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It's official. Official act of Congress official. Thanks to Nigel Lythgoe of So You Think You Can Dance and a Washington, D.C., congresswoman, this Saturday (July 31) will be the first National Dance Day.

The day aims to promote a healthy lifestyle and strong self-esteem by celebrating dance — but it's really just about encouraging everyone to get up and get down with their bad selves.

Start by learning the National Dance Day routine choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo from FOX's hit reality show “So You Think You Can Dance.” Watch it online to learn on your own here:

www.youtube.com/user/dizzyfeetfoundation#p/a/u/0/zKUyp1GMQVg

or stop by Pure Fitness in Chandler at 12:30 p.m. for a group workshop.

www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=100423866683136&index=1

For those looking to go all out, Phoenix's thriving dance community will be full of opportunities to bust a few moves.

July 31 is also when Lady Gaga's Monster Ball Tour hits the desert, so 101.5 JamZ is hosting a Lady Gaga Dance-Off from 5 to 6 p.m. in the US Airways Center Courtyard before the concert.

A number of dance and fitness studios in the Valley will be offering free or discounted classes and workshops:

SAS Dance Studio

Sasdance.com/danceday.html

Express MiE Fitness and Beauty

Myemail.constantcontact.com/You-are-invited----Celebrate-SYTUCD-National-Dance-Day-with-MiE-this-Saturday.html?soid=1102184430391&aid=lv47-I4Ym7Q

Paragon Dance Center

www.paragondance.net/NationalDanceDay.asp

KU Studios

www.kustars.com

There aren't any flash mobs currently planned for Phoenix according to the FOX website, but that doesn't mean life can't still turn into a musical for a few minutes on National Dance Day. Get a group together, learn some simple choreography, meet up in a busy public place (seemingly going about your individual everyday business), then blast the music and dance. Tah-Dah! Real-life musical.

Celebrating National Dance Day can be simple and easy too, though. Gather up a few friends and do the Jerk. Or the Cupid Shuffle, the YMCA, the Electric Slide, the Cha Cha Slide, the Chicken Dance or the Soulja Boy dance. Go out dancing, blast some music and freestyle around the house, slow dance, or just rent a dance movie — maybe review the first two Step Up movies before the third one comes out August 6. If it relates to dance, it counts.

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