Dance Classes in Tacoma
Tacoma represents art, education, and industry and has a vibrant social scene. Our Tacoma Arthur Murray School of Dance enables locals to take dance classes in a variety of styles to give them confidence on the dance floor. Drop by the school to take a tour and meet the staff!
Our Tacoma studio trains:
Casual dancers
Casual dancers – Add an energizing social activity
to your routine, get to know your partner better,
or prepare for dancing in a special event
Competitive ballroom dancers
Polish your technique and
add to your repertoire as a
ballroom competitor
5849 Tacoma Mall Blvd, Tacoma, WA 98409
(253) 474-2955
Just minutes from Tacoma
Share in the world of dance and music at our Tacoma Arthur Murray School of Dance. Our studio is located just south of the Tacoma Mall and serves the greater Tacoma area and beyond.
Our studio is located at 5849 Tacoma Mall Blvd
Groups, couples, and individuals at all levels of ability are welcome. We provide ballroom dance classes to residents in all of Tacoma, as well as Lakewood, Gig Harbor, Puyallup, and even Olympia!
Meet Sandy
Sandy just moved to Seattle and keeps telling her co-workers that she can’t come out with them when they invite her to go dancing. After a few lessons at Arthur Murray – she no longer can say no!
Weddings and Special Events
Are you learning or choreographing a group dance number for a special event? We’ll help you with choreography and get your whole group confidently dancing their part.
We also help nervous grooms and brides get ready for a ballroom number or first dance. Arthur Murray Studios have always been the go-to for wedding dance lessons. We can show you why.
You’ll learn to dance in a comfortable atmosphere, to your maximum technical proficiency.
Lessons are structured to fit schedules, to get you ready for the big day. Join us at our studio in Tacoma.
Dance Styles for Casual Practice or Dancesport
Your first steps as a dancer should be to find the style of dance that speaks to you.
Finding the right dance style inspires self-expression.
You’ll find that you move more naturally to particular types of music and movement.
Some examples of the styles and dance classes offered at our Tacoma studio are below.
You’ll find Latin ballroom dancing as well as some distinctly US American styles.
BOLERO
The sweeping, slow tempo of the bolero is the main source of its beauty. It is romantic, emotional, deliberate. There are no foot flicks. Instead, drama is produced by articulating the sweeping rhythms and simply feeling the music. It works well with music that laments, whether it’s a beautiful Spanish guitar or a love song by Whitney Houston or The Cure.
CHA-CHA-CHÀ
“And-a cha, cha, cha!” That’s just one of the rhythms of this Cuban-born dance. Staccato movements on a steady 4/4 beat. Beginners start by learning to dance on the beat. As skill level progresses, it’s possible to layer more complex patterns and personal flourishes into the steps. The cha-cha is fun and full of personality.
COUNTRY WESTERN
Country songs both traditional and modern inspire the glides, steps, taps, and turns. It’s hard to go wrong with this unique style, with or without cowboy boots.
FOXTROT
The Foxtrot is a study in rhythm, figures, and positions. The style is classic and rhythmic, danced to big band or those great ‘50s rock’n’roll records (though the dance has been around since the ‘10s, ‘20s, and ‘30s). History buffs might enjoy this little fact: our fearless founder Arthur Murray is credited with standardizing the style so that it could be taught.
HUSTLE
Inspired by classic disco of the ‘70s, the Hustle still finds its soul on the dance floor. These days, the music can be electronica, hip hop, or even post-punk with that underlying disco beat. Turns, spins, and wraps are featured heavily in this dance style.
What are you waiting for?
You’ve been looking for a healthy, fun, and engaging switch up… Achieve it in one step!
MAMBO
From the Mambo came the Cha-Cha and Salsa styles. The Afro-Cuban beat of the Mambo inspires high energy and flirtatious partnering. What was that dance that Johnny taught Baby in Dirty Dancing? That’s right – the Mambo.
MERENGUE
The Merengue is a style of Dominican dance and music. Dancers keep a steady marching beat and articulate from the core of the body, drawing patterns along the floor.
QUICKSTEP
The Quickstep is just like it sounds – upbeat with brisk footwork. Dancers must look elegant and agile. You’ll need to bring high energy and attention to detail for this light-hearted style.
RUMBA
“Rumba” is an umbrella term for several flavors of music from different regions around the world, but the ballroom Rhumba is based on Afro-Cuban rhythms. The style uses Cuban Motion and steps are similar to the cha-cha, but at a slower pace.
SALSA
Salsa is a spicy nightclub favorite that combines traditional Latin steps with improvised movements. It’s a sexy evolution of the Cha-Cha and Mambo.
SAMBA
The high energy and soul of Brazil is encapsulated in the Samba. It was on full display during the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics opening ceremonies, and its many regional variants can be seen at the yearly Carnival (Carnaval do Brasil). This is a sexy dance that attracts confidence. And even if you don’t come with confidence, you’ll certainly leave with some.
SWING
“Swing” can include styles like the Lindy Hop, Balboa, and the Charleston. The essential character is jazzy and vigorous. No matter the style or speed it’s danced at, swing dancing is contagiously fun.
VIENNESE WALTZ
Gracefully danced at an exhilarating tempo, this is not the slow 1-2-3 that you might expect when you hear “waltz.” This is the Viennese variant, where a fast pace meets poise. This waltz is your opportunity to embody “grace under pressure”!
TANGO
The tango is yearning and intricate, danced in an embrace. Danced best to sultry or emotional music with a strong beat, this tango is all about partner dynamics. Partners must learn to be sensitive to each other’s steps. Improvisation. Emotion. Unspoken communication. These are the characteristics that bring a tango to life.
Tacoma City Bio
Tacoma is a bustling urban port city just about 30 miles from the state capital, Olympia. With several colleges and universities, art schools, dance schools, and theaters, the city boasts a richness in art and culture. The Arthur Murray Dance School in Tacoma is easy to find just south of the mall on Tacoma Mall Boulevard, right off I-5.
