Testimonials

From: Professor Leah Sarasohn
Full Bronze Student
Pro-Am Competitor
AMDS Manhattan

Dear Mr. Gerges:

As you know, I have been a student in the NYC Arthur Murray studio on 57th Street for approximately one and one half years, and I must say that I have been having a wonderful time. My instructor, Roman Makarov, has been an exceptional instructor whose dedication to my advancement is quite evident in his professional, capable, and knowledgeable manner.

Roman’s unique ability to put me at ease makes every lesson fun and productive leaving me satisfied in the knowledge that my funds are well spent. Dancing with Roman is a treat in itself let alone taking instruction from him.

I have entered three competitions this year and participated in the two Showcase events. Under Roman’s instruction, I have improved in each one placing in Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels for most of my dances. I am absolutely amazed at what I can now do in such a short time!

I wanted to express my gratitude to you and to Roman for the experience of a lifetime and I look forward to continuing as a student for some time to come.

Sincerely,
Leah Sarasohn

From: Susan R. Kinsey, Ph.D
Divisional Dean
New York University

Arthur Murray Dance Studio
16 W. 57th Street, 5th floor
New York, New York 10019

Dear Mr. Gerges,

It is a pleasure for me to write this testimonial to the professionalism, talent, and friendliness of the staff and teachers at the Manhattan Arthur Murray studio.

When I moved to New York three months ago, I was determined to continue the lessons I had started at the Arthur Murray in Pittsburgh. I sampled four different dance studios in Manhattan and found the best quality teaching and practice programs at this Arthur Murray studio. My current instructor, Roman is a gifted dancer and a teacher with whom I felt an easy rapport right from the start. In the short time I’ve been at this studio, he has given me the confidence to believe that I can dance competitively. The Arthur Murray program has changed my life and I look forward to many years of dancing.

Sincerely,
Susan R. Kinsey, Ph.D

From: Mitzi Perdue
Commissioner of Libraries
Associate Bronze Student

To whom it may concern:

My Arthur Murray experience has been a most positive one, and I would recommend Arthur Murray to anyone else who has my goals.

My goals were first to learn all the dance steps that I was likely to encounter on a cruise, or at a wedding party. I didn’t want ever again, when asked to dance a Mambo or a Tango or any other dance to say, “I’m sorry, I don’t know how.” That goal was abundantly met.

My second goal was exercise. I found jogging or going to the gym was boring, but I absolutely wanted to exercise. For me, dancing is a form of exercise that is fun, it gets my heart rate up, and it’s never boring. it’s the ideal exercise. An hour at the gym always felt like two hours. In contrast, forty five minutes of a dancing lesson feels like fifteen.

My instructor, Roman, has been perfect for me. I’m not destined to be an easy student for any instructor, since I can’t tell left from right and have a great difficulty hearing the beat of music. In spite of the challenge I pose for him, he is patient, fun, enthusiastic and generally a great instructor.

Sincerely,
Mitzi Perdue

From: Judy and Tim Rudderow
Full Bronze Students & Argentine Tango Enthusiasts

Dear Prospective Student:

Over the last few years, we had taken ballroom lessons at a variety of studios, both private and group. They were, however, more work than fun. Spending more time in New York City, we decided to start up again. We chose Arthur Murray, frankly, because of its convenient location, but it has worked out wonderfully for us. We began with an aggressive program of 10 dances, and we have progressed nicely in all of them.

We have had a series of very competent instructors, who combine the Arthur Murray System with their own personal style to help bring us along. Currently, we are working with Roman. His style in more International (as opposed to Social), with a good deal of flair. At this point in our program, that is a good thing in that adding style may be more important for us than adding additional steps. Roman is fun to work with, eager to focus on areas of interest to us. In addition, we have the benefit of the group lessons, where we can experience additional methods and styles.

Arthur Murray has been a great experience for us as a couple and has helped us develop what we hope will be a lifelong passion.

Sincerely,
Judy and Tim Rudderow

From: Dr. Lucy and Dr. Phil Livingston
Full Bronze Students

Dear Arthur Murray Staff,

You took us from “one, two, three”, count out loud, heavy feet, to a Dance-O-Rama Waltz solo in one year. None of our friends could imagine what we were up to, but they did notice that we were standing tall and that hailing cabs was easier with our new practiced arm positions.

The structured teaching approach has made it easier for us to get out on the floor for most any dance. We learned the basic steps and then went on from there. Each level builds on the others and the steps are taught so that we can recognize similar patterns in different dances; they are new, but related.

And then there are the teachers. We often take lessons from more than one teacher, but the all use the same program and know our level. Roman is a high energy, beautiful dancer, who has taught us to hover and twinkle and travel. Take a spin with him or a tango dip and you will know what a dance should be. James, Master of technique, leads the group classes and then there is open dancing, where we can all practice under the flicker of the party lights.

This is what we are doing tonight after work. We’ll be dancing with Roman, taking a group class with James and doing the party. It’s a perfect evening!

All the best,
Dr. Lucy and Dr. Phil Livingston

From: Nisha Beharie and Chris Litman
Wedding Couple

We began taking dance instruction at Arthur Murray in February of 2007 with Danyelle. With her attentive and expert instruction, we learned Salsa, Tango, Cha Cha, Rumba, and many other dances. We continued our lessons with Roman and Emily who refined our techniques, while also introducing new moves.

Taking dancing instruction at Arthur Murray has allowed us to enjoy something together which has brought us even closer. Our teachers will have not only expanded our social horizons with dancing, but also providing us with elegant routines for our upcoming wedding. We recommend Arthur Murray Dance Studio to anyone at any level who is interested in learning dance.

From: Diane Citron
November 30, 2007

For the first time, I feel compelled to comment on the amount of pleasure my dance instruction is bringing me.

I look forward to the end of the day, knowing I have a class with Roman.

I am unable to pinpoint the specific reason for it, but since I have been dancing with Roman, I feel a sense of accomplishment and some real progress. Maybe, as Arthur Murray promises, the “muscle memory” is kicking-in.

For whatever the reason, I feel truly fortunate for the instruction from as dedicated a professional as Roman.

Above all, I’m having a terrific time!

From: Christina Yuin

Arthur Murray’s NYC Studio is one of the best dance studios in the area. In a very short period of time, my instructor Roman Makarov has improved my dancing so much that I was able to enter the exciting NYC Dance-O-Rama and Empire State dance competitions — and win some Gold! Roman is an extremely effective and engaging teacher (as well as performer) who can call upon an extensive knowledge of dance, from ballet to modern, and whose passion for dance is infectious. Besides teaching me a large and varied dance curriculum, Roman has greatly improved my technique, imparting many details that have given me confidence, as well as some extra polish.

This spacious and immaculate studio is a wonderful environment to dance in, and the entire team — including Mr. Safwat Gerges and all the instructors and staff members — are of the highest professional caliber and extend every courtesy one could expect. They are all a pleasure to work with, making my experience fun and exciting!

Best Wishes,
Christina Yuin

From: Kelly Keating & Michael Dodge

We signed up to take dance lessons at Arthur Murray in October so that we would be able to dance at our wedding in February. We’ve had a great time and I know we’ll look great on our big day. Little did I know there would be another completely unexpected benefit so quickly!

Against everyone’s advice I ordered a wedding gown one size smaller than my measurements suggested. I had been eating well and working out with a trainer at the gym and was sure that it would be no problem — I had six months. My dress arrived two months early and I went for a fitting and amazingly the dress fit perfectly — even in the hips where I was sure I was going to have my hardest time! I couldn’t believe it! We had been dancing for two months and it had made all the difference!

I am not a person who likes to exercise and the idea of getting on a treadmill bores me to no end and little did I think that the dance classes would make a difference so quickly. It’s a great cardio workout and more importantly it worked the areas I was sure would never change. I now love going backwards!!

Thank you so much! We’ve laughed and learned, and I love how my dress fits! We definitely look forward to dancing together for the rest of our lives.

Kelly Keating

From: Liliy Cowles
Assoc. Bronze

I can say without a shadow of a doubt that the Arthur Murray School of Dance has revolutionized my life. I am madly in love with dance, and could not be happier with the sensational instructors. Fadi, you’re the BEST!!!