Category: Dancing

  • Week 20 5-19-23 “Two Ballroom Students Who Changed My Life!”

    Changing Lives through Dancing by David Woodbury                                        Arthur Murray Santa Monica When I began in 1975 as a student, it was the beginning of a magical life journey for me. I was very young and inexperienced, but I had talent, passion, and I was hungry to learn and grow. At 20 years old, I…

  • “Dancing is Good for Your Heart and Body”

    Changing Lives through Dancing by David Woodbury                                        Arthur Murray Santa Monica I’m not a medical doctor, but I have seen dancing heal a lot of broken hearts and bodies. I’ve had students who had truly bad physical hearts. They had experienced strokes, high blood pressure, fainting spells, open heart surgery(s). Many were on a…

  • “Three Things That Keep You From Dancing” 

    Changing Lives through Dancing by David Woodbury – Arthur Murray Santa Monica The three major causes of illness are: Fear Anger Depression (Sadness) Why do I write about such a sad, dark subject? Well, for most people, the past three years have been very challenging. At home, work, school, worship, health, career, family and friendships. All…

  • “Is it too late to start dancing?” 4-28-23

    Changing Lives through Dancing by David Woodbury                                        Arthur Murray Santa Monica “I’m too old to dance” “I’m too fat and my knees hurt” “It’s too expensive and I can’t afford it” “What would my (our) kid’s say?” “What would my friends think?” “Is it safe?” “I’m too busy” “I’m not good enough” Guess what?…

  • An Unposted Blog from 4-10-20 – Great Enthusiasm! (Posted 6-17-20)

    4-10-20 “I’ve Found Some Joy in These Dark Times!”   “The great end of art is to strike the imagination with the power of a soul that refuses to admit defeat even in the midst of a collapsing world.” – Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 – 1900) German philosopher   First, a huge thank you for all our…

  • No 40 9-28-18 “Dancing Will Change Your Life”

    Our Mission Statement at Arthur Murray Santa Monica is: Dancing Will Change Your Life!” David Woodbury  (1956) Arthur Murray Dance Professional In 1975, a friend invited me to a dance party at the Arthur Murray in Nashville, Tennessee. I loved it and became a ballroom dance student. Disco was the rage then and my teacher…

  • No 38 9-21-18 “We will never give up”

    “There is a sense of exhilaration that comes from facing head-on the hard truths and saying, “We will never give up. We will never capitulate. It might take a long time, but we will find a way to prevail.” – Jim Collins, from his book, Good to Great (1958) American business consultant Ever want to give up or…

  • No 38 9-14-18 “Obscure Heroes”

      “Man’s greatest actions are performed in minor struggles. Life, misfortune, isolation, abandonment and poverty are battlefields which have their heroes – obscure heroes who are at times greater than illustrious heroes.” – Victor Hugo (1802-1885) French Writer Have you had a hero in your life? My dad was my hero in every way. When…

  • No 36 9-7-18 “To Discover Ability in Others”

    “It is a fine thing to have ability, but the ability to discover ability in others is the true test.” – Elbert Hubbard (1856 – 1915) American writer, publisher, artist, and philosopher Today as an older dancer, I love to discover the great new dancers of today and help them grow and mature to their full…

  • No 35 8-31-18 “Go out and do something kind for somebody”

    “When you find yourself overpowered, as it were, by melancholy, the best way is to go out and do something kind for somebody.”