Wedding First Dance
Dance is Memorable
Wherever we go, whatever we do, we remember the dancing. Was it effortless that day? Did we make anyone smile? Did we inspire someone else to dance with us?
It makes sense to give dance an elevated place on such an important occasion. Dance moves people and brings them together, and it helps leave a lasting impression on both those who experience it and those who watch it. Why not spend a little time learning how to do it well?
Besides, with a little patience and time, anyone can learn how.
Choose Music
It helps a lot when couples choose music they really like. We can make suggestions, but there's really nothing better than dancing to your favorite song together. When you contact us, let us know what you've chosen or if you need help!
We have compiled a list of wedding songs used by our students. Start here if you need some ideas, or simply want to know what songs are popular these days.
Choose a Style
If you don't know what song you would like to use, you can start instead by thinking about the style of your dance. Would you like a light, romantic wedding dance with flowing turns and dips? Maybe you envision a tango like the one in Scent of a Woman. Whatever your preference, the dance style you choose will influence your experience on the dance floor. You can come to us with a style already in mind, or we can help you find one that fits your personality and needs.
Partner Dancing or Choreography?
There are some important differences between learning to partner dance together and learning a choreography.
How to Sign Up
Once you've browsed the choices and decided what style of lesson interests you the most, call us to book your time. You can bring payment to your first lesson. We try to be as flexible as possible, so creating a schedule is easiest if we chat on the phone. You can also contact us here.
Lesson Options
We offer a number of approaches to help couples prepare for their first dance together, from the basics of partner dancing to fully choreographed routines. A last-minute option is also available.
Option 1: The Basics of Partner Dancing
Starting early? It takes time to adapt to new ways of moving, especially with a partner. We recommend at least four lessons, but you can take as many as you want.
The goal in this series is to be able to dance freely in front of an audience without choreography. It means less memorization and more skilled leading and following. A sample outline looks like this:
- Lesson 1: leading and following; weight shifting; moving across the dance floor; turns
- Lesson 2: more leading and following; step variations; more turns
- Lesson 3: adding style; more step variations; more turns; how to dip safely
- Lesson 4: flourishes; dancing to the music; putting it all together
Practice is really helpful between lessons. If you practice just fifteen minutes together once or twice a week, you'll feel more comfortable and remember more, and we'll be able to help you progress even further.
Cost: $60/hr, minimum of 4 one-hour lessons
Option 2: Wedding Dance Choreography
Send us your song and let us know what style of dance you would like to learn. We'll create a routine and teach it to you. This approach requires more time and dedication outside of lessons. Practice really helps!
Almost all couples start with four basic lessons (Option 1) and then learn a choreography in one or two hours. This is our recommended approach.
If you start completely from scratch, it may take a bit longer--three or four lessons at least. For students who start off with this approach, we charge for a minimum of two hours.
Cost: $70/hour + $100 choreography fee (2 hour minimum)
Option 3: Last-Minute Lesson
If you're short on time, don't worry! In a single two-hour lesson you can still learn enough to move smoothly on the dance floor together. It's better to learn a few key concepts than nothing at all!
We will teach you as much about the partner dancing basics as you can learn in one or two lessons. This includes steps, pauses, turns, flourishes, your entrance, and how to dip safely. We'll start with focused instruction and finish with practice, polishing, and ways to use the music and structure your dance.
Cost: $70/hr for one or two 1-hour lessons, or one 2-hour lesson.
We teach 30-60 minute group lessons at wedding receptions, and can offer your guests the chance to learn anything from swing to disco to more open-ended styles of partner dancing!
We also teach small groups. Past lessons have included the groom- and bride-to-be and their parents, family members, and friends.
Do you have other ideas to make your wedding more memorable for your guests? Let us know how we can help.
More questions?
Our Frequently Asked Questions page has answers to some common questions about wedding dance lessons in addition to questions about learning to dance in general.
