Arthur Murray Chicago Ballroom Dance Studio

Science Identifies The Precise Move That Women Love: Seduction On The Dance Floor

ami_support — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 18:08:18 +0000

Science Identifies The Precise Move That Women Love: Seduction On The Dance Floor

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.

ARTHUR MURRAY INTERNATIONAL BIDS FAREWELL TO A BELOVED DANCE PARTNER

ami_support — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 19:55:08 +0000

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.

New Student Invite!

ami_support — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 04:07:47 +0000

Arthur Murray® instructors are specially trained and certified and can put you in touch with today’s most popular dances to make you a comfortable social dancer or a competitive hobby dancer. The choice is yours and we’ll help you achieve it because each lesson is taught step-by- step at your own pace. Over 40 million people have enhanced their social life by learning to dance quickly and easily the Arthur Murray® way!

News & Events

ami_support — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 04:11:12 +0000

FOR FATHERS AND MOTHERS DAY GIFTS, HERE’S A GREAT GIFT IDEA

We can’t think of a better gift idea for Father’s Day or Mother’s Day than the gift of dance lessons. From new parents who need a break from tending toddlers to parents of teens who need serious stress relief, Mothers and Fathers at every age and stage will enjoy the fun and fitness of ballroom dance. Special gift packages of ballroom dance lessons are easily purchased at any local Arthur Murray Dance Studio.

Ballroom dance lessons offer many benefits:

Great exercise – a low-pressure way to get Dad off of the couch and moving
Romantic – creates an instant “date night”
Good for the brain – regular ballroom dance has been the subject of many studies and is considered a useful tool in the battle against Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia
Booster for social life – people who dance tend to be more social
Reap rewards for a lifetime – family parties, business and community events are more enjoyable for those who are confident in their dance skills.

Click here to find an Arthur Murray Dance Studio near you that sells dance lesson gift certificates

Arthur Murray History

ami_support — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 02:46:40 +0000

As America’s second oldest franchise organization, Arthur Murray International, Inc. is known around the world as a prominent entertainment company with franchises located throughout the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Europe, the Middle-East, Japan, Africa and Australia.

With the beginning of a new millennium, social dancing is again a significant part of popular culture for all generations. Today, the Arthur Murray Franchised Dance Studios continue a tradition of more than 93 years in teaching the world to dance.

The history of the Arthur Murray Franchised Dance Studios began in 1912 with a man named Arthur Murray, an American symbol of entrepreneurial success and social dancing. Murray was among the first to use advertising techniques considered cutting edge at the time. His concept of selling dance lessons by mail, one step at a time, took the use of direct mail to a new level.

Murray’s creative use of print advertising attracted national attention, as did his business acumen. In March of 1920, using students from Georgia Tech, Murray arranged to have music transmitted to a group of his dance students a few miles away. This was the world’s first radio broadcast of live dance music for dancing.

Prior to World War II, Arthur Murray teachers were a regular part of every first-class steamship cruise and during the Thirties, the studios introduced such dances to the public as the “Lambeth Walk” and “The Big Apple.” In fact it was “The Big Apple” that launched Mr. Murray’s one studio into the largest chain of dance school occurred in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

In 1942 singer Betty Hutton with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra recorded the big hit song “Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing In A Hurry” for the movie “The Fleet’s In” and by 1946 there were 72 Arthur Murray Dance Studios across America.

Arthur Murray was the first to realize the growing popularity of the Latin dances in America during the 1950′s. Many conventions were held in Cuba during that time to give Arthur Murray dance trainers first-hand knowledge of the hot new Latin styles and moves that were in vogue and becoming popular.

In July 1950, Mr. Murray purchased five fifteen minute television spots on CBS and persuaded his wife Kathryn to do the teaching. Before the third show, Arthur bought a half-hour summer series on ABC. The show was called the “Arthur Murray Dance Party.” By May 1952, the Murray’s had televised almost 100 programs. Their TV ratings climbed and in the summer of 1952 they signed with their first sponsor, General Foods. Millions of viewers all over the United States fell in love with the show and flocked to the Arthur Murray Studios throughout the country. This highly popular show ran for twelve years on national television.

When Arthur and Kathryn Murray retired in 1964, a group of franchisees purchased the company and brought a fresh new spirit and leadership to it. Under its new leadership, the Arthur Murray Franchised Dance Studios has kept pace with the rapidly changing “youth culture” and continue today to flourish as the world’s largest dance instruction organization.

Arthur Murray dance teachers can be found not only in the studios, but on the movies sets in Hollywood; backstage on Broadway; and partnership with major entertainers to promote the music that the world dances to. Whenever a movie involves dance, it’s good bet that AMII has been involved in some way, shape or form. Such movies as Dirty Dancing, Dirty Dancing II, Dance with Me, Beautician and the Beast, Flash Dance, An American President, True Lies, Saturday Night Fever and Scent of a Woman are some of the films which have used Arthur Murray instructors to either teach a dance to the stars and/or dance in the film.

The Arthur Murray Franchised Dance Studio’s name appears regularly in major national magazines that include Vogue, Martha Stewart Wedding, Smithsonian, Sport Illustrated, Woman’s Day and more. Wherever advertisers want to reach consumer’s with a message of romance, intimacy or just plain fun, you’ll see dancing, from the Gap now famous Khaki Swing commercials to dancing M&M’s and gas pumps.

Arthur Murray International’s commitment to dance goes even further, with senior management heavily involved in the world of professional and amateur competitive dance, known as DanceSport. Many of Arthur Murray’s official have contributed to bringing competitive ballroom to the forefront as an Olympic Sport.

All Arthur Murray franchised Dance Studios are independently owned and operated by individuals who started as dance instructors and worked their way up to the executive level. By the time they are qualified to purchase a franchise, they have experienced every phase of studio operations, from teaching and supervising to marketing and managing. It is possible for an ambitious person to advance to a top executive job and become eligible to be a franchisee within just few years.

Building from within has kept the studio system strong, with franchisees that are committed to the Spirit of Excellence which is the hallmark of the entire Arthur Murray system. Currently there are approximately 190 Arthur Murray Franchised Dance Studios worldwide.