Ballroom History

Phill Lowers began his dancing and teaching career in 1967 after returning from a tour of duty in Vietnam. He successfully trained and graduated from a teacher training program with the Arthur Murray organization.

Working for ten years with Murray's, he learned the business from the ground up through teaching, supervising, staff training and managing. During this time, he competed in local and national dance competitions with students as well as with his professional partners. He and his amateur partner held the title of 10 Dance Champion for two years in the Pro-Am Division.

Going as far as he could with Murray's, he headed for California to open his own school. He worked for a short time in a small independent school and within a year in 1979, opened Phill's School of Dance in the city of Garden Grove, which eventually became Phill's Ballroom Dance Studio in the City of Orange and has been in Orange to present time; continuing to enter student-teacher competitions, won many first places, top studio, and top teacher awards.

At this time, he realized his passion was not in competition but in teaching people to be able to go out to a club or wedding and feel comfortable getting up on the dance floor. Putting his energy into teaching social dance only, Phill has taught many satisfied students for over 30 years in Orange County. His studio was the first to offer "first dance" wedding dance lessons to couples getting married.

Phill has been successful not only teaching adults and senior citizens but also has many happy teens and pre-teen students. He offers combination private and group programs and practice dances for needed practice. Group lessons are available from beginner through advanced. His studio will be moving to a larger suite on the second floor of this building. There will be a 2300 square foot raised "wooden" floor, with a state of the art sound system, very cool AC for your dance pleasure, skylights and a beautiful reception area. Look for this move to take place right after the first of the year.