Dancing can breathe new life into a tired soul, make a spirit soar, unleash locked-away creativity, unites and cultures, inspire new romances or rekindle old ones, trigger long-forgotten memories, and turn sadness into joy. Dancing in itself is pleasurable enough, but this pleasure is easily multiplied many times over All it takes is a few moments to discover and reflect upon the extraordinary significance of dance, both historically and today. It has powerful, life-supporting, and life-enhancing benefits. Dance is an absolute expression of the whole human being. Fred Astaire Dance Studios is the only dance company maintaining that concept at the core of it's philosophy. We know that dance is an activity capable of enhancing all aspects of life. Our knowledge of this value, acquired through many years of experience in teaching dance, is reinforced by expert research showing that dance is the one activity that can improve so many features of a person's life: Physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being.
Physical Benefits
Fitness
Coordination
Balance
Organ Conditioning
heart, lungs, skin.
Flexibility
Strength
Endurance
Sleep
Posture
Reaction/Response Time
Bone Health
Reduced Illness & Injury
Mental Benefits
Intellectual Stimulation
Calculation & Planning
Listening
Sequential Learning
Patterns
Spatial development
Motivation to learn
Mental Flexibility & Problem Solving
Holistic Thinking
right & left brain inclusion.
Arts Appreciation
Task Performance
career, hobby, academic, and chores.
Musicality & Rhythmic expression
Creative Expression
Imagination
Innovation
Memory
Focus
Emotional Benefits
Fun
Confidence & Poise
Self Esteem & Sense of Accomplishment
Self-Discipline
Persistence
Mental Relaxation
Accuracy
Openness to New Ideas
Overall Good Mood
Social Benefits
Friendship
Romance
Cooperation
Teamwork
Individual & Group Exploration
Communication
Travel
Keep Lessons Close Together
Attending just 3 lessons within 7 days of your introductory lesson helps you improve your rate of retention up to 90%.
It is said that the only reason people forget information is because time passes between their repeated exposure to it.
When too much time lapses from one dance lesson to the next
life's clutter makes it harder for you to remember some of the material you were introduced to. The result? Your teacher must go back over some of the lesson points to help you get back up to speed.
Learning to dance, like all learning, requires that lessons be close together, especially at the beginning.
Adults make up the majority of our student body
and we are know that they have important commitments and responsibilities in their daily lives. That is the reason that we encourage a balance: one that serves life's demands, while still meeting your goal to become a better dancer.
When you minimize time lapses between one lesson and the next, you maximize your time, money and effort.
In other words, you preserve your resources while becoming a better dancer.
You will learn significantly more in your first three or four lessons by keeping them close together in contrast to spacing them a week apart.
Once you have mastered basic skills and concepts, it will be possible to spread lessons further apart without sacrificing your learning.
A firm foundation is the key to becoming a better dancer faster.
Maximize your investment and gain a higher level of retention.
Introductory Packages
New students only. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers. One offer per new students or couple. All lessons must be used within one week of purchase.
3 Sessions
One 30-Minute Private Lesson, One 40 Minute Group Session, One 1 1/2 Hour Practice Party.
$60.00
Original Value$141.00
4 Sessions
Two 30-Minute Private Lessons, One 40 Minute Group Session, One 1 1/2 Hour Practice Party.
$100.00
Original Value$222.00
How We Teach
Fred Astaire Franchised Dance Studios uses a unique method of teaching known as the Three-tiered System. It includes regularly scheduled private instruction, geoup lessons, and practice parties. It is the quickest and easiest way to learn how to dance.
Private lessons
Private lessons are the best way to learn because it permits abilities and talents to be honored quickly. Special attention is given to troubled areas and can be addressed immediately. The value and necessity of private instruction is essential because it is tailored specifically to each individual student.
Group Lessons
Group lessons are designed to enhance the information learned in provate lessons, as they go hand-in-hand with each other. They focus on the technique and intricacies of each dance. Group lessons are a fun way to practice leading and following skills while changing partners.
Practice Parties
Practice parties give you a wonderful opportunity to practice what you have learned in your private and group lessons with various partners, staff, students, and other guests. Dancing in this relaxed environment eases any stres of dancing in front of other people while building confidence in all of your future dancing.
Fred Astaire Trophy System
The Fred Astaire Trophy System is an easy way for you to track your progress while you enjoy dancing. Our Social and Advanced Foundation Programs teach beginner students the step patterns and techniques to move comfortably on the dance floor with any partner.
Beginner Program
A great way for you, or you and a partner, to learn some of the basic elements of dance, the different tempos of music, and to get an understanding of what you would like to gain from your dancing. The Beginners Program is the first level, so you can become a confident and comfortable social dancer.
Social Foundation
This program is designed to solidify the basic elements of your dancing, while enabling you to be comfortable in any social dance environment. The Social Foundation program includes an introduction to the various step patterns and techniques as well as dance tempos and the fundamentals of a good lead for a man or following for a woman.
Bronze
The Bronze Program continues your dancing with emphasis on the perfect blend of style, technique, and versatility in the most popular dances. You will learn a wide variety of steps in all of the popular dances while enhancing step patterns, appearance, partnership, and expression. In a short period of time, the Social Bronze dancer gains the poise and confidence that enables them to dance with multiple partners to varieties of music.
Styles of Dance
Cha-Cha
The mid-tempo Cha-Cha is a spin off of the Rumba and the Mambo. With it's two slow steps followed by three quick, this sensual and energetic dance is extraordinarily popular with young and old dancers, alike.
Foxtrot
The Foxtrot is a classic dance for wedding receptions and a true American favorite. The dance travels around the room in a counterclockwise direction in a basic rhythm of slow-slow-quick-quick.
Mambo
Perez Prado in the mid-1950's took the rhythm of the dances performed by the sugar-cane cutters and syncopated it. This dance may be described as a riff or a Rumba with a break on 2 and 4 in 4/4 time.
Waltz
The Waltz was born in the suburbs of Vienna. It gained popularity through the music of Johann Strauss. This easy and flowing dance is still commonly seen at weddings and other social events.
Rumba
Slow and romantic, the Rumba is the most sensual of the Latin dances. Rumba is sometimes referred to as the "Dance of Love" because couples stare deeply into each other's eyes while dancing.
Tango
The Tango is a sensual and dramatic dance that originated in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Widely considered to be the "dancer's dance," it has become even more popular due to it's presence in films like, "The Scent of a Woman".
Merengue
The Merengue is the national dance of the Dominican Republic. It is known for it's liveliness, with a step on every beat, knee action, and hip action from side to side. It is perfect for small, crowded dance floors.
Viennese Waltz
Born in Vienna, the Viennese Waltz twirls around the dance floor in a fast-paced whirl of elegance. The fast whirling of partners, as if locked in an embrace, shocked polite Viennese society when it first developed.
Samba
Originally from Brazil, the festive Samba is characterized by a steady bounce achieved by bending and straightening the knees, while weight is transferred from the ball to the flat of the foot. This dance is always fun.
Quickstep
Quickstep is a light, bright, twinkling, and happy dance. It circles the floor in intricate patterns and breathtaking pace; fast and furious. Believe it or not, the Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love" is a Quickstep.
Swing
The Swing started in the 20's, along with the explosion of jazz music. Many different forms of Swing exist, such as the Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Jive, and the Shag. However, all of them include turns and intricate hand movements.
Paso Doble
The dance of the Matador and his cape, the Paso Doble captures the romance and passion of the bullring that combines the regal stature of pride and dignity for the man and a beautiful fluidity and elegance for the lady.
Argentine Tango
Fashionable and trendy, the Argentine Tango is danced from Buenos Aires to New York to Paris and back. It can be a life-long obsession that involves intricate patterns, flicks, fans, and excellent partnering skills.
West Coast Swing
The sexiest of the Swing style dances, West Coast patterns coax and flirt in and out of each other's arms.
Hustle
The Hustle has had resurgence in recent years since it was famously, or infamously, danced by John Travolta in the 70's. Fast-paced, Hustle is danced in clubs by experts and novices, alike.
Bolero
The most romantic of the Latin dances, Bolero is a sensual interplay between partners.
Your First Dance to Romance
Your wedding dance is the first time you hold one another as husband and wife. Let the embrace allow you to feel confident and move beautifully as your friends and family come together to celebrate with you.
When they announce at your wedding
"We would like to welcome the bride and groom to the dance floor to begin their lives together with their first dance." What will you do?
Do not leave the most important part of your wedding to chance.
This will be the first time all of your loved ones see you together on the dance floor as husband and wife.
You can make it something truly special that will last a lifetime.
At Fred Astaire, we will work with you on choreography for any dance you choose by creating elegant, but simple steps that go along with your song.
Step out on that dance floor feeling like you have been dancing for years. We recommend starting lessons, at least, three months before your big day.
We also offer special packages designed just for you or your entire wedding party.
This could include the parents of the bride and groom, as well as members of your wedding party. This is the first dance for the rest of your lives.
Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Fort Myers is proud to boast that we have been a member of the Fort Myers community for over 40 years! Our studio has been able to educate dancers of all levels for over four decades.
We have highly trained, full-time instructors competing on National levels who love to teach both International and American Ballroom and Latin Dances. We teach private lessons, offer group classes, and even provide weekly social mixers to practice what you have been learning. The Fred Astaire Dance Studios method of teaching is the easiest and most fun way to learn.
We pride ourselves on being a warm and welcoming place to come to learn to dance. Our dance instructors have dedicated their lives to truly knowing their craft and train daily to perfect it. We truly believe that we are affecting peoples lives daily and we look forward to doing the same for you.