Myths and Truths about Wedding Dance Lessons
MYTH #1: “I have no rhythm and 2 left feet, I am a lost cause”
TRUTH: No one is a lost cause in dancing. We all pick up rhythms and learn new techniques at different speeds. Dancing includes a combination of mental, physical, and artistic skills, all of which can be developed in time. Just like learning any other skill, the more time you can spend practicing it, the better it will develop.
MYTH #2: “We don’t want too much choreography; we want to look natural”
TRUTH: As dance teachers, we hear this term A LOT. And we internally cringe every time. What is “natural” dancing? When something is natural to us, it is of our body’s innate ability and instinct. If dancing was “natural” then there wouldn’t be any reason for lessons! What students usually want to attain is a look of seamlessness and calmness in their movement. And this is achieved by honing down the transitions between the steps and practice, practice, practice! Keep in mind- usually when someone feels very uncertain in their movements, more choreography will actually help keep them looking more structured.
MYTH #3: “Good dancers are just born with talent”
TRUTH: Good dancers are made good by practicing! There is no detour to success, and no secrets. You want to hit that ending dip on the last note of the music - practice! You want to get more height on the lift and not have it look like a struggle - practice! You want to have a relaxed expression or smile on your face for the entire dance - practice! Next time you see your friends dance at their wedding, don’t just compliment them on their born-talents to be dancers. Admire how much work they must have put in to make it look as polished as it was.
MYTH #4: “We will never need to use dancing outside of the first dance”
TRUTH: Do you know how to dance, but can never find a place to dance at? Or do you never actively search for places to dance at because you don’t know how to dance? Once you develop some skills and steps, you will be amazed at how many opportunities there are to dance! Once you can - you will want to do more. The first dance is just to get you hooked into partner dancing. What about the reception afterwards? Or maybe your friend’s wedding next month? Or that salsa club down the street? Or a charity gala event? Be the couple that never sits once the music begins to play, but instead, inspires everyone else to join on the dance floor!
MYTH #5: “The only way to get really good at dancing is to take 100 lessons, and we don’t have the budget for that”
TRUTH: There is no singular equation to make the perfect first dance. The factors that go into it (time before the wedding, previous experience, schedules, the couple’s personalities, etc) will vary for everyone. There have been epic dances made with 50 lessons over the course of a year, just as there have been romantic dances learned 2 weeks before the wedding. It depends for each couple. Best is to give yourselves ample amount of time before the wedding to figure out exactly what is realistic for both parties, and then the teacher will help plan accordingly!
MYTH #6: “A first dance has to be slow, traditional, and to a song that everyone will recognize”
TRUTH: All the first dance has to be is unapologetically YOU. The dance should represent the couple and everything that makes them happy. If you are going to put so much energy and time and money into learning something new, don’t you want to enjoy it? Remember, the first dance itself will last 2-3min of your life. The preparation for it, the lessons and the practices leading up to it, are going to take much more time. Make sure it is all going towards something that you and your fiancee love! Do it for you, not for anyone else’s expectations!