Our Story: Dancing with Passion and Purpose
Paul Hughes, the founder of Ballroom Basics, is a dedicated and award-winning dancer with decades of experience competing in American Smooth, Rhythm, International Standard, and Latin dances. He is a Ballroom Chair and a certified member of several prestigious dance organizations, such as the Dance Teachers Club of Boston (DTCB), American Society of Teachers of Dance (ASTD), and the National Dance Council of America (NDCA).
Dance Education
Paul was first exposed to dancing during his preteen years. He consequently studied dance courses at Arthur Murray’s, Metro Dance Studio, Fred Astaire, Radler Hamby Ballroom Dance Studios, and Supershag. He also attended the Dance Teachers Club of Boston and participated in many coaching workshops.
Awards and Recognitions
Along with dance partner Judy Silverstein, Paul competed in the American Smooth and Rhythm, International Standard, and Latin American dances, where they won several awards. As a solo artist, he was awarded the Most Versatile Dancer at the Stardust Dance Weekend in the Catskills in New York for showcasing his knowledge and ability in 37 types of dance styles.
Charity Work
Paul has been a Dancing Pro for Dancing with the Newton Stars, which regularly holds fundraising programs to benefit the Veterans of the American Legion Post 440 in Newton, MA. He also performed for National Ballroom Dance Week, First Night Boston, New Year Needham, and various nursing homes to help uplift the residents' spirits.
At the Roseland Ballroom in Taunton, MA. Paul performed in two couple formations with his identical twin brother Peter, while changing partners during the dances.
Teaching Children to Dance
Every year, Paul teaches about 800 5th and 6th-graders enrolled in the Kids Ballroom Dancing Program of the Physical Education Curriculum of 13 Cambridge Public Elementary Schools and in Ipswich. The project aimed to use dance to teach children various social skills and etiquette through Social-Emotional Learning (SEL).
The Kids Ballroom Dancing Program was recently featured in a segment on Chronicle on WCVB-TV and on the Boston Globe website. It was also mentioned in the chapter “How Influence Works in the Real World” from Tim David's book TRUE Influence: The Magic of Human Connection.
Adult Dance Sessions
Paul’s adult group classes have been covered on Wellesley Cable TV. He has also taught dance at the following institutions:
- Bridgewater State University
- Mount Ida College
- Mass College of Art
- Franklin High School
- Cambridge Public Schools
- Dance Complex in Cambridge, Needham, and Stoughton YMCA
- Medfield, Norwood, Belmont, Wellesley, Weston, Westwood, and Waltham Senior Centers
- Fox Hill Village in Westwood
- Ballroom Dance Therapy at Brookhaven in Lexington
- Brightview Senior Living in Canton
- Wingate Residences Independent Living in Needham
- Beyond Adult Day Health Center in West Roxbury
- Wellesley Weston Lifetime Learning
- Boston Assemblies Social Dance and Etiquette
- Randolph Intergenerational Community Center
- Weston Recreation
- Walpole Recreation
- Westwood Recreation
- Brookline Adult and Community Education
- Moseley's Ballroom in Dedham
- Betsey's Ballroom at the Yarmouth Senior Center for the Cape Cod Ballroom Dancers
- South Shore Dancers
- Dance Time Studio in Canton
- Hazel Boone Dance Studio in Canton
- Village Club in Needham
- Unitarian Universalist Society in Wellesley
- First Baptist Church in Needham
- Knights of Columbus in Needham and Norwood, MA.
Paul’s mission and passion are to share the many positive physical, mental, and social benefits of ballroom dancing so that people's lives can be enhanced through it.