LARGEST “ARTHUR MURRAY DANCE PARTY CELEBRATION” IN THE EAST WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4 AT MOHEGAN SUN
Free Event will Feature Louis Van Amstel of “Dancing with the Stars”
On Wednesday, April 4, 2012, dance enthusiasts worldwide will celebrate 100 years since Arthur Murray began his ballroom teaching career. On this day, Arthur Murray Studios in more than 20 countries will host special events to recognize this milestone and will share live webcast reports from many of those locations.
Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. will host one of the three largest celebrations in the U.S. – and the biggest in the East. The April 4 “Arthur Murray Dance Party Celebration” is free with a variety of activities and performances from 2:30 p.m. until 10:00 p.m., with most taking place in The Shops at Mohegan Sun. There will also be a large dance stage near the waterfall outside of Todd English’s Tuscany.
Featured throughout the Mohegan Sun celebration will be dance demonstrations, group dance lessons in Waltz, Salsa, Rumba, Tango, Hustle, Fox Trot and Swing, a fashion show of dance apparel, and a dance floor where anyone can step on and take a spin. Event emcees include three-time world dance champion, Emmy-nominated choreographer Louis Van Amstel of “Dancing with the Stars.”
“Our celebration at Mohegan Sun is part of an ‘over 24-hour dance-a-thon’ to start when the sun rises in Australia,” explains Jonathan Stangel, Arthur Murray Studios’ Assistant Area Chairman for the Northeast, and a Co-Owner/Franchisee of the Connecticut dance studios in Glastonbury, Bloomfield, Niantic and Vernon. “Everyone is invited to come whenever they want and celebrate with us. Throughout the day, there will be performances and interactive events, and we will watch live webcasts from dance studios around the world, as well as the two other major U.S. parties in Chicago and Seattle.
Members of Arthur Murray’s own family (several from Connecticut) are expected to attend including his daughter, Phyllis McDowell, and four of his granddaughters. Celebrants will include students and teachers from Arthur Murray Dance Studios throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York.
Louis Van Amstel is a three-time world dance champion, Emmy-nominated choreographer, and fitness professional. He is best known for his seven-season run on the hit ABC show “Dancing with the Stars,” most notably for the transformation of his partners’ (Kelly Osbourne, Niecy Nash, Margaret Cho) bodies and self-esteem through his guidance and instruction. He is currently spearheading the LaBlast Fitness franchise that spans the world, teaching people to get in shape and stay in shape through dance.
A schedule of activities for the April 4 “Arthur Murray Dance Party Celebration” at Mohegan Sun is available on Facebook at Arthur Murray Glastonbury (also below). For more information about the celebration at Mohegan Sun, call the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Glastonbury, Conn. at
(860) 659-3161. General information about the worldwide celebration, life and career of Arthur Murray, and the history of his studios is at www.100yearsofdance.com.
The year 2012 marks 100 years since a shy young man named Arthur Murray stepped onto the dance floor and into the history of American pop culture. Known best for the iconic Arthur Murray Dance Studios, Arthur Murray – the man – was a brilliant marketer and innovator, starting his dance teaching career in 1912.
“Most people remember Arthur as an older gentleman smiling in grainy dance photo poses from the 1950s, many times accompanied by his wife Kathryn, a television celebrity in her own right. But Arthur was a visionary,” said John Kimmins, President of Arthur Murray International. “Fueled by a passion for sharing his love of dance, Murray created new marketing methods and embraced the latest in technology and media to bring joy to millions.”
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of teaching the world to dance, Arthur Murray Dance Studios worldwide will hold a variety of special events and dance competitions in local dance studios. Other larger events scheduled for 2012 include:
- World Dance-O-Rama in New York City, NY (March 21-25);
- International Franchise Convention in Miami Beach, Fla. (April 11-14); and
- Superama 2012 – Las Vegas, NV (October 31-November 4).
Arthur Murray Dance Studios are located in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Germany, Austria, Latvia, Ukraine, Poland, Italy, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, UAE, Egypt, Turkey, South Africa United Kingdom Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Australia. For more information about ballroom dance, visit the Arthur Murray International website at www.arthurmurray.com. For history, photographs from the historical archives of Arthur Murray International and more information, visit www.100yearsofdance.com.
Mohegan Sun, owned by the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, is one of the largest, most spectacular entertainment, gaming, dining and shopping destinations in the United States. Situated on 185 acres along the Thames River in scenic southeastern Connecticut, Mohegan Sun is home to three unique casinos, a 34-story, 1,200 room luxury hotel, a world-class spa and golf course, over 75 shops, restaurants and bars as well as three award-winning entertainment venues including a 10,000-seat Arena. Mohegan Sun is within easy access of New York, Boston, Hartford and Providence and located 15 minutes from the museums, antique shops and waterfront of Mystic Country. More information is available by calling 1-888-226-7711 or visiting mohegansun.com. Connect with us on facebook.com/mohegansun, follow us on twitter.com/mohegansun and view us on youtube.com/mohegansunvideos.
ARTHUR MURRAY DANCE PARTY CELEBRATION AT MOHEGAN SUN
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4 2012, 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Schedule of Events
2:00 p.m. Celebration begins
Main Concourse
All-Level Group Classes (25 minutes each)
2:30 p.m. All Level Group class – Waltz
3:00 p.m. All Level Group class – Salsa
3:30 p.m. All Level Group class – Rumba
4:00 p.m. All Level Group class – Tango
4:30 p.m. All Level Group class – Hustle
5:00 p.m. All Level Group class – Fox Trot
5:30 p.m. All Level Group class – Swing
Dance Stage, near the waterfall outside of Todd English’s Tuscany
5:40 p.m. Fashion Show
6:15 p.m. General Dance Music
7:00 p.m. Emcees Kick Off Celebration and Introduce Members of Arthur Murray’s Family
7:20 p.m. General Dancing
7:45 p.m Professional Performances
7:55 p.m.. Introduction of Webcasts of Birthday Events Taking Place Around the World
8:05 p.m. General Dancing
8:30 p.m. Interviews with Arthur Murray Students and Staff
8:40 p.m. Professional Performances
8:50 p.m. General Dancing
9:30 p.m. Update of Webcasts of Birthday Events Taking Place Around the World
9:40 p.m. General Dancing
10:00 p.m. Celebration Concludes
