Downtown dance studio celebrates a silver anniversary
Michelle and Emilio Garced still taking it all in stride

"Make it fast, fun and easy." These were the words that began a dance revolution, internationally and right here in Highland Park. Over a hundred years ago Mr. Arthur Murray began a movement that got people up, onto their feet and doing the jitterbug - waltz - tango -- or whichever dance was a big hit at the time. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Raritan Avenue's very own Arthur Murray Dance Studio, and they are just as strong as the first day they opened.

In 1982 the Arthur Murray franchise made its way to Highland Park, when Michelle and Emilio Garced opened their studio in a house near Third and Raritan. Soon after, the commercial building at 75 Raritan Ave opened and the Garceds were one of the original tenants, along with Palmer Video (now Raritan Video), China Star, and a Blimpie's. More recently, they enlarged their studio, growing into the space left when the video store downsized.

Arthur Murray made such a success out of teaching because he put all of the work into the teachers. His mentality was that if a student isn't learning, it was the teacher who needs to modify the lesson. Arthur Murray made his way into the Book of World Records as the inventor of the "footprints" for dance instruction and also a pioneer of the franchising business model. The footprints made it simple for the average person to learn, easy to pass on his methods to other instructors and, as Ms. Garced put it, "[he] created a century of teaching the world to dance."

In the 1950s, there were approximately five hundred Arthur Murray's; now they can be found all across the globe. Recent interest in television shows such as "Dancing with the Stars" has brought an influx of clientele to their studio.

The Garceds employ about eight experienced, continuously trained instructors. Clients have ranged "from 8 years old to 108." When students are working in the studio, the dancers will rotate around, sometimes an older woman with a young man or vice versa. All the social norms are thrown out the window and people just dance. There is a respect for one another that is apparent. Men learn to be gentlemen, and women ladies.

Arthur Murray is host to many dance parties for their clients. They have social parties, practice parties and couple's days. Often times they have themed parties as well. For the true dance competitors, there are competitions to participate in.

Generally the attire is of the client's choosing, however the shoes for men and women must have a suede-soled shoe (say that three times fast). The instructors love to dance but more importantly they love to teach. If there is anything Ms. Garced would like for those interested to keep in mind, it's that "Dancing is forever and Arthur Murray made it that way."

Arthur Murray of Highland Park, NJ is open Monday-Friday: 1-10pm and on Saturdays: 11-5pm. They are located at 75 Raritan Ave. and can be reached at 732.246.0550