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wedding dance lessons (first dance,
music, & videos)
dance lesson videos that show
brides, grooms, & guests how to dance using
detailed step-by-step exercises that are fast, easy
& fun... in just minutes you'll be up, dancing
& feeling good about dancing in front of your
friends at the upcoming party!
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"with all of the other wedding expenses, our
dance lessons with a personal instructor fell
out of the budget. we decided to at least get
an instructional dvd to help us out. we have
had a great time learning to slow dance and
will have a lot more confidence on the day of
the wedding... shawn and his wife are great
instructors. I feel like we should almost
invite them to the wedding!" A. Walters '09
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Picture your wedding reception. You are
standing just off the dance floor, waiting to
be introduced to your family and friends as
husband and wife. As soon as you're introduced,
your song is started by your deejay or band -
the song you will remember for the rest of your
life as your wedding
song. How do you select this
song? How long do you dance once you're out on
the floor? What dance is best for this
occasion? Do you really need hundreds or
thousands of dollars in dance lessons to look
decent out there? Are there any quick tricks
or tips you should know? All these
questions and much more are answered
below.
Learning to dance for a wedding
is one of those motivators that is often
discussed and much less frequently acted upon.
Once the expenses start cropping up, the
leftover funds for dance lessons continue to
dwindle. Don’t let your budget or
your busy schedule keep you from having a
wonderfully memorable first dance at your
wedding. Here's a bulleted list of
what all you'll learn by reading through this
page:
- Dancing at Your
Wedding (Overview of the
dancing and lessons)
- The Location
(How to Maximize the Viewing Area of the
Dance Floor)
- The Music for Your
Wedding (What to say to deejays
or bands about the music)
- Dance Lessons for the
Guests (Fun ways of getting
your guests involved)
- Recommended Dance
Videos (for the first dance
& for getting guests dancing)
- The First Dance
(The Song, Song Lists, Speed of Song, Words,
Entrance, etc.)
- When to Start Dance
Lessons (and why you should
start with video lessons)
- Who Needs to Know
What (who to coordinate with
regarding the first dance)
- 3 Tips for Dancing at
Weddings (how to ensure the
dancing at your wedding is what you want it
to be)
dancing at
weddingsDancing of various forms is a part
of the vast majority of weddings. Some couples
choose a theme for their music and dancing for
their event, while others simply request the
deejay or band play whatever is popular. With
the information you'll read below, a little bit
of forethought, and some practice, you have the
makings for a highly enjoyable and entertaining
reception. Because the first dance is such a
large part of your own experience as the bride
or groom, it will be addressed by itself down
below.
the location
(of the dance)Although you can dance
almost anywhere, please be sensitive to your
surroundings and your guests. If possible,
place the dance floor within the sight line of
the vast majority of your guests. If by
necessity you need to seat guests beyond the
visual reach of the dance floor and
festivities, try to arrange seating nearby so
your guests can somewhat comfortably view such
important events as the first dance, the
father-daughter dance, and the mother-son
dance. It’s also recommended that you
leave at least a foot between all edges of the
dance floor and the nearest table. Dancers tend
to spill off of the dance floor during the more
lively tunes, whether they are freestyle
dancing or couples dancing, and that extra
little buffer of space usually gives them
enough of a heads up before they hit
someone.
the music for
your wedding (party)Whether you have a
band or a deejay, take the time before the
event to acclimate them a little bit to your
crowd. If you know the crowd consists of slow
starters, let the deejay or emcee know -
sometimes they have some tricks to get the
crowd going. If there is a particular type of
music that really gets your cousins out on the
dance floor, you should also educate your
entertainment crew. Everyone has a better time
when the correct music is played. Just in case,
and speaking from our own experience, provide a
written list of the important names in the
wedding party and how they are pronounced, as
well as songs thatyou definitely want played or
not played at your wedding. Don’t be
afraid of line dances, such as the Electric
Slide (see Party Line Dances video here).
They can be invaluable for getting your crowd
going. Just remember, your guests are taking
their cues from you - if you aren’t
participating, they probably won’t
either.
dance lessons
for the guestsWe have participated in
several wedding celebrations where the bride
and groom incorporated a dance lesson for their
guests into the festivities. Before you scream
“budget” on this one, we have found
that it can actually save you some money on
your bar bill if you are providing an open bar
for your guests. Bored guests tend to drink
more heavily, and their biggest beverage time
is while you are otherwise occupied with
photographs and signing wedding licenses.
A great lesson while you and your wedding party
are tied up with the pictures can set the tone
for the rest of the celebration. We’ve
seen brides and grooms take this opportunity to
introduce a theme for the event that might have
otherwise been foreign to the guests at large.
For instance, we’ve taught a salsa lesson
prior to a Latin-themed dinner reception for
which the bride had hired a great salsa band.
The guests knew enough basics to hit the floor
and boogie with the bride and groom.
This group was especially clever because they
allowed for enough time while the guests were
being seated for the bridal party to have a
mini-lesson in a side room after the main group
lesson for the guests. That way, everyone was
on the same foot, locals and out-of-town guests
alike.
We’ve also seen the dance lesson
incorporated into the reception following the
first dances, but the success of this strategy
depends on the bride and groom and immediate
wedding party leading their guests onto the
dance floor in participation.
Line dances or party dances can really get your
party going if done correctly. These also
depend on your participation and your immediate
wedding party’s participation. Yes, there
is more to party dancing than the chicken dance
and the Macarena. Ask your deejay, and if he
seems to be out of ideas, look for a local
line-dance instructor. Most line-dance
instructors have material for more than just
country music. The line dances give your crowd
an opportunity to shake a leg in a structured
format without the pressure of couples dancing.
A good instructor or deejay really makes the
difference here.
Make sure the instruction is in short spurts
and not for long periods - this will also let
you gauge your audience. Another key ingredient
is the quality of the group instruction. A
deadpan or overwhelmed instructor can be
disastrous for your reception. When you are
considering a group lesson at your wedding,
attend a group class or two of the instructors
you are interviewing. You are looking for
someone with charisma, who is comfortable with
a microphone, and who can put a large, diverse
group at ease while still teaching them some
dancing. Be choosy - it’s your special
event!
Last, and in many cases a better alternative
to the live lessons, is getting everyone up to
speed with the same type of dance(s) before the
wedding. We have worked with several wedding
parties to get everyone copies of select DVDs
(Party Line Dances, Dance Lessons 101, and
Swing for Beginners Volume 1 are the top
requests) to ensure there will be people
dancing at the reception. Below are several
options that you should consider for your
guests that will allow them to be comfortable
when the music starts. Having people dancing
and having fun will also vastly improve your
wedding videos and pictures from the event.
recommended
wedding dance videos
* Special
Offer to Get Your Whole Party
Dancing! *
Add in the most popular wedding dances
by ordering the Wedding Starter Pack.
Exclusive to shawntrautman.com, this
incredible value includes 4 DVDs (Dance
Lessons 101, Party Line Dances, and
Slow Dancing Volumes 1 & 2) that
will have you ready for the big day in
no time. With over 7 hours of top-notch
instruction from a proven instructor,
this self-paced pack in an excellent
alternative to those expensive live
lessons and guarantees to have you
dancing. In stock and ships today!
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the first
danceAhhhh, the first dance; your first
opportunity to showcase each other as husband
and wife following the ceremony has arrived.
You have a variety of options that fall on a
spectrum somewhere between walking onto the
dance floor, embracing, and leaning into each
other while swaying, and learning an
elaborately  choreographed routine that you
spent months preparing for the three minutes of
fame during your first dance. Typically, the
bride and groom are first-time dancers and
simply want to look like they know what
they’re doing out on the dance floor.
Without making you into an expert, these next
couple of bullets should provide you with
enough insight into the dance and how to pull
it off to make you look smooth without years of
instruction. It’s understood that you are
event-driven, but don’t overlook some
basic factors that can help make your dance a
success. Whether you’re dancing a
lead-and-follow dance, choreographing your
dance, or having an instructor help you, there
are certain elements that you should consider.
Following is a listing of some of what
you’ll need to think about regarding your
music and your dance:
- The song. Pick
two or three “first dance” songs
and work with them during your dance lessons.
You might find that one song is much better
to dance to than another as you practice your
steps. Click the link here to view our
extensive wedding song
database.
- The speed of the
song. Is it too slow, too fast,
or just right? Dancing with your partner to
the speed of the song is important because
you’ll want to go with a speed
you’re comfortable with.
- The length of the
song. Shorter is better! If
you’re able to, try to keep the song
less than three minutes. If it’s a band
playing this might be difficult, but if
it’s a deejay, it’s possible to
have him fade it. The old saying about there
being “too much of a good thing”
is true when it comes to the first dance. A
long song makes everyone uncomfortable, not
just the bride and groom. Always leave your
audience wanting more!
- The words of the
song. Make sure you’re
both comfortable with the words that are used
in your song. Don’t just pick one
because you like the beat. Try to find a song
that you’ll always remember and that
either fits your relationship or fits what
you’d like it to become. Does the song
just make you want to say
“Awwwwwww!” every time you hear
it? If so, you might have found the perfect
song for the two of you.
- Size of the dance
floor. How much space do you
have to dance and where will your audience
be? This is critical in choosing your dance
and picking your moves. You don’t want
to do a very small dance (not much moving) on
a very large floor. By the same token, when
you are dancing your first dance please be
aware of where your guests are. If they are
on three sides or completely surround the
dance floor, please dance accordingly. Your
family and friends would like to see your
glowing faces for at least part of the
dance.
- What you’re
wearing. You should always
practice in something similar to what
you’ll be wearing at your reception. If
the bride is wearing a strapless dress, she
should practice in one so you’ll both
know the limitations. Ladies, it’s
imperative that you practice in the shoes
you’ll be wearing or ones that are
strikingly similar in height, feel, and heel
size. Guys, if you’ll be wearing a coat
the night of your dance, you should practice
in one.
- The entrance.
How will you walk onto the dance floor, and
will it be before the song or after the song
starts? For many songs, it might be best to
walk out arm in arm after your music starts
and do a walking underarm turn and come back
to a quick, romantic kiss. Your entrance will
appear choreographed and will capture your
audience’s attention while filling up
some very valuable seconds.
when to start
your dance lessonsYou should at least
start thinking about the dancing at your
wedding, the first dance and otherwise, in the
earliest stages of your wedding plans. Whether
you want to have dancing at all will probably
play an important role in your reception
location as well as the time of day of your
wedding.
If any dancing beyond the cursory first dance
and father-daughter dance is not on your wish
list at all, a brunch reception would probably
suit you well and save you quite a bit of money
in catering. However, if you want an evening
reception with a rocking deejay on a Saturday
night in June, you will need to plan further in
advance and budget accordingly for everything.
Chances are you won’t be getting as many
discounts from your vendors.
That being said, you do not need to start
taking lessons the instant you set a date. Yes,
you definitely want to allow yourself enough
time, and most instructors recommend at least
three months.
However, we have taught several couples to
dance the day before their wedding, and
countless more the week before their wedding.
There’s nothing like a deadline to make
people move! Yes, those last-minute learners
were happy with their results at their
receptions, but we don’t recommend the
extreme last minute to anyone. It is very
nerve-wracking. The only up side is when you
leave it to the last minute, although you
don’t really have much time to develop
good muscle memory, you certainly don’t
have time to develop any bad dance habits
either.
If you plan to learn from a video or DVD, plan
to start learning and adjusting to your music
about six weeks in advance. This allows for
plenty of practice time and tweaking of your
music selection if necessary. Truth be told, if
you're under the wire time-wise and you need to
learn something immediately, take a look at the
Slow Dancing Starter Pack (see image below) and
look for the option of Express Shipping (Overnight to most U.S.
locations). In a matter of an hour or two,
your understanding of how to dance will
dramatically improve. If you're down to your
last day, you'll need to look for private
lessons with a reputable instructor in your
area. If the instructor is worth his salt,
he/she should be able to polish the two of you
up in a couple of hours if you can get it
scheduled.
who needs to
know what?As you coordinate with your
wedding professionals, keep the channels of
communication open. If you are doing a
choreographed first dance or are at least
planning to do a true lead-and-follow dance
with actual moves other than the
lean-‘n-sway, you need to alert your
deejay, videographer, photographer, and wedding
coordinator or the manager/ head server at your
reception (if you have one). You will also need
to let these same people know if you are
planning to have a dance lesson or have a
dancing crowd attending. These are all things
that will impact the manner in which the
aforementioned wedding professionals will
conduct their business throughout your
event.
Your photographer and videographer will have
much more to work with and should be able to
provide you with a higher quality and more
interesting end product, your deejay will
probably do a little research based on your
information and modify his playlist to better
suit your party, and your wedding coordinator
or your event planner for the reception
facility might have a different recommendation
for the layout or the food and beverage
services you are providing for your guests.
Trust us, if you have selected quality vendors,
these people will be genuinely excited to be
associated with a dancing wedding reception.
Your guests will have more fun, whether or not
they are dancing, and you will most likely have
a better overall experience.
Do not forget to coordinate with your groom and
your father as well as your dance instructor,
brides! There is important information that
these individuals need in order to create the
ultimate first dance for you. Although it is
perfectly acceptable and appropriate for you to
maintain a sense of mystery about your dress,
you will need to give your dance partners and
your instructor some general ideas.
For instance, if your dress is a sheath or
mermaid-style dress, you will be gorgeous, but
you will not be taking very many long steps, so
waltz might not be your best option for a first
dance. If your gown is off the shoulder, you
will also need to let your partners and
instructor know because this will inhibit your
ability to lift your arm, and your turns will
need to be modified accordingly by the
choreographer. For those of you with strapless
gowns, let your partners know that they need to
be careful. We have seen brides come flying out
of their tops courtesy of an overly zealous
dip. It was hilarious for everyone but the
bride. If the groom practices being careful
beforehand, he has a better chance of success
when he is nervous or has had a few drinks.
final thoughts
on dancing and weddingsAs you plan and
prepare for your big day, don’t lose
sight of the fact that your first dance,
toasts, dress, flowers, music, and food are
meant to be a celebration of your marriage to
each other. Not one of the previously mentioned
items should overshadow your union as a couple.
Our three final tips are given in an effort to
maintain the integrity of your dance and make
it just another wonderful part of your big day
that will live for some time in your memory and
the memories of your guests as a beautiful
moment that they shared with you.
- Practice as if it’s the
big day. Grooms should practice
in a jacket and dress shoes. Brides should
practice in a long skirt or their crinoline,
if possible, and their wedding shoes. To
protect your shoes from smudges or scuffs,
cover them with athletic socks while they are
on your feet. If you plan to wear a veil
during your dance (not recommended), be sure
to practice with this as well. Once you are
fairly comfortable with your steps, try to
practice in front of a friend to prepare you
for dancing in front of an audience. As silly
as it might sound, if you plan to drink at
your reception, practice your dance after a
few drinks. You want to at least be aware of
what you’ll look like, and you might
need to modify some of the moves. Finally,
practice in front of a camera and/or video
camera, especially if you’re going to
have a photographer or videographer at your
wedding. At the end of your wedding,
you’re going to have three things: your
memories, your photos, and your video. Your
memories will be shaped by the two things
that are tangible (the photos and the video),
so you really ought to invest some time in
front of them before your debut.
- Don’t fight with each
other. Take it easy on each
other during lessons and practice. As they
say, it takes two to tango, and 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 to the instructor. This should
be a fun part of your wedding plans, so no
fights!
- Be honest. Be
honest with yourselves, your band
leader/deejay, your dance instructor, and
anyone else who is involved in making your
wedding decisions. If you don’t want to
dance the entire song, don’t. If you
don’t like a certain move, don’t
do it. If you want to change songs, do it.
It’s your day and your dance; you
should feel comfortable.
Now that you and your future spouse have all
the tools, hit the dance floor and make some
memories! This is a special occasion into which
hours upon hours of preparation and planning
have been poured. If you don’t know how
to dance, wow your friends and family and
learn. If you shake a leg effectively at your
wedding, you will remember it for years to come
with pride.
Below are our most popular products for Wedding
Dances. If you don't see exactly what you're
looking for on this page, take a look around
the site - we have much more to offer.
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* 100%
Satisfaction Money-Back Guarantee
*
You have nothing to lose and everything
to gain! Try any of Shawn Trautman's
DVDs at absolutely no risk to you. If
you're not completely satisfied with
your purchase, simply return the DVDs
per our Satisfaction Guarantee and
we'll refund you immediately. The only
thing you stand to lose is time and
money if you choose any other
alternative. Please consider these
products prior to making other
arrangements. Best of success to you
with your dance lessons and dancing at
the wedding regardless of the route you
choose.
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Slow Dancing for Beginners Volume
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Slow Dancing for Beginners Volume
2 |
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Party Line Dances |
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Party Line Dances is
great as a crash-course lesson in line
dancing for a wedding, bar mitzvah, a New
Year’s celebration, or even a Country
Night Club. This DVD takes you from never
having danced before to looking good on the
floor in just 80-minutes.
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| Learn more about the Party
Line Dances... |
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Ballroom Starter Kit |
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Ballroom Dancing
Starter Kit (3-DVD Set including the
Ballroom & Latin Dance Sampler, the
Slow and Romantic Dance Sampler, and the
Country Western Dance Sampler). So Get your
Dancing started off on the right foot. |
| Learn more about the Ballroom
Starter Kit... |
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Dance Lessons 101 |
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Dance Lessons
101: The Ultimate Couples Dancing
Instruction Video for Beginners is the
recommended starting point in Shawn
Trautman's Dance Collection. If you've
never danced in your life, this video will
have you dancing the Two Step, Waltz, Cha
Cha, Salsa, Swing, Slow Dancing, West Coast
Swing, and the Hustle; each in a matter of
minutes. Dance Lessons 101 let's you
experience Shawn's instruction on a wide
variety of dances and get started quickly
and easily! |
| Learn more about Dance Lessons
101... |
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Now you can learn
to dance for you wedding in the privacy of your own
home with
dancing instruction that is easy to follow and
fun.
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