Changing Lives Through Dancing Blog by David Woodbury
We have now survived the last three years. Illness, loss, lockdowns, we’ve seen it all.
To this day I am still very thankful for the essential workers and businesses that kept up fed and healthy. For those small businesses that suffered and stayed open, it will get better.
Our Arthur Murray in Santa Monica has doubled in size in the last four months and we are fast tracking our growth for the end of the year. Yes, it is time to get back to dancing again.
I am calling the explosion of new students “revenge dancing”. We were cooped up for so long and our lives were put on hold for so very long. We are all finally ready to be together and dance again.
How to get started again. First, decide to dance today! Then, pick up your phone and call us, text us, email us, walk in our door, and schedule a lesson. Second, take your lesson and set up your schedule to attend weekly private, group, and practice party sessions. Ask you teacher about all the wonderful events coming up. We have shows starting at $20 per person, all the way up to the Arthur Murray World Competition in Las Vegas.
Dust off your old dance shoes. Purchase some new dance shoes. Pick a new favorite dance. Make the studio your gym, your therapy, your social outlet, your safe magic place to be.
The best way to enjoy your dancing is to be in a show and dance a spotlight. I know this idea sends shivers down some spines (for me as well), but you will love it. Many say, “I’m not ready to perform”. Well, you’re finally ready the moment you walk off the floor after you have given your first performance with your partner or teacher. Why, because the first feeling you’ll have after dancing is “I did it!” and you will want to dance another routine!
What are some other great reasons to get back to dancing? First, you can dust off the cobwebs. You can move with the music and get some great physical and mental exercise. You can heal after an illness. You can beat the blues. Anxiety and depression are killers, and dancing helps beat both of those angry beasts.
You’ll laugh a lot. You’ll be in the moment. You’ll have some fun. You will forget about all your worries and woes for just a bit and you’ll be off your cell phone for a while.
Ballroom dancing is transformative and regenerating. It is healing for those who are ill, those recovering, those getting ready for, or recovering from surgery. If you have experienced a loss recently, dancing will help with the healing and begin a new joy in your life. If you have dark days, dancing will help shine light into the darkness and show light in the tunnel of the dark night of the soul.
After almost five decades of dancing with Arthur Murray, I have personally been blessed with all the above benefits and continue to receive back much joy in my life from dancing. My goal is to continue to dance with Arthur Murray Dance Centers for the rest of my life. I have never burned out and I have never stopped my dancing. For me, continuing dancing is continuing life.
So, please pick up your cell phone and call Arthur Murray today and making dancing a part of your life. You’ll be happy you did!
Thanks for reading,
David Woodbury