What separates a good dance teacher from a great one? It’s not just about knowing the steps. It’s about communication, problem-solving, and the ability to transform nervous beginners into confident dancers.

That’s exactly what the Arthur Murray All Star Competition tests. And you – as a student – are the ultimate beneficiary.

Every year, Arthur Murray professionals from around the world compete in one of the most rigorous testing systems in the dance industry. But here’s the thing: they’re not competing to see who can execute the best Tango. They’re competing to prove who can teach, communicate, and solve problems better than anyone else.

The result? Better teachers for you.

What is the All Star Competition?

The Arthur Murray All Star Competition is an annual, multi-stage testing system designed to identify and develop the best dance professionals in the organization. But “best” doesn’t mean what you might think.

As Bruno Lamberti, a 2017 All Star competitor, put it: “The goal is to grow, develop, and reveal the professionals that demonstrate the best customer service, communication, problem solving, critical thinking, and teamwork skills.”

Read that again. Notice what’s missing? Dance technique.

In fact, the All Star Competition isn’t a dance competition at all. It’s a skills competition. The professionals who advance aren’t necessarily the ones with the most impressive footwork – they’re the ones who can handle any situation that comes their way.

Think about what that means for your lessons. When you work with an All Star-trained teacher, you’re working with someone who has been tested on how to communicate clearly, how to solve problems creatively, and how to make you feel confident even when you’re struggling with a new pattern.

The competition has evolved over the years, but the core philosophy remains the same: the best teachers aren’t just skilled dancers. They’re skilled communicators, problem-solvers, and coaches.

A Brief History

The All Star program grew out of Arthur Murray’s long-standing commitment to professional development. From the earliest days of the organization, there was a recognition that great dancing doesn’t automatically translate to great teaching.

Over time, that insight evolved into a formal testing system. The current multi-stage format allows professionals at every level to participate, challenge themselves, and grow – whether they ultimately make it to the World Championships or not.

The program now spans ten geographic Areas worldwide, encompassing hundreds of studios and thousands of professionals. It’s become one of the defining features of the Arthur Murray experience – a commitment to excellence that shows up in every lesson you take.

How the Competition Works

The All Star Competition is structured as a four-stage elimination process. Each stage gets progressively more challenging, and only the best performers advance. Here’s how it breaks down.

Stage 1: In-Studio Testing

Every journey to the World Championships starts at home.

In the first stage, professionals compete against their peers within their own studio. They’re presented with realistic scenarios – the kind of situations they might encounter on any given day – and evaluated on how they handle them.

Maybe it’s a student who’s frustrated with their progress. Maybe it’s a scheduling conflict that needs creative resolution. Maybe it’s explaining a difficult concept to someone who’s never danced before.

The winners at this stage aren’t the ones who follow a script. They’re the ones who think on their feet, adapt to the situation, and find solutions that work for everyone involved.

What makes in-studio testing valuable is its practicality. These aren’t hypothetical scenarios dreamed up in a conference room. They’re drawn from real experiences that teachers face every day. When you struggle to understand a pattern, your teacher has been trained to handle exactly that situation.

Winners advance to the District level.

Stage 2: District Competition

At the District level, studio winners compete against each other in a regional setting. This is where the competition starts to heat up.

Competitors face three separate scenarios, each designed to test different aspects of their professional skills:

• Communication scenarios – Can you explain complex ideas simply? Can you adjust your communication style to different personality types?
• Teaching scenarios – Can you identify what a student needs and deliver it effectively?
• Problem-solving scenarios – When something goes wrong (and something always goes wrong), can you fix it without missing a beat?

The pressure increases at this stage because you’re no longer competing against familiar faces. You’re up against the best from multiple studios, and everyone is bringing their A-game.

District competition also serves as a reality check. Some professionals discover they’re stronger than they thought. Others identify areas where they need improvement. Either way, the experience creates growth – and that growth benefits you when they return to the studio.

Winners advance to the Area level.

Stage 3: Area Competition

Arthur Murray divides the world into ten Areas, each representing a large geographic region. Area competition brings together the District winners from an entire region.

This is where reputations are made.

At the Area level, competitors represent not just themselves but their studios and their Districts. The scenarios become more complex. The evaluation criteria become more demanding. And the competition becomes fierce.

Area competition also introduces a team element. Professionals who have been competing as individuals now have to work together, and the ability to collaborate under pressure becomes just as important as individual performance.

The ten Areas span the globe – from North America to Australia, from Europe to Asia. Each Area has its own culture, its own traditions, and its own approach to excellence. When Area winners meet at the World Championships, they bring perspectives shaped by their regional experiences.

Safe to say, the professionals who make it through Area competition are among the best in the world at what they do.

Area winners earn the right to compete at the World Championships – and the privilege of representing their region on the biggest stage in the Arthur Murray organization.

Stage 4: World Championships (Las Vegas)

The World Championships bring together Area winners from around the globe for the ultimate test.

Held annually in Las Vegas, this is where the best meet the best. Competitors have already proven themselves at three previous stages. Now they’re competing for the title of World All Star Champion.

The Championships feature individual competition, team challenges, and scenario-based testing that pushes competitors to their absolute limits. The judges are looking for professionals who embody everything the All Star program represents: excellence in customer service, communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork.

The atmosphere at World Championships is electric. Competitors who have worked for months – sometimes years – to reach this stage bring everything they have. The scenarios are tougher. The stakes are higher. And the performance level reflects it.

But here’s what makes the World Championships special: even the competitors who don’t take home the title leave as better professionals. The experience of competing at this level – of being tested, evaluated, and pushed beyond your comfort zone – creates lasting improvement.

And that improvement shows up in your lessons.

What Skills Are Tested?

The All Star Competition evaluates five core competencies. These aren’t arbitrary categories – they’re the skills that matter most when a teacher is standing in front of a student.

Customer Service

How do you make someone feel valued, heard, and supported? Customer service in the All Star context isn’t about being nice (though that helps). It’s about genuinely understanding what someone needs and delivering it.

Competitors are tested on their ability to read situations, respond appropriately, and create positive experiences even in challenging circumstances. If a student walks into a lesson feeling frustrated, an All Star knows how to turn that around.

This skill matters more than you might realize. Learning to dance puts you in a vulnerable position. You’re trying something new, making mistakes, and relying on someone else to guide you. A teacher with strong customer service skills creates a space where that vulnerability feels safe.

Communication

Clear communication is the foundation of good teaching. All Star competitors must demonstrate that they can:

• Explain complex ideas in simple terms
• Adjust their communication style to different learning preferences
• Listen actively and respond thoughtfully
• Deliver feedback that builds confidence rather than undermining it

In the scenario-based testing, competitors face communication challenges that would make most people nervous. They handle them with clarity and poise.

You experience the benefits of this training every time your teacher finds just the right words to explain a tricky pattern. Or notices that you’re confused and adjusts their approach before you even have to ask. That’s not intuition – it’s trained communication skill.

Problem Solving

Things don’t always go according to plan. Students struggle. Schedules conflict. Technical difficulties arise. What separates great teachers from good ones is the ability to solve problems quickly and creatively.

All Star testing puts competitors in situations where there’s no obvious right answer. They have to think critically, weigh their options, and make decisions – often under time pressure.

In your lessons, problem-solving shows up constantly. Maybe you’re having trouble with a particular step. Maybe your schedule changed and you need to reschedule. Maybe you’re feeling discouraged and need a different approach. An All Star-trained teacher has practiced solving exactly these kinds of problems.

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking overlaps with problem-solving, but it’s broader. It’s about analyzing situations, identifying patterns, and making smart decisions based on available information.

In your lessons, critical thinking shows up when your teacher recognizes what’s holding you back and adjusts their approach accordingly. It’s the ability to see the bigger picture while attending to the details.

A teacher with strong critical thinking skills doesn’t just teach you patterns – they observe how you learn, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and create a learning path tailored specifically to you. That personalized approach makes all the difference in how quickly you progress.

Teamwork

Dance might seem like an individual pursuit, but a great studio runs on teamwork. Teachers collaborate with each other. They support the front desk staff. They contribute to studio culture.

The team challenges at Area and World levels test whether competitors can set aside individual ego and work toward collective goals. The best All Stars are the ones who make everyone around them better.

You benefit from this teamwork even if you only work with one teacher. When the entire staff operates as a team, your experience is seamless. Everyone knows your name. Everyone supports your progress. The culture of the studio reflects the collaborative spirit that All Star training develops.

Why This Matters to You

You might be thinking: “This is interesting, but what does it have to do with my dance lessons?”

Everything.

The real winners of the All Star Competition aren’t just the professionals who take home trophies. As one Arthur Murray leader put it: “The real winners are the students. These tests, and accompanying training, help to deliver better communication, teamwork, problem solving, and confidence from every member of the staff.”

When your teacher has been through All Star training, they’ve learned to:

• Communicate more clearly and adapt to your learning style
• Solve problems creatively when you’re struggling with a pattern
• Create a supportive environment where you feel comfortable making mistakes
• Work with other staff members to ensure your entire experience is positive

In fact, the training that happens throughout the All Star process is just as valuable as the competition itself. Professionals at every level – not just the winners – become better teachers because of the skills they develop.

That improvement compounds over time. A teacher who has participated in multiple All Star cycles brings years of tested, refined skills to your lessons.

Think about it this way: when you hire a contractor, you want someone who has been tested and certified. When you see a doctor, you want someone who has passed rigorous exams. The All Star program is the dance industry’s equivalent – a system that tests, evaluates, and certifies the professionals who teach you.

Meet Some All Stars

The All Star Competition has produced some remarkable stories over the years. Professionals who started as nervous rookies and grew into confident champions. Teachers who discovered strengths they didn’t know they had. Studios that transformed their culture through All Star participation.

Take Charlotte Keezer from Walnut Creek, who competed in both 2016 and 2017 – one of the few professionals to appear in multiple years. Or Stephen O’Neill-Williams from Toronto, whose journey through the 2017 competition showcased the growth and development the program creates. Or Carolyn Serquina, whose 2016 Top Rookie finish proved that dedication and preparation can overcome inexperience.

We’ve compiled the stories of 46 All Star competitors from recent years – rookies, returning champions, and everything in between. You can read their journeys in Meet the Arthur Murray All Stars: Stories of Excellence.

These aren’t just competition stories. They’re stories about growth, challenge, and the commitment to excellence that defines Arthur Murray professionals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch the All Star competition?

The World Championships in Las Vegas are typically held in conjunction with other Arthur Murray events, and attendance options vary by year. Your local studio can tell you about any opportunities to see the finals in person. Even if you can’t attend, many studios share updates and highlights with their students throughout the competition season.

Spoiler alert: watching the finals is a memorable experience. Seeing the professionals you’ve worked with (or professionals just like them) compete at the highest level gives you a whole new appreciation for what they bring to your lessons.

How do I know if my teacher is an All Star?

Just ask. Most teachers who have competed in the All Star program are proud to share their experience. Even if your teacher hasn’t made it to the World Championships, they may have competed at the District or Area level – which still represents significant achievement and training.

And remember: the All Star program isn’t just about competition. It’s about training. Even teachers who haven’t competed directly benefit from the professional development culture the program creates throughout the organization.

What makes All Star training different from regular training?

All Star training is scenario-based and practical. Rather than studying theory or memorizing scripts, competitors practice handling real situations under realistic conditions. This hands-on approach creates skills that transfer directly to the lesson floor.

It’s the difference between reading about how to handle a frustrated student and actually practicing it until the right response becomes second nature. When you’re that frustrated student, you benefit from a teacher who has trained specifically for your situation.

Does every Arthur Murray studio participate in the All Star program?

The All Star program is available to Arthur Murray studios worldwide, and participation is widespread. While individual participation may vary, the training principles and professional development standards associated with the All Star program influence the entire organization.

Even studios that don’t send competitors to the World Championships embrace the All Star philosophy of continuous improvement and scenario-based training.

How often does the All Star Competition happen?

The All Star cycle runs annually, with in-studio testing typically beginning in the spring and the World Championships held later in the year. This means your teachers have regular opportunities to develop and test their skills – and you benefit from that continuous improvement.

The annual cycle also creates momentum. Professionals who compete one year often return stronger the next. The skills compound. The experience deepens. And the quality of instruction keeps rising.

Experience the All Star Difference

The Arthur Murray All Star Competition represents the organization’s commitment to developing not just good dancers, but great teachers. The skills tested – customer service, communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork – are the exact skills that make your dance lessons more effective, more enjoyable, and more transformative.

When you take lessons at an Arthur Murray studio, you benefit from a professional development system that has been refined over decades. The competition pushes teachers to be better. The training creates lasting skills. And the culture of excellence influences everyone on staff.

You don’t have to know about the All Star program to benefit from it. Every lesson you take reflects the training, testing, and development that your teachers have experienced. But now that you do know, you can appreciate the investment that goes into creating the experience you enjoy.

Curious to see what All Star-trained instruction feels like? Find your local Arthur Murray studio and discover the difference for yourself. And while you’re exploring, check out our guide to Arthur Murray dance events – because great teachers are just the beginning of what makes the Arthur Murray experience special.