We have had an amazing experience so far at the West Chester Arthur Murray Dance Studio. My now husband and I started lessons only a month before our wedding. He was never one to dance ... in any setting. He regularly refused to dance at other peoples wedding but promised many years ago to try to dance at our own. He surprised me a month before our wedding with dance classes. They had a starters package that had some private lessons and group classes, but we did all private lessons to start so we could focus working on our wedding dance. We were both SOOOO nervous even just at the studio, but they were all so kind and helpful. Monica eased us into our first lesson and taught us the basics of Foxy. Then they put a routine together quickly for us to our actual wedding song and even edited it to be dance-able and of appropriate length. We had Laura for the few private lessons before the wedding and said we would do the group classes after our honeymoon. We were both so glad we had a choreographed piece done and did not embarrass ourselves at the wedding!
After we returned, we went to a few group classes and LOVED them! You rotate and get to dance with other people which really helps your dancing skills. In these classes it focuses for 45mins on one type of dance (last week was Fox Trot) that they choreograph so that you can use all those moves chained together when you are at a wedding or event and look like you know what you are doing! Woot woot!
Between the privates and the group classes we have met all of the rest of the staff and they are all AMAZING. They are so friendly and welcoming and help you relax and grow at your own speed. It helps that each staff member has a slight different style so if you get stuck on something, Laura will say "Krista has this little trick..." or Kristie will add a detail that you missed in a group class and now all of a sudden you look so accomplished and polished (relative to where we started) that we are excited to try it when the right song comes on at events.
They help you not feel self conscious on the dance floor by adding a simple turn here and a promenade there you can surprise your family, friends and even yourselves! What started out as something my husband really hated...dreaded even...has blossomed into something we have really started to enjoy together regularly. He even signed us up to go to a dance event in front of judges, other schools and higher skilled dancers! He was very nervous (as was I) and because of the staff's support we had a wonderful time! Because of that, dancing is less intimidating now. He has more confidence and while we are not going to be winners of "Dancing with the Stars" anytime soon we have gained the ability try new dance styles, to laugh at ourselves, and to really have fun with it together. This would not have be possible without the amazing staff and other fellow dancers taking lessons also. There are fun activities and you just feel like its a big family. I never expected to enjoy dancing as a hobby and because of all the friends and fun we went from dreading it before our wedding to now going to the studio several times a week with excitement. We highly recommend the West Chester studio and encourage anyone and everyone to give it a try because if we can do this anyone can haha. Thanks to owners Kristen and Brandon Perpich and the rest of the team (Christie, Laura, Krista, Monica), we have had an experience that really added something special to our lives!
Love,
D & C read more
