Wedding Dance Lessons

The sooner, the better! Here’s what we recommend based on your timeline:

8+ Months Before the Wedding:

This is the ideal time to start. You’ll build a strong foundation of skills, explore different dance styles, and have plenty of time to make your first dance feel natural and fun. Start with semi-private lessons to build confidence before creating your first dance. You'll also be able to dance comfortably at your reception and beyond.

3–8 Months Before the Wedding:

Book a consultation to discuss your goals and song ideas. From there, we’ll help you build the skills you need to feel confident and connected during your first dance. You'll still have time to develop your partnership and polish your performance.

12 Weeks or Less:

It’s crunch time, but there’s still plenty we can do. Start with your first lesson as soon as possible. One lesson will introduce you to basic dance movements and give you an idea of how to move together, but it won’t be able to cover much more than the very basics. We strongly recommend follow-up lessons to help you feel comfortable and prepared. But if your schedule is tight, even a single lesson is much better than winging it.

The number of wedding dance lessons you’ll need depends on your goals, song choice, and how comfortable you want to feel on the dance floor. Most couples take around 10–15 private lessons to learn their first dance choreography and feel confident performing it.

A few key factors that affect the number of lessons:

• Do you want a fully choreographed routine or something simple and natural?

• How long is your first dance song?

• Do you have prior dance experience?

• Will you practice at home between lessons?

The best way to find out what’s right for you is to book a consultation or first lesson. Your instructor will help you outline a clear plan based on your timeline, skill level, and vision for the big day.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but we’ll give you expert guidance from the start so your first dance feels authentic and stress-free. Whether you take 5 lessons or 55, we’ll help you learn your first dance in a way that feels fun, achievable, and matches what you want.

We have a couple of ways for you to start taking wedding dance lessons. Follow the prompts below to discover which is right for you.

1. Do you have more than 12 weeks before your wedding?

If “yes,” look below to number 2.

If “no,” you’re in the right place. Keep reading!

Since your time is limited, you’ll get started with a full lesson right away. You can schedule that here for both our Lakeview and Fulton Market locations.

2. Since you have more than 12 weeks before your wedding, you will start with a Wedding Consultation, which allows you to chat with a wedding dance instructor and try out a lesson. Consultations are just $49 for both of our locations. Schedule that here.

Learning your first dance should feel fun, not stiff or awkward. At our studio, we focus on helping you feel confident, connected, and like yourselves on the dance floor — no cheesy music, awkward dance frames, or one-size-fits-all routines.

Here’s what the first dance process typically looks like:

1. Your first lesson or consultation: We’ll get to know your vision, your personalities, and your first dance song (or help you pick one). You’ll try some basic movements and see what feels natural.

2. Your wedding dance lessons: Together, we’ll build a plan that fits your style — whether you want a full first dance choreography or something more casual. Along the way, we’ll teach you to move confidently and comfortably together.

3. Practice + progress: You’ll work on your steps between lessons and gradually build your confidence.

4. Wedding showcase: This is your chance to practice dancing in front of a small, supportive audience of other wedding couples. You'll work through those “dancing in front of people” nerves and feel what it’s like to perform your first dance outside of a private lesson.

5. The big moment: When your wedding day arrives, you'll walk onto the dance floor feeling ready — performing a first dance that feels authentic, polished, and joyful.

Want to dive deeper into what your lessons will look like?

Lesson pricing depends on how many lessons you take and whether you join as a studio member. Membership is the best value for couples starting 4+ months before their wedding, especially if you plan to take multiple lessons.

Private Wedding Lessons:

Each lesson is 60 minutes (45 minutes with your instructor + 15 minutes of guided practice).

• Non-members: $135–180 per lesson

• Members: as low as $70 per lesson, depending on the package

Semi-Private Classes:

In semi-private classes, you'll learn alongside a small group of other couples. No rotating! These are a great, affordable option if you start at least 6 months before your wedding. Semi-privates don’t cover your exact first dance song but build your overall confidence and coordination.

• Non-members: $50–$80 per couple, per class (depending on your class package).

• Members: $17-$52 per couple, per class (depending on your membership & class package).

If you're unsure whether membership makes sense for your timeline and goals, start with a consultation or first lesson. We'll help you map out a plan and recommend the most cost-effective path based on your vision and schedule.

Our Private Lessons are similar to what other studios offer as “Private Lessons” - a lesson taught in a shared space with one teacher per couple. But if you would like a more private experience, when you book your leeson, you can choose to add on a private space. When you do this, your lesson will occur in an private space with its own dedicated sound system.

Private Lessons offer enough focus and privacy for most engaged couples. But we began offering a private space add-on because some couples requested a more exclusive and focused experience. Typically, couples who utilize this offering either want more privacy, want to dance to their song 100% of the time, and/or intend to have a choreographed dance that’s intended to “WOW” their audience.

If you’re still unsure which is the best fit for you, we offer an consultation so you can sit with an instructor to chat about your goals and timeline. This Consultation is only offered to couples with 12 or more weeks before their wedding.

Here Are Ten Straight-Forward Reasons to Learn at Ballroom Dance Chicago:

1. We don’t just say we personalize our lessons. We actually do.

We listen in on clues you give us throughout the process to create a first dance that is representative of your personalities. We do not recycle routines or moves from student to student, and we don’t force you into any movement you won’t be fully comfortable with.

The average studio claims to personalize, but sticks to a rigid syllabus and teaches the same sets of moves in the same order regardless of your personality, comfort level or musical tastes.

2. We keep the learning process flexible, light, and playful.

We understand that mistakes have to be made while learning something new and learning to dance is no exception! We encourage our students to continue exploring movement through trial and error, rather than stressing correctness on the first try. We keep the entire process low-pressure so that you can focus on learning and enjoying quality time together.

The average studio has “certified” instructors, which means they have been taught a rigid syllabus for teaching beginners to dance. Their instructors are expected to break down movement the same way for every student, regardless of his or her unique learning style. At Ballroom Dance Chicago, all of our instructors go through an extensive certification process that tests our abilities to dance and teach dance. But, more importantly, we’re tested on our abilities to adapt our teaching styles to individual students.

3. We help you think through every detail of your first dance. We don’t just teach you to dance and send you on your way.

We want you to feel as comfortable and confident as possible on your big day. We don’t leave the small details up to chance. To ensure that you’re prepared, we offer complimentary wedding showcases every month and rehearsal skirts to simulate the experience of your wedding day throughout the process.

The average studio prepares you to do dance moves. They do not consider how the first dance fits into the reception or how you’ll feel before, during and after you dance in front of your friends and family. If you engage in our process, you won’t feel intimidated by dancing, you’ll feel proud and confident moving with your loved one.

4. We know that music is about more than rhythm.

We believe that dancing starts with music, so why learn steps before you connect with a song? We not only teach you to move rhythmically, but to express the emotions the song evokes. From the beginning of the process we will explore how music inspires traditional ballroom and latin dance forms (like waltz, foxtrot or salsa), while at the same time giving you confidence to move to any music, whether it fits a specific style or not.

We do not play the same tired, old ballroom and Latin music just because it is the right beats per minute. Our song choices are dictated by the preferences of our students, whether that’s modern, classic, country or something entirely different. Let us know what your favorite songs are, and we’ll add them to our queue.

5. We are innovators. We don’t just adhere to the traditions of ballroom dance.

All of our staff members come from diverse movement backgrounds, giving us a fresh take on the traditions of ballroom and Latin dance styles. While we are well versed in the concepts and techniques of traditional partner dances, we don’t let them limit us and, therefore, we don’t let them limit you.

The average studio hands you a list of standardized moves that only work in limited situations: mainly, at ballroom competitions.

6. We don’t just teach you steps and patterns. We understand the real value of dancing.

The real value of dancing is in the connection you make with your partner. While we focus on your dancing in lessons, we also acknowledge that it’s a fun pastime that strengthens the bonds of a relationship.

Unlike the average studio, we don’t make a hundred claims about how dancing will benefit your life. While we acknowledge that dance has endless benefits, we don’t dilute the process by focusing on what isn’t important. The focus is you, your partner and the connection between you.

7. We have the ideal learning environment.

Our space is large and beautiful, with enough comfort that you’ll feel like you’re coming to a friend’s house on every visit. Beyond comfort, our space is also designed with learning and focus in mind. We have a large dance floor so you’ll never feel crowded and a state-of-the-art sound system so that your teacher can play music from anywhere in the studio.

Unlike the average studio, we do not have fluorescent lights or an overabundance of mirrors. The last thing that people need in a learning environment is an unflattering view of themselves or their partner! We don’t have crystal chandeliers or wear gaudy rhinestone dresses. Our space is exactly like us: approachable and warm.

8. We don’t push you to buy more lessons. We inspire you to keep dancing.

We believe that you shouldn’t be pressured to dedicate your time and money to something you don’t enjoy. While our goal is to inspire every student to become a life-long dancer, we understand everyone has different priorities.

If you decide dancing is not one of them, we won’t pressure you to continue. The most we’ll do is inspire you to see the value of dancing in your life. Yes, we are a business, but you’ll never experience high-pressure sales at Ballroom Dance Chicago.

9. We offer two convenient locations, so you can choose where you’d like to learn to dance.

As a student of ours, you can take lesson at either location or switch between them, depending on what’s convenient lesson-to-lesson. Some people choose a dance studio based on the convenience of the location, while others see their dance lessons as part of a date night, and scheduled based on the surrounding restaurant scene and nightlife. Both studios have great restaurants nearby, but the West Loop studio definitely shines here as it is surrounded by all sorts of award-winning restaurants.

Lakeview Studio

4039B N Ravenswood Ave

Chicago, IL 60613

West Loop/Fulton Market Studio

845 W Fulton St, Ste 213

Chicago, IL 60607

The simple answer is “yes,” but we’ve taken a few minutes to clarify exactly why your first dance is important. Keep reading!

There are countless details to think about when planning your wedding reception and every couple has their own priorities. But no matter if you’re planning a formal black tie affair at a country club or a casual outing in the mountains of Tennessee, your first dance at your wedding reception is the one detail you shouldn’t leave to chance. Why is the first dance so important?

1. The first dance gets the party started and establishes the energy for your wedding reception.

All of your friends and family want to have a good time at your wedding, and, more specifically, they want to see that you’re having a good time. Let them celebrate for you and with you.

2. Your first dance is your one moment together, just the two of you, during the wedding ceremony and reception. The wedding night is going to fly by! Between greeting your guests, photographs, and ensuring everything is running smoothly, how could you pass up the opportunity to share a few intimate minutes with your partner? It might very well be the only time you get to be alone together during the whole wedding reception.

3. The first dance during a wedding reception is a tradition. No, it’s not a more modern wedding tradition like speeches by the best men and maid of honor or playing Pachabel's Canon to introduce the bride at the wedding ceremony. We mean that the first dance is a tradition started centuries ago. When a family with a high social position would host a ball or other formal affair the guests of honor, which would sometimes be the host if they were royalty, would begin the celebration with the first dance of the evening.

4. The first dance is seen as a metaphor for your relationship and how you’ll move together through life. The entire wedding is meant to be an expression of your bond together, but the first dance is your opportunity to showcase what makes you unique. Let your guests see your playfulness and fun you are together or how connected and supportive you are with each other. Your relationship is unique, and your first dance is a great way to express the way you bring out the best in each other.

5. You’ll learn to dance your first dance together. There’s no other way around it. With as busy as modern couples are with work, putting wedding planning on top of that can be overwhelming and often makes couples spend less quality time together. Make a date out of your dance lessons. Your weeks are filled with lists and errands, decisions and deadlines. Take time out leading up to your wedding to just enjoy each others’ company. Grab a dinner out, enjoy some wine and take a dance lesson where you’ll learn a fun pastime that you’ll share for the rest of your lives.

Opting to take lesson to learn a beautiful, thoughtful first dance isn’t just about learning steps. It’s about connecting with your future spouse on a new level and learning how to express what’s unique about your relationship. After all, this celebration is about you two, as a couple, beginning a new chapter in your lives. If your marriage begins gracefully and well-connected, it’s much more likely to sustain its rhythm. Still not sure? Read more here: Say Yes to Your First Dance.

Yes, both the West Loop Loft and the Lakeview Home Studio are BYOB.

We're big fans of a drink while we dance, so if you are too, feel free to bring beer or wine. Our only requirement is that you bring no more than a 750 ml bottle of wine or a six pack of beer per couple (liquor is not allowed).

In reality, you can place your first dance anywhere during your wedding reception. But let’s take a look at a few of the options you have and the pros/cons associated with each:

1. First Dance immediately upon entering the wedding reception. This is usually for couples who want to get the traditions, like the cake cutting and first dance, out of the way. We understand this sentiment, but really don’t like the way those traditions are disconnected from the flow of the evening. Why would you cut the cake before everyone’s had dinner? To give the kitchen time to cut it up and distribute it, right? But it still doesn’t make sense to cut the cake before people have eaten dinner. The same goes for the first dance: why disconnect it from it’s original, traditional purpose, to kick off the dance portion of a formal event. We’ve had some wedding planners tell us that by putting the first dance at the beginning of the evening, you’re more likely to have people watch. But what we’ve found is that people will watch if they’re told the first dance is coming. Yes, they put off the bathroom break of trip to the bar for a moment to enjoy watching the first dance. After all, this is the moment that you guys get to demonstrate your new bond as husband and wife through movement. It’s pretty important and people get that.

2. First dance during dinner. Performing the first dance during dinner, along with speeches and other traditions takes some emphasis off of the first dance. If you don’t want your dance to be a big show or you want attention directed elsewhere because you’re uncomfortable performing in front of people, offering your guests a distraction, like dessert, is not a bad solution.

3. First dance after dinner. This is our favorite choice! Kicking off the rest of the dance party with your first dance is a great way to go, especially if you’ve put time into preparing for the first dance. If you have a great performance, your guests will be more inspired to join you on the dance floor. Just keep in mind that if you are trying to inspire guests to get up and dance, you’ll be best off with an upbeat song or doing a romantic song that segues into a faster song.

4. Other thoughts. We have couples ask us when the parent dances should be in the reception. Often, planners recommend doing all three (father/daughter, mother/son, and first dance) in succession, all right before inviting guests onto the dance floor. This makes sense from an organizational point of view, but from an entertaining point of view, not so much. Think about your guests. They have full bellies, they’re three or more cocktails in, and they’re at the point where they can either get up and dance or take a nap. Forcing them to sit and watch 10 minutes of dancing and then asking them to get up and get the party started is likely not the best route to take. Instead, we recommend doing parent dances during dinner (along with speeches and other traditions) and reserving the first dance for the dance-party kickoff!

The Bottom Line:

If you’re reading this FAQ, you’re likely considering putting some effort into your first dance, which is a great thing! The first dance demonstrates your new bond as a couple, and when you pull of an amazing first dance, your guests will be inspired to join you on the dance floor. It’s easy to shy away from the spotlight, especially on a day where all eyes are constantly on you, but we encourage you to take the opportunity to really show everyone who you are as a couple. Just remember that everyone who is at your wedding is there to support you and see you succeed, so there is no reason to be shy! Think about the sentiment you want your first dance to convey, and place your first dance at a point in the evening that makes you feel confident and excited to show your guests what you’ve got. If you'd like to read more on this topic, check out this blog.

There are definitely a few key things to consider when choosing the right song for your first dance. For some couples, they have that one song that has always been “their song,” and that’s usually a good choice. But for others who don’t have that special song, the amount of options can be overwhelming.

First, ask yourself a few questions about how you want your first dance to look and feel:

1. Do you picture it being classic and romantic.

2. Would you rather it be fun and playful?

3. Is there a specific style that you’ve always imagined dancing at your wedding, like waltz or swing?

Once you’ve considered these details, it will be easier to start narrowing the list of first dance songs down. Remember to not get caught up in details like how “danceable” the song is. If it speaks to you and you feel that it represents who you are as a couple, then we can make it work.

Keep in mind your first dance is part of the entertainment for your wedding guests, so you’ll want to make sure the song you choose fits the following criteria:

1. Does it inspire you to dance with your fiancé?

2. Will it inspire your guests to start dancing?

3. Does it have a significant meaning to you as a couple?

4. Does it match the style of your wedding reception?

Whatever you do, don’t choose a first dance song that doesn’t speak to you. You’ve got to want to dance to it and it needs to have emotional significance for both of you. That doesn’t mean your first dance song has to have significance outside of being a first dance song (i.e., a song that connects to important moments in a relationship, like a first date or first kiss). You just need to choose a song that has meaning for you, whether it’s the lyrics or the “feel” of the song.

It’s also important to keep in mind that songs that are too sappy will put your audience to sleep. It’s usually a good idea to choose songs that are up tempo and have great energy. If you want to go the romance route for your first dance, that’s fine, just don’t make it the full first dance. Choose two songs! Start with a slower romantic song so that you and your partner can connect and then kick it up a notch with a fun dance song to finish it off. This will keep the energy at your wedding reception strong and it’ll also ensure that your guest won’t fall asleep during your first dance.

So what if your fiancé doesn’t like the song you’ve chosen? Sometimes explaining why you like a specific song will put it in a different perspective. If that doesn’t work, print out the lyrics and have your fiancé read them. Some people don’t connect to the sung-word and need to see the words in order to understand what they mean. You could also look for covers of the song you want to use to see if a slightly different sound appeals to your fiancé.

Most importantly, make a date of it! Grab a bottle of wine (or two), cozy up on the couch together, and log into Spotify or YouTube to listen to songs together.

if you don’t know where to start, there are plenty of blogs out there with suggestions. Check out our blog for a list of some of our favorite first dance songs! Here and here. Contact us if you need suggestions!

Your first dance should be up to 2.5 minutes long. Show what you’ve got, enjoy the moment together, then invite everyone else to get on the dance floor and have a good time!

Let’s be real. People have short attention spans. Add three cocktails and a full belly to the mix, and they’re even more antsy (or sleepy). While you may have spent a lot of time and money preparing for your first dance, that doesn’t mean it should be 5 minutes long. In order to ensure that the first dance is enjoyable for your guests and yourselves, keep it short and to the point.

Of course, most songs are much longer than 2 to 2.5 minutes, so you might have to get creative! It’s ok to choose a longer song; just think about the parts of the song that stick out most to you. We can help you prepare to dance to that portion of the song and your band will be able to replicate that new version or your DJ will cut the track to only include the moments you want.

If you insist on playing the entire song, even though it’s over 2.5 minutes, consider inviting your bridal party or guests onto the dance floor after the 2.5 minute mark to keep everyone engaged. You can also start the song before you walk out to the floor to eat up some of the time at the beginning of the music.

Keeping the first dance short is especially important if you have had little or no time to prepare for the dance. Swaying in the middle of the floor for 5 minutes will quickly make your guests feel uncomfortable and bored. You’ve thought through every single detail of your wedding so far, so don’t leave this one to chance! Make sure you feel prepared and also keep your guests in mind as you make your plans for the first dance.

In short, yes!

In preparation for your father/daughter or mother/son dances, we will teach you to dance in a style that best fits your song choice and personal taste. Most importantly, you will learn to lead and follow so that you will feel confident and comfortable dancing in front of the guests at your wedding.

Quick Info:

• Parent dance Lessons can be scheduled at both our West Loop and Lakeview locations

• Each lesson is 45 minutes long (with an added 15 minutes of practice time in Lakeview) and is tailored specifically to each parent/child duo

• Pricing ranges from $135 - $180 per lesson depending on the number of lessons purchased. Per lesson pricing is also available

• Have More Questions? Read further below. You can also give us a call

What else should I consider when preparing to dance with my parent(s)?

At wedding receptions in the United States, it’s common to have mother/son and father/daughter dances following the first dance between the newly married couple. While these dances are not a necessary part of the evening, most newly married couples choose to include them to add to the sentiment of the evening. We definitely recommend including these dances, and here are a few more things to think about:

1) If a parent, for whatever reason is unable to dance, both the bride and the groom may choose to share the dance with a close relative of an older generation.

2) If you’re on the fence about including mother/son or father/daughter dances, ask your parents if they’re meaningful to them. If so, definitely include these dances.

3) Don’t dance to an entire song. Keep these dances short and sweet, say one to two minutes in length.

4) Be careful not to choose songs that are overly romantic.

5) If you’re afraid your parents don’t have rhythm, check out this blog post.

6) If you’re not taking lessons for your first dance, seriously consider doing so. Read this blog post and then contact us right away.

No, parent dances aren’t necessary. In fact, none of the wedding traditions are “necessary.” You get to choose which ones to include that best express your family and your relationship.

Consider what the moment means to you:

• Is it just a moment to be alone with your parent during the evening and chat?

• Does it demonstrate your inclusion of your parents in your relationship?

• Would it mean a lot to your parent to have that moment with you?

• Do you want to have a moment to reflect on who you’ve become?

• Do you have a special song with your parent?

Are Father/Daughter and Mother/Son dances necessary?

If a dance with your parent doesn’t seem to achieve the meaning you’re looking for, perhaps there’s a different way to include your parent in the reception or give them that alone time without dancing in front of a crowd.

We also love the idea of a family dance, where multiple members of the family from each side come out and dance all together, which can signify the joining of the two families.

When planning details of your reception such as a parent dances and other traditions, make sure to consider what they really mean to you. Is this something that means something to you, your family, or your partner? Or is it just a tradition that you’re blindly following? If the latter is the case, consider dropping that tradition.

If you do decide to have parent dances, make sure to consider the song choices, how long you will dance, and when the dance will occur in the evening. Here are a few tips:

1. Keep them short and sweet! Especially if you plan to include multiple parent dances, keep each one around one to two minutes to make sure you don’t bore the rest of your guests.

2. Rather than saving the parent dances and first dance for after dinner, weave the parent dances in between courses or while guests are eating so that once dinner is done, everyone can hit the dance floor without any waiting around

3. Make sure your song choices mean something to you and your parent and that they fit the ambiance of the evening. If your whole wedding is about fun and excitement, choosing a song that’s too slow and mushy can stick out like a sore thumb.

4. Consider doing both parent dances at the same time to the same song to make sure everyone has a special moment, but it stays quick and to the point.

Most often, people don’t choose a certain dance style for their first dance. Instead, a couple will choose a song or aesthetic, and, from there, we figure out the specific dance style that works best with that song or feeling.

When a couple comes to us with a specific first dance song in mind, we get together with a couple of other instructors to come up with best plan. We’ll start by just dancing to the song, feeling out which styles fit into the song and which do not. We also explore other potential ways of moving to the song that aren’t necessarily a traditional ballroom dance style. We then take into account the speed and feeling of the song, the level of complexity the couple wants for their first dance, and the amount of time the couple has to prepare before their wedding day. Once we take into consideration the vision the couple has for the dance, what they will be able to accomplish, and the limitations of the song itself, we can come to a conclusion about what style would work best. Often, we even come up with new styles of dance that incorporate techniques from various styles to create something that fits the song and the couple perfectly. Because your first dance is not a ballroom dance competition, it’s ok to step outside the box a bit and explore other possibilities rather than sticking to a traditional ballroom form, like Waltz or Foxtrot.

Keep in mind that your guests are first and foremost looking to see you connecting with one another during your first dance. If your guests see smooth movement and smiles, the first dance is a success in their mind. The more customized your first dance is to you and your personalities, the more enjoyable it will be.

It’s very rare, but sometimes, couples come to us with a specific style of dance in mind. The most popular are Waltz, Tango, and Salsa. Sometimes this is because couples have some dance experience or have seen that style of dance and want to emulate the feeling of that dance style for their first dance. Regardless, it’s important to keep in mind that holding fast to the steps from a specific dance style may not be the best fit for your song choice or for your personalities. For example, a Waltz is pretty restrictive in terms of song choices. There are only so many songs written in Waltz timing. Often when couples come to us looking for a Waltz first dance, we end up choosing a smooth, romantic song in a more common timing and using elements of Waltz technique in the dance. That way, the dance still looks and feels smooth like a Waltz, but it also fits to the song of their choice.

First dance choreography isn’t for everyone, but it may be a fit for you. A lot of people think that choreography means something extravagant or over-the-top, but choreography can be as simple as having a few different basic moves and putting them in a specific order.

You may want to consider choreography for your first dance if you:

* Feel most comfortable when you have a plan of action

* Have specific ideas of how you want to represent certain moments in your song

* Don’t feel comfortable just winging it

* Like to know what to expect

* Don’t like surprises

* Even if you don’t want a first dance that is fully choreographed, you can still incorporate a little bit of structure into your dance. At Ballroom Dance Chicago, we like to make sure that your first dance is personal, has a clear beginning, middle, and end (like all good performances), and that it has plenty of variety to keep your guests entertained. If you don’t want it to be fully choreographed, but still want the comfort of a solid plan, we can create a clear outline for your first dance so there are certain “milestones” to hit throughout the dance, but you still have freedom to explore and play in between those moments.

If you imagine an intricate first dance with every moment matching the music, then a choreographed dance is the way to go! Just make sure you have ample time to prepare. Starting at least six months before the wedding and taking lessons regularly (no less than once or twice per week) will put you in a great place for your first dance on your wedding day.

If you imagine a simple dance that you’re able to lead and follow, you still might want some level of choreography. Check out our video about whether or not you should have a choreographed first dance for more info! And, if you’re still unsure about what’s best for you, feel free to contact us for a 45 minute Wedding Consultation (available if you have 3 or more months) so we can discuss your goals and figure out what would be the best plan for your first dance.

If one of you is already familiar with any type of movement, that’s a great advantage for you as a couple! However, it’s important to remember that learning to dance together is new to both of you. Even the individual who does have more experience will still have a lot of details to learn, so it’s important that you still take lessons together in preparation for your first dance.

So why is it so important for you to take lessons together?

1. During your wedding planning, you need quality time with your fiancé. First dance lessons are a great way to make sure you have a date night worked into your otherwise busy week. Whether or not your partner is the most experienced dancer you know, you’ll find joy in learning something together. It will strengthen the bond you have and help you connect in a new way. At Ballroom Dance Chicago, we offer a comfortable, relaxing learning environment. We focus just as much on making your lessons a valuable experience to you as a couple as we do on the dancing itself. Your dance lessons together will undoubtedly be a fond memory to look back on after your wedding day.

2. The first dance is about expressing who you are as a couple, not about being professional dancers. Even though a first dance can be a big show with tons of exciting moves, spins, lifts and dips, the most important element of the first dance is your connection to one another. That means you also have to practice connecting with one another while moving together. Even if one of you is a seasoned dancer, as a couple, it’s necessary to get some coaching on how to feel and appear connected throughout the entire first dance. An instructor who specializes in first dance preparation will be able to make sure you have the best possible first dance.

3. Even if one of you is a strong leader or a strong follower, you should still take some time to get on the same page. In any type of communication, verbal or nonverbal, certain messages can be misunderstood or perhaps a different communication style would be more effective with a certain individual. To make sure your communication styles match when it comes to dancing, take time to work with a professional. We will be able to help you make sure your cues and signals are always communicated to your partner clearly, ensuring that you have a comfortable and beautiful first dance.

4. Having your fiancé teach you how to dance is not ideal. Even if your fiancé is a trained professional swing or salsa dancer, the tension that can arise from having your fiancé also be your dance instructor could get a little messy. Do your relationship a favor and seek assistance from a third party professional dance instructor to make sure the learning process goes smoothly and that you can spend time enjoying each others company rather than telling each other what to do.

5. If you start taking first dance lessons together and you find that the less experienced dancer could use more personalized attention, he or she can absolutely take some lessons solo to get more focused information. However, make sure that you are concurrently taking lessons together to make sure that you are on the same page and that you’re spending time connecting throughout the process of learning your first dance. We believe the more time you spend dancing together and focusing on your connection with one another, the better your first dance will be!

Since it's your wedding, you definitely should feel comfortable with all of the traditions you choose to include! The first dance is simply not one of the traditions you want to skip out on. Here’s why:

1. You’re throwing a party that’s all about you as a couple. Everyone wants to see the way that you connect to one another and that’s what the first dance is all about – demonstrating how you move together and connect as a couple.

2. The first dance sets the mood for the reception and inspires your guests to keep the dance floor filled all night long! If you picture a dance party at your wedding, do not leave this detail to chance.

If you feel like you’re a terrible dancer, that’s an even better reason to take first dance lessons and get some experience under your belt so you can feel more confident on your wedding day. Everyone can dance, and everyone can be taught to move comfortably with their partner. What we have found is that this question, “should we take lessons?” is actually the front for many other questions, like:

• I’m so busy with work and wedding planning and the rest of life and all I want to do is the minimum requirement. How much time do I have to dedicate to learning to be an adequate dancer?

• I’m not a dancer and I’m fearful that I won’t be good at dancing. What exactly do I have to do in order to at least have some semblance of understanding and control?

• I think that dance lessons will just make me look stiff. So if I spend less time learning I’ll look more natural, right?

• Money, money, money! We’ve been hemorrhaging money since the day of the engagement. We’re so financially spread that we need to cut corners wherever we can. What’s the least number of lessons we can take to look OK?

• We want to be really good. Like, standing ovation good. I’m thinking lifts and spins and dips and maybe some other death defying moves. What’s the minimum number of lessons we can take to do that?

• What it all comes down to is that most people hesitate to dedicate time and/or money to learning to dance because of the fear that the time/money commitment won’t be worth the end result (i.e., the end result won’t meet their expectations). So, in essence, people are asking if taking lessons for their first dance is worth it. And the answer is a resounding “yes.”

Regardless of how much time or money you are able to dedicate to dance lessons, a little bit of instruction is much better than none at all. You rehearse your ceremony to make sure you have a plan, right? The first dance is just another moment of the day when you’ll be in the spotlight with all eyes on you. It will make you feel so much better to have a plan going in so you know what to expect.

Both our Lakeview studio and West Loop loft are great places to take lessons for your wedding. In fact, the reason we expanded to West Loop was because the neighborhood didn’t have a dance studio that specializes in wedding dance lessons.

Something to note: We only offer Completely Private and Semi-Private wedding classes in Lakeview.

Something else to consider when choosing a location is the surrounding nightlife and restaurant scene. The reason being is that we recommend making your dance lessons part of a date night, and there’s nothing more romantic than a dance lesson followed by a great dining experience. While Lakeview has a bunch of great restaurant options, our West Loop location is completely surrounded by some of the best restaurants in Chicago, if not the country! If you need any recommendations, we’re more than happy to provide them.

Cancellations: When you schedule a lesson, you are reserving that 45 minute slot of your instructor’s time. We understand things come up, but we need at least 24 hours to attempt to fill your slot (think of this like buying a ticket for that lesson time. We’re happy to resell your ticket if you give us enough time).

To cancel a lesson without being charged for the lesson, you must notify us at least 24 hours before your lesson starts (For example, if your scheduled lesson starts at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, you must call or email us before 8 p.m. on Tuesday). If you must cancel within the 24-hour period, you will be charged for the lesson in full. Please note that we do not make exceptions to this policy. To reschedule a lesson, please email info@ballroomdancechicago.com or call (312) 504-5866.

Refunds: All of our lessons and packages of lessons are nonrefundable and non-transferrable. They do not, however, expire. After one year, packages of lessons only retain the original purchase value of the lessons remaining in the package and can be applied to the purchase of a new package.