Goodyear Civic Square will host an evening of free dance workshops Friday, May 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. at 1900 N. Civic Square.
Fred Astaire Dance Studios will offer lessons in a variety of dance styles, including Bachata, Salsa and Country Line Dancing. Food trucks will also be on site for attendees.
Fred Astaire Dance Studios, which operates franchised studios across North America and internationally, requires all locations to maintain high standards through the International Dance Council and a certified curriculum, according to the company.
Among the featured dances is the Country Western Two-Step. According to Fred Astaire Dance Studios, country western dance originated not solely in the United States but through a mixture of influences from European settlers, African-American communities, and the American cowboy culture. Many traditional steps, such as open-legged stances and heel-toe turns, likely developed due to the realities of dancing in cowboy boots and spurs. Country western dancing today includes partner styles such as the Two-Step and group formats like line and square dancing.
Salsa, also offered at the event, draws from Cuban Son and Afro-Cuban Rumba traditions. Fred Astaire Dance Studios states that Salsa evolved into multiple styles, including Cuban, Columbian, Los Angeles, and New York styles. The studio teaches Salsa based on Mambo patterns, but with the timing adjusted to begin on the first beat of music.
Bachata, another dance style being taught, originated in the Dominican Republic in the early 20th century. According to Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Bachata incorporates Indigenous, African and European elements, and was once censored during the Trujillo dictatorship before flourishing across Latin America and Europe. Bachata is typically characterized by a three-step movement with a hip motion on the fourth beat.
Fred Astaire Dance Studios of Goodyear offers a variety of programs, including wedding dance instruction and private lessons, and is promoting a special introductory offer for new students.
