Wedding Dance Instruction in a very private setting can be done personally with Art and Bonnie. They will teach you to dance quickly and effectively while choreographing your First Dance specifically to your very favorite song. The special choreography that designed for you can be to any dance rhythm of your choice. Whether your choice is Slow Dancing, Foxtrot, Waltz, Rumba, Salsa, Tango, or Swing the Wedding Dance material designed for you, will make you look good in front of all your family and friends. Your First Dance choreography will maximize your dance skills (even if you are an absolute beginner) and promises to emotionally touch everyone at your wedding reception. You will be proud to look back and show your friends the pictures and video of your First Wedding Dance.

Please don't forget the parents of either the Bride or Groom. They are always welcome to take private lessons with or join the wedding couple on any of their lessons. The Father and Daughter dance is a very important moment at any wedding reception, Bonnie and Art will make sure that the Bride and her Dad are comfortable dancing with each other for their special dance. They have an extensive Wedding Dance Music List with many song suggestions for the Father and Daughter or any other specific dance at the Wedding reception.

Bonnie and Art also offer semi-private classes for up to six people in your wedding party. Joining the Bride and Groom for a group Wedding Party dance has recently become very popular. Again, this group dance can be done to the dance rhythm of your choice.

YOUR SPECIAL DANCE:

The song or lyrics of a song that really occur or define the moment when a couple KNOWS they have fallen deeply in love define your first dance. Think of your song as a musical and emotional photograph that fulfills the time, place, and circumstance of the realization of your love. When you hear this song you can think of nothing else but spending the rest of your life’s dreams, hopes, & wishes with that special person.

Now that we have set the mood criteria for a couple’s song ("Our Song") we must decide if it is danceable. The danceability of any given piece of music is one of the main reasons they have created the Wedding Song Library. It contains numerous songs in different dance rhythms. Then they learn what type of dance they must perform the day of their wedding. Please excuse the usage of the word perform, but in reality that’s what you are doing. A dance in front of an audience (all be it an audience that is both compassionate & sympathetic) along with still and moving photography is a performance. If you are prepared your first dance can be as memorable as your choice of song. The danceability of a slow rhythm ballad becomes more difficult as the rhythm or tempo (Bars Per Minute) of a song is reduced. In other words, the slower the song the harder it is for dancing. If your selection falls under the categories of a named dance like Waltz, Foxtrot, Rumba then you must know it or you have some additional work to do.

When they are asked to suggest a song, as dance instructors it would always be preferable to direct a couple's choice, to a song whose tempo incorporates one of the named dances. In the case of a, "First Dance," they lean toward the Waltz or Foxtrot. These two narrow the selections down for the couple but more importantly, when people learn a named dance they have learned a life skill as opposed to learning something just for a milestone date. They have afforded themselves the opportunity to dance with a broader spectrum of people over a wider range of time and circumstances. In keeping with this line of thought at your wedding both the Bride & Groom will dance with a parent or surrogate. This dance partner will be twenty or more years older than either the Bride or Groom. It is their observation they are more comfortable dancing a basic Waltz or Foxtrot with a standardized dance frame rather than in a romantic dance position.

To review the criteria of the perfect, "First Dance," song you must ask yourself, "can I dance to this song which makes me know I am completely in love with my spouse to be?"

YOUR FIRST DANCE SONG:

Many of the most popular first dance songs are 5 minutes long. Although 5 minutes does not seem to be a long time - when you are the only couple on the dance floor it can seem an eternity!

The optimum time for a first dance should be 2-2:30 minutes long. Due to the length of some of the songs popular among engaged couples this will require some coordination between the wedding couple as well as your D. J.  Listen to your song and find the verses that are most meaningful for you. Also by keeping the songs shorter and more meaningful all attention will remain focused on the dance floor! With a minimum of 5 lessons, Bonnie and Art will edit your song to the ideal length, retaining the most meaningful portion and fading it out at a nice stopping point.

Remember that less is more, both in terms of song length and in terms of number of moves to learn. You are much better off dancing to a short version of your song and executing five moves beautifully than dancing to the whole song and trying to carry off twelve moves badly.

Here are some other thoughts gathered from other dance sites:

Your First Dance as Husband and Wife should be memorable and emotionally touching. Historically the First Dance is symbolic of the consummation of the wedding vows. This Dance is the wedding couples first cooperative engagement and joint endeavor. When the Bride accepts Her dance with the Groom she accepts it for the rest of her life. The frame and posture of the Groom while he proposes that the Bride accept this dance all speak of the source of strength, love, companionship, and guidance he offers his Bride.

The following suggestions are designed to help you make these moments as meaningful and memorable as possible.

1. Learn to dance no later than 6 months prior to your wedding date.  If you want to really learn to dance, you should begin 12 months in advance. You don't want to do this at the, "panic stage," or last minute. 

2. Select a song that you love with a good dance tempo. Foxtrot & Waltz are your best bet.  Another good choice is Rumba.  Slow ballads are beautiful but too slow for either Foxtrot or Waltz which makes it very difficult for beginners. If you have chosen a Slow Ballad there is a popular dance form known as Slow Dancing that you may work for you.

3. You must be willing to practice often but in short increments. (5-10 minutes 2-3 times a week)

4. Try not to make your 1st Dance at the Wedding the first time you are dancing in public. You must get out on a social dance floor and "swim with the sharks."

5. Be kind, understanding, and forgiving to each other and yourself when learning to dance together. It isn't easy and it will be a good test of your patience and cooperative skills as a couple. After all you'll have to do things together, not unlike this, the rest of your lives. Don't fight!  Take it easy on each other during lessons and practice.  When something goes wrong, it is rarely one person's fault.  You are a team and need to work together.  NEVER compare yourself to one another or the teacher.  Learning to dance should be fun and stress free! 

6.  Be honest with yourselves and your dance instructor and your DJ or bandleader and anyone else who insists on telling you how to do things!  It is your big day and if you decide you don't like the dance, the song, or any of the patterns -- SAY SO!!  It's your day and your dance and you should be completely comfortable.

                                 -------------------- More First Dance Tips ---------------

There are many details to consider when preparing for your first dance. Bonnie and Art can help insure that all your bases are covered. Take a few moments to read through this list, and you’ll be prepared to provide your instructor with the type of information that will help her serve you best.

Have you chosen a song? The music you choose will determine the type of dance that is appropriate. If you are undecided, your instructor can go through several selections you are choosing from, and give you a taste of what each dance would be like. Knowing which styles of dance you prefer can help you decide on the song you’d most enjoy dancing to.

How big is your dance floor? ‘Traveling’ dances such as Foxtrot, Tango and Waltz require a larger floor, whereas ‘spot’ dances like Rumba and Swing can be danced comfortably in a very small space.

Does the wedding gown restrict movement? Some gowns don’t allow a bride to lift her arms over her head. Be sure to bring any physical restrictions up to your instructor before you begin. A few lessons before the wedding, a dress rehearsal with petticoat, shoes and veil is a good idea. This helps to eliminate surprises and possible distractions on the big day. Will you be dancing throughout the rest of the evening? If you intend to dance more than just the first dance, some extra preparation can get you ready to dance to a variety of different music. Developing your overall dancing skills will bring confidence and comfort on the floor.

Will there be Mother/Son and Father/Daughter dances? Remember, these are special moments for Mom and Dad, and they may be even more enjoyable with a little preparation. What is your vision? The first step in getting what you want from your lessons is knowing what you want. Give some thought to what you consider to be the ideal scenario for your dance. Simple and elegant? Traditional and romantic? Peppy and cheerful? Elaborate and Showy? Share your vision with your instructor and they will be in a better position to help you fulfill it.

Do you intend to continue dancing or taking dance lessons after the wedding? Performing a wedding dance with your partner is very different than everyday social dancing. If you are planning on learning ballroom dance to enjoy throughout the rest of your lives, your teacher may introduce techniques and ideas that would be unnecessary to address if you are simply learning with the goal of your first dance in mind. If you intend to become a good social dancer, its important to lay the groundwork of good technique right from the beginning.