| Five Steps to the Perfect First Dance ... |
| YourSpecialDance.com ... it's all about you ... |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
First of all, congratulations on your upcoming marriage! For many couples, the prospect of their first dance keeps them awake at night! This is such a pity as learning to dance can turn out to be one of the most fun parts of planning your wedding. The following five steps will hopefully put your minds at ease and help you to actually enjoy planning your first dance steps as husband and wife … Let’s start by saying that you don’t even have to do a first dance. It’s a wonderful tradition but we’re strong believers that everyone’s wedding day should be unique to them. That means that you should only choose to include those traditions that are meaningful to you and that excite or inspire you in some way. Every single moment of your wedding day should be all about you. You are creating a day that reflects who you are as a couple and what the commitment you are making means to you. The perfect wedding day is a series of perfect moments and the wedding dance can be an exceptionally memorable and unbelievably emotional moment. So, what would a perfect first dance look like for you and what steps can you take to make it happen? Step One: As a couple, talk about what you want the first dance to be like. Is it important to you both or does the very thought of it horrify one or both of you? If, as a couple, you really don’t feel inspired by a first dance, skip it! Or, simply sway in each other’s arms looking lovingly into each other’s eyes. Believe me, that will be a beautiful moment in and of itself if it is right for the two of you. Take the time to have the conversation. Don’t just assume that your partner feels the same way you do. Step Two: Choose a song that is meaningful to you both. If you’re struggling to pick out one song, at least narrow down what style of music would reflect who you are as a couple. There is a great article on TheKnot.com called "First Dance: Formulas to Find Your Song". This will help you to identify your style as a couple and includes song suggestions for each type. What kind of couple are you?! (Traditionalists? Jesters? Hipsters? Hopeless Romantics? Rebels? Or Shrinking Violets?) Read the article and get some great first dance ideas to suit your character as a couple! Go to http://YourSpecialDance.com/song.html and click on the link for the article. You can also visit The Knot at: http://theknot.com/keywords/sc_153_527.shtml for a great selection of songs in different styles including jazzy, upbeat, soft and sensual, classic and romantic. Getting the song right is so important because the right song will help to ease nerves on the day and to really capture the heart of who you are as a couple. As we keep saying, this is all about you so choose a style of dance that is right for you both. You don’t have to stick with the classics like the waltz or foxtrot. What’s your personality as a couple? Would a tango or a swing be more your thing? If you share a great sense of humor then have some fun with your first dance. If it has been a real fairytale romance of a relationship then choose a song and style of dance that reflects that. If you’re one hot, sassy couple then go for an Argentine Tango or Rumba and you (and your friends and family) will have a blast! Step Three: Decide whether you need lessons or not and, if so, how many lessons you think you will need. The average couple takes 3-5 lessons and this is adequate to choreograph a dance to your chosen song. If you already have some dance experience, you may only need a couple of lessons to fine-tune your moves. If, however, you’re pretty sure one or both of you has got two left feet then you might want to plan a minimum of five lessons. Figure out a schedule that works for you – you can take lessons weekly or spread them out a little and practice in between. It is recommended to start 1-3 months before your wedding date. Life only gets more hectic as the big day approaches so try to start sooner than later. If, however, you have left it to the last minute, don’t panic. A good dance instructor can help you to move naturally together so that you don’t have that stiff “just taken dance lessons” look. Your dance lessons can become the highlight of your week – really! We’ve had so many couples timidly enter the dance studio for their first lesson and have an absolute blast. It can be a perfect chance to relax and enjoy each other’s company in what can be a very stressful period. Step Four: Be prepared. Make sure you know the size and shape of the wedding reception dance floor and let your dance instructor know so that he/she can take this into account when choreographing your dance. Brides-to-be, let your dance instructor know a little about the style of your wedding gown. It can be very important when choreographing your dance. You don’t want to hear a rip when you dip! Practice! I know how crazy the weeks leading up to your wedding day are and that you don’t want to add anything else to your schedule. But, hopefully, by the time you have had a couple of lessons, you won’t consider practicing your dance to be a “chore”. Turn it into a great date night! Find a local venue with music that you love and go strut your stuff! A small tip for the day itself based on personal experience: make sure that your DJ or band have whatever they need to accompany your first dance. My husband and I had planned to dance to “Come Rain or Come Shine” by Bette Midler. We had the song on audio cassette. When we got to our reception and gave the tape to our DJ, he told us that he only had a CD deck!!! We ended up doing an impromptu first dance during our wedding meal to “True Love” which was a perfect moment but, if you’re not marrying a dancer, you might want to make sure you can dance the dance you’ve learned!!! Step Five: Enjoy!!! One of the best pieces of advice I got before my wedding day was to look at the flowers at the altar. The point was to notice every detail. It’s so easy to get overwhelmed on your wedding day and to end the day with just a blur in your mind. The same thing with your wedding dance: listen to the music, really connect with your new spouse and treasure the moment for the truly symbolic moment it is. Your first steps together as husband and wife. I hope that this helps you as you prepare for your wedding dance. If you have any specific questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me by phone at (917) 922-1061 or by e-mail at info@YourSpecialDance.com I wish you and your spouse-to-be every happiness on your wedding day and in your life together. Take care and happy dancing! Sally Robertson-Burgos Co-Founder of YourSpecialDance.com |
| "If music be the food of love, play on." William Shakespeare [About Fred Astaire] "Sure he was great, but don't forget Ginger Rogers did everything he did backwards ... and in high heels!" Bob Thaves "Dance like no one's watching." ... but take some lessons first! |
| Any questions or comments, please contact YourSpecialDance.com at: Tel: (917) 922-1061 E-mail: info@YourSpecialDance.com Dance Lessons FAQs Song Choices Gift Certificates About Us Contact Us Site Map |