Mastering Your First Dance: From Partnership Roles to Professional Styles
So who's the leader and who's the follower in the wedding dance? How do you even decide? Are you making assumptions about who's leading and who's following based on gender roles? At Steps to Love we promote conscious choice between couples, because we're committed to fostering conscious teamwork. We're showing you how to work together, harmoniously, as a team (on and off the dance floor). So make that choice together! Realizing you each have very important roles to play. One is no better than the other. They're just different.
The Essential Roles of the Dance Floor
The Leader’s Role
The leader will be responsible for indicating what's happening next (it’s kind of like they’re “steering the ship”), and holding their arms in a certain way to embrace their partner. They’ll be using certain footwork, generally stepping first with their left foot. TIP: “ Leader starts Left”. L and L. (That's how I help my clients remember how to get started.)
The Follower’s Role
The follower will be the one getting to do a lot of the turns and being spun around and dipped and maybe even lifted. They'll do the opposite of their partner with their feet, so they'll start with their right foot (this way no toes get stepped on!). And they'll have a slightly different arm position to complement where the leader’s are. They’re responsible for responding to what the leader is indicating to them. And relaxing and enjoying the ride!
Both of you are working together as a team, and each role is equally important. When you learn to move in harmony together, each of you looks and feels your very best. And isn’t that exactly how you want to feel on the biggest day of your life?
Choosing Your Dance Style and Professional Guidance
It’s always best to choose a style which suits your personality and you as a couple. Some couples like fun, upbeat, energetic dances. Some prefer elegant, classy, and smooth dances. One dance studio specialising in these kinds of lessons is Dance Studios Dubai. They are specialized in ballroom dance both Latin and standard, and also teach social dance.
| Dance Category | Styles Taught |
|---|---|
| Latin | Cha Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Jive, and Paso Doble |
| Standard | Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese waltz, and the Quickstep |
| Social Dance | Salsa, Bachata, Argentinian Tango, Disco, Kizomba |
The Benefits of Professional Wedding Dance Lessons
The wedding ceremony has gone perfectly, your guests have wiped their tears of joy, enjoyed a delicious meal, and chuckled at heartfelt speeches…and now’s the time…that all-important first dance! It’s the one aspect of the wedding we know a lot of couples get very anxious about. If you have had no formal dance experience then getting up in front of a room full of your friends and family can be very daunting indeed, especially given its’ importance.
More and more couples these days are choosing to take dance lessons before the “big day,” so that not only will they feel less nervous about the first dance, but also to give an added dimension of entertainment to the evening. At Dance Studios Dubai, they don’t just create a dance routine for the couple and teach them the steps but make it personalized and unique for each couple. Most couples prefer to take private classes for the following reasons:
- They have the full dedication of their professional instructors.
- They have more flexibility in scheduling.
- The team will follow the couple’s own pace in learning making sure they understand and master each dance step.
Invest in the epic first dance of your dreams! We can help you become totally prepared and confident to dance with your partner. You’ll be ready to dazzle your guests and truly enjoy yourselves during the big moment of the most important day of your lives together! And create an iconic memory you will cherish for the rest of your lives.