Sometimes carving out time to do what you want to do versus what you have to do can be a tricky task. Do you choose an activity you could squeeze in during your lunch hour or take the class your friends recommend after work? Do you focus on gaining a new skill or hone in on a familiar exercise? If we all had the means and time available to us, none of this contemplation would even be necessary! The reality is that we need to choose our activities wisely as we balance our family and work commitments. This means picking...

At the start of every new year, it’s easy to throw the “R” word around freely. You know, that word that represents our personal commitments to improve aspects of our life? That word, of course, is “resolution” and it comes from a Latin word that means “to loosen or release.” The tricky part about making a resolution is actually sticking to it. According to Inc.com, 60 percent of us make resolutions, but only eight percent are actually successful in achieving them. Well into the first quarter of 2019, it’s a good time to reflect on our personal vows and see...

There are many annual events that the Arthur Murray community looks forward to, and Dance Camp is high on that list. Our studio’s camp is a few days away on Saturday, March 23 and promises to be a full day of learning and fun. If you attended last year, you probably feel as though Saturday just can’t get here fast enough. If you’re a current student planning on camping for the first time, you’re in for a real treat. With competitive dancer and traveling coach Dani Atkins at the helm, this camp spices up your weekend with new ballroom skills....

When Lisa Rybak started as a receptionist at our studio two years ago, she went through the typical first week of getting situated in a new job. She took a tour, learned her daily duties, met other staffers and was then instructed by our manager Jessica to do the unthinkable — take a dance lesson. “I didn’t know what to expect,” Lisa said. While she had previously worked at music and theatre companies, Lisa had never taken a ballroom lesson before. Suddenly, the nerves set in for this mother of two adult children. She experienced the intimidation many dance newbies...

At Arthur Murray Royal Oak, our flexible hours allow students to dance at times that work for them – whether they are coming from home, school or the office. Given our calendar of activities, fitting in a class or two per week is totally doable, even for those with packed schedules. Before hitting the dance floor, we just ask students to give their body the nutrition it needs for a fun-filled dance session. Along with stretching, having a snack before any workout is key. One of our favorites is FRUIT!   Versatile and portable, fruit is the sweet snack that...

Let’s face it. We live in a wired world. We are online all the time — scrolling, posting, downloading and “connecting.” We give and receive instant gratification with “likes” and comments. Our phones have become our mobile office and party and, occasionally, devices on which we actually make a phone call. We are all on social media, but are we really social? Research says that humans are social beings that rely on others for emotional and physical wellbeing. If you’ve ever held a sleeping newborn, snuggled with the family dog or kissed someone special, you’ve experienced an irreplaceable bliss that...

Whew! You made it to the gym. After rearranging your office time, parent time or school time, you actually set foot in the one place where you are to honor your body. You are so proud of this moment that you start loading up your locker, filling up your water bottle and catching up with your fitness buddies. Before you know it, spin class begins and you jump right in. After all, you want to get the max out of your workout, right? There’s no time to waste since you don’t know if your packed schedule will allow for another...

Goodbye to summer sun, high A/C bills and beach body envy. Hello to crisp air, pumpkin everything and cozy cover-ups. The start of a new season brings on fresh possibilities, and at Arthur Murray Royal Oak, we like to kick off fall with a little swinging action.   Join on us on Wednesday, September 26 at 8:15 p.m. for a free, beginner level swing dance class. Our talented instructors will teach East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing and the oh-so-fun Lindy Hop. Derived from the 1920s, the swing dances are upbeat, fast-paced and even a little contagious! To get a...

With June at a far distance and August just around the corner, it’s safe to say summer 2018 is in full swing. At Arthur Murray Royal Oak, the dance floor has been abuzz with activity. If you’ve ever considered ballroom dance, now is the time to join the party. This a great season to start a new hobby or brush up on your existing dance skills for so many reasons.   Try Something Campy If you are like many of us at Arthur Murray, you’ve spent part of the summer researching activities to keep your children busy while school is...

Students enter our studio for various reasons. Some want to learn quick choreography for an event, while others just want to get their feet wet with the basics. Newbies may have no objective at all, other than to try something new. Even students who don’t plan a trajectory with us are often surprised by their progression. In venturing into ballroom dance, what will be your journey? With consistent lessons and a lot of fun, you might find yourself donning a surprising new title: competitor. Ballroom dance competitors are not as rare as you might think. In fact, Arthur Murray Royal...