Arthur Murray Dance Studio of Danbury, CT

Getting Married?
It wasn’t so long ago that a couple’s first dance , as special as it was, was only an effervescent memory -- a fact that was no small blessing for couples who happened to lack any experience with dancing. With the advent of home video, a newlywed couple's first dance is almost always recorded on tape, available down through the years for all of posterity to see. That’s why prospective brides and grooms want to give a more polished and graceful performance on the their big day. They are increasingly opting to take dance lessons to help prepare for what may be the performance of their lifetimes.

Learning to dance for your wedding is a special gift that you and your spouse-to-be can give to each other. Feeling confident and poised when you dance together will ensure that your very first dance together will be a memory you will cherish forever.

At Arthur Murray, we can help prepare you to make that performance a success. Since you are planning to get married, here are a few tips on learning to dance in preparation for your wedding:

- Most couples have chosen their "wedding song". If you plan to dance to a specific song at your
reception, please bring a recording of it to your dance lessons so you can work on it with your
instructor.

- Don’t wait until the last minute! Remember that your schedule will get very hectic as your
wedding day approaches. We recommend starting four to six months earlier to allow more time
for practice, especially if you are a newcomer to dancing.

- Besides the Waltz and other traditional dances, the Mambo/Salsa, Swing, Cha Cha, Hustle and
even the Samba are all applicable to popular music played at weddings today. If you start early
enough, you'll have time to pick up the basics in some of these dances as well.

- Remember that dance lessons can actually be a stress reliever. Dancing is good exercise.
Lessons will pull you out of the hustle and bustle of the day to spend an hour or so with your
intended, having fun and working together productively at the same time.

- Don’t forget to coordinate with your wedding videographer to get the best "coverage" of your
special dance. You'll need to talk to your DJ or wedding band as well so they don't cut short your
special dance. They're used to most couples who can't dance so you'll find they quickly get other
people on the dance floor to dance with you so you can "hide in the crowd".

You May Want To Know 8 out of 10 dancing schools in America were started by people without any previous or adequate dance training. They simply decided to hang out a shingle and teach. No license or examination is necessary. Anyone without any dance knowledge or training can profess to teach dancing. Your safest dance course is with an Arthur Murray expert.

How We Teach The Arthur Murray Studios teaching is on a scholastic basis, and degrees of dancing achieved are varied. Instruction progresses through: Student Introductory & Variety Programs, and Associate or Full Programs in Bronze, Silver, Gold, Gold Bar and Gold Star Standards. This system is called the Medalist System and is used worldwide. Courses are designed for people desiring instruction in either Social or Competition Styles. Additionally, we utilize a comparative style of teaching called the Arthur Murray Method, which enables students to learn the skills needed for dancing (not just steps) in the most efficient way possible. Our goal is to help you get out on the floor dancing as soon as possible.

Our Instructors Our instructors are carefully selected and trained to bring you the finest in dancing instruction. Working together they help you reach any dancing goal through individualized teaching utilizing the latest techniques and styles.

Private Lessons During your one-on-one private lessons, you will receive personalized instruction that will help you achieve your goals in dancing. Your instructor will spend the time necessary on technique, styling, and general dance improvement. An up-to-date record of everything you have learned will also be kept as part of your instruction.

Group Classes Group Classes are an important addendum to your private instruction. They give you the opportunity to dance with a variety of partners, develop good dance habits, and meet other students in the studio. In Group Classes we emphasize technique, style, and variation of patterns. You may be taught materials that your regular instructor hasn't introduced to you yet. Additionally, material that hasn't been introduced will be reviewed and practiced for improvement.

Practice Parties We hold scheduled dance parties (practice sessions) for all our students. These practice parties are held on a weekly or semi-monthly basis. You will have fun dancing with the instructors and students in a relaxed and comfortable environment. This gives you the opportunity to practice and try out all the new dance skills that you've learned in your Private and Group Lessons.

Medal Ball An Arthur Murray Medal Ball is a gala dance event honoring students who graduate from one level of their dance program to the next. Medal Balls also afford students the opportunity to enjoy their dancing in a fun and elegant setting. Showcase A Showcase is a one-day event where students present dance routines with personalized choreography. These routines make an exciting addition to your Medalist Program because they allow you to develop showmanship and musical expression along with your social dance skills.

Dance Sport/Competition A Dance Sport Competition is an exciting two or three day event that brings students together from many Arthur Murray studios to compete, at their level, in dances of their choice. This requires specialized dance training to polish and perfect choreography, technique, and style. The weekend is full of activities such as dance competitions, cocktail parties, dinner dances, and exciting professional shows.

Videotape Studies This method of instruction often reduces the time it takes to learn. "One picture is worth a thousand words". Video study is quite popular with many students and is included free of charge with any of our programs.