History in the making
With a legacy of 100+ years, we know ballroom dancing better than anyone else. You can dance, we'll show you how!
Arthur Murray started teaching dance in 1912 at the Grand Palace in NYC. A pioneer of social dancing, Arthur's early success was due in part to his involvement will the American social dance scene. By 1919 Arthur Murray was teaching dance in his spare time. He soon had over a thousand children of different age groups enrolled in his classes and he soon gained the attention of many adults! Kathryn and Arthur met in a radio station in New Jersey during one of his broadcast dance lessons. They married in 1925 and opened a dance school together.
CREATING AN EMPIRE
During the 1930s, the studio introduced new dances to the public and the "Big Apple" was the one that turned the Murrays' one studio into the largest chain of dance studios in the world! The year of 1938 brought the first official opening of a franchised school which brought about 72 franchised studios grossing nearly twenty million dollars a year. In 1950, Arthur and Kathryn landed a spot on TV and hosted The Arthur Murray Party on CBS and it ran until 1962. Two years after the show ended, Arthur and Kathryn retired and sold the company to a group of business associates and a new era began.
TODAY AND BEYOND
With over 100 years in the ballroom dancing business, Arthur Murray Dance Centers have shown that they can combine the classic dances of the past with current trends that continue to evolve. All Arthur Murray Dance Centers are independently owned franchised schools that use the tried and true Arthur Murray teaching method--a method that has stood the test of time. Each franchise owner started as a student and has worked their way up to the executive level. With passion for people and dance as well as training on every aspect of the business, they are more than equipped the carry our legacy into the future. Today there are over 260 franchised dance centers in the United States and around the world. Our Arthur Murray Niantic location is proud to be part of such a growing legacy!
Our longevity is a result of excellent customer service, unparalleled social dance instruction techniques and experienced corporate management that carries on the tradition of a Spirit of Excellence that was started by Arthur himself in 1912.