Let's Dance: Royal Oak Studio Foxtrots to Woodward in May

To keep up with the pace of the popularity of ballroom dancing, Candace McKenzie, the owner of Royal Oak’s , is choreographing the move of her studio to Woodward Avenue after 25 years on Main Street.

Thanks in part to the success of the popular TV show Dancing With the Stars, now in its seventh televised year on ABC, the dance studio gets between 75-95 students a week for its group sessions.

“About 75 percent of our students come in because of Dancing With the Stars,” said Jeremiah Childers, a dance instructor at the studio. He's looking forward to a bigger ballroom where people aren’t bumping into each other on the dance floor.

So you think you can dance

While McKenzie appreciates the role pop culture has played in her studio’s success, she is careful to point out reality television isn’t always in step with reality. Students come in thinking they should be dancing like a star in a manner of a few weeks, she said.

“What they don’t realize is people on the show practice 40 to 60 hours a week — and just ONE dance,” McKenzie said, so sometimes students are disappointed in their progress. The good news, however, is that anyone can learn to dance — just not in one lesson.

Have a bad hip or knee?  You can still learn the steps of the salsa. Overweight? Waltz your way to a smaller dress size. No dance partner? Your instructor is happy to dance with you.

In fact, when asked the top five reasons people come to Arthur Murray, learning to dance ranks fifth behind improving health, socializing, losing weight and dazzling guests at a wedding reception.

They do get some students who want to learn to salsa at clubs around town and students eager to participate in dance competitions, but for the most part people come in with two left feet and find their right foot over time.

You make me feel like dancing

Jo and Michael Erickson will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary on April 28. They came to the studio to learn a few moves for their big celebration.

On a scale of one to 10, the couple started at "zero." After a few lessons Jo says they are now “fours.”

“They are typical of the people who come here,” McKenzie said. “Some people have a more natural propensity for dancing but anyone can come and have fun. It’s a fabulous activity for a couple to do together because it’s an activity where people need each other."

McKenize said some couples go out to dinner and then come in for a lesson.

"It’s their date night,” she said.

Dancing down the street

McKenzie expects to be settled into the Woodward studio May 7. The new floor plan includes a kitchen, reception and seating area, and three offices. The exterior will be wrapped with awnings that have the names of all the dances taught at the studio.

“It's going to be beautiful. There are windows all around the building so we will have great drive-by exposure,” she said.

She's looking forward to teaching more students at the new building, including youngsters. She plans to start an Arthur’s Kids — a new and innovative music and dance program for children.

Visit www.learntodancemichigan.com for more information.

(And in case you are wondering, McKenzie says the waltz is the easiest dance to learn!)