I need anyone's help! I am getting married in 46 days, March 30th 2003. Up until yesterday we were not going to be dancing at the wedding, but we found out that we got a bigger room and now our families want us to dance!

I have near no dance experience or knowledge but I am very coordinated and have a great ear for music. We have not, as of yet, picked out a song for the first dance, nor have we decided what we are going to do for the dance.

On top of all that we are near broke with all the wedding expenses and cannot afford much in the way of instruction. However that being said, I do not want our first dance to be our last dance, if you know what I mean. Any help or resources would be most helpful...

Thanks
Brian
psykolist@hotmail.com

Ouch, 46 days ain't much time.

Suggestions:
1) If the families want a dance make them pay for it.

2) Make it a short song.

3) Look for wedding packages at studio's or with dance instructor's. Tape all lessons!

4) Consider acting out or having fun with your song. I've heard of several weddings where the Masochism Tango is the wedding dance.

5) Clutch and sway is a dance. This is your moment, not the families. And some of my favorite wedding dances, were just watching the bride and groom gaze into each other's eyes, not caring about the rest of the room. *sigh*

But, if you do decide to go with a full-blown choregraphed dance. Make sure that you, at least once, perform it before a small crowd before the wedding day. Even if it is just asking other students to take a few minutes and watch during your lesson. My dance instructor makes all his wedding couples do this, and I haven't heard of one couple regretting this.

Good luck.
-TheDitz

If you don't have a lot of money, go take some group classes. You'll learn a few steps, and that's all you need! I wrote an article on this...it's posted on my studio's website. I don't know if it's kosher to post links here, so email me if you'd like to see it. twynkltoz@yahoo.com

On our way out of a private lesson recently we met a bride and groom-to-be and the bride's parents all coming in for a wedding dance lesson. It seems fair that if family wants you to dance that they dance too, and maybe will contribute to the cost of the lessons. You can probably get a small group lesson for 4 or 6 people for the same price as a private and you can all learn the same dance. You only need about 3 steps - a basic, a turning move and a corner move to get around the floor and look very impressive to non-dancers and have fun. don't get fancy! Whatever you end up doing, do make sure to make it fun and memorable for yourselves. We have been married nearly 30 years and still slightly regret not learning a proper waltz for our wedding but are making up for it now I have also wondered if teachers might recommend a teacher trainee or interested person who might be cheaper and/or free?

tourist