Well, that’s what I’ve been lucky enough to be doing for the last 54 years of my life! And I’m still dancing at 71.5 years young!
It all started in 1972 when I was working my way through college. I was teaching karate at a local dojo and waitressing in Little Italy. All of a sudden there was a buzz about this new dance called The Hustle. It actually originated in the South Bronx around 1970 but worked its way into the Manhattan discos. I had no idea what it was all about, but I was intrigued to find out.
At the time, my girlfriend told me that a studio on Long Island called Dance Charisma was looking for teachers. It was near my home, but I told her I didn’t know how to dance. Even though I had the typical ballet toe, tap, and jazz lessons as a child, I wasn’t confident at all to go on this interview, but she pushed me. I went and was immediately hired. I was on the dance floor teaching beginner students within a week. My experience breaking down physical movements in the martial arts, made the transition to dance instructor quite smooth and the rest just fell into step.
I continued teaching at Dance Charisma but was eventually picked up by Fred Astaire Dance Studios. There, I received proper training in all the ballroom dances. There are 10 steps in 10 dances plus the approved variations and that’s just in the bronze syllabus. Then you have silver level, gold level, supreme gold, and theater arts. They were very strict with our training. We had to know how to do each step, both the male and female patterns, and we would get tested weekly by many professional coaches. But the one who made our blood run cold was Mrs. Parker. We were afraid of her, but that fear made us learn the syllabus inside out. Mrs. Parker helped create a great group of dancers and instructors. I’ll always be grateful to her.
Teaching wasn’t the only part of the dance business. We had weekly Friday night practice parties that were a lot of fun; two or three studios would get together and have dance mixers, some student spotlights, and usually a professional spotlight to top off the evening. There were also dance competitions that we would enter our students in. It would take many lessons to prepare for these comps. The more students who competed, and the more dances they competed in, made it very lucrative for the teachers.
I’ve also done regional camps, which were in the New York/New Jersey area, and the national comps at the Fountain Blue Hotel in Miami. It was so exciting to have my students participate. They took home trophies and memories of accomplishment that would last them a lifetime. They also got to see me perform in the professional evening shows. I was always asked to do some of my theater arts routines. Those are the dances with lifts dips and drops, and being petite and athletic, my partners loved throwing me up in the air, flipping me over their shoulders and catching me in a fish lift before returning me to the ground.
I was very lucky and really only got injured once. I was doing a drag, split across the floor, and managed to pick up a very large splinter in my very upper thigh during a rehearsal for that evening’s professional show. We went to the hospital, but they couldn’t find anything. I performed that night as planned. The splinter did come out about a month later while I was showering. A nice three-quarter inch piece of the floor. I knew something was in my thigh.
Looking back, I was so very lucky to have these experiences. I have listened and danced to the most beautiful waltzes, powerful tangos, and sensual rhumbas all through my life. I have also seen how dancing changed the lives of students, from being shy and withdrawn to confident and social. Many students met their spouses at dance events! I love choreographing the first dance for the wedding couple and even the whole wedding party routines.
Dancing is an incredible sport and yes, it is a sport. And yes, dancers are athletes. I only realize that at 57 years old when I started doing triathlons and my body was conditioned enough to learn how to swim, bike, and run. I attribute that to dancing and my 15 years in martial arts.
At any dinner, wedding, or anywhere music is played, dancers have the most fun. We eat and drink and then dance it off! We are the envy of all who just sit and watch. When I used to dance with my husband and do a tango, people would come up to us complementing our dance. What they didn’t know was that when I would dance with my husband, nothing else existed. I was lost in the wonderful connection that music and dance allow you to feel.
So, I have been so blessed being able to share my passion for this sport and will continue to teach and encourage all future dancers.
Pamela Joya Arcuri
is a multi-award-winning performer and dancer who has been acting since 1970 in theatre and film. She has been an active SAG member for 49 years. Her career has taken her into other areas of activity and entertainment as well. Ballroom dancing has been a lifelong passion, and she has been professionally teaching and performing it for over 50 years. Pam also holds two black belts in Shotokan and American style Karate. She’s a Triathlete swimmer and cyclist. She has choreographed many dance and Karate routines for music videos and indie features. Pam was a featured performer and choreographer in community theatre for over 20 years.
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