Arthur Murray Dance Studio of Boston — Local services in Boston

My husband and I just got married over Labor Day weekend on August 31st, a little over a month ago. One of the "surprises" we budgeted and planned for our wedding was secret dance lessons so we could a) have a blast for our first dance and avoid the dreaded default "sway" and b) surprise and impress our guests (many of whom thought we couldn't dance!). My husband found Arthur Murray on Google and we were matched randomly with Jim for our first lesson. Well, after that first lesson, we loved Jim so much that we ended up coordinating all 10 lessons with Jim's schedule! We came in about every 3-5 weeks for the last 5 months before our wedding, with the last lesson 10 days before the big day. Taking dance lessons quickly became our favorite part of the wedding planning process, and we treated each lesson like a "date night" and would get dinner at the variety of restaurants close to the studio before or after the lesson (great location btw!). Those date night dance lessons were a nice mental break from the rest of stressful wedding planning... Jim was a HUGE part of why we loved our dance lessons so much. First off, he is a fantastic dancer and great communicator/instructor. He was so good at teaching us the foundations of which we ended up building upon to reach our dance goals. Our dance was not choreographed, instead we actually learned "how" to dance! But most of all, Jim is plain and simply the nicest guy you'll ever meet. He is sweet, charming, energetic, funny, and he and my husband quickly bonded over "nerd jokes" (both are recovering scientists, as they would call it). Each lesson flew by too quickly, and we always left saying to each other, "Isn't Jim just the best?! Let's do more lessons after the wedding!" Long story short: Leading up to the wedding, we expected ourselves to feel nervous for our song and were so worried about actually being able to enjoy our first dance. But with the confidence Jim gave us, and the practice we put in, we felt absolutely great and as the pictures/videos show, it felt natural and was a total blast and success. Our guests were shocked (the pictures prove it!) and we had so much fun singing along and dancing with each other on the best day of our lives. Our wedding was a fabulous and dreamy blur, and as all brides know, it went by sooo fast. But one of the clearest memories was dancing together during our first dance to our favorite song. :) Thank you, Jim! See you at our...

My wife and I (we're in our late 60's now) started taking weekly ballroom dance lessons as a couple at Arthur Murray Boston (Park Plaza) about five years ago. We always liked to dance, but like most of you reading this review, we had had no formal training and just shuffled around on the dance floor with some semblance of rhythm and professed confidence, like most people do. But after you start lessons, you begin to realize very quickly that it doesn't take much instruction to bring you to a level that's far beyond the norm of the usual dance floor. Knowing the most basic rhumba, foxtrot, tango, salsa and swing steps suddenly starts making you the object of comments like "wow, you guys really know how to dance!!"

The truth of the matter is that, just like trying to master any musical instrument, getting beyond that initial stage of euphoria over some simple steps takes lots of commitment and perseverance. It also takes the right kind of teachers, environment, mix of ages and proficiencies of students, and general "buzz." Arthur Murray Boston has the perfect combination of all these kinds of qualities. The location is wonderful, the teachers are first-class, and the office staff is warm and welcoming. And, these are people with heart, whom you look forward to seeing every week.

The amount you learn and how far you want to advance is up to you, but it will do wonders for you in many ways ... like self confidence (and humility!). But more important, it will put you into a fantastic mood by the end of every lesson, no matter how grumpy life has made you before going in. So do yourself a favor and fit some Arthur Murray ballroom into your life. Tell them Andy and Becky sent you (Boston location)!

(Shout out to our wonderful teachers ... Harrison and Kristen ... and others...

I have been a student at Arthur Murray Boston since April. There are no words to truly express what they have done for me. I danced for years from childhood until I was 21. However, life happens and things become complicated and adulthood can get in the way of you doing the things you love. This year, I made the decision to start taking lessons at The Arthur Murray Studio in Boston. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself psychologically. My instructor is Harrison. Harrison is just amazing! He is wonderful at what he does. He is also kind and caring and funny and supportive. I feel like I am in the most capable of hands having Harrison as my guide. All of the instructors are fantastic! They make you feel very welcome and they make you drop those inhibitions and erase your fears. Besides your one on one classes, there are also group classes. These classes teach you technique and form. And they also allow you to get to know the other students. Every Thursday night, I am there for group class and the dance party that follows. I may be exhausted the next day, but I love being there. And the dance parties allow you to practice everything you have learned so far. For anyone who is interested in learning to dance because they are getting married, because they want to do something fun, or to find their passion again - like me - take the leap and have the time...