Wedding Dance Lessons
Dancing at your wedding, or any wedding!
"Our wedding was just right, and our
dance was a big hit!"
Ben and Jennifer, Jamaica Plain, MA
Wedding Dancing includes partner dancing of all kinds, but especially
creative slow dancing, also known as "schmooze foxtrot."
Wedding dancing can also include ballroom dancing such as waltz,
swing, traditional foxtrot,
Latin dances such as salsa
and merengue, and Latin
ballroom dances such as tango, rhumba,
and cha cha. Also, couples may want
to learn how to dance to faster tunes together as partners rather
than freestyle, such as Motown tunes, Top 40, disco, hip hop,
etc.
"Dear Liz, we are so sorry about being so late in expressing our appreciation for the extraordinary support you gave us in prepping for my daughter's wedding. You were such a great help, and the first dance with my daughter went so much better because of you. You helped to make for a perfect wedding. I'll send you some photos. Unfortunately, I forgot to smile in several of them. We do want to continue lessons with you after the first of the year. Happy holidays!" Tim and Mary Green
Engaged couples most often want to focus on learning how to dance
to the song they choose for their first dance, and just about
any song can be danced to! Choose a song that's meaningful, romantic,
quirky, or just plain fun, to create a moment of joy and a lasting
memory. Your first wedding dance is not a performance, it's a
ritual of connection, pleasure and celebration for you and for
your guests. Once you learn the basics of leading and following,
it will be easy to translate your skills into dancing with parents,
if a "parents' dance" is called for. But wedding dancing
is not just for engaged couples; it's for anyone who wants to
enjoy dancing with a partner to a wide variety of music with a
special emphasis on more mellow, romantic tempos.
Need more info? Check out our page on
Wedding Dance options!
Or read the article below, The Groove Master, where
Boston Weddings Magazine interviewed our director Liz Nania on
preparing for your first wedding dance.
"We came in terrified, and we left
relieved. Thanks for making learning to dance stress-free, and
actually fun! Now we plan on doing lots more dancing after the
honeymoon!"Pat
and Jackie, South Shore, MA
Feature Article, Boston Weddings Magazine
Fall/ Winter 2008: The Experts
The Groove Master
Two left feet? Worry not. A little prep can go a long way in
making you and your partner smooth as silk on the dance floor.
By Terri Trespicio
In the 20 years that Liz Nania has been teaching dancing, she
has helped many a knock-kneed, white-knuckled couple go from flustered
to fearless on the dance floor. Here, the founder of West Roxbury's
OUT to Dance studio shares her insights on how to make your first
moments at the reception memorable and angst-free.
What are most couples' biggest hang-ups about the first
dance? For most people, the idea of having everyone they
know and love stare at them for three-and-a-half minutes is hell.
So they set the bar low—they tell me they just don't want
to look stupid. Often they assume, quite incorrectly, that they
have no rhythm or ability. In fact, most people have never been
taught the fundamentals in a mature, supportive environment. It's
not about complex steps—it's about learning to lead or follow,
shift your weight, and breathe.
What about songs? Is there a hands-down favorite, or
one that just won't work, ever? The number-one wedding
pick by a landslide is "At Last" by Etta James. I can't
tell you how many times I've worked with that song. In general,
couples tend to lean toward the jazz standards, the great American
songbooks, often updated by Harry Connick Jr. or Michael Bublé.
"It Had To Be You" is really popular, for instance.
But I'll tell you this: I've never rejected someone's song. Bottom
line: If you love it, you can do it. It's just a matter of finding
the right footwork. One time a bride chose a classical piece,
which was tricky. But we made it work.
What are the risks of not preparing, and just winging
it? For one, you may be more stressed because you won't
know what to do once the moment has arrived. The only other real
risk is that the dance itself will be forgettable, and your guests
will be bored. You have to decide who this dance is for. If you
and your mate prefer to sway and talk, that's fine. But if you
want to put on a little show for your guests, it's worth doing
some preparation.
How does this work with same-sex couples? Actually,
it's easier, because whoever is more comfortable can lead. Other
than that, I don't see much of a difference between how the dance
works between heterosexual or gay and lesbian couples.
Time and cash can be tight during wedding planning. Why
spend both on a three-minute tune? Think of this as more
than just practicing for that first dance or avoiding humiliation.
This is about dancing through your whole reception—and let's
face it, the rest of your life. Beyond that, couples tell me they
find they love this part of their planning above all others. It
allows them to reconnect in a romantic way—to hold each
other, look into one another's eyes. And that intimacy and focus
can often get lost in all the frenzy of wedding preparation. If
you can get over the hump and walk into that first lesson, you'll
walk out 100 percent relieved. In fact, the dance has the potential
to be the most special moment of your wedding day.
STEP TO IT
Nania's four-part plan for first-dance success.
Start Early
Don't wait until right before the wedding to think about, or
prepare for, your first dance—aim for at least 3 months
before the big day. On average, couples only need 3 one-hour sessions
to get it down.
Choose Wisely
Go with a song that you both love—not what your mother
or sister thinks you should dance to, what your DJ recommends,
or what you feel you should use. Because if you don't love it
from the start, you'll definitely hate it by the end.
Take a Refresher Course
Save your last hour of dance instruction for a week or two before
the wedding so that you feel confident and ready.
Get Past the Fear
This is about fun, romance, tradition—and stress reduction.
Learning a dance should not be panic-inducing. The more prepared
you are, the more enjoyable it will be for you and your guests.
T.T.
When booking your wedding dance lesson at our OUT to Dance
studios in West Roxbury and Roslindale, note that our studio locations
are within twenty minutes of downtown Boston, Dorchester, Jamaica
Plain, Hyde Park, Brighton, Allston, Brookline, Newton, Chestnut
Hill, Dedham, Norwood, Needham, Westwood, Milton and Quincy; and
within 25 to 35 minutes of Cambridge, Somerville, Arlington, Wellesley,
Natick, Waltham, Braintree, Brockton, Stoughton, Canton, Foxboro,
Weymouth and surrounding towns.
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