Dance The Weekend Away In Vancouver Canada
Join us at the Vancouver Dance-O-Rama! We promise it will be a weekend to remember.
When: April 18 – April 21
Where: JW Marriott Parq Vancouver | Vancouver, BC, Canada
Travel Information:
JW Marriott Parq Vancouver
39 Smithe St, Vancouver, BC V6B 0R3, Canada
Vancouver International Airport
3211 Grant McConachie Way, Richmond, BC V7B 0A4
Contact Information:
Send all questions to [email protected]
About This Event:
The Most Anticipated Dance Event of 2024
World Dance-O-Rama is coming to New York City! Get ready for plenty of fun, delicious cuisine and non-stop dancing. Mark your calendar and make arrangements to be there!
When: March 20-24, 2024
Where: Mariott Marquis Times Square | New York, NY
Travel Information:
Mariott Marquis Times Square
1535 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
JFK Airport (JFK)
Queens, NY 11430
Contact Information:
Send all questions to [email protected]
Planning a wedding can be stressful for the soon-to-be newlywed couple. Personal lessons for your first dance offer the gift of quality time and can lead to a lifetime of dancing together.
Dance lessons also bring your families together for a shared experience before the wedding by providing an instructor and space to brush up on dance skills.
This is a great group activity for your entire wedding party also. You all can learn a spectacular dance to share online as a way to celebrate and remember your special Wedding day.
Weddings are a whirlwind. After months of preparation, the day goes by in what feels like a blink of an eye. But when you have learned to dance for your wedding, you and your beloved will get to take a pause during the festivities, when all eyes will be on you, and your eyes will only be on each other. It’s a magical moment, that first dance as a married couple, and when you are both moving across the dance floor, in each other’s arms, gazing into each other’s eyes, for just that one moment.
Wedding dances are something you’ll watch over and over again. You’re stepping out on the dance floor for your first dance together. Your family and friends are all taking out their phones to make videos! This is your chance to shine. Learning to dance, and not just shuffling around the dance floor in a series of circles, will give you a memory to treasure. Life has less awkward moments when you know how to dance.
Make your wedding dance unique. At Arthur Murray Dance Studios, we’ve choreographed dances for weddings for everything from a traditional Viennese Waltz to a jazzy swing dance, complete with dips, dives and yes, even flips! It’s all up to you.
When should you start dance lessons for a wedding? The best time to begin your dance lessons is around six months before your wedding date. That gives you enough time to master the basics, practice so that any wedding day jitters won’t throw you off, and even add a flourish or two to make the dance uniquely yours. Your Arthur Murray Dance instructor will be able to create a lesson plan that suits your schedule and will get you having fun on the dance floor.
Do I need to learn other dances for our wedding? That all depends on what you have planned. Just as you have thoroughly planned out the flowers, photographer and food, it’s good to plan out the dancing. Will you have a first dance after dinner? Or when you first walk into the reception after the ceremony? What about father/daughter or mother/son dances? Are there members of the family that you wish to honor with a special dance? Mapping everything out will ensure that your special day will be just the way that you and your beloved want it to be. Our experienced dance instructors can give you some suggestions about what other dances you’ll enjoy at your wedding.
Should group lessons be part of learning to dance for our wedding? Absolutely! There will be many people who want to dance with you at your wedding. Group lessons will help you learn to dance with people other than your beloved or your dance instructor. You’ll know where to place your hands and how to help your dance partner move across the dance floor because you will know exactly what to do. And if your dance partner hasn’t had lessons, you’ll help them look better. What a better way to make a great impression on your new in-laws!
What happens after the wedding’s over? The dances you learn for your wedding will be part of you both, forever. You’ll be the couple with confidence and style when you dance while on your honeymoon, at your friend’s weddings, on a cruise ship, at fundraising galas, corporate events, family celebrations and even during a quiet night at home that turns into a private dance party.
Learning to dance for your wedding at an Arthur Murray Dance Studio is a wonderful experience that will make your wedding and your new life together a romantic journey together!
Learn more about our wedding first dance Lesson packages.
]]>St. Louis resident Lola Donahue-Kim first discovered the world of dance lessons when she was living in Chicago. She walked by an Arthur Murray Dance Studio and was surprised to see so many people dancing in the middle of the afternoon. With her background in dance and theater, she was intrigued and went inside to see what the excitement was about.
Lola was a natural, and in six months, she had gone from teaching to managing the entire operation, one of the top five Arthur Murray Dance Studios in the international company.
Two years ago, an opportunity came that would bring her back home to St. Louis. Arthur Murray International was interested in seeing a studio open in her hometown, and Lola was ready to become a dance studio owner.
Like any new business, it took some time to find the exact right spot, but Lola found it at 14334 Manchester Road, just west of MO-141. The studio had to be completely built out from scratch, but it was perfect. The building has glass windows on not one, but three sides, giving it great light and a feeling of openness. The ceilings reach 18 feet high, adding to the open feeling, and make for a perfect setting to a dramatic, 180 piece crystal chandelier that spans five feet across that graces the studio’s ceiling.
It didn’t hurt that a large bridal company, Sincerely Yours Bridal, was located in the same shopping center. Helping couples and their families prepare for the first dance at their wedding has always been a large part of the Arthur Murray Dance Studio’s business.
On November 16, the doors of the new Arthur Murray Dance Studio of St. Louis opened with a party, starting with a ribbon cutting ceremony by Mayor Michael Clement and filled with friends from Lola’s days at the Chicago Arthur Murray Dance Studio and friends and family from St. Louis.
“This has been a dream for such a long time, and I’m so happy to be sharing it with friends who have danced with me for many years in Chicago and now will be part of the celebration on Saturday,” said Lola. “We are open and excited about becoming part of the community and bring the joys of dance to St. Louis.”
Also attending the grand opening celebration was Victoria Regan, Global Brand Ambassador representing Arthur Murray International, who made the opening remarks and welcomed the new studio to the world-wide Arthur Murray dance family.
The evening included a tribute to Robert Nakazawa, a longtime resident of Chicago who was a beloved member of the Arthur Murray Dance Studio family in Chicago. A 98-year old WWII U.S. Army veteran, he passed away on November 8 and Lola wished to recognize his importance to her and all of the students and teachers at her former studio.
]]>As we move into a new year and a new decade, a survey of Arthur Murray Dance Studios points to Bachata as the most popular dance of 2020, with Salsa a close second. Bachata is not a new dance, but has grown in recent years from dance clubs to mainstream. Bachata is one of a family of Latin dances, including Salsa, Cha Cha and Merengue, that are danced to upbeat music with lots of “Latin rhythm” – that’s dance-speak for swinging hips.
Bachata originated in the countryside of the Dominican Republic, and combines movements and music from the Dominican Republic, Africa, and Europe. It can be danced with partners holding each other in a close embrace, or fast, with dancers holding hands and maximizing their hip swivels. It’s a sexy dance and works well for couples who want to keep it simple, or for skilled dancers, who add more complex moves.
“Arthur Murray Dance Studios from New York to California have told us that students come in asking to learn Bachata because they saw people dancing in a club or on YouTube and they want to learn,” said Tom Murdock, Vice President, Events and Promotions at Arthur Murray International. “Students love it, because they can master the basics easily and as their skills grow, they can add different things, like twirls, turns or dips.”
Here’s what our studios had to say when asked about the most popular dance for 2020:
Gabriel Gamboa, from the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Ashburn, VA, said Bachata is on par with Salsa as the most popular Latin dance played at dance venues. Easy to learn the basics and lots of variations.”
Safwat Gerges, who owns Arthur Murray Dance Studios in Long Island, New York and several in the Middle East, says it’s all about Bachata: “The students enjoy incorporating their steps and turns into the Latin mid-tempo rhythms.”
In New York City Arthur Murray Dance Studio, Alexander Dokuleski says Bachata is on the way up: “Almost every student has done a routine in bachata, not just in my studio but in general in NYC, the bachata has taken over. By using very simple steps and patterns, people can feel they are moving in the rhythm.”
Arthur Murray Dance Studios are also getting a lot of requests for Salsa, a Latin dance that blends traditional Latin music and dance steps with a lot of turning actions. Salsa is a favorite because there are so many places to dance to Salsa, including parties and clubs. It’s also perfect on a crowded dance floor, because it can be moderated to take up relatively little space.
In Stockton, California, Salsa takes the lead, according to Madisen: “Salsa is the most popular over here! There are places to go salsa dancing, plus the teachers love to teach it. Three main reasons: we get it requested the most by new students, students who come in who would like to go out dancing end up learning salsa because of the ability to find live salsa music in our area, and the teachers love teaching it so they suggest it be added to every program.”
Bob Powers in Mesa, Arizona agrees with Madisen: “Almost every student has Salsa on their program.”
In addition to Bachata and Salsa, the Viennese Waltz has made a reappearance for wedding couples. In Highland Park, New Jersey, the Arthur Murray Dance Studio reports that no less seven couples are preparing for their wedding in 2020 have asked for dances to songs that are best suited to the Viennese Waltz. None of the songs are classical, as the rhythm of the Viennese Waltz transcends all musical genres.
They seem an unlikely trio – Bachata, Salsa and Viennese Waltz – but walk into any Arthur Murray Dance Studio, anywhere in the world, and the teachers are ready for whatever their students want to master. That includes the Hustle, the Quickstep, Country Western, Argentine Tango, Nightclub Two Step or a Swing Trot. If you can pronounce it, they can teach it.
As more people decide to put their phones down and have fun connecting with other people, dance studios are growing in popularity as much as Bachata! Many Arthur Murray Dance Studios around the world have special offers for beginners. And every Arthur Murray Dance Studio relies on a time-tested system to make learning to dance at any level fun. Arthur Murray Dance Studios can be found in 270 cities in 22 countries around the world. For more information, visit www.arthurmurray.com.
]]>About This Event:
Dance The Weekend Away In Vancouver Canada
Join us at the Vancouver Dance-O-Rama! We promise it will be a weekend to remember.
When: April 30 – May 3
Where: Westin Bayshore Hotel | Vancouver, BC, Canada
Travel Information:
The Westin Bayshore
1601 Bayshore Dr, Vancouver, BC V6G 2V4, Canada
Vancouver International Airport
3211 Grant McConachie Way, Richmond, BC V7B 0A4
Contact Information:
Send all questions to [email protected]
About This Event:
Grab a partner and meet us in Texas!
Everything is BIG in Texas, so don’t expect anything less than great dance and good times at the Texas Dance-O-Rama!
When: February 6-9, 2020
Where: Westin Memorial City Hotel | Houston, TX
Travel Information:
Westin Memorial City Hotel
945 Gessner Rd, Houston, TX 77024
George Bush Intercontinental Airport
2800 N Terminal Rd, Houston, TX 77032
Contact Information:
Send all questions to [email protected]
About This Event:
The Most Anticipated Dance Event of 2020
World Dance-O-Rama is going to the “Big Easy”! Get ready for plenty of fun, delicious cuisine and non-stop dancing. Mark your calendar and make arrangements to be there!
When: March 21-23, 2020
Where: Sheraton Hotel | New Orleans, LA
Travel Information:
Sheraton New Orleans Hotel
500 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130
New Orleans Airport (MSY)
1 Terminal Dr, Kenner, LA 70062
Contact Information:
Send all questions to [email protected]
Why is Ballroom Dancing SO Good For You?
The scientific evidence keeps mounting—ballroom dancing is great for the mind and body. And it doesn’t really matter what kind of dancing you do, as long as you are moving your body. At Arthur Murray Dance Studios, we have witnessed the changes that our students have enjoyed after making dance a regular part of their lives. But let’s look at the science behind dance’s many benefits first:
Dancing Benefits Your Brain and Cognitive Skills
When the prestigious Harvard Medical School’s Mahoney Neuroscience Institute Letter tells us that ballroom dancing does something positive for the brain, we’re all ears! The article, “Dancing and the Brain” references a study using PET imaging to shows how many regions in the brain are activated during dance learning and performance. In 2003, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine from researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine looked at 11 different kinds of physical activity but found that only one—dance—lowered participant’s risk of dementia.
Dance, reports The New York Times in the article “Is Dancing the Kale of Exercise,” provides multiple cognitive and physical health benefits. Here’s more proof:
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience – A 2017 German report analyzed brain scans from people who were an average of 68 years old and did either interval training or social dancing. Guess who had improved balance? The social dancers.
Ballroom Dancing Provides a Complete Body Workout
Ballroom dance lessons offers a complete workout for your body and mind, with the added attraction of meeting new people who also want to learn how to dance. It’s a complete package for well-being. Just as we know that laughter and socializing are important parts of a well-rounded life, learning to dance benefits the mind and the body.
Another frequently referenced study comes from Patricia McKinley of McGill University, where seniors participated in a tango program. The study, published in the 2008 Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, reported that long-term tango was associated with better balance and gait in older adults. Want to do something to prevent a fall? Get on the dance floor.
How Does Dance Make You Feel?
Everyone smiles on the dance floor. We see it every day. A familiar song, the anticipation of moving across the dance floor in your partner’s arms, and the enjoyment of mastering a new dance puts a smile on every dancer’s face. And we feel better physically after we dance, as the body is put through an aerobic workout that’s fun. But that’s just the start of the benefits of your ballroom dance journey.
Burning Up The Dance Floor Burns Up Calories Too!
Burning fat and having fun usually don’t go in the same sentence, but in a dance studio, they do! Just look at the dancers on competitive dance shows and their non-dance partners. By the end of the season, the new dancers have lost weight and become more toned. That’s because ballroom dance is a low-impact aerobic activity that burns through a lot of calories. You can go running or bicycling, but we think you’ll have more fun in the dance studio.
Another benefit to ballroom dance and weight loss: commitment. How many times have you joined a gym in January, only to stop going in February? But when people make a decision to have fun and get fit in a ballroom dance studio, they stick with the program—because they are having a great time.
Here’s what a regular schedule of ballroom dance can do for you:
- Aerobic activity is great for heart and lung health
- Increased use of muscles creates strength and enhances flexibility
- Coordination and balance skills improve
- Brain training through learning repetitive patterns that requires concentration and awareness
- Socialization with people with a shared interest
Dance Is A Weight-Bearing Activity Which Builds Bone Strength As Well As Muscle Strength
The Department of Health and Human Services recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week, or a combination of the two. The guidelines suggested spreading this out through the course of a week. The Mayo Clinic says a good goal is about 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity.
Don’t be surprised if you start a dance program and have some new aches – chances are good you’re using muscles you haven’t used before. There’s a lot of moving that we don’t do in our day-to-day lives, especially moving backwards, which we aren’t used to. These aren’t treadmill steps, which tend to be repetitive and less flowing. We also know that walking on a treadmill can be tough on the knees. But ballroom dancing involves long, flowing movements that stretch muscles throughout the body.
We Say That If You’re Having Fun, You’ll Be Sure To Be More Active.
You know how at the start of every year, you promise yourself to be more active? You may even join a local gym. The year begins with the best of intentions, and then by March, your sneakers are gathering dust. Those new workout clothes you bought haven’t moved out of the closet since February.
We know exactly what you’re up against. Going to the gym, where you’ll be walking in a long row of treadmills, or working up a sweat on the elliptical while surrounded by television screens, bright fluorescent lights and people who are all wearing ear buds, isn’t really what we want to do.
Here’s A Different Picture, At An Arthur Murray Dance Studio
No one’s wearing ear buds. People who come to the dance studio are looking for a fun, fitness and social experience. They aren’t staring at a screen either. Cell phones are tucked away in handbags or coat pockets. This is their “me” time, when they’re focused on their instructor, the other dancers, the music and the feeling of gliding across the dance floor as they learn a traditional waltz, or getting their rhythm on when mastering the Latin dances. It’s a friendly, welcoming environment and everyone’s come for the same reason: learning to dance, having fun and making new friends.
At Arthur Murray Dance Studios, it’s more than a lesson –it’s a lifestyle!
About This Event:
Hularama is returning on January 15th, 2020! This year’s event is at the beautiful Grand Wailea Resort in Maui, Hawaii.
Travel Information:
Grand Wailea Maui
3850 Wailea Alanui Dr, Wailea, HI 96753
Kahului Airport (OGG)
Connect through Honolulu International (HNL)