Nestled in the heart of Castle Hills on the second floor of the new Alon Town Shopping Centre at the intersection of N.W. Military Highway and Wurzbach Parkway, the newest locale of the Arthur Murray San Antonio dance studio has become an outlet for locals to hone their dancing talents since its grand opening in December 2009.
Windows 20 feet high panel the outside of the studio, inviting passersby to peek at the students, who are too busy swiveling their hips and gliding up and down the glossy dance floor with their partners to pay much attention. Inside the studio, the friendly staff at reception is vibrantly cheerful as they come and go between the front desk and the dance floor. It’s obvious that a part of their heart belongs to the art of dance.
Jan DeWolfe, longtime Arthur Murray franchisee, has held the role of teacher, dancer, executive manager, counselor and director for the San Antonio studio since 1972, after the former owner sold the studio to her following a debilitating heart attack. But DeWolfe’s history with Arthur Murray is far-reaching even by the standards she has set in San Antonio.
A Boston, Mass, native, DeWolfe’s story with Arthur Murray began in 1944, when in her junior year of high school, a friend showed her a wanted ad from the newspaper: The Arthur Murray studio in Boston was looking for dance teachers.
“I had to lie,” DeWolfe says with a gleam in her eye. “I told them I was 21 years old, because that was the requirement for the position. They took my friend and [me] in, took us through dance training and now here I am.”
Arthur Murray’s history goes back 98 years, and franchises have spread to more than 18 nations worldwide since the inaugural studio first opened in New York City. The company boasts lessons in the hustle, bolero, Viennese waltz, mambo, samba, merengue, foxtrot, tango, waltz, salsa, swing, rumba and cha-cha, among many other styles of social dance.
“It takes our students roughly 25 lessons to master a dance, and we have programs ranked by difficulty starting with the personalized Introductory level, then bronze level, followed by silver and finally gold,” DeWolfe says. “Every single one of our teachers has been trained by us and certified by Arthur Murray, Inc. If they don’t pass, they don’t teach. Even if they already have extensive dancing experience, they have to start over with us to make sure everyone teaching for Arthur Murray, Inc., is synchronized.”
In San Antonio since 1945, the Arthur Murray dance studio has had many various homes citywide. Former locations include Alamo Heights via Broadway, Jones Maltsberger and the most recent manifestation prior to N.W. Military Highway on Jackson Keller and Loop 410.
And for the future? “Well, we hope to eventually expand and open a second location at the Quarry,” DeWolfe notes excitedly. “Lately we’ve had a lot more young people sign for our classes. I love trying to help young people set goals and not waste time.”
DeWolfe pauses. “I think the most precious commodity of all is time,” she says with a grin. “I’m a very motivated person. I set my goals, and I keep them.” Her daily duties include heading the marketing department, closing the studio, interviewing prospective students and turning them to the proper specialist or dance teacher after the interview process.
“This is my life,” she says. “I work from 1 to 10 p.m. all week – Monday through Friday. Then I can’t wait to go back on Monday.”
At 86 years of age, DeWolfe shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. “I could’ve retired 20 years ago, but I plan on doing this until I’m 122,” she says with a laugh. “My biggest reward is seeing our students gain confidence and become competent in the outside world. Our programs are therapeutic and provide our students with an outlet for stress relief through exercise and expression.”
Tumora Mead, public relations director for Arthur Murray San Antonio, talks about DeWolfe, describing her as “amazing woman. She’s definitely full of spunk and life. I’ve been at Arthur Murray 10 consecutive years, and Jan is just really great with people. She uses dancing as a vehicle for people to get something out of life and helps them build self-confidence and self-esteem. She feels that her value in this life is what she can leave behind. She’s big on legacy and building for the future.“
And Arthur Murray has therapeutic value, indeed. Arthur Murray San Antonio boasts at least 15 doctors as students, where many of them come for the chance to unwind and focus on attaining their own personal fitness and relaxation goals. Each lesson is equivalent to running two miles, and for many people, that is more than enough reason to give Arthur Murray a shot.
“This is the most fascinating business in the world,” DeWolfe says. “Dancing adds value to life, gives people a hobby to dedicate themselves to and encourages perseverance. We are masters of our own fate. Either your duties control you or you control them.”
For more information regarding the Arthur Murray San Antonio dance studio, please visit www.arthurmurraysa.com, or contact Jan DeWolfe at 210-341-6146.
