6 reasons to hire a pro
By Aaron Wulff
Are you dreaming of a gorgeous first dance for your wedding? Or worried about stepping on your dad’s toes for the father/daughter dance? Maybe you’re thinking about getting some dance lessons, but are they a good idea for your wedding?
Here’s one way to decide. Answer this question:
When it comes to your first dance, are you OK with just swaying back and forth? If so, there’s nothing wrong with that, and there’s no need to read any further.
On the other hand, is there a tiny voice inside of you that gets excited at the thought of learning a special first dance? Do you have a killer song picked out or want to find one? Would you rather hear screams of “whooo!” than watch your guests grab their phones or head to the bar when you walk onto your dance floor?
If your wedding dance is important to you then the answer is: do it. Spend the time and money on lessons. You’ll only get one chance to make it special at your wedding.
Even if you’re not sure, check out these six reasons dance lessons might be for you. Not only will dance lessons boost your confidence but there are plenty of other benefits you’ll get with the effort.
1. An instructor can teach you more than just your first dance.
Your first dance is just one element of your wedding reception. Maybe you’re planning a father/daughter or mother/son dance. In that case, make it a family event. Private group classes can be an effective way for everyone in your party to learn some basics.
Need some extra moves for your wedding reception? When I work with couples I’ll budget time to teach a few steps that work for popular wedding reception music. Knowing a few versatile dances like swing, cha cha, and rumba can go a long way at your (or any) wedding reception.
2. Dancing is a great workout
When I first started dancing I lost about 20 pounds, and that was when my diet was mostly just beer and cookies. Dancers have been called some of the most well-rounded athletes in the world, so the exercise and health benefits you’ll get can be even better than that gym membership you’re not using.
Dancing provides a full-body workout and helps with balance, coordination, and posture.
I still remember a world-class dance coach yelling at me, “stand up straight and squeeze your rhomboids!” What the hell are rhomboids? Good news, dancing can help you find them along with all the other muscles you’ve been neglecting.
3. Dancing is good for your brain
Research shows that dance benefits include everything from memory improvement to strengthened neuronal connections to therapy for Parkinson’s disease. A 2012 study also showed that dancing “improves mood and certain cognitive skills, such as visual recognition and decision-making:”
Other studies show that dance helps reduce stress, increases levels of the feel-good hormone serotonin, and helps develop new neural connections, especially in regions involved in executive function, long-term memory, and spatial recognition.
It’s the ultimate body and brain workout.
4. Dancing can relieve your wedding planning stress
“Wait, what? How is adding more to my wedding to-do list supposed to decrease my stress!?”
For a lot of couples it’s true. Wedding couples often tell me that their lessons were actually a great escape from the stress of planning the wedding. “This is the best part of getting ready for our wedding, it’s so much fun!”
Wedding or not, a fun dance lesson can provide the perfect escape from the pressures of life. Need a date night? Looking to expand your social life? Want to spend quality time with someone? Dance lessons.
5. An instructor can help you find the perfect wedding song.
So you’ve got the perfect song picked out for your first dance? Running it by a professional can help you confirm you’ve made a good choice.
Let’s be honest, not all songs are created equal when it comes to your dance. Some songs have weird beats or tempos that are just plain hard to dance to.
A good dance instructor should be able to assess your song and determine whether it’s dance-able, or if it should just stay on your randy-melodies-soundtrack.
Need more help picking the perfect music? I’ve already analyzed hundreds of popular wedding songs to help you pick a great first song.
6. An instructor can help you create a more challenging dance or choreography
OK, so you want to stun your audience with a Tango or choreograph your five minute Viennese Waltz dance step-for-step. I know the drill. One of my couples actually worked on their wedding dance for two years!
I wouldn’t recommend going this route for most couples, but If you’re setting the bar high with exotic dances and elaborate choreography, you know who you are. It’s time to call a pro.
Come on, can’t I just learn on YouTube?
If you’re just looking for ways to move your bodies to music and a couple of moves, you can probably find some YouTube videos that will work. Throw in a glass of wine and you’ve got yourselves a decent Friday night. But if you’re serious about looking good for your dance then read my article about why you won’t learn a good wedding dance on YouTube.
What about virtual lessons?
If you don’t have (or can’t find) a good dance instructor in your area, or if the thought of dancing in front of other people is too terrifying, then virtual lessons can be a good alternative.
Virtual lessons can save you on the cost of instruction, but keep in mind you’ll have to discipline yourselves to start and finish the courses if you really want to get your money’s worth. It’s a lot harder to procrastinate on in-person dance lessons you’ve actually scheduled.
If you do go with virtual lessons, make sure the instructor is well-qualified and that there’s a money back guarantee.
How do I find a good in-person instructor?
If you’ve decided to take lessons, you’ll want to find the best instructor for your needs. Check out my advice for finding a good dance instructor here.
