OUR HISTORY
OUR STORY
In the 1980's David became tired of sitting around at events and not knowing how to dance. He realized that when he did dance the lady would be leading him and that didn't seem right. He had plenty of musical backround with his family's singing group and loved music and rhythm, so he marched right into Arthur Murray one day and said 'Please teach me to dance!"
Kiki has a backround in ballet, tap, jazz and some modern and other forms of dance in her younger years and was always up to date with every dance that came down the pike. She has always loved it all, but never learned ballroom. She always wanted to learn the waltz!
Her Mother loved to dance and danced in Lancaster during WWII years at the USO. Then continued dancing at Rocky Springs Ballroom, Maple Grove Ballroom, and even the Valencia Ballroom in York . There enjoyed dancing to the Big Bands like the Glenn Miller orchestra.
Kiki's father was one of the first of his family to come to 'America" from Greece on the boat at the age of 10 in 1895. He taught her many of the Greek dances when she was hardly walking. You could almost say she was dancing before she was walking. She loved all the other kinds of dancing and.....well ....... here's the rest of the story..............
David and Kiki have been dancing together since our first date in 1990. A perfect a ballroom "Tea Dance" made in heaven! Held at the very beautiful Hotel Hershey! It was one of those 'Cinderella' events for both of them. That day they realized that they were to be together, became good friends, David taught Kiki the Rumba first and shortly after that Kiki began taking dance lessons with Arthur Murray studio in Lancaster.
They were married one year later. David at that point had had 6 years of professional training with Arthur Murray under his belt.
They have continued their professional coaching with professional ballroom teachers ever since in and out of the area.
All those years of professional ballroom dance training separately and together has brought so much joy for both of them. They love all the dance genres and continue to learn all the new styles. So they are well up to date. They enjoy the American Style of ballroom dancing and teach that style.
Dancing is a huge part of their lives. No doubt about it! Teaching others to dance is the greatest joy in their lives. You can sense that immediately in their lessons. They both teach the groups and private classes together giving the student the full advantage of 'both sides of the coin' in parntering skills, steps and styling.
Their professional dance training was blessed with many teachers, such as the Lancaster Arthur Murray Studio, Larry Ronson the 3 time retired Gold Olympic Canadian Ballroom Champion who taught at of Dancer's Workshop before his passing. Diana Johnson of Danse Classique who won Open Champion here in the states. All of these were SO helpful to them in growing their dancing skills. They currently continue to take regular professional dance training with Jessie Foster of The Jessie Foster Ballroom Dance School in Harrisburg PA. Jessie has many high honors and trophies as well in ballroom competition and teaching for 20 years. And Barbra Snyder of Ballroom on the Square in Manheim PA. Barbra has been teaching and coaching for over 25 years.
David and Kiki always continue to experience as many professionally taught dance workshops as possible that are held by the top local and nationally known dance teachers and competitiors . They work hard striving to stay current with their dancing. You can just see and feel the joy they have on the dance every time they are on the dance floor.
They are continuing to pass on the joy they feel in their hearts for ballroom dancing to their students. It's contagious! It's just wonderful feeling to be able to put into motion the feelings and the emotion the music creates. The possilbities are endless if done well. They strive to teach the basics well and make sure that their students cam be proud of their dancing.
Life is motion for sure! and They 'Dance the Dance'!
David and Kiki Nye's dance experience:
- Excellent marks in numberous Arthur Murray competitions 1984 thru 1991 Pro-Am.
- Entered a talent show on their honeymoon in Mexico 1991. That was fun!
- Competed in Keystone State Games - competition preamble to the Olympics at HACC 1992. Recieving 1st and 2nd place standings.
- They were the featured dancers in Sweet Adaline's Annual Production in Lancaster in 1993.
- Performed exhibitions for the Lancaster's Business Women Association and other business organizations 1993-1995.
- Performed as one of the featured talent offerings for the 35th Longs Park Anniversary Celebration held at Longs Park.
- Performed as the featured dancers in the opening number for Encore Dance Center's Annual Review June 1999.
- Performed in Dance Debut Ball celebrations sponsored by Diana Johnson 1999 -2000.
- Kiki held the office of presidemt of the Lancaster Chapter of United States Amateur Ballroom Dance Association now USA DANCE INC. for 3 years. She helped to increase ballroom interest by organizing a chapter demonstration team with the help of many in the organization locally. David at her side helping the entire time.
- They continue to try to find time to volunteer for various organizations.
- They have taught ballroom dancing at and performed dance exhibitions for private and/or formal parties at private clubs.
- They will dance anywhere! If there is music playing they are thinking of what dance to dance to it. They have even danced "off the cuff'"at Inner Harbor on the sidewalk to very pleased the musicians there.
- They have also a long history of participation in repeated dance demonstrations in other parts of PA with Big Bands and in neighboring states.
- They continue to be enthusiastic members of USA DANCE Inc. The USA DANCE monthly dance venues are offered within the tri-county area.
- They also hold their own dances called 'Yata Yata' at the Lancaster Tennis and Yacht Club the 4th Sunday monthly. This was started to give their students a place to dance that was a comfortable, non-intimidating dance setting.
through the 'ballroom dance world'.
They are very thankful them all.
David and Kiki's Ballroom Dance Lessons:
- Each lesson includes both David and Kiki. You get both the gentleman's and the lady's view point on everything.
- They present their material carefully. To help the guidance of the students with expertise and integrity, patience and gentleness in
a respectful Godly manner.
- Stress Reliever - DID YOU KNOW ...You can totally forget their busy day 15 minutes into a lesson of dancing?
- LEARNING CURVE: If you start
learning you will be able to go to a social dance and dance instead of only tapping your foot. It takes desire
to want to dance. They help you feel comfortable and their lessons are fun.
- You will learn to 'feel the floor', dance the steps,
learn how the gentleman guides the lady and how the lady dances to that guidance.
You will be 'Dancing the Dance' before you know it!
And remember ~~~ you hesitant ones.....
There is no such thing as two left feet after you take a few lessons.
You will learn your right from you left quickly. And it works.
If you can walk you can dance. It's just a fun exercise.
