First Dance 101: Wedding Dance Basics for Beginners

skill level: beginner

Style: classic, adaptable to any song



about this tutorial

This tutorial, “Learn a Romantic and Instagram-Worthy First Dance For Beginners,” teaches you the basics of a simple, romantic and relaxed first dance so you can look and feel confident right away. You’ll break away from the dreaded “prom sway,” learn how to slow dance properly, twirl your partner, move around the floor, dip without falling over, and most importantly, put it all together to create a simple, romantic and Instagram-worthy first dance. This tutorial includes the exact same steps and techniques that I teach 99% of my couples during the first two to three private lessons.

music & modifications

The content in this course can be applied to ANY FIRST DANCE SONG and includes modifications for father-daughter and mother-son dances, as well as same-sex couples. The video above is just an example of the steps you’ll learn danced to music. Rest assured, there are sections that explain how to modify the steps to fit your music and lots of musical examples so you can better understand how to apply the steps to your chosen song.

can we really learn to dance online?

Yes, you can learn to dance for your wedding online and quickly, even if you've never danced a day in your life. Like learning a new language, learning to dance takes effort and consistency. You won't be able to just watch the videos and then magically be able to dance if you don't actually practice the steps. But I promise, this is still the easiest wedding dance tutorial that exists online. Some couples will find this online method of learning even easier than in-person lessons because you will see exactly how the steps are supposed to look before you even try them.

How long does this TUTORIAL take to learn?

This entire tutorial takes about two to three hours to complete, including practice time between steps. If you have the time, I recommend focusing on one step per practice session. It will take you just a few days to complete if you break it apart into one or two sections per day. If you are a marathon learner or test-crammer, you might set aside several hours on the weekend to learn each step and practice putting it together to your song. You’ll still need to practice your dance leading up to your wedding to build muscle memory!


need extra help applying the steps to your song?

If you are struggling with applying your steps to the music, you have a couple options. For couples local to the Charlotte, NC region, submit a Get Started form to book private lessons. Or, add on an email consultation for a one-time fee of $75. Send me a video of you dancing to your song and and any questions you have and I will provide detailed and personalized feedback via email within 2 business days. We can do this together!


Want to take the guesswork out of it? Choose from one of my custom first dance choreography tutorials below. Done and done.