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Message: <br /><br /> If you are having trouble reading this email, you may view this article online at: http://www.jweekly.com/37929/full/37929/whatever-you-do-dont-let-your-first-dance-floor-you/ <br /><br /> <b>Whatever you do, don’t let your first dance floor you</b> <br /> Thursday, April 30, 2009 | by chandra orr <br /><br /><p>Worried you might look a little silly doing the slow dance shuffle during your first dance as a couple? Thanks to television shows like “Dancing with the Stars,” an increasing number of brides and grooms are turning to professional dance instructors and wowing guests with elegant waltzes, sexy salsas and sassy swing moves.</p> <p>“Unless you majored in dance when you were in college, it’s unlikely that you and your fiancé are professional waltzers,” said Joyce Scardina Becker, a Marin–based events planner and the founding director of the Wedding Consultation Certificate Program at California State University East Bay.</p> <p>“But since all eyes will be on you for your first dance, you don’t want to be stumbling across the dance floor.”</p> <p>Don’t worry if you’re not the most graceful couple or if performing in front of a crowd sends you into a panic — your guests aren’t expecting a Broadway performance, and there are plenty of little tricks you can employ to make sure you shine on the dance floor. The key to pulling off a killer performance is all in the planning.</p> <p>Schedule your first lesson at least a month before the big day. During the first appointment, your instructor will help with the music selection and make recommendations on which dance styles best reflect your personal style and the tone of the wedding.</p> <p>At a minimum, you’ll want to schedule three or four sessions to learn the basic dance steps, and you’ll need even more time to practice if you plan to perfect elaborate choreography.<img alt="CELdance" class="left" height="240" src="/images/uploads/z_photos_2009/zg_05_01_09/CELdance.jpg" title="CELdance" width="360" /></p> <p>“Take the dance lessons early, and don’t take on a more difficult dance than you are comfortable with,” said Laurie Schmalzel, a wedding planner in Sacramento. “A good instructor and choreographer can work with the couple’s strengths and customize something specific to the music they have selected. Choose a song you love and a dance style that speaks to you. It’s OK to buck tradition — there’s no law that says your first dance has to be a slow dance.”</p> <p>Whatever you do, don’t over-commit yourself. If an upbeat two-step to the latest country hit is what you have your heart set on, then go with it — just be sure you have the perseverance to practice, practice, practice. After all, the more you practice, the more confidence you’ll have on the dance floor.</p> <p>Keep in mind that the longer the song, the longer the dance and the more you have to learn and practice. To save time and sanity, skip the eight-minute classical interlude and opt for a short contemporary song for your first dance.</p> <p>If dancing just isn’t your thing, don’t stress it. Your first moments together as a married couple shouldn’t be awkward, uncomfortable or a chore. “If it is not fun, scrap the performance,” Schmalzel said. “Dancing is a wonderful activity that couples can enjoy for years to come, but if they are not cut out for the swirls and dips, the whole dance can look a little painful.”</p> <p>Instead, use your first dance to focus on each other and reflect on the momentous occasion.</p> <p>“So much of the day is spent talking to guests. The first dance is often your only alone time on your wedding day,” said Jolyn Saramaga, a wedding planner in Edmonton, Canada. “If you don’t enjoy the spotlight or feel awkward dancing in front of others, simply stare into each other’s eyes and talk about what you loved so far about your wedding day.</p> <p>“Your entire wedding should be focused on the two of you, so if a tradition doesn’t fit, find a way to make it your own and make it more comfortable.”</p>

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