Tall, lanky, 14-year-old Arthur Murray was too shy to socialize with girls until a friend who was popular with the ladies taught him a few dance steps. Murray enjoyed dancing so much that by age 17 in 1912 he was teaching social dancing. This led to his founding the first Arthur Murray Dance Studio in New York City. Assuring customers that “if you can walk, we can teach you how to dance,” Murray guaranteed to do so in ten easy lessons.
The company that taught the world to dance — and introduced dance crazes such as “The Big Apple” — marked its 100th business anniversary in 2012 with the world’s largest dance party.
On April 4, Arthur Murray Franchised Dance Studios (www.arthurmurray.com) in North and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia and Asia hosted anniversary parties complete with celebration beverages, desserts and professional-dance demonstrations.
As the world’s largest dance instruction organization waltzes into its second century of success, the spirit of Arthur Murray remains vibrant in the 270 studios that bear his name. Happy 100th business anniversary! May I have the next dance?
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