Arthur Murray himself, first started teaching people to dance in 1912. Starting with a "learn to dance at home' mail order business, he founded his first dance studio 1923 on 43rd Street in New York City.

Since that time the Arthur Murray Franchised Dance Studios have grown and now have studios throughout the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Australia, South Africa, Germany, Italy, Israel, and Japan. Arhtur Murray's dream of teaching the world to dance is being fulfilled. Standardized lessons are interchangeable from one Arhtur Murray Franchise dance Studio to another. You are guaranteed that your lessons will be honored wherever there is an Arthur Murray Franchised Dance Studio.

The Arthur Murray Franchised Dance Studios have found that students learn most quickly and effectively on a scholastic basis. Your Introductory Program is the first student level. You will be taught the basic patterns of the most popular dances today. Your instructor will explain how the Medal Standards are taught and will plan a personalized dance program to fulfill your specific needs and desires.

The degree of dancing you will achieve varies depending on your desire, goals, commitment, and interest. After your Introductory Program, the dance levels (degrees) progress from Associate and Full Medalist programs in Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Gold Bar Standards. These courses are designed for people like yourself who desire a fundamental foundation or more advanced training in the social, as well as competitive (dance sport) styles.

The majority of students who come to an Arthur Murray Dance Studio are interested in becoming good social dancers and our medalist programs will help you achieve that goal. If competitive dancing (dance sport) is your desire, Arthur Murray Dance Studios can train you in the latest technique, steps, and styles. Indeed, we boast some of the top competitive couples in the world today.

As America's second oldest franchise organization, Arthur Murray International, Inc. is known around the world as a prominent entertainment company with franchises located throughout the United states, Canada and Puerto Rico, Europe, the Middle-East, Japan, South Africa and Australia. With the beginning of a new millennium, social dancing is again a significant part of popular culture for all generations. Today the Arthur Murray Franchised Dance Studios continue a tradition of more than 88 years in teaching the world to dance. The history of the Arthur Murray Franchised Dance studios began in 1912 with a man named Arthur Murray, an American symbol of entrepreneurial success and social dancing. Murray was among the first to use advertising techniques considered cutting edge at the time. His concept of selling dance lessons by mail, one step at a time, took the use of direct mail to a new level. Murray's creative use of print advertising attracted national attention as did his business acumen. In March of 1920, using students from Georgia Tech, Murray arranged to have music transmitted to a group of his dance students a few miles away.

This was the world's first radio broadcast of live dance music for dancing. Prior to World War II, Arthur Murray teachers were a regular part of every first-class steamship cruise and during the Thirties, the studios introduced such dances to the public as the "Lambeth Walk" and "The Big Apple."In fact it was "The Big Apple" that launched Mr. Murray's one studio into the largest chain of dance studios in the world today.

In 1938 the first official opening of a franchised dance school occurred in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1942 singer Betty Hutton with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra recorded the big hit song "Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing In A Hurry" for the movie "The Fleet's In" and by 1946 there were 72 Arthur Murray Dance Studios across America. Arthur Murray was the first to realize the growing popularity of the Latin dances in America during the 1950's. Many conventions were held in Cuba during that time to give Arthur Murray dance trainers first-hand knowledge of the hot new Latin styles and moves that were in vogue and becoming popular.

In July 1950, Mr. Murray purchased five fifteen-minute television spots on CBS and persuaded his wife Kathryn to do the teaching. Before the third show, Arthur bought a half-hour summer series on ABC. The show was called the "Arthur Murray Dance Party." By May 1952, the Murray's had televised almost 100 programs. Their TV ratings climbed and in the summer of 1952 they signed with their first sponsor, General Foods. Millions of viewers all over the United States fell in love with the show and flocked to the Arthur Murray Studios throughout the country. This highly popular show ran for twelve years on national television.

When Arthur and Kathryn Murray retired in 1964, a group of franchisees purchased the company and brought a fresh new spirit and leadership to it. Under its new leadership, the Arthur Murray Franchised Dance Studios has kept pace with the rapidly changing "youth culture" and continues today to flourish as the world's largest dance instruction organization.

Arthur Murray dance teachers can be found not only in the studios, but on the movie sets in Hollywood; backstage on Broadway; and partnering with major entertainers to promote the music that the world dances to. Whenever a movie involves dance, it's a good bet that AMI has been involved in some way, shape or form. Such movies as Dirty Dancing, Dirty Dancing II, Dance With Me, Beautician And The Beast, Flash Dance, An American President, True Lies, Saturday Night Fever and Scent Of A Woman are some of the films which have used Arthur Murray instructors to either teach a dance to the stars and/or dance in the film.

All Arthur Murray franchised Dance Studios are independently owned and operated by individuals who started as dance instructors and worked their way up to the executive level. By the time they are qualified to purchase a franchise, they have experienced every phase of studio operations, from teaching and supervising to marketing and managing.