Romanian – American couple open first Arthur Murray dance studio in Bucharest, aim for chain of 10

Two champion professional dancers, Lucian and Sarah Stanila recently brought the Arthur Murray dance studio franchise to Romania, with an investment of EUR 200,000. The duo recently opened the first Arthur Murray dance studio in Bucharest, on some 500 sqm at 87 Nicolae Caramfil St. in the Northern part of Bucharest. The two investors aim to develop the chain of dance studios up to at least 10 units in the next five years. By end of the year, the first studio expects to welcome around 500 clients. Lucian Stanila and his wife Sarah also run and own two other Arthur Murray dance studios in New York. “Bringing the Arthur Murray brand to Romania was a natural decision for me, after my experience of 12 years as an instructor and dance studio owner in New York,” said Lucian Stanila. The two will also develop the chain in South – Eastern Europe together with Arthur Murray International Inc., according to John Kimmins, president of the company. The existing Arthur Murray dance studio in Northern Bucharest has seven dance instructors, each licensed by Arthur Murray officials. The studio and school will be headed by Mirel Roman, who has over 30 years of experience in dance, a former choreographer at Dancing with the Stars in Romania. There are currently 102 Arthur Murray schools and studios around the world, in 23 countries. The brand has a history of 102 years, having been established in 1912 by the very Arthur Murray, an American dance instructor and businessman. His pupils included Eleanor Roosevelt, the Duke of Windsor, John D. Rockefeller Jr., Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, among others. editor@romania-insider.com