Vol 4 No 1, January 16, 2010
© 2010, Salt Lake Vienna Waltz Association
“Come and trip it as ye go, On the light fantastic toe.”
John Milton
Greetings Waltzers,
This month we interview the mother & son team of dance instructors, Cindy and Robert Prather. Cindy is the founder
of DanceSport in Motion, www.dancesportinmotion.com, and they both teach at King Studio in Foothill Village.
SLVWA: What got you started dancing?
Cindy: Robert is 19 today. Eighteen and a half years ago, after I recovered from his birth, I wanted to get back into
shape. I used to be a runner, and I was trying to find another way to get into shape. I had a friend — she was a student
at Arthur Murray Studio — who said dancing was fun, and I ought to check it out. I did, and I had fun!
Robert: Cindy got me into it at a very early age. I didn’t like it at first. Probably the first time I enjoyed it was at a BYU
dance camp where I was able to take some silver level courses. Ballroom is the style I settled on.
SLVWA: How long have you been at it?
Cindy: Eighteen years! Eighteen and a half!
Robert: I started around age 7 for just a couple of years. And when I went back, and it became fun — to the dance
camp — I was about 12 or 13.
SLVWA: Where have you taught, and where do you teach today?
Cindy: When I owned the studio at 13th South and State from 1999 to 2005, I didn’t teach. Since then, we’ve taught at
Murray Arts Center, Jason Studio, Studio 600, DF Latin, and today, King Studio.
Robert: I started teaching with Cindy a couple of years after she started. Studio 600 was the first place I taught on a
consistent basis.
SLVWA: What skills does it take to run a studio?
Cindy: (Laughs). You have to have the business side and understand marketing. People are interested in dance, but
you have to get them into the door. It’s very intimidating for many people. (ABC television program) “Dancing With the
Stars” was very helpful. Men started to call and say, “My wife’s been trying to get me to dance for years.” Trying to
reach people and get them in was very hard.
SLVWA: What do you do when you’re not dancing.
Robert: I play ultimate Frisbee, and I attend the University of Utah. I’m trying to get into the nursing program with a
minor in philosophy. The idea of being a medical ethicist has always appealed to me.
Cindy: He works out a lot too.
SLVWA: Cindy, we understand you’re a physician, plus you’re a wife and a mother. Considering that you’re also dance
teachers, how do you squeeze in time for social dancing?
Cindy: I dance less socially than when I didn’t teach. I try to support the parties at King Studio and DF Latin. My
husband and I have gone on dance cruises and danced Latin socially in Mexico.
Robert: Most people at dances are older than me. There’s really no one my age.
SLVWA: Do you ever prescribe dance, say for physical or neurological reasons?
Cindy: Yes, when I was in practice. Exercise through dance is a lifestyle modification that helps all kinds of things.
People say “I don’t want to go to the gym,” or “I’m too heavy.” So I tell them to try dance.
SLVWA: If someone wanted to get into better shape through dance, which dances would you recommend?
Robert: I’d say the Latin dances if you’re talking strictly fitness. They’re faster and there’s more of a cardio workout.
Cindy: Standard dances at a higher level are a real workout too. Any of them! People think of the Latin dances as
more of an exercise type of dance. But when you get into the Viennese Waltz or Foxtrot — those are leg dances. So I
would debate which one is more exercise.
SLVWA: Do you have a regular dance partner?
Robert: I have a dance partner. She’s one of the teachers at King Studios, and we are preparing for competitions.
She’s a Latin dancer, but we’re competing in Smooth. So we’re using it as an opportunity to not only compete but to
learn those dances and to get better at them.
Cindy: I mostly dance with Matt (Rice) and Jim Janney. I dance with lots of people who show up — strangers — who
show up at the dance parties. I can lead with the ladies and follow with the men. And then of course there’s Salsa with
my husband.
SLVWA: Cindy, we’ve taken basic dance lessons from you and know you’re a very patient instructor for beginners.
Which levels of advanced dancers do you also teach?
Cindy: I stick with Bronze. I feel uncomfortable teaching something I can’t lead. I want to be able to do both sides.
SLVWA: Describe the most difficult dance or steps to teach a beginner.
Robert: I’d say it depends on the couple. Sometime you’ll find a couple where the hardest part is stepping forward on
the correct foot. Or turns; a lot of beginning couples tend to grab on tight with their hands when they do a turn and get
these weird contortions.
Cindy: I think with a complete beginner, the hardest dance to teach is Viennese Waltz because you’re teaching without
the foundation of a regular waltz or a standard frame. There’s so much technique to Viennese that makes it its own
animal if you don’t have a foundation to build on. I usually teach plain waltz first.
SLVWA: Dance socials where you and your son tend to direct the agenda often seem to have a regular group of
attendees. Are they your former students, fans, etc.?
Cindy: The gang that runs around together? They are predominantly previous Arthur Murray students that then
followed Matt. Jim studied with Matt’s wife Nancy McKendrick.
SLVWA: If you had to pick, would you consider yourself a dancer or a dance teacher?
Cindy: (Laughs again). I’m predominantly a dancer.
Robert: I would say I used to be a dancer, but recently I would lean more toward dance teacher.
SLVWA: Cindy, you dance a mean foxtrot. What is your favorite dance?
Robert: I’ve always liked standard waltz; it’s always been my favorite dance.
Cindy: You’re good at it.
Cindy: I’d like to answer, “Whichever one I’m currently doing.” Because I love them all. I would have a hard time picking
one.
SLVWA: Who is your all-time favorite dancer?
Cindy: Fred Astaire!
Robert: (Mikhail) Baryshnikov is untouchable, unbeatable. Also I think Gregory Hines is an incredible dancer. It’s fun
to watch someone who’s so much better. They’re like the Michael Jordans of dance.
SLVWA: Thank you. Cindy and Robert can be contacted for lessons at King Studio, 801-530-1335.
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