THE FIRST DANCE - MAKE IT YOURS!
© Melissa Nowakowski 2007
“The First Dance” dates back centuries where a couple (which included a person of highest social standing (ie) King, Prince, socialite, etc.) would signify the opening of the ball by performing “The First Dance”. Today, “The First Dance” still signifies the opening of the festivities but is also a deeply personal moment for a wedding couple that symbolizes the beginning of their new life together and conveys to their guests their joint personalities.
However some couples agonize over the First Dance – whether it’s finding that “special song”, the dread over being in the spotlight or finding the very idea tedious and boring.
The First Dance is your dance…your dance that conveys the two of you as a couple so why not own it and make it yours?
Here are some ideas:
The Music:
Choose a song that means something to the two of you – a song that you both adore, a song that you first danced to together, a song that was playing when you first met…while most songs are romantic in nature also remember that there’s no written rule that the song has to be a slow one or that it has to have lyrics. If you love the theme music to Braveheart go for it! Heck, if you absolutely love "Let's Twist Again", do the twist! Again, this is YOUR first dance.
For the daring or adventurous couple:
You love to try new things so why not take salsa lessons and have your first dance be a whirlwind of salsa? Group salsa lessons can be found all over the city and start as low as $15 for each drop-in class.
Or if you prefer the funky moves of hip-hop and R&B, take hip-hop classes and have a sultry R&B groove. You can find hip-hop drop-in classes around the city starting as low as $10 per class. Other fun dances can include swing, jive, etc.
This doesn’t mean your dance has to be choreographed. Just learn the moves and wing it if you want. Because Salsa, R&B, swing, etc. aren't everyday dances (unless it's part of your culture of course) , no one will know and you’ll still look good! Not only will you have fun together in the process of learning these dances but you’ll have a blast doing it on your wedding day.
For the fun-loving couple or the pranksters:
Why not start off your first dance with an ultra sappy song then part-way through the song cut into disco and start boogie-ing? Everyone knows at least one disco move (“Staying Alive” anyone?) so there’s no choreography required for Disco – you can have loads of fun with it and so will your guests!
For the uber-romantic couple :
A waltz has always been a staple of romance – with private lessons starting at approx. $55 per hour you have the freedom of taking as many or as little classes as you want.
Or for those who prefer to do a standard dance but have chosen a special song, why not have your DJ or MC announce it’s significance/background story before you hit the dance floor?
For the ultra shy couple:
Why not have your DJ or MC ask your guests to join you on the dance floor at the start of your First Dance? While the First Dance is typically performed alone, there’s no written rule that it has to be.
Or why not have both sets of parents be dancing together on the dance floor with you to signify the joining of the families and continuance of the generations?
You may also like to start off your First Dance alone and partway through have the slow music blend into your favourite upbeat song – the two of you can then either pull guests onto the dance floor to join you or you can have your DJ or MC ask your guests to join the couple for their favourite song.
For the couple with "two-left feet":
No one says your first dance has to be choreographed or has to be perfect. If you’re comfortable doing a standard first dance then do it and choose a song that has significance for you. If you want to mix it up a bit but have two left feet, just incorporate a few turns or a dip for fun.
Again, this is YOUR first dance, so however you choose to make it yours is the right way. So have fun and enjoy that first dance together as husband and wife!
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