Development Director Teaches Greenwich to Dance

GREENWICH, Conn. - If you asked Kelly Butler which style of dance is her favorite to watch or perform, she would have trouble choosing just one.  

“My favorite is the kind that involves music,” she jokes.

The director of dance development at Arthur Murray Grande Ballroom of Greenwich is trained in hip-hop, Latin and ballroom dance, to name just a few. She collaborates with studio instructors to develop techniques that teach students of all ages and skill levels.

“It’s like the foundation of a house,” Butler says. “You start with the feet and move your way up the body.”

A former winner of the Connecticut Ballroom Classic Showdance Championship, she points out the social and physical benefits of ballroom dancing, a specialty at Arthur Murray Grande Ballroom. It offers couples a healthy hobby to enjoy together while teaching them to "communicate with their bodies." For singles, it can create an opportunity to meet people.

But she says you shouldn’t expect to look like the couples on "Dancing With the Stars." Although the TV show has popularized ballroom dancing among people of all ages, Butler says the style seen there is more theatrical than technical.

She says one of her greatest rewards as a dance coach is to see her students grow.

“I could see someone do a great waltz with a good frame and posture and know that they have reached their personal goals,” Butler says.

For locals who want to give ballroom dancing a try, Arthur Murray Grande Ballroom offers private and group lessons and even party sessions.

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