A wedding couple’s first dance is up there among a wedding’s top highlights so it’s important to set the couple up for success. Before we get started, please keep in mind this is one person’s opinion built on a foundation of teaching at a dance studio primarily focused on wedding dance lessons.
When we first receive an inquiry, we’ll first ask about their song choice and if it’s going to be danced to a recorded version or live. Either way, we’ll ask for a link to the best matched version and ask them what their vision is for their first dance.
Some folks want -
all choreography
enough skills to social dance their song while looking confident and having fun
some choreography so, if they start feeling monotonous, they can include some set pieces
As a coach, I will likely ask the following:
what’s the size and material of the dance floor?
Where will your guests be situated - in front, all sides?
Do you have any plans for walking out and would you want any help with that?
Who’s playing the music (thinking about what the cue will be to hit PLAY). Does the music start as you enter, are in close embrace, something else?
Can you bring your wedding footwear with you to practice? Same with maybe something that mimics the outfits so people feel confident moving in their wedding wear. (no wedding dress reveals!)
Do you want anything special like dips, fancy moves you’ve seen on social media, a big finish, etc?
Learning all these things help make a great experience for everyone involved. It’s important to have them walk out with confidence, have an idea how and when to start, feel self-assured in the middle (great to practice for the song’s full-length as many reps as possible), have a great photo finish with a 3-second hold at the end, finished by an excellent exit.
In order to support these goals, I find that it’s important to be flexible.
Need more time polishing up some basics? Great!
Do we need to hit pause or switch things up to alleviate frustration, communication difficulties or a bad day at work? Let’s do it!
Does an individual or the couple need to default to the rhythm basics they’re used to rather than the ones associated with the style you’re teaching? That’s okay!
Should you teach them a fancy move they may not completely execute to your satisfaction but they really really want to do it? The answer is yes (unless there are safety concerns).
The work you do during the lessons can help achieve all of these things. Most importantly, strive to have fun during the lesson while creating a supportive, communicative environment. Good luck!