What Does the First Dance Symbolize?

Whether you are a spiritual, religious and conservative or a secular hippy bride and groom or somewhere in between – you all share one thing in common – your joy for dance. The only difference is when and how you do it. You’ve made a big investment in many aspects of the wedding day that will only last one day but will live on in your memories and album– with one exception – your dance lessons. The cake will be eaten, the flowers will die, the gown will be preserved or sold but learning to dance is a small investment in your actual relationship which lives on and evolves. “Partner” dancing is a life skill useful for future special occasions or even just tender moments in your living room on a rainy night! Our students say their dancing date nights are the most fun and romantic time they have during the wedding planning process and our couples tell us that the First Dance is the most sentimental moment of the reception too!

Dance is incorporated into many cultures at weddings and is expressed in various ways depending on the level of religious observance. Many modern and westernized couples want rituals that express their unity and are seeking ways to grow closer through this unique, private and romantic learning experience. On the big day, they are seizing the opportunity to confidently sparkle in the spotlight while personalizing their celebration through their own creative expression. For these insightful couples, the First Dance is often the highlight of the reception, and the most vivid wedding memory guests recall since actions speak louder than words.

There are lots of aspects of the wedding that can be outsourced – – the bakery, the caterer, the florist, the event planner. In more modest conservative traditions dancing may be segregated by gender and the couple spends quiet time alone to physically represent their unity but in both cases “partner” dancing is still applicable and beneficial to learn for the couple’s private use and public interaction with guests of the same gender because it is compatible with a wide variety of cultural music styles. Wedding preparation should also include any applicable  folk dances to bond the guests. In Western weddings, the most noteworthy and vital components that validate and authenticate a wedding are the vows and First Dance. The public and legally binding vows verbally profess the couple’s intentions to be supportive and loyal to each other. The First Dance is the first marital act that physically proves a couple’s ability to be supportive of one another. After all, you are not going to recite your vows to each other every day of your marriage but instead you will prove your sincerity through your actions both big and small. Just as couples attend a rehearsal to prepare for their ceremony, it is vital to dedicate some time in advance before making their public debut in the spotlight as a married couple. By exercising teamwork and patience during private rehearsals and ultimately for public display, the couple “moves as one” on the dance floor and a promise is sealed and delivered. For this reason, the First Dance is the most sacred ritual of the wedding reception.

For less than the price of Cinderella’s glass slipper, couples can sparkle in the spotlight instead of being all dressed up with no place to go once they reach the ballroom floor. With a little preparation, you can turn the most sentimental moment into the most memorable moment for you and your guests! Whether Cinderella’s fairytale is being swept off her feet in the spotlight and paparazzi or in the privacy of the bridal chamber – we can help transform your groom into Prince Charming!

Would you like to learn some new dance steps for your wedding?  The Wedding Dance Specialists can help you learn the most popular ballroom dance styles. We offer wedding dance lessons that are fast-paced and a lot of fun.

Recent Wedding Dance Posts

Wedding Dance Blooper

Wedding Dance Blooper of the Week: The High School Prom Sway This is the infamous high school prom sway that everyone (including the guests) dread. For those who want to skip dance lessons and get by with this, try videotaping yourselves and see how long you can stand...

read more

How to Select a Dance Studio/Instructor

We have couples and event planners who call us from all over the country asking us for advice on selecting an instructor for the most memorable dance of their lives. Their inquiries inspired us to write this article. So here are 8 ways to pick a wedding dance teacher:...

read more

The Groom’s Perspective on The First Dance

All the eyes were on us. The spotlight shone down.We didn't panic (or at least I didn't). This was because the lessons we got from Deborah, from The Wedding Dance Specialists were even better than advertised. Although we may have missed a step here or missed a step...

read more

Why Learn to Dance?

You’ve made a big investment in many aspects of the wedding day that will only last one day. Learning to dance is a small investment in your relationship creating lifetime memories -- an actual skill useful at future special occasions. Dance lessons are the most fun...

read more

Top 10 Reasons to “Face the Music & Dance!”

Dancing lessons is probably one of the most mutually enjoyable aspects of planning your entire wedding! The non-verbal communication involved in partner dancing is a powerful tool for enhancing these skills because it encourages patience, teamwork, trust, respect and...

read more

The Last Dance Lesson: The Groom’s Perspective

Amazing. That is the only word that comes to mind about Deborah's dance lessons. We had our final lesson before the wedding and it was the first time we did the full dance. Deborah videotaped us doing the full dance and I am shocked at how much she was able to teach...

read more

The Last Dance Lesson: The Bride’s Perspective

Our final dance lesson proved difficult at first... but mostly b/c i was so tired and had spent the day earlier at the Weddzilla Flash Mob and the day before preparing for it... But within minutes, Deborah's contagiously fun personality infused a new sense of energy...

read more

The First Dance Lesson : Groom’s Perspective

Lesson number 1 was much better than i anticipated. Our instructor Deborah Joy, from The Wedding Dance Specialist was great. She explained the basic fundamentals in a way that made it easy for someone as novice as me to understand quickly. Deborah explained how...

read more