“What was the Best Part of your Lesson Today?” 

Changing Lives through Dancing by David Woodbury                                      

Arthur Murray Santa Monica

We are so blessed at our school to have many couples. Many take lessons for their weddings, the couple’s first dance, Mother-Son and Father-Daughter dances. Many are coming in wanting a fun hobby and wanting to learn the popular dances of today.

The first lessons are so exciting. The hardest thing that they do is walk in the door for the first time. Then it’s easy from there on out. The initial lesson sets the tone for all future lessons and dancing at Arthur Murray. We love to demonstrate the couple’s first dance to their chosen first dance song. The guys especially love this because they have no idea what we are going to show them. This performance gives the leaders hope and encouragement and joy to the followers.

Our number one goal for wedding couples is to honor our brides and present them on their first dance. We teach the leaders to showcase their partners and take care of them on the dance floor.

Years ago, one of my new brides asked me what was the purpose of the first dance. She said that the first dance is a thank you to all the guests who have attending that day. They have taken a day off, traveled, gotten all dressed up, brought gifts all to support the newlyweds. The first dance is a moment to recognized and thank everyone for coming. I love that thought.

When the first lesson couples come into chat with me after their lesson, I always ask, “What was the best part of your lesson today?” It’s my happiest part of the chat. I hear so many lovely answers. Leaders: “I found out I could do the dance”. Followers: “It was such a great time of connecting and partnership together”. Both of them: “We love spending time together.”

After new couples enroll, then we schedule the lessons. This is such a wonderful part of the planning. I remind them to have dinner with every lesson to have a date night each session. I share with them that for most couples, the dance lessons are the best part of the wedding.

For couples who want to social dance together, they love the fact that we have group classes and dance parties for practicing. They love meeting other students and working with the different instructors. Some of our couples come in with the “dance for a lifetime” mentality and they make social dancing a part of their lives.

For me personally, the best part of dancing for me is the happiness I have from the anticipation of dancing and then the actual dancing with my partner. I love getting ready to come into the studio by looking good, feeling good, and just coming in to dance. Even when I spritz cologne, I do it on my right side, so I give my followers a lift with a great scent.

In my life, I hope and pray that I’m able to come in many, many more days to dance, teach, learn, share, and perform. It’s such a bright spot in my day, and in my life.

So, for you, what was the best part of YOUR dancing today? I hope you are able today that you DID dance today and that it was wonderful, exciting and full of great movement and energy.

Thank you for reading and Keep on Dancing!

David Woodbury