Dallas Event Calendar, Group classes, Parties for Arthur Murray Dance Studio

Did You Know? Featuring Arthur Murray Dallas Dance Instructor Ulysses Kronos

Meet Ulysses Kronos AKA Uly

Uly has been an instructor at with the Plano and Dallas studios for 4 years. His quirky sense of humor and his great smile make him a joy to work with and learn from. He's been a repeat offender for winning Best Dressed Staff Member at our annual Christmas party. But, did you know...

Uly dances with one of his students, Phyllis, at the
Texas Showdown.

Favorite Movie: The Notebook

Favorite Animal: Lion

Favorite Dance: Cha Cha

Favorite Color: Blue 

Uly says that according to his mom, he first started dancing when he was still in her stomach. Dancing has been a life long interest for Uly, and although his first job was as a Dental Assistant, he says if he could do any other job he would be a Back-Up Dancer! 

We all know that Uly has sense of humor. He says the funniest thing that has ever happened to him was that he accidentally wore a mismatched pair of black shoes for 3 days straight! 

He says the bravest thing he ever did was moving to the US with only $40 in his pocket! If he could visit anywhere in the world, he would go back to Greece. His favorite season is fall because he knows the Holidays are coming! Uly loves to surround himself with happy people and is inspired by friendships, family and love.

His idol is Benito Juarez, and his favorite thing about being a dance teacher is seeing the smile on his students faces when they actually feel the music! His heart is located more towards the center of his chest, and if he were a cartoon character, he says he would be Mighty Mouse! 

Uly's quote to live by is:

Manager's Forum: Why is it so important to have a good frame?

This week, we asked the managers at Arthur Murray Dallas and Plano to tell us about the importance of a good frame. Here's what they said...

1) Justin: Frame serves two purposes- communication and aesthetics. If you are dancing in an event, performing a show, or just want to be sure people enjoy watching you dance, your frame and topline are some of the first things people notice. Like your posture, your frame conveys confidence and experience. But when it comes to the social aspect of dancing, few things make more of a difference than leading and following. Your ability as the man to communicate where you're going and how fast you're going will put her at ease and put the energy back into having fun. As the lady, the better you can listen, the easier it is to follow, and your frame is your new set of ears. Rather than saying where and when, the frame is the way to non-verbally talk to each other on the floor, and that takes practice. But just like any other language, you'll become fluent by immersing yourself as much as possible. The more people you get to dance with, the parties and events you attend, all teach you how to adjust to each nuance of your partner. Be patient and diligent with your frame, and you'll be a master communicator in no time. 

2) Sarah: Having a good frame is like having good pronunciation or the ability to speak all languages. The frame is how you communicate with your partner. Communication (physically) is the most important thing about dancing with another human being. Having a good frame promotes good connection which promotes amazing communication. And when the Lead is clear and the Follow is open, dancing is truly an amazing experience! 

3) Nikki: I am sure that everyone knows the logic behind a good frame: it's the foundation to the dancing, you don't want the frame of a house to be unstable, etc.  But I don't know that many people think of how it relates to their partner...  And how it can ease the most common complaint, "He/she isn't Leading/Following!"

Most guys think that if they know all the steps, the girl will follow, and the dance will be great.  They spend SO much time making sure the steps are perfect, that they don't spend an appropriate amount of time working on trying to make sure that they communicate those steps.  Everyone grumbles when "the Rack" (the metal dance frame) makes an appearance, or if they are forced to dance with the lovely "Sue" (a Chair), but really, they are great tools to really understand what your frame is doing, or not doing...  Just because a guy knows his steps, doesn't mean that he is communicating them correctly.  His elbows may be sliding behind him, making the lady complain he is pulling on her, or maybe he is moving his frame independently of is body, making the lady feel like he is pushing her over.  Neither of these things makes a desirable dance partner.  I challenge ALL men to take "Sue" hold her up with her back away from you (so you can't cheat), and see if, as you are dancing, she changes position.  When you can do ALL your steps and routines with her in the correct position, you are ready to try things with a real live girl!  Of course, it's always an ongoing process, but at least it will make you more aware of what you are ACTUALLY leading when you try things out at a party.

Women - You aren't off the hook.  I hear all the time, "If he would just learn to lead, I can follow..."  Ok, that is true, but only up to a certain point.  Most women who say that aren't really that great at following, and they are the "Hangers" and "Fridges."  A women's frame is equally as important as a man's, and actually has to be MORE sensitive.  Otherwise she feels heavy and immovable.  Women, it isn't the man't job to hold up your arms, or your upper body.  By doing that, you are sending your energy straight down to the ground, and you aren't going to feel anything he sends your way.  (Plus it exaggerates that chicken wing/saggy skin look in your arms that we all hate!)  By the same token, your frame can't be so hard that man feels like he is in a pushing match.  If you feel like you are pushing against him and your back and arms hurt, that's WAY too much.  Dancing shouldn't be painful, no matter what we, as teachers, sometimes tell you! ;-)  Relax, hold up your hands, and just feel.

The frame is all about communication.  And in order to be a great partner, you have to be great at communicating...  On BOTH ends.  The man has to be clear about where he is wanting to go, and the lady has to be clear that she understood, and is willing to go on the journey with him.  Without both sides, you are just dancing NEAR each other, but not really WITH each other...

4) Ian: A good frame is one of the key components for everything that man is trying to get the woman to follow.  Without a good frame, the man can't effectively communicate how fast he is traveling and which direction he wants the lady to go, short of literally whispering to her under his breath (which I've seen many students try without much success).  You can't have a beautiful picture without a strong, solid frame to support it, just as it's very difficult for a woman to be fully shown off in the most beautiful way on the dance floor without a stong, solid man to support and lead her.

5) Amy: The frame in dancing is probably the most pivotal part of the partner relationship and the ability to communicate. The frame must be firm, yet forgiving, strong, yet subtle. It must communicate the nuances and respond to the slightest signal. It is how the dancers speak to each other. With a great frame, the dance will feel effortless, but without it...well, not so much. Here is the analogy I normally use when explaining frame. 

Have you ever been driving down the highway and seen the wonderfully frightening sight of a car being towed with a ROPE?!? This seems to be a common occurrence in Dallas. So, obviously, you have a leader car and a follower car. But, you have a wiggly, loose rope in between ("spaghetti arms" for the Dirty Dancing fans out there). So, if the lead car brakes suddenly, what happens? Well, unless the driver of the following car is really paying attention, probably a crash. What if the lead car accelerates suddenly? You can see the rope being pulled taught and then the following car feeling the "yank". This is what dancing with a poor frame can feel like. Pulling, pushing, yanking, trying to second guess ahead of time what the leader is going to do. All these things are uncomfortable and detrimental to an enjoyable dancing experience. Now, let's take another example, a car being towed with a nice, strong steel towing bar. Consider all of the same scenarios. You now have flawless communication. As one speeds or slows, so does the other. In fact, are you ready for this? You no longer even need a person in the following car at all. The person there (ladies, this is you) can just kick back and relax and trust that the frame will guide them. No need to keep a foot on the brake, no need to think ahead and try to read his mind. Just sit back, relax and enjoy. 

So, what this all means is that if you become a master of the frame, you will also become a master leader or follower, and everything else is secondary!  

Did You Know? Featuring Arthur Murray Dallas Dance Instructor Bailey Kenzington

Meet Bailey Kenzington

Bailey has been dancing with the Arthur Murray Dallas staff for 5 years! Her bubbly personality, brilliant smile, and ever changing hair color make her a bright spot in the day for so many people. She is a constant ray of sunshine...but did you know...

Bailey dances with one of her students
at the 2013 Showcase By the Sea in
Cancun, Mexico

Favorite Color: Neon Green
Favorite Animal: Giraffe
Favorite Movie: Pitch Perfect
Favorite Vacation Spot: Italy

Bailey got her first taste of dance when she was just 2 years old. Her first dance style? Tap! Since then, dance has been an integral part of her everyday life. She says the thing she fears most is one day not being able to dance. Her favorite thing about being a dance teacher? Getting to share her passion and what she loves with others every day. The bravest thing she has ever done was getting out on a competition floor with less than 4 weeks of preparation!

Bailey's first job was babysitting, but if she could be anything other than a dance teacher, she would want Jennifer Garner's job in "Alias". Interesting stuff, huh? She enjoys crafts and baking. If Bailey were a Disney character, she says she would be Cinderella.

Bailey's idol is any Proverbs 31 woman. Her quote to live by is:

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TANGO ETIQUETTE by www.tangoconcepts.com - http://on.fb.me/1j7yqHY