John Thomas Grant, Jr. is the Chief Executive Officer of 100 Black Men of Atlanta (100) and has been a member of the organization for over 20 years. In his position, Grant is responsible for managing the organization’s day-to-day growth and direction. Grant has garnered a reputation among his Atlanta-chapter colleagues for his ability to obtain “blue-chip” corporate sponsors and successfully manage their investments in the organization. Under his leadership, the 100 has attained a level of visibility and prominence that underscores the importance of its philanthropic mission established by its founding members in 1986.

Learn more about John on his Dancing Stars of Atlanta profile page.

The Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter is excited to announce its panel of celebrity judges for “Dancing Stars of Atlanta” on June 2. WSB-TV Channel 2 Action News anchor John Bachman, Atlanta TV Journalist Kimberly Kennedy and WXIA 11Alive News anchor Brenda Wood will offer up scores to 10 local celebrities who will compete and fundraise in a one-night gala dance competition. Mirroring the popular TV show Dancing with the Stars, this event will take place on June 2, 2012 at the Loews Atlanta Hotel, 1065 Peachtree Street, Atlanta.

John Bachman joined Monica Pearson as co-anchor for Channel 2 Action News at 4 p.m. when the station launched the additional hour of early evening news on May 26, 2011. Bachman came to WSB-TV Channel 2 in June, 2007, working as a reporter as well as the anchor for the weekend early evening newscasts.

Kimberley Kennedy is an Emmy award-winning journalist who’s spent the majority of her career in the Atlanta market as a news reporter, anchor, writer, and producer. Kennedy is currently the co-host and producer of the new Atlanta talk show, The Chat Room, airing on WXIA-TV. Prior to that she hosted, produced, and wrote the weekly syndicated news and entertainment show Hot Topics, produced at WSB-TV.

Brenda Wood anchors 11Alive News at 6 & 11 as well as her signature show, “The Daily 11 at 7″. Wood joined 11Alive News (WXIA is the NBC affiliate in Atlanta, Georgia) in September of 1997 and is today one of Atlanta’s most well-known and trusted local news anchors.

The event is co-chaired by Joanne Truffelman, founder and chairman of TG Madison and former dancer and 2011 chair, and Jenny Pruitt, CEO of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty and 2011 winner of the Dancing Stars of Atlanta People’s Choice award. The 2012 cast includes:

Mitchell Barnes, Partner, Carter Barnes Salons
Rodney Cook, President, National Monuments Foundation
Sandra Fryhofer, M.D., General Internist & Clinical Associate Professor, Emory School of Medicine
Duvall Fuqua, Philanthropist, Founder/Owner, Sister Act Couture Clothing

John Grant, CEO, 100 Black Men of Atlanta
Valerie Jackson, First Lady to the late Maynard Jackson; Partner, Jackmont Hospitality, Inc., and Atlanta Restaurant Partners; Host, WABE’s Between the Lines
Amanda Brown Olmstead, One of Atlanta’s Leading PR Magnates
Michele Swann, General Manager/CEO, Cobb Galleria Centre, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Steve Welsh, Executive Creative Director, A Legendary Event

Chuck Wolf, Founder, Wolf Camera; Founder, Wolfbone Marketing

Celebrity Dancers are currently in training and will perform with professional dancers from Allure Dance Atlanta, Arthur Murray Dance Studios, Ballroom Dance Clubs of Atlanta and Valeo Dance Club. World 9-Dance Champion, Nancy Senner, and Cory Thompson will serve as hosts for the evening’s festivities.

The People’s Choice Award will be accepted by the dancer who raises the most individual dollars ($1.00 donated = 1 vote), while the Judge’s Choice Award will be given to the dancer with the highest score.

Vote for your favorite dancer now and purchase tickets at www.dancingstarsofatlanta.com.

Currently 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. Every 68 seconds someone in the U.S. is diagnosed. The Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter serves more than 200,000 Georgians living with Alzheimer’s disease and their families. With seven offices statewide, the Georgia Chapter provides vital education, support and services in all of Georgia’s 159 counties. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research and promotion of brain health, and to enhance care and support for all individuals, their families and caregivers. Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death with no cure or treatment to slow its progression. For more information about the Georgia Chapter visit www.alz.org/georgia.

For more information contact Andrea Mickelson at 404.728.1181 or andrea.mickelson@alz.org.

Amanda was born in Jackson, Mississippi with one brother and one sister. She grew up in Jackson and graduated from Murrah High School and the University of Mississippi. While growing up, Amanda was extremely active in theater, with lead roles in productions such as, Carousel, Good News, Babes in Arms, and The Fantastics. Her interests included dance, from age 4, through University Dancers at Ole’ Miss. Other hobbies included singing, performing in musical theater, opera, and with jazz groups.

Learn more about Amanda on her Dancing Stars of Atlanta profile page.

Arthur Murray celebrates 100 years: MyFoxNY.com

This year, we’re celebrating 100 years since Arthur Murray gave his first dance lesson. On April 4th, in studios throughout the world, we’ll join together in the biggest “birthday” dance ever to salute the master of the global groove! This bio, drawn from Wikipedia, will help give you a sense of the history of the dance legacy that we’re delighted to share with you!

Arthur Murray (April 4, 1895 – March 3, 1991) was a dance instructor and businessman, whose name is most often associated with the dance studio chain that bears his name. His pupils included Eleanor Roosevelt, the Duke of Windsor, and John D. Rockefeller Jr.

Arthur Murray was born in Galicia, Austria-Hungary in 1895 as Moses Teichmann. In August 1897, he was brought to America by his mother Sarah on the S.S. Friesland, and landed at Ellis Island. The Teichmanns settled in Ludlow Street, in Manhattan with his father, Abraham Teichmann. He started his business of teaching the world to dance in 1912 at the age of 17; he taught at night while working as a draftsman by day.

Murray was shy as a child and self-conscious about his tall, lanky appearance. He wanted very much to be a part of the social activities that most of his friends enjoyed, particularly the dances, but was afraid to socialize with girls. At the age of 14, a friend of his whom he admired because of his popularity with girls, taught him his first dance steps. To get practice on the dance floor, Murray attended weddings in his neighborhood, where he found willing dance partners of every size and age. Murray won his first dance contest at the Grand Central Palace, a public dance hall. The 1st prize had been a silver cup, but Murray went home without anything to show for his win. His partner of the evening took it. This loss made an impression on Murray, and in later years every winner in his dance contests took home a prize.

He soon began teaching ballroom dancing to the residents of Boston, Massachusetts at the Devereaux Mansion in Marblehead, Massachusetts before moving to Asheville, North Carolina.

At the outbreak of WWI, under pressure of the anti-German feelings prevalent in the US, Teichmann changed to a less German-sounding name

Murray was inspired by a casual remark made by an associate one evening at a hotel: “… You know, I have a fine idea on how you can collect your money. Just teach ‘em what to do with the left foot and don’t tell ‘em what to do with the right foot until they pay up!” Murray thought about the man’s remark, and devised the idea of teaching dance steps with footprint diagrams. Within a couple of years, over 500,000 dance courses were sold.

On April 24, 1925, Murray married his famous dance partner, Kathryn Kohnfelder whom he had met at a radio station in New Jersey. She was in the audience while he was broadcasting a dance lesson.

After their marriage, the Murrays opened a dance school offering personal instruction. Their business prospered, especially in 1938 and 1939 when Arthur picked 2 little-known dances, the “Lambeth Walk” and “The Big Apple”, and turned them into dance crazes. They were taught at hotel chains throughout the country, and the name “Arthur Murray” became a household word.

There are now hundreds of Arthur Murray studios globally, with specially trained instructors, making Arthur Murray the most successful dance instructor in history. His slogan was: “If you can walk, we teach you how to dance”, and the company guaranteed that the pupils learn to dance. After WWII, Murray’s business grew with the rise of interest in Latin Dance. Murray went on television with a dance program hosted by his wife, Kathryn Murray, The Arthur Murray Party, which ran from 1950 to 1960, on CBS, NBC, DuMont, ABC, and then on CBS again.

Dancing Stars is an exciting new benefit for the Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter. Reinventing the popular show, “Dancing with the Stars”, this fundraising event comprises of 10 celebrity dancers paired with 10 professional dancers, all raising funds by gaining votes! Then the dancers come together to compete in a one night gala dance competition, it’s an event you do not want to miss!

Buy Tickets Here, and Vote for Dancers Here!

Celebrity Guests Include:

• Valerie Jackson
• Rodney Cook
• Melanie Boltax
• Michele Swann
• Sandra Fryhofer
• Amanda Brown Olmstead
• Duvall Fuqua
• Chuck Wolf
• Jason Esteves
• Mitchell Barnes

Dancing Stars’ aim is to support the programs and services provided for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, as well as their families and caregivers. Presently, someone develops Alzheimer’s every 69 seconds, and this disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the country and the only one that is increasing. Without your support, the Alzheimer’s Association will cease to aid those who are affected by this devastating disease.

When: Saturday, June 2, 2012
Where: Loews Hotel

Contact: Andrea Mickelson
andrea.mickelson@alz.org
404.728.6046

Event Co-Chairs: Jenny Pruitt & Joanne Truffelman

Their dance routine is just one of the fun things in store at the Alpharetta Studio’s Public Open House Dance tomorrow (Feb. 9, 2012).

Please feel free to invite your friends to come along and enjoy complimentary champagne, punch, hors d’ouevres, dance lessons and a chance to win great door prizes like a one-night stay at the classic Georgian Terrace.
We hope to see you there!

Attendees at the Alpharetta Studio’s Open House Dance next Thursday, Feb. 9 will have a chance to win an overnight stay at Georgia’s premier historic hotel!

A Midtown icon, the Georgian Terrace Hotel is located in the heart of Atlanta’s business and cultural district, across from the Fox Theatre. The hotel delivers a brand of service rarely found, even in the South.

Check it out at http://www.thegeorgianterrace.com/

Don’t miss the chance to dance and win! See you in Alpharetta, and bring your friends to join the fun!

Arthur Murray Atlanta

We’ll be featuring a professional show with special guests, Rising Star American Style Smooth Champs Amanda Stuart & Justin Kaiser. Students from both studios are welcome to bring friends and family, and can download a poster to post or share via the link below.

Save the date:

Thursday, Feb. 9th, 12012
6:30 – 8 p.m.
Alpharetta Studio
7855 North Point Parkway, Suite B
(678) 795-9854

Click here to download a Poster for Print (approx 2.5 M)

Great Dates to Save in 2012

Here’s just a sampling of the fun in store for Atlanta’s ballroom dance destination — Arthur Murray! If you’ve been a wallflower, make 2012 the year you put on your dancing shoes and join us for a year full of socializing while getting fit — and fleet footed! Stay tuned for more event info next month!

• Feb. 10th 1st Anniversary Open House in Alpharetta.  Bring your friends, neighbors and countryman!  Hors d’oeuvres, champagne, social dancing and Professional Show.
• Feb TBA Arthur Murray Fun-O-Rama in Orlando
• April 4th Worldwide 24-hour 100 year Anniversary Celebration, to be held at the historic Georgian Terrace. Join us where it all began for hometown dance hero and innovator, Arthur Murray!  A night of spotlights is in store, with dance competitions like Peabody, the Twist, Charleston, Lindy, Electric Slide and more! Stay tuned for details to get in sync for a Global blast!
• June 15th Spotlight Extravaganza (combined party held in Alpharetta)
• August Summer Showcase in Charlotte
• Nov. 2nd Murray Showstoppers (combined party in Marietta)