Manager's Forum: We asked the executives at Arthur Murray Dallas and Plano "What are the benefits of working with a team of teachers?"

One of our core philosophies at Arthur Murray Dance Studios of Dallas and Plano is that students benefit from working with multiple instructors. We asked our executives to explain why we feel this is so beneficial.

Ian: Who wouldn't love having people fight over your time and attention, and clamoring to work with you?  That's exactly what students get by working with multiple teachers!  Plus students get to benefit from different perspectives and teaching styles.  The teachers, working as a well oiled unit, teach the same material, but in very different ways depending on their personalities and experience.  Everyone of us has something wonderful to offer all of the students, so why would you limit yourself to just one instructor? 


Sarah: Having multiple teachers is the best way to learn for a multitude of reasons! A few of my favorites are;

1) Everyone communicates differently and receives information differently. It's best to hear things from different people. 

2) When learning to social dance it is important to be able to "drive many types or cars". So when you get to practice leading different people who can help guide you, you'll be a better social dancer than if you only know how to adjust to one "car". 

3) Have you heard the phrase, " two heads are better than one" ? Well, from a teacher perspective, we can provide better quality and service to our students when we have more than one dance-nerd-brain working on a program. 

One of my favorite things about Arthur Murray instructors, is how committed they are to adjusting to the specific needs of each individual student. It makes learning and teaching fun and easy!! 

Lindsey: There are numerous benefits to working with multiple instructors and this method is what has helped Arthur Murray produce some of the best dancers in the world. Learning anything new is much more powerful when it comes from multiple sources because everyone processes information differently and learns by a variety of styles. I'm all about analogies for this one and I have two ideas I relate to for this topic.

#1) I relate this method much to that of college education. When you're in school, you typically have two types of classes: lectures and labs. One teacher may be amazing at explaining the theory and concepts in a strategic way so that comprehension is easy and effective. While the other teaches you how to practically apply the information for real life scenarios. This produces a harmonious blend of understanding and helps the information to stick effectively. Both styles allow for those "ah hah!" moments and help the student to master the whole topic of the course. In dancing, your teachers are well versed and certified in all topics. In some cases, your teaching team may take turns being each style of educator and as a team, always help you to learn each dance effectively.

#2) My second analogy relates to the relationship of a doctor to his/her patient. You have your regular doctor who knows your history, but occasionally calls on a specialist for a second opinion or to meet a specific need at that current moment. This is much like having a coaching lesson. The coach comes in to assist in a specific need like: needing a 3rd set of eyes, choreography for a special routine, or even introducing a higher level technique. Both the teacher and the coach are all working toward the same goal which is "what's in the best interest of this patient right now?"

Either way you look at it, the teaching team and the coaches are all here to serve the needs of the students and help them achieve their dancing goals to the fullest.

Amy: Aside from all of the very important reasons listed above, there is a more practical reason for working with multiple instructors and it is all about your progress! One of the best things about learning to dance at an Arthur Murray studio is the total continuity among not only all the teachers, but also all the studios. You are here to learn a skill, and we feel that your learning shouldn't have to suffer or be put on hold if your teacher is unavailable for some reason. Maybe they're sick, maybe they had a flat, maybe they inadvertently double booked themselves...whatever happened, at Arthur Murray, any of our instructors can pick up your syllabus and see right where you are and pick up where your other teacher left off. You'll get to continue your learning without delay, AND you'll get the added benefit of getting another viewpoint or an alternative explanation.  We never have to cancel your lesson because your teacher is ill, so we can keep your schedule running smoothly, and we never have to cancel a group class because there is always someone who can fill in. 

Team teaching allows you to learn faster because you are hearing the information explained in several ways. I can't even begin to tell you how often a student has looked at me after a coaching or exchange lesson and said "How come you never told me that?" It's a moment that tests the resolve of every teacher...to not just laugh out loud! Because, guess what? We have said it before, probably multiple times. But, it wasn't until you were ready to hear it, until it was said in a way that made complete sense to you, that you were able to really learn the concept. It's like when a mom tells the kids to clean their rooms over and over again, and they don't do it, but then dad comes home and says the exact same thing, and it gets done. A different voice, a different twist, a different viewpoint is sometimes all it takes to drive it home! 

Arthur Murray Dancers from Dallas and Plano, Texas return from competition in Maui, Hawaii!

The Arthur Murray Dance Studios of Dallas and Plano, Texas frequently attend dance events throughout the

United States and the World with their students. These events are called Dance-O-Ramas. Dance-O-Ramas  are competitive events that bring students together from many different Arthur Murray studios. 

These special weekends include all three types of competitive entries (open, closed, and solo routine) as well as themed evening banquets, cocktail parties, and professional shows. You can choose to dance in the Ballroom category, Latin or Rhythm category, Country Western and Specialty category or just do a little bit of everything. Some Dance-O-Ramas even include outings for sightseeing, making the whole event like a vacation! Miami, Las Vegas, Italy, Hawaii...where do you want your dancing to take you?

Here are just a few of the fabulous photos from this most recent event that was held at the Grand Wailea Resort in Maui!

Visit our Facebook page to see more great photos of our events! 

Arthur Murray Dance Studio of Dallas and Plano asked our Managers and Dance Directors "Why don't the teachers teach technique during Group Class?"

Why don't the teachers teach technique in Group Class? Have you ever wondered? This is the day to find out!

Sarah: Have you ever heard of the phrase "Paralysis by over-analysis" ? Or have you ever experienced trying to accomplish too many things all at the same time that you ended up not being able to do/complete anything? Well, one of the best things about the 3-part system that Arthur Murray uses is that it saves you from doing too much all at once which, in the end, saves you time and makes learning to dance easier. Using the 3 parts is a sure-fire way to become a successful dancer at any level. While private lessons are designed to teach you necessary techniques and the finer points of dancing, Group Classes teach you the pattern and give you the absolutely NECESSARY time to practice those patterns on your own balance. Most people didn't grow up dancing, so learning to control your momentum from one foot to another is paramount! Don't mix trying to LEARN techniques and finer points with balance and patterns! Once your teacher has told you you are safe to practice certain techniques in a group class GO FOR IT! It's never ending... the amount you can learn and progress with the 3 part system! 

Ian: The group classes are designed to help students primarily with balance, and to expose them to new dances or to new steps within the dances.  It's very difficult to teach technique in a group setting as not everyone is in the same place.  As students progress through their individual programs, they become better dancers and their needs change.  It's very difficult to assess where everyone is in a class of up to 30 students and apply technique (and it saves anyone from feeling like they're holding the class back or doubting their ability).  So, we aim to work on individual balance by teaching the steps without a partner first.  That way, students can think about the steps without worrying about leading or following.  

Justin: When a student takes advantage of each of the three part Arthur Murray system, they truly maximize their experience and return.  The main purpose of group class is to develop balance, which is why we spend time dancing the figures on our own without a partner. Repetition creates familiarity of movements we use in the figures, which gives smoother movement and more control.  When we take time to develop that independent of our partner, we become a better leader/follower when we do dance with someone.  Because each person has a different goal for their dance proficiency, it is challenging to cover the appropriate technique that any one student would need- the individual lesson provides a much more effective arena for that.  That's also why we cover minimal leading and following concepts in class.  The more time you spend on balance in group class, the less time you need to cover that on a lesson or at the party!

Nikki: Have you ever been to a Zumba Class, or a Martial Arts class, watched the instructor do something, tried your hardest to replicate it, and then wonder if you were actually doing it the way they were??  Here's the thing, unless someone can take the time to help make sure that you are using the right muscles and the right power, you are basically just making up how to do something, and hoping for the best.  Unfortunately, in ANY kind of group class, the instructor doesn't have the time or ability to go to each student individually and make sure they are using the right form every time...  That's what makes private lessons so valuable.

If the teachers spent time going from student to student, trying to teach the techniques that came with each particular step within a figure, you MIGHT get 1-2 figures learned within the time allotted...  And then, when would you learn all the figures that you need to have a working knowledge of before you see you teacher next?  So...  in order for the teachers to be effective in their teaching, we have to use each part of our 3 part system for it's intended purpose.  Privates for technique, groups for a working knowledge of figures, and parties for practical application of figures AND techniques.

Adriann: The 3 part system (i.e. private lessons, group classes, parties) works best when each piece is allowed to do its job. Did you every notice how hard it is to dance with proper technique when you're trying to remember where to go? It's not easy. That's why teachers don't teach technique in group classes. So that all students in the appropriate level can learn the steps without the added pressure of trying to learn the technique simultaneously. It gives our brains the break they need to focus on, and get comfortable with, one piece of the puzzle at a time. Like making sure the foundation of a house is solid before you try putting up walls.


Lindsey: This is a GREAT question because throughout the years, I have had this one many times. First let's discuss the function of the group class. Group class is designed to teach balance through figures. The "how?" question is answered by the fact that dancers gain repetition of movement over and over and over again, thus producing muscle memory. The "why" follows by the fact that muscle memory develops confidence within ones own body to do the task at hand. Much like handwriting, when you first learn how to write each letter, it's awkward, misshapen,  and takes a while to get into the groove of it. Then next thing you know, someone asks you to write your name and you don't even think twice about it because it's second nature to you. Dancing is no different. You practice the pattern of a box step or a cross body lead, for example, and it seems so bizarre. Then after a few weeks, you think to yourself "oh yeah... That thing that goes like this? Got it!"

Now onto the real question. We don't teach technique in class for 2 main reasons. For one, each person learns differently, at a different pace, and at a different skill level. Arthur Murray is famous for customizing programs based on each students specific needs at their specific pace. So how could we possibly go against what we are so good at doing and generalize technique in class? The second reason goes back to the handwriting analogy. If you never took the time to practice and learn how to print correctly, then how could your school teacher ever be able to help understand or even write in cursive? This is like adding Cuban Motion to your box step or cross body lead. Because you understood the original material so well, you're able to add flare and style to make it more.

This is why as teachers we never want to rob our students of the opportunity to get that muscle memory or confidence by making you focus on technique simultaneously. To be honest, that would be kind of mean.