Ann Garvey wouldn’t have thought that a TV show would bring more people to her Celebrity Dance Studio.

But “Dancing with the Stars” has been the hook that has lured people of all ages to her Downers Grove “classroom.”

Many people are simply seeking increased levels of self-confidence, and Garvey says that one of the interesting ways to do that is learning to dance or increasing the level of skills in this area.

“Anyone who can walk can dance,” said the veteran instructor.

Dancers have an aura of self-confidence and an ability to enjoy themselves more in public settings, said Garvey, who has been teaching for more than 30 years. That includes instruction in 22 types of dances in three general categories.

Although “Dancing with the Stars” features younger people, Garvey said people of all ages have watched the program and come to her for dancing lessons.

For example, Jim Waszak of Michael Franks LLC, a real estate investment firm in Palatine, said he got more interested in dancing after watching the television program. After the golf season ended in the fall, he was looking for a way to exercise during the colder months.

“Ann is a great teacher. So is her daughter Kim,” he said. “It was a lot of fun. I am in my mid-50s, but I was acting like I was in my 20s. I didn’t know anything about dancing before going to the Celebrity Dance Studio.”

After taking about a dozen lessons, Waszak got his wife to come with him to learn more about dancing.

Later, he got together a group of six couples for eight weeks of lessons because he thought it would be fun to learn more about dancing as a group. He said the dancing increased his self-confidence.

People like Waszak pick up on Garvey’s enthusiasm.

“I am very passionate about dancing and I love teaching,” she said. “It is pretty awesome to see what happens, particularly to shy people.”

In fact, the studio’s catchphrase is “When your heart dances, your body follows.”

Garvey cited the situation of a man in his 40s who was very shy and inhibited and couldn’t look people in the eyes.

“It took about a year, but the change in him was dramatic and quite exciting,” she said. “I got letters from some of his friends, who were amazed at the change. I am not saying dancing is a cure-all, but it can do a lot for people.”

In addition to increasing self-confidence, dancing provides other benefits, Garvey explained:

• Creativity. Dancing provides an emotional outlet in which a person can truly reflect his or her feelings through body movement.

“The ability to dance is present in everyone,” Garvey said. “It only needs to be cultivated through sound instruction methods. Then you will express yourself with passion and elegance.”

• Friendships. Beyond instruction, dancing opens a wide range of social settings in which friendships are created and dreams come true. Scheduled practiced dancing parties, local, regional and national competitions and fun nights out on the town provide dancers with a full social calendar.

• Fun. Although a commitment to learn to dance will require concentration, dedication and time, one will be constantly surrounded by artistic, cheerful people who will make instruction a more pleasurable and rewarding experience.

• Health. Dancing helps the body’s circulatory system as it makes the heart pump blood faster. Dancing encourages weight control and overall fitness through calorie burn-off.

“The constant movement and muscle extension during dancing sessions also provides a pleasing, mild exercise most people long for but rarely achieve, especially in such pleasant circumstances,” Garvey said.

The exercise comes in 22 two different forms in three general categories:

• Rhythm and Latin dances such as the Bolero, Cha-Cha, Hustle, Jitterbug, Jive, Lindy, Mambo, Merenque, Rumba, Salsa, Samba, Swing/East Coast and Swing/West Coast.
• Smooth and standard dances such as the Foxtrot, Quickstep, Tango, Viennese Waltz and Waltz.
• Specialty dances such as the Argentine Tango, Hip-Hop, Nightclub Two-step and Polka.

Garvey’s group includes about ten instructors and about 250 to 300 students in which there is some turnover. Some stay a long time, for as many as 150-200 hours of instruction. Others come for a short time and for specific reasons like preparing for a wedding. There are classes for children, as well as adults.

Some students come in once a week and others come in several times a week. Garvey develops a schedule to fit the needs of individuals.

Group classes include mostly individuals, so partners are rotated throughout the class. Individuals can also take private lessons on a one-to-one basis with an instructor.

How long it takes to be really good depends on the individuals, who can work at their own pace, Garvey explained.

“It’s actually easy to learn. It will take time to learn like most exercises, but the learning is easy and fun,” she said. “A steady approach with periodic practice will produce visible results in a short period.”