In our line of work, we never know who will walk through our door and allow dancing to become a part of their lives.  We are blessed by our greatest teachers each and every day, our students.  Each person we come in contact with gives us a gift just by being at the studio for any length of time.

 Like any good chemical reaction, when we come in contact with a student we are all effectively transformed.  Take for example the dear departed Mr. Robert Lint.  He inspired many of us with his humor, his zest for life, and his quotable sayings.  I still quote him and tell people about his life lessons.  Teaching Mr. Lint broadened my horizons, and I will eternally be grateful for the opportunity to have worked with him.  Always willing to strive to improve, he eagerly took coaching from each traveling consultant and any new teacher.  Humble to a T, he never let an unkind word slip his lips.  When we would fuss about his heel leads, he would concentrate and do them better in his Tango.  And of course when we would fuss about his frame, he would concentrate and pick his elbows up.  Every now and again, he’d remind me that he was happy in the Bronze, and that they made him bump into Silver.  That was as close as he ever came to a protest…and he always did it with an impish grin.  We’d prepare for a showcase or a Dance-O-Rama, and when he didn’t always win first place he never let it bring him down.  He’d smile and say “Nobody bats a thousand.”  We’d sometimes chat during a water break, and I once asked him if he ever dreamed about his dancing.  He said sometimes he’d have one of those dreams where you struggle through the dance and can’t seem to remember the steps, but other times he’d dream about the kind of dance when everything just comes together right with the music.  He told the story of his first showcase, where he missed a pattern and Karen whispered to him during the dance “It’s ok, just do another box” and sure enough they came right out with the music.  He explained how impressed he’d been that she knew just what to do to make it come out alright with the music.  Even though he was a bit of a worry-wart, he was willing to be coaxed.  One trip to Hawaii he said he’d never be willing to walk on the beach because those crabs might nip his toes, but sure enough when we offered to help him on and off with his socks and shoes he took a walk on a sandy beach.  His laugh was best when it inevitably lead to a snort, and he loved to laugh.  This man taught us many things, and his spirit touched and changed the people he came into contact with.  He studied the dances in earnest, and tried his best.  He would welcome any new student and say “Don’t worry, just do what I do” and he knew exactly when he should try leading his Silver patterns and when to keep it more basic.  His spirit lives on in the way that I teach, tempering exactness with humor and a sense of adventure.

Each person whose lives we touch equally touches our lives, our hearts, and our teaching is adjusted.  When a student asks a question, we learn how and when to answer with authority, and when to humbly ask a fellow teacher or coach for help.  We grow and become better versions of ourselves each time we are challenged.  Sometimes it is mysterious, the way in which we are transformed.  And sometimes it is so obvious to us, even our families notice a change. 

In this season of reflection, we thank each student (past and present) for the blessing of time spent together growing.  We can only suspect that the imprint each of you have left on all of us is matched by the imprint dancing has left on each of you.  We look forward to the future lessons as we each learn from each other.

In social dancing, the roles are fairly clearly defined.  The man leads, and the woman follows.  There are several things that are implied by these roles, and as we study each part there are some interesting challenges.  

The leader is expected to guide his woman on the dance floor, navigate, keep time, protect her from other couples and inanimate objects, and indicate when she should turn.  The follower is expected to understand and interpret into motion the direction and timing he is guiding her.  In order to lead, the man certainly needs to know and learn many things, and use his analytical skills in problem solving and of course learn combinations of patterns to keep things from getting stale or boring (for himself, or his lady!).  

The lady’s learning cycle is a bit strange, because she is taught through analytical means a whole bunch of possibilities…and then she is asked to relinquish control!  She learns all manner of spins and turns and timings, and then she has to remain open to the moment and do her level best not to anticipate his movement.  Once someone learns how to do something it becomes more challenging to delay and let someone else decide.  For instance, if you have ever sat beside a friend who is playing a form of solitaire or freecell…it takes a lot of self-control not to shout out when you see this friend miss an opportunity.  As a lady dancer, it is sometimes the same degree of self-control to breathe, relax, and let him decide when and how she should turn.

CORAL GABLES, FL – DEC 14 Arthur Murray International congratulates Nothumbria University in Scotland for groundbreaking social research that confirms what men and women in the dance world have known for centuries: women are skilled judges of men’s dance moves as a means of judging their health, strength and attractiveness as potential mates.

“The study is fancinating to us in the dance world. By using the latest in 3D motion capture technology, these researchers drilled down to the precise moves that women identify as indicators of a good partner. This totally validates what we have told our men students for years – women love men who can dance,” said Thomas Murdock, Vice President Marketing and Promotions at Arthur Murray International, the iconic global dance organization.

This particular study, from Northumbria’s School of Life Sciences, filmed 19 male volunteers with a 3D camera as they danced to a basic rhythm. Their movements were mapped onto featureless avatars that were then presented to a group of 25 women who were asked to rate their physical attractiveness.

As it turns out, Elvis was right on target: large and varied movements involving the neck and the trunk made all the difference.

There have been many studies that have proven the power of dance when it comes to attracting women to men. What does this mean on the dance floor?

According to Murdock, popular dances that move these body parts include the Tango, which involves quick head movements, and the Salsa which uses syncopated body rhythms to express the music.

The study, led by psychologist Dr Nick Neave and researcher Kristofor McCarty, was published in the Royal Society Journal Biology Letters. Northumbria is an internationally acclaimed modern university in the heart of the historic City of Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England.

Arthur Murray Dance Centers can be found throughout American and Canada and in Australia, Brazil, England, Egypt, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Latvia, Mexico, South Africa, Taiwan, and United Arab Emirates. More than 40 million people have learned to dance at Arthur Murray Dance Centers. For more information about ballroom dance, visit the Arthur Murray International website.

BIDS FAREWELL TO A BELOVED DANCE PARTNER

CORAL GABLES, FL – May 13 – It was with great sadness that Arthur Murray International learned of the passing of Doris Eaton Travis, an iconic lady of dance, in the morning of Tuesday, May 11th.

Throughout her life, Doris made a huge contribution and a lasting impression on the Arthur Murray organization. In April 2009, at age 105, she took part in the Arthur Murray International Franchisee Convention.  Phil Masters, Chairman of the Board of Directors, who knew Mrs. Travis since the 1950s, described her presentation as “brilliant, witty, charming, and an inspiration.”  Doris spoke about her love of dance, life, and the more than three decades that she was a highly successful part of the Arthur Murray Dance Studio system.

In 1936, when Doris’ stage and film career had slowed, she was having a difficult time finding employment.   A friend was taking her son to the Arthur Murray Dance Studio for tap lessons, and mentioned that the studio’s top tap dancing instructor was leaving.  Doris went into the studio to meet with Arthur Murray.  She introduced herself as a member of the Eaton family, a theatrical family well-known and respected by everyone in the theater and performing arts of New York.  Doris began teaching tap at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio the very next day.  It was to be a collaboration that lasted for the rest of her life.

As she learned more about the studio and social dancing, Doris was invited to attend Mr. Murray’s training course for instructors.  Within a year, she was asked to help one of the instructors open a branch studio in located within The Statler Hotel in Detroit.  When management at the hotel changed, she was part of the early franchise system, opening Arthur Murray Dance Studios throughout Detroit and Michigan.    At one point, Doris and her husband Paul, who she met while teaching, ran as many as 18 studios throughout Michigan.

Known as “The Arthur Murray Lady,” she authored a column of dance advice and commentary for the Detroit News entitled “On Your Toes” and hosted a local television program for seven years.  But her influence extended far way beyond Michigan.  She returned to visit with Arthur Murray family often, and was a featured guest at the international convention in 2009.

Every member of the Arthur Murray family remembers her as an inspirational woman, who believed that ballroom dance was something everyone could enjoy, at any age or stage of life.

John Kimmins, President of AMI, remembering Doris:

“She’s a legend in the dance world, and always an inspiration for the entire Arthur Murray family.   We’ve been proud of her enthusiasm, spirit, and energy.  At 105, she was actively involved in ballroom dancing and her passion for teaching seemed boundless.”

Claudia Marshall, owner of two Arthur Murray Studios in Dallas and International Training Director for AMI, who was a good friend and dance colleague:

“Doris constantly traveled to Cuba and South America to learn the latest Latin dances and bring them back to the Arthur Murray Studios.  She was a brilliant teacher.    Long before the national

Arthur Murray Dance Party produced by Arthur and Kathryn, Doris produced a local Detroit Dance Show that aired every week and was wildly popular.”

Two weeks ago, during the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS annual Easter benefit, something she started doing in 1998, Doris told Claudia: “Best years of my life were the Arthur Murray years.”

Doris Eaton Travis will be missed..….and long remembered by all whose lives she touched.

Sometimes at our studio we hold special (sometimes themed) Open House evenings, during which time we also invite our current students and any newbies to come to Arthur Murray for an evening of fun and learning.  The evening usually includes a basic ballroom, swing or salsa class. We invite our students (and sometimes the staff) to put on a little floor show so our guests can see what kind of dancing we have available in our studio.

The most special part of these open house events is feeling like we are sharing a special social treasure with a new person who may in that evening discover a joy that can be hard to verbalize or even predict.  Sometimes dancing at Arthur Murray feels like being part of an extended family…we expand our social sphere and our comfort zone and becoming a social dancer also broadens our horizons in ways we cannot imagine. 

For example, one of our gentleman dance students took his snazzy dance shoes and newfound leading skills on a few cruises, and began making friends from all over the country.  Since then he has been invited to be a dance host on cruises, he has been invited to black tie affairs (in Washington and New York) to be someone’s dance escort, and he enjoys a very active social life! 

There is never a bad time to start learning to dance.  It’s never too late or too early.  You don’t have to be a certain age, and you don’t even have to bring a partner.  We hope that you come to an open house (if you haven’t already) and enjoy our hospitality.  We also hope you know it is possible to start at any time.  You don’t have to know someone who knows someone, all you have to do is call!  We can arrange at any time for a friend to come and have an introductory lesson at the same time you are in a class or lesson if they need a little moral support to get started.

It can sometimes be difficult to keep progress in perspective.  It is in our human nature to constantly be striving for improvement, which gives us tools that include a critical eye and mind.  We unconsciously categorize things as good or bad, better or worse.  It is part of what drives us toward our goals.  Although some might call it primitive, this fear of failure or craving for recognition and “winning” is coded in our DNA and is tied to our primal survival instinct.

It is no surprise then, that on our journey of learning to dance we become our own worst critic.  It takes great skill and mental acuity to catch ourselves in the act of berating our own efforts.  In such moments the best thing we can do is pause, take a breath, and look back at how far we’ve come since we began.

It helps to have a mentor or a coach along the way who can laugh with us, joke with us and gently poke fun at the good old days when we were pigeon-toed in that picture, or back in the early days when someone told us we weren’t keeping our frame, and celebrate the progress we have enjoyed so far.  Seeing really good dancers who seem flawless now, it is nearly impossible to imagine them ever having been a beginner.  If you ever have a chance to chat with some of these wonderful dancers, it is astounding how many of them are quite humble and willingly tell stories of the awkwardness they had to overcome through practice and repetition. 

Inside our minds and hearts we all have in some measure the pressure to achieve more.  Some of us even feel shame for not accomplishing more.  Where did all this pressure come from?  Where is the pride in our accomplishments so far and the kindness to our current self?  

In the grand scheme of things, it is natural to want more.  It is also important to stop and celebrate and remind ourselves where we came from.  Enjoy the journey.  Growth is not always comfortable, but it is always worthwhile.

Bacara is offering a three course dinner for two at a special centennial rate ($100) with advance reservations. 

The event begins at 7, and we will be celebrating Arthur Murray’s life and legacy the best way we know how; by throwing a fantastic birthday dance party complete with dance classes for the shy beginners, a rocking dance party for dance enthusiasts of all ages with any level (or no level) of experience with dancing, demonstrations and other fun surprises. 

There will also be studios live-streaming their various in-studio events on the internet, so find us on facebook for updates on where to log on and see this historic 24 hour world-wide web birthday coverage from studios in more than 20 countries!  For all you history buffs, check out this incredible website that includes youtube links and lots more information about our fearless leader, Arthur Murray!

We hope some of you can join us at the birthday party on April 4th up here in beautiful Santa Barbara, but if you happen to be reading this from a distance too great, just look up the Arthur Murray closest to you to find out if they have anything special planned.  =)