[Updated 11/25/15]
Maybe you missed this Arthur Murray Festival, or you just want a head start on the next one. One this is for certain:
The Next Arthur Murray Festival Is Coming Soon
... or sooner than you think.
Sometimes our best ideas for improvement happen the moment we finish something - whether that's a dance routine or the Fall Festival at your local Arthur Murray Dance Studio.
So, in an effort to get ahead of the curve, here are some strategies for earning points, having more fun, and supporting your favorite dance school a little bit better by starting early.
1. Clean Sweep
There are costumes hidden all throughout your closet, garage, and at the bottom of your dresser. Before you toss out, give away, or donate that old Halloween costume, or platform shoes from your disco days - we recommend that you create a box labeled "Festival Costumes". This way you can repurpose that rainbow afro wig, and you'll be set for the next round of festival theme parties.
Some items to look for:
- Wigs - you can never have enough wigs for our theme parties
- Disco - look for currently distateful articles of clothing that are bright and shiny. Save those.
- Nerdy - look for cardigans, corduroy pants, and an old pair of eye glasses.
- Costume - Any old costumes, accessories, and makeup will make great additions to the theme party treasure trove you are constructing.
Festival Rule: Knowing what to wear makes it easy to attend. Planning what you're going to wear will make you excited to attend.
2. Potluck Via Pinterest
If you have a Pinterest account, you have access to some of the greatest, most creative, recipes for the potluck parties at the next Festival. Create a board of creative recipes for the next Festival and you'll set yourself up for Arthur Murray student celebrity status.
Here are some fun ideas:
- Catchy Theme: Keep the same theme with all of your dishes. Whether that's a consistent shape to the presentation (Arthur Murray Logo anyone?), or perhaps you commit yourself to 6 weeks of yummy appetizers.
- Play It Safe & Take A Risk: The great thing about 6 weeks of potlucks is that you can pick your spots. Maybe you play it safe on odd numbered weeks, and go nuts on even ones. Keep in mind, you're only allowed to execute one Baked Alaska per festival.
- The Standby: Things like nachos, sliders, and veggie trays will receive plenty of positive feedback, and eliminate the need for wrapping up leftovers.
- Attach The Recipe: Whether you're making your world famous family chili, or something you read about online - one thing that your fellow foodies will appreciate is a copy of the recipe.
3. Plan Your Projects
One of the featured events during a festival is our in-studio event called the Extravaganza.
Starting in 2016, the Extravaganza will be getting a facelift.
For the Spring 2016 Festival, the event will be moved to local theaters to give it a more "show-like" quality. We broke the news in this article from our Extravaganza coverage in Livermore. As with food, and costuming, the earlier you get started working on your dance routine, the easier, and more exciting it will be to participate in this event.
For more on this, have a look at Jessica Holty's article "Your Guide To The Unique Matinee Show" . In it, she gives her strategy for preparing showstopping routines.
4. Plan For the Gold
A Gold Sponsorship is the premium level of involvement in the Arthur Murray Festival. It includes all of the activities offered, and some extra perks that are exclusive to the Gold sponsors. One activity, in particular, is extra special: The Gold Night Out.
The Gold Night Out is a special night out on the town for Arthur Murray students and their teachers. It's a different destination each outing, plenty of dancing, and a nice dinner. For the Arthur Murray Bay Area students, the event has been hosted at places like the Blackhawk Auto Museum, The Hornblower, The Tonga Room, and even a Murder Mystery party at the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos.
5. Spring Cleaning
Spoiler Alert: There are some great promotions during the Festival when you enroll on lessons. Most of the advanced students know this, and plan accordingly. Whether it's the next level of your dance program, your next Latin dance routine, or a captivating ballroom performance - adding that to your program during the Festival will count "for extra". Your teachers earn points, your studio earns points, and you earn points for everything you do - including enrolling on lessons for your dance program. For more ideas on what you can include next in your dancing, check out: Social Dance Programs & Competitive Dance Programs.
For more details on this, we recommend downloading our e-book: Your Guide To The Fall Festival
It Starts Next Spring
The First Step
It’s time to show the world why your school rocks! You can help your school win the Spring Festival by signing up as a sponsor. And to show our appreciation for our sponsors, we will be throwing six weeks of theme parties and events. Each week will be a new theme party filled with games, costumes, prizes, great food and dancing!
The Spring Festival begins the first week of May, and last until the second week of June.
Final Thought
So maybe you're not the kind of person who buys Halloween decorations in November, or Christmas presents in June - but it never hurts to plan early for things.
Set aside a costume, pick a recipe, plan some fun stuff for your dancing - and start early. Why not? At the very least you'll be in the know, sporting an afro wig, and giving all the latecomers a tutorial on how to be as cool as you.
