Today we’d like to introduce you to Elena Lewis.
Hi Elena, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Carlos started his Arthur Murray journey in 1997 while he was attending the University of Maryland. He wanted to broaden his Salsa dancing skills, was handed a card and made a phone call to start taking lessons. He walked into the Arthur Murray in Gaithersburg, Maryland expecting to take a few lessons only to find that we would begin his now 28 year dance career there.
Elena started her Arthur Murray journey in 2006 after having her mother throw the Washington Post in her lap asking her to get a job. She had just graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. She joked with her mother about the ad she saw for Arthur Murray, only to be met with a wise “why not”. She walked into the Arthur Murray in Silver Spring, Maryland expecting a fun job for a year, but had begun her now 19 year career.
Both Carlos and Elena had several years of learning to teach, dance, compete, and run studios. They worked for large schools, new schools, small schools, and well established schools. They had amazing mentors along the way whom they credit for their continued success. In 2013, after having had their daughter, Carlos looked to Elena and said that he was ready to start his own Arthur Murray. Elena and Carlos knew that with a child the best place to look was somewhere close to family. Elena’s parents were both retired and enjoying life in Austin. So, in February of 2016 they packed their belongings and drove down to Austin, Texas. Five months later they opened their doors in Georgetown.
They have celebrated their nine year anniversary this past July. They are constantly reminded of how amazing it is that a simple decision can be the best thing for their life. They have a wonderful staff, incredible students, and a purpose in life that nothing else can compare too. They have spent the last decades adding light, positivity, and movement into so many lives.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No career is a smooth road. Carlos and Elena know what it is like to start a new business with luck and the love and support of family. They sold Elena’s car to buy their dance floor; If you have ever owned a small business, you know that there are so many questions that only you can figure out, and many times the answer comes after making mistakes. The toughest roads were guiding a business through COVID closures, and through family illness. The hardest thing about owning a business is the hardest thing about life, dealing with unexpected changes. Thankfully, Carlos and Elena believe in what they do, are passionate about it, and have never once thought that they would fail.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Arthur Murray Dance Studios have been teaching the world to dance since 1912. We can be found in various cities around the world. Carlos and Elena believe in the power of dance. Learning to dance will change your life, and many times in ways you could not have imagined. The thing that sets us apart is not just in the fact that we positively impact the lives of our students, but that we also strive to do the same with our staff members.
Our studio is structured on the premise that everyone can dance, and that everyone can grow. We help our staff not just understand how to dance, but we teach them how to teach, how to communicate, how to connect with people, and that the most important growth aspect in life is to always learn. We believe that learning to dance with us about so much more than knowing how to do a box step. It is about personal growth.
What are your plans for the future?
Carlos and Elena are excited about the future. They plan to grow their presence in the area, and build a studio that will outlast them. They have no major changes planned, but know that all opportunities are disguised as change, and so they keep themselves open to change always.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.arthurmurraygtx.dance
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arthurmurraygeorgetown/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arthurmurraygtx
- Twitter: https://x.com/AM_Georgetown
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaqGT3hMnWRD6RXnx7m0Fhg
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amgtx
