Meet the Arthur Murray Live Author Team: Christina Garced
Christina Garced has a unique perspective on the hobby, and studio culture, of this industry. In this interview you'll learn why she chose to follow in her family's Arthur Murray footsteps, and see why she's a welcome addition to the Arthur Murray Live authors group.
What is the Arthur Murray Live Authors Group? The Arthur Murray Live Authors ("AMLA") is a collection of writers with a first hand connection to Arthur Murray. Ultimately, their unique perspective, voice, and location will help to add more content and context to this website.
AML: How did you first get started with Arthur Murray?
CG: The short version is that I am actually Arthur Murray second generation.
My parents have owned and operated successful Arthur Murray Dance Centers for over thirty years. I pretty much grew up in the studio environment (as a studio brat), answering telephones at the age of 10, and assisting in group classes as a teenager. My ballroom dance lessons "officially" started at eight years old and continued until I went away to university.
Around that time my husband, Leo, came in to the studio to take salsa lessons. He was invited to join the training class and, shortly after, he was offered a full time position as an Arthur Murray Professional.
Leo and I did shows here and there while I was in school, but nothing serious. When I graduated, my parents suggested that I help them out a few days in the studio working with the advanced students.
So I gave them one half day a week.
Well, that one half day turned into two half days, which then turned into two full days, which then turned into... well, I think you see where this is going.
AML: A lot of kids are resistant to following in their family's footsteps when it comes to work, safe to say that was the case for you?
CG: I must confess that I was the same. However, no matter which path I chose, dance always found me.
AML: What's a career you could imagine you'd have if you weren't working for AM?
CG: An English teacher running the High School's theater department, planning their spring musicals, and organizing the prom committee.
AML: Thank you for being a part of the AMLA. What kind of articles are you most interested in writing?
CG: Growing up in the dance world, and being an Arthur Murray professional for almost ten years, my hope is to contribute some tricks of the trade that I have learned along the way, motivate dancers who participate in the Dancesport side of Arthur Murray, and entertain the readers with tales of dance, passion, and adventure.
AML: Every write has a sort of style, or personality, to the way they express themselves - how would you describe yours?
CG: My writing tends to have a dramatic flair, I blame it on my Latino roots. I love a good story dripping with details and can often be found telling one, loudly, with a group of friends.
AML: If there was an article that completely fixed a problem for your current, or potential, students - what would the headline be?
CG: "Don't Be Snooty, Shake Your Booty: How to Take Your Dancing Seriously and Still Have Fun"
AML: If you can, share what being in this group means to you, and how might that impact the readers.
CG: It is truly an honor and a pleasure to join the AMLA. I believe that Arthur Murray Live helps you to get to know some of the friendly faces we all see around, and the team of authors shows how diversely talented the professionals are within the Arthur Murray Network. I hope that we can inspire through our ideas and experiences so that we may help others along their personal dance journey.
Final Thought
Stay tuned for articles from Christina Garced as she shares a wealth of information about your dance hobby, as well as some of her exciting adventures as a competitive dancer with her husband, Leo.
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