Stand By Me by Ben E. King
Wedding First Dance Choreography Tutorial
Includes Father-Daughter and Mother-Son Dance Modifications
skill level: beginner
Style: relaxed & natural
about this tutorial
One of my all-time favorite wedding dance songs, Stand By Me by Ben E. King is the perfect choice for the first dance, but could also be used for a father-daughter dance or mother-son dance, so I’ve included modifications in this tutorial for those dances as well. This tutorial can also be applied to the Otis Redding and Florence + The Machine versions of this song. If you choose a different cover of this song, you may have to modify the steps a bit to fit. This choreography is so quick and easy to learn that you will look and feel confident, relaxed and natural right from the very start. You will learn all the movements in the video above, including how to put it together with the music. This takes ALL the guesswork out of it so you can enjoy your wedding dance and truly be in the moment!
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 the choreography take to learn?
The entire tutorial takes 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 a little less than a week 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 in the course before putting it together into choreography. You’ll still need to practice the dance leading up to your wedding to build muscle memory!
Love the idea, don’t love the song?
Or, Still Have Some Questions?
Head back to my Online Lessons page if you need ALL THE INFO. Don’t miss the “Library” section with all of my available tutorials listed: click on an image to learn more about that tutorial and see a preview of the dance. If you still aren’t sure, please visit my FAQ page or submit a Get Started form and send me your questions!
The bride and groom featured on this page are Becca & Adam, photographed by Anchor & Veil.