only. Current students with a "Happy Feet" class card can use one punch for the class and a half punch for the open dancing OR just one punch for open dancing only. That's a savings of $3 to $6! It's good to be a student at Dana De Luz Dance Studio :)

Give generously...
All proceeds will go directly to the purchase of our school's dance floor. The sooner we can afford it... the sooner you can dance upon it :) Note: There is only a cement sub-floor for now. Your best bet for footwear is a leather soled shoe, a dance sneaker, or a shoe that's well worn down and smooth on the bottom.

The night will begin...
with an East Coast Swing lesson from Dana De Luz and Dr. Grant Johnson beginning at 7pm and the fun will continue with open dancing until 11pm.

Who's playing the music?...
Our first musical guest will be the multi-talented Eric Williams!

Eric is a highly accomplished musician and performer who is capable of playing a wide genre of music. This makes Eric a great choice to play at a dance event. Eric will play everything you can imagine: all kinds of swing tunes, rumbas, fox trots, waltz, cha-chas, nightclub 2-steps, country 2-steps, samba, salsa, merengue and tango.

Eric is also a dance enthusiast... so expect to see him out on the dance floor when he's not playing.

Who's invited?
Everyone's invited! All ages. All dance levels. Even non-dancers who want to come watch and listen to some great music and dancing are invited.

Please, Share. 
Tell your friends, neighbors, FB friends, dance friends, work friends, your kids' friends, music lovers... anyone really. If this is a hit, we'll do it more often!