"I had wanted to learn to ballroom dance for a number of years. One day while driving to the gym to workout I stopped by the studio just to inquire about taking lessons. I signed up for the Foundation Program and quickly saw I loved being with the other students, instructors and the art of dancing. Dancing soon become the joy in my life and I have reaped the benefits of better health, self-confidence, and social interaction. My Arthur Murray Experience has been one of the best experiences of my life."

On Sunday April 11, 2010 when I called Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Fort Worth to discuss the possibility of Dance Lessons, I was the cliché man with two left feet. Unless I was in the possession of liquid courage I would absolutely refuse to dance when my wife would ask it of me.

But on this particular Sunday I had a mission. My wife would be coming in to the Dallas/Fort Worth area to visit me the following weekend and make plans for our son’s upcoming wedding. Together we planned to date night for the Saturday she would be in town.

So, when I called Arthur Murray and had to leave a message, I was anxious that I get a call as soon as possible so that I could start into lessons. As luck would have it my instructor, Stephanie, was able to fit me into her evening’s schedule on Monday evening.

My first lesson was something to be feared. I positively loathe public situations in which I’m both being watched, and clearly don’t know what I’m doing. I took to the dance floor with Stephanie and terrified as I was of humiliating myself, learning to dance in order to surprise my wife was more important than my fear. An impossibly short hour later, after patty-cake dancing, and learning basic steps, I was ready to go again.

My sign-up for the Foundation program was immediate. I was suddenly an enthusiastic pupil, and I told Gretchen, Stephanie, and Holly while I was signing up for and scheduling my classes that they “owned my soul” for every bit of free time I had between that Monday evening and Thursday of the same week.

An aggressive foundation course was laid, with me taking in seven hours of classes, lessons, and parties in the four days available before the fateful evening of my first dance with my wife. Before I knew it Saturday night had arrived and I was ready to surprise my wife.

She has a favorite Blues artist in the Fort Worth area, and I had discovered his show. It was my goal to dance with her at his show.

After an hour of listening to her favorite local artist’s music he finally played  something slow enough for me to handle. I took my unsuspecting wife by the hand and brought her to the dance floor. Pulling her to me I began dancing with her with a confidence and capability I never had before.

She took immediate notice. Her comments to me throughout the dance were along the lines of, “Where did you learn to dance like this?” and “You’re going to have to tell me the steps because I’m not used to dancing like this.” Her smile told me everything I needed to know. My efforts to do something special for her were well received, and tremendously appreciated.

More to the point, she’s started her own program with the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in our hometown of Mesa, Arizona, and we’ll be dancing the same dances together very soon. 

I can finally dance with my wife.