Do you, or other students you know, have a teacher who uses the world of Star Wars to teach ballroom dancing?
What is the link that connects these two worlds together? Is it the Force, the ways of the Jedi, or just the basic story of how good triumphs over evil, only to find out that the original evil is actually your Father, and then realizing, later, that you've kissed your sister?
Perhaps.
If you're readying this on May the Fourth, Happy Star Wars Day. If you're reading this for a good laugh, we hope our comedic power couplings are in working order.
May The Ballroom Dance Footwork Be With You!
"One thing's for sure, we're all going to be a lot thinner."
Originally said by Han Solo in Star Wars: A New Hope while stuck in the Imprial Garbage compactor on the Death Star - while attempting to rescue Princess Leia.
What everyone says right before the Cha-Cha group class.
Dancing is an incredibly effective form of exercise. Why? Because we don't associate it with traditional exercise activities like the treadmill, an aerobics class, or a bench press.
Therefore, people will dance for longer durations of time, do it with a smile on their face, and won't realize the results until the dancing is finished for the night.
"An elegant weapon, for a more... civilized age."
Originally said by Obi-Wan Kenobi when explaining what a light saber was to Luke Skywalker at his residence on the planet Tatooine.
How you, a dance jedi, explain the art and skill of dancing.
From a social standpoint, social dancing is an elegant weapon. Think the number of people that stand around at bars, and compare that to the number of people who can invite someone onto the dance floor for a Salsa, Tango, or Swing.
Social Dance skills were a must for generations past, but for those that possess them today - it's a value proposition that sets you apart. You know, like if you carried a light saber.
"That is why you fail"
Originally said by Yoda in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back to Luke Skywalker when he began to have doubts about his ability to learn the ways of the Jedi.
What you say to yourself when you watch non-dancers boozing it up to get the courage to ask someone to dance.
Nothing against alcohol, but there may be some false advertising over the years that, somehow, suggests that drinking can make you a better dancer.
It doesn't.
Drinking may make you care less about how you dance, but it doesn't, unfortunately, do anything to improve your skills in that regard. So, as a social dancer, you may have to sit back like Yoda and watch masses of people make the same mistake over and over again.
"You'll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villany... we must be cautious."
Originally said by Obi-Wan Kenobi to Luke Skywalker as they approached Mos Eisley Spaceport in search of a ship that can take them off of the planet Tatooine.
What you say to your dance date before you venture in to your high school reunion.
There are people and places where we would all love to deploy our social dance skills - and your High School Reunion may be at the top of that list. Personal development, such as dance lessons, can help to reinvent who you may have been back then.
"I have you now."
Originally said by Darth Vader in Star Wars: A New Hope during the battle on the Death Star as Vader was locking in on the ship he was targeting. Which, coincidentally, was piloted by Luke Skywalker.
The way a leader feels after a successful underarm turn, double rock, or any other unsuspected successful transition on the social dance floor.
Knowing how to Lead and Follow can give any dancer an incredible amount of confidence. For a Leader, it's about keeping things fresh and interesting. For a follower, it's about being balanced, sensitive, and poised enough to feel the signals.
When those two sides of the frame are working well it's like singing in perfect harmony.
"When 900 years old you reach, look as good you will not."
Originally said by Yoda to Luke Skywalker on the planet Dagobah when Luke isn't completely convinced that he's actually talking to a Jedi Master.
Dancing keeps you young.
We love this article by Carolyn Gregoire of the Huffington Post. It talks about how stress can actually age your body, and how finding ways to de-stress can reduce your risks. Our recommendation is pretty obvious: Dance Lessons.
Sure, Yoda looks good for 900, but it he were 50 - we'd encourage him to dance a little more often.
"The circle is now complete. When I left you, I was but the learner; now I am the master.”
Originally said by Darth Vader to Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: A New Hope when Vader, the former pupil, and Kenobi, the former teacher, met for a Light saber duel.
If you ever have a chance to show off your dance skills to someone who ever doubted your dance ability.
It would be wonderful if you had nothing but positive encouragement from your friends, family, co-workers, and coffee shop barista when they heard you were a ballroom dancer. Unfortunately, there may be some resistance, some questions, or worse.
But getting a chance to showcase what you've learned may be a way to silence them as critics, or to prove to yourself that their opinions about dancing don't matter as much as you may have thought.
"Join me, and together we can rule the galaxy as father and son."
Originally said by Darth Vader to Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back after Vader informed Luke that he was, in fact, Luke's father. He then attempted to recruit him to the Dark Side of the force.
When your family or friends decide to take dance lessons, it's a powerful thing. (Replace the word "galaxy" with dance floor. Feel free to edit relationship as necessary.)
Sometimes all the support you may need for your ballroom hobby can arrive after you extend the right invitation. Using the Arthur Murray Ambassador referral program you can invite someone to take a dance lesson on any major social media platform. While they may never love dancing as much as you do, they may just have a deeper appreciation for your dance journey.
"Good against remotes is one thing, good against the living... well, that's something else."
Originally said by Han Solo to Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi on the Millenium Falcon as they traveled together to the planet Alderaan. Luke had just begun his Jedi training when Han offered a cynical outlook on the activity.
Attend more practice parties.
Dancing by yourself, or dancing with your teacher is always far easier than dancing with another student. The Practice Party gives Arthur Murray students a way to practice the practical application of their social dance lessons.
"Strike me down, and I will become more powerful than you could possibly imagine.”
Originally said by Obi-Wan Kenobi to Darth Vader as Vader began to take the advantage in their light saber duel.
There are negative people, naysayers, and skeptics out there in regards to your dance journey. Sometimes their negative opinions are just the fuel you need to start, or continue, your dance program.
Sometimes you need something painful to find the motivation to take action to improve yourself. We believe that dance lessons are an incredible source for self improvement, and many people start that journey as a solution to something negative in their life.
Your EPISODE ONE starts with a FREE DANCE LESSON. We recomment scheduling it less than 12 parsecs.
May the (social dancing) force be with you!
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