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Bill & Floy Ranells
Dance entrepreneur Bill Ranells is marking his 32nd year in the dance studio business. Even though the journey has meant long hours and lots of hard work, Bill says it's been very rewarding. Helping people unwind, relax and forget the stress of everyday life is what Bill and his wife Floy are all about.

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Born in Cleveland, Ohio (home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), Bill joined a band in 1956. Being part of a combo a band back then meant it was a foregone conclusion that you also knew how to dance. Wrong, Bill couldn't dance a step. "I was scared to death and embarrassed that I couldn't dance with girls," he says. To solve this major image problem, Bill decided he better learn how to dance or he'd have to avoid the girls on the dance floor. The latter was not a possibility. So Bill took lessons, and got pretty darn good at kicking up his heels. "Don't ever tell yourself you can't dance," he says, "I'm living proof that anyone can learn how."

In 1958 Bill moved on to California, the land of golden opportunities. In 1961, opportunity came knocking,but it sent Bill headed to Texas and a stint in the Medical Corp. After the army, Bill embarked on what was to become a lifelong passion and career. From Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio to Arthur Murray Dance Studios in Austin, Texas, Bill Ranells was to become an expert in the world of dance.

Bill returned to California in 1964, where he met his bride Floy in Sacramento. They married soon after in Fresno, which happens to be their current home. Bill and Floy quickly became one of the most successful duos in the dance industry. They've opened studios across the state in Oakland, Alameda, Hayward, San Francisco, Fresno, San Rafael, Pleasant Hill, Escondido, Riverside, Pasadena, Palm Springs and now Santa Clara. Together, they have spent 24 years with the Arthur Murray Group and 14 years with the Fred Astaire organization.

In the Fred Astaire tradition, Bill and Floy Ranells are masters of dance and excellent teachers. From the moment you walk in the door for lessons, Bill, Floy and their energetic staff make sure that you leave as a better dancer than when you came. Their unique teaching method includes regularly scheduled private lessons as well as group technique lessons. Personalized attention is a key to their success in helping you to lead as well as follow. Group lessons are a fun part of the training for everyone; a chance to meet other students and make new friends. And according to Bill, dancing is the best exercise there is.

Not only is dancing good exercise, it's glamorous too. Bill and Floy have hob-nobbed with all the big stars. They've attended parties with Ginger Rogers, Mitzi Gaynor, Tony Martin, Cyd Charisse, Ann Miller and Donald O'Connor, to name just a few. Great dancers learn their craft by example. Bill says all the pros take lessons from one another. Professional dancers can earn $3000 a show and usually charge $100 per hour for coaching sessions. Sounds like the rest of us are in the wrong business!

Bill and Floy feel that once you experience the joy of dancing through their studio or others, you'll see why they are having the time of their life. You too can have fun gliding across the floor, meeting new people, impressing other cruise passengers, attending parties, and relaxing and enjoying yourself, all while you get your daily dose of exercise. And all you have to do is DANCE.

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