How to Master Your Wedding Dance Quickly and Efficiently

A wedding dance is the best way to get to know your life partner better and understand your relationship. All this becomes clear during rehearsal. Plus, the dance adds a sensual touch to your wedding.

Your guests will love it and remember it forever. Sounds tempting, right?

It all sounds great in theory, but what about practice? If you've decided to perform a wedding dance at your celebration, this article will help you choreograph it with minimal stress and effort. So what should you do first?

— Decide on a style that suits you.
Modern wedding dances are not limited to the traditional waltz. Today you can find an endless variety of styles. Think about what makes your couple unique.

For eccentric couples, hip-hop, salsa, and other lively dances work. Others prefer the waltz. Some find tango fascinating. So first, decide on the style you want. Broadly, they can be divided into energetic and calm.

— First, learn to dance with your partner without music.
This approach helps you understand each other better and assign dance roles. Typically, the man leads and the woman follows. But that doesn't mean the bride has no say. On the contrary, the point is mutual cooperation. At this stage, try mixing styles if you haven't found the right one yet.

— Start with the waltz. Or, let's talk about the importance of tradition.
You can choose any style, even popping or electro. But remember, this is first and foremost a wedding dance. It's no coincidence that our ancestors began wedding ceremonies with the waltz. If you don't want to perform it, at least incorporate some elements. Here's a basic position you can include in any dance.

The partner's right hand is on the dancer's waist, left hand holds her hand. The woman places her right hand on her husband's shoulder (without covering it completely—imagine he has shoulder straps that shouldn't be hidden), and her left hand in his. How to hold hands? First, connect your palms directly. Then the woman rotates her hand 90 degrees and covers her husband's palm with her fingers.

The man takes the first step with his left foot, stepping toward the woman. She steps back. Then the woman steps toward the man. Move in an imaginary square. Count steps on 1, 2, 3. First, try with vocal counting; when you feel confident, add music.

— Invite your loved ones and rehearse with them.
The couple always starts the dance and performs alone for a while. But if only the two of you dance, guests may feel left out. So invite close friends and learn moves with them.

After you've had your fill, involve the others. Guests will be thrilled as they feel part of creating a new family.

— Focus on teamwork.
In a wedding dance, the couple matters, not the individuals. It's best to mentally prepare for this.

— Come up with a finishing move.
Life is full of surprises. You might have to improvise instead of performing a set routine. You'll feel much more confident if at least the ending move is clear to you. That way, you can always end the dance gracefully and leave a great impression on guests and yourselves. For example, learn an unusual curtsy.