Arthur murray international

In 1912, ballroom dancer Arthur Murray began using cutting-edge marketing techniques to sell his dance lessons by mail. By 1920, his success and popularity prompted him to transmit the world's first live dance music radio broadcast exclusively for dancing. By 1950, Murray had purchased television spots on CBS and persuaded his wife, Kathryn, to teach dance lessons in these slots.

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Growing Partnerships

Throughout the years, Arthur and Kathryn Murray created shows with sponsors and opened studios to teach students how to dance in person. Even after the couple retired in 1964, the Arthur Murray name carried on and evolved into the empire it is today. Now, whenever a movie involves dance, there is a good chance Arthur Murray Dance Centers have been involved somehow.

Key classic films that feature some of Arthur Murray's best and brightest dancers include:

  • Dirty Dancing

  • Dance with Me

  • Beauty and the Beast

  • Flashdance

  • Saturday Night Fever

The Arthur Murray name is synonymous with dance. So if you want to learn to dance, there is no better place

Early Life

Early 1900s

Young Arthur Murray circa 1905

Arthur Murray started teaching dance in 1912 at the Grand Palace in NYC.

1915 Dancing at the Castle House

At Castle House, Arthur learned the famous Castle Walk and Tango.

Social Dancing

Pioneer

Below: 1925-1929

A pioneer of social dancing, Arthur's early success was due in part to his involvement in the American social dance scene.

Ballroom Dancing by Arthur Murray

Beyond radio and personal dance lessons, Arthur Murray wrote several books and brochures to promote the social aspects of dance.

Stepping Forward

1914-1920s

Summer, 1914

The Baroness De Kuttleston, whom Mr. Murray had met at Castle House, asked if he would be her teaching partner.

1919

By 1919, Arthur Murray was teaching dance in his spare time.

He soon had over a thousand children of different age groups enrolled in his classes.

The Murray dance classes soon attracted many adults.

March 27, 1920

He arranged to have music transmitted to a group of his students, which was the world's first radio broadc

Arthur Murray Royal Oak

HISTORY

The legacy of Arthur Murray Studios began in 1912 with a man named Arthur Murray, an American symbol of entrepreneurial success and social dancing. He started teaching dance at the age of 17 and grew his business with the first-ever mail-order dance lessons. In fact, Murray was among the first to use “cutting edge” advertising techniques to expand his reach to get the whole country on their feet. In 1925, Murray had such a successful following, he began to franchise the business.

Transforming National Trends

Murray helped infuse dance into every angle of the national social scene. Arthur Murray teachers were a regular part of every first-class steamship cruise and, during the thirties, the studios introduced and transformed dances like “The Big Apple” into the most popular social trends. In fact it was “The Big Apple” that launched Mr. Murray’s one Manhattan studio into the largest chain of dance schools in the world.

Breakthrough Marketing

In July 1950, Mr. Murray purchased five 15-minute television spots on CBS and persuaded his wife

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