Put on Your Dancin' Shoes: Free Lessons for National Dance Day

So, You Think You Can Dance? 

Regardless of whether you think you can or you can't, Palm Harbor's Arthur Murray Dance Studio wants you to give dancing a try. Who knows, you might surprise yourself.

Arthur Murray is offering free group dance lessons all week to help people get ready for National Dance Day on Saturday, July 30. This is the second year the dance studio has participated in the nationwide event.

"Dancing brings joy to your life, it brings you health, it brings you happiness, it builds relationships, it helps you socialize, it is such a fantastic thing," says Lania Berger, at the Palm Harbor Arthur Murray Dance Studio.

National Dance Day is the brainchild of Nigel Lythgoe, Co-Creator and Executive Producer of the hit FOX TV show, "So You Think You Can Dance". Lythgoe created the nationwide grassroot effort to promote health and self-esteem through dance. 

A blog created to promote the event quotes Lythgoe as saying the goal of National Dance Day is to "prove that the Power of Dance can MOVE an entire Country!" People of all ages are encouraged to dance on National Dance Day.

Palm Harbor's Arthur Murray Dance Studio is the only Florida dance studio listed on the official blog. Because of this, a big crowd could turn out at the studio for the event. Berger says last year people drove from four hours away to participate in National Dance Day.

"The purpose behind it is fantastic, I mean just in our every day work we believe so strongly in the benefits of dance and sharing that with everybody and making sure that everyone knows that anyone can dance," she said.

Arthur Murray Dance Studio will be offering the free group classes all week to help people prepare for National Dance Day. The classes will include lessons in special choreography created by the "So You Think You Can Dance" staff. The staff at Arthur Murray suggests you call ahead to make arrangements.

Here's the Arthur Murray Dance Studio lineup for National Dance Day on Saturday, July 30-

• 6:30 p.m. National Dance Day Choreography (group class teaching the choreography)
• 7:00-9:00 p.m. National Dance Day Celebration Party featuring a performance of the Nappy/Tab Choreography (dance w/entire nation)
• 9:00-11:00 p.m. Dancing with the Stars

The Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Palm Harbor is located at 34930 Us Highway 19 (727) 786-2224