Studio Spotlight

Cinema Ballroom: Great Space, Wonderful People, and Tons of Fun!

By Eric Hudson

Cinema Ballroom’s name is inextricably linked to its origin. Many in our dance community have told stories of watching movies when the Cinema Ballroom used to be the St. Clair movie theatre over 40 years ago. The amazing space has experienced many business iterations since its days of showing movies, but it has stood proud since 2005 as the home to a wonderful dance community. Overseeing the quality experience at Cinema Ballroom are the owners, Eric Hudson, Michelle Hudson and Eileen Arcilla. We are a St. Paul ballroom dance school that specializes in all forms of partner dancing. We are proud to have created a wonderful community of dancers. We believe that dance is a life changing endeavor, and we focus on discovering the needs of each student to do just that!

We know that the keys to success are hard work, putting your students’ needs above your own, and simply to have a ton of fun! Our staff guarantee this through their commitment to excellence. What makes these dance teachers special? We’re glad you asked! They study daily to continue their education. We use DVIDA certification for our professionals and amateurs. Besides national professional accreditations, our staff receive high level coachings and several of them compete professionally all over the country. Our staff are 100% the reason why we have such a wonderful dance community. Don’t take our word for it; come in and see for yourself why these dedicated instructors will help you take the benefits of dance and make a life changing experience.

Before we get to the “nuts and bolts” of the ballroom, here are a few things you might not know about us. Our team has many transferrable skills. In addition to our professional certifications in dance, our instructors have college degrees in biology, geology, mathematics, computer science, biochemistry, environmental science, physics, theology, and theatre, just to name a few. When our staff are not dancing you might find them doing some of the following: karate, soccer, swimming, Tough Mudder, working out, finger painting, mixing music, video editing and fishing. Our consistency as a team guarantees great quality, but it’s the diversity of qualities in each individual that is always entertaining and fun.

Now for the nuts and bolts of it all...some fun facts about Cinema Ballroom:

Great Community

• There are entire families that take lessons together as well as father daughter, sisters and mother daughter teams!
• Every fall Cinema Ballroom goes back to its roots and is transformed into a theater with riser seating, curtains, stage lighting, props and video segues and backdrops! Each year 60 to 80 Cinema Ballroom students together with the entire Cinema Ballroom staff perform in this exciting and entertaining show.
• Cinema Ballroom holds 2 showcases in the summer and early winter, 2 stage shows (the Production) in the fall and 1 critiqued event (the Dance Extravaganza) in later winter every year.
• Cinema Ballroom has practice dances every Wednesday and most Fridays. On Wednesdays the entire Cinema Ballroom staff is there to dance with and provide dance assistance.
• Every 2nd and 4th Sunday, Jerry O’Hagan’s Orchestra with Charmin Michelle has been providing the perfect musical backdrop for ballroom dancers at Cinema Ballroom for the past 10 years!
• Cinema Ballroom celebrated our 10 year anniversary in September 2015 with over 200 dancers in attendance!

Top Instruction

• US National Professional Champions - Cinema Ballroom’s owners, Eric and Michelle Hudson are 2009 US National Professional Rising Star American Smooth champions, and multiple time professional US and World finalists.
• Well Rounded Professional Dancers - Eric and Michelle have competed professionally in American Smooth, American Rhythm and American Style 9-dance.
• Top Professional Dancers - Cinema Ballroom professionals have won many rising star events and are professional open American Rhythm and American Smooth finalists in competitions all over the US.
• US National and World Pro/Am Finalists and Champions - Eric Hudson has won over 10 US National and World Pro/Am titles in all four styles: American Smooth, American Rhythm, International Latin and International Standard in all levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Open. Did you know that Co-Owners Eric Hudson and Eileen Arcilla are the 2008 US National Open Pro/Am American Smooth Runners Up?
• From Hobby to Profession - Over a dozen Cinema Ballroom students have moved on to careers as professional ballroom and latin dance teachers.
• Top Studio - Cinema Ballroom has won top studio awards at the following dance competitions: Twin Cities Open, Wisconsin State Dancesport, Ohio Star Ball, California Open, Savannah Dancesport, Nevada Star Ball, First Coast Classic, and Snow Ball Dancesport ,and has won Top Studio at the Twin Cities Open every year since its inception in 2005.
• Leader in Bringing in Celebrity Coaches - Cinema Ballroom guest judges, performers and coaches are US National and World finalists and champions and is an industry leader in bringing in celebrity coaches. We have had over 50 different celebrity guest coaches, judges and performers including professionals from Dancing With the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance.

Great Facility

• The home of Cinema Ballroom was built in the 1920s as the St. Clair Theater. Since then it’s been a racquetball club, fitness center and training center owned by a couple of NFL Vikings football players.
• Cinema Ballroom occupies over 8000 sq ft. The main ballroom is over 4480 sq ft with 18’ high ceilings and a balcony overlooking it.
• Cinema Ballroom has a well appointed ballroom dance store with men’s and women’s dance shoes and practice wear as well as heel caps, shoe bands, makeup, hairspray, pro-tan, eyelashes, practice journals and more! We will also rent and sell your ballroom dance costume for you.
• Cinema Ballroom is open for lessons, classes and practice time 7 days a week!