FREE FIRST DANCE STARTER KIT!
Everything you need to feel confident, improve your skills and rock your first dance.
Wondering How To Dance To Your First Dance Song? Today, I'm going to show you how, using the song “Lady In My Life” by Michael Jackson, as an example.
I'm using one of my bride's first dance song's in today's example. If you would like me to consider your song in my next example, comment at the bottom of this post with the name of your first dance song!
Knowing how to practice for your first dance, and having a simple plan for your song, is the key to feeling prepared for the reception dance floor. By the end of this post ,you'll learn how to make that happen, so you can enjoy a magical moment as husband and wife. Let’s get started!
If You Haven't Signed Up For My First Dance Starter Kit Yet, Be Sure To Do That Now!
It comes with everything you need to start preparing for your first dance, including a word-for-word script on how to get a reluctant fiance to say "yes" to dancing (you know, in case he needs a little nudge) Best of all, it's completely FREE. You can sign up below!
Before we begin talking about how to dance to your first dance song, there are three must-have moves that you need to be aware of.
You can consider these moves the bare essentials, no matter what type of first dance you plan on doing (yes, even if you're planning on rocking back and forth)
If you want to look like you know what you're doing on the dance floor, you need an entrance to start your dance, a dip to end your dance, and an exit to walk off the dance floor smoothly. I talk more about these moves, and their benefits in another post. You can preview it by clicking here.
Now, let's talk about when these moves will happen during your first dance song. Remember, we're using another bride's song as an example, but you'll learn how these moves fit with your song, as well.
The Sample Song We’ll Be Using In Our Example Is: “Lady In My Life by Michael Jackson. You can listen to it, and follow along, below.
This post includes affiliate links so you can listen to the songs with convenience (this means by clicking, I may earn a small commission without any extra cost to you, which helps keep this blog up and running.)
Let's start by talking about the entrance of your first dance. This entrance will be your walk onto the dance floor, and will take place during the beginning of your music (before the main part of your song kicks in)
This is also known as your songs intro, and is usually the instrumental music or soft vocals playing in the background).
HERE’S AN EXAMPLE: In our sample song, you can hear that the intro happens right when the music starts playing, until just before the lyrics kick in with "there’ll be no darkness tonight. Lady our love will shine, lighting the night"
NOW IT’S YOUR TURN! Find the intro part of your song, and practice making your entrance onto the dance floor. Ideally you’ll end your entrance, and will be ready to start dancing, when the main part of your song kicks in.
Next, let's talk about ending your first dance with a dip. This dip will happen either at the very end of your song, or another part of your song that you'll plan out ahead of time (if you want to end your dance early)
When you hear the music dying down and getting quiet, (whether it’s at the end of your song, or somewhere in the middle) it's your queue to stop dancing, and do your dip.
HERE’S AN EXAMPLE: In our sample song, this would happen either at the very end of the song, after you hear the lyrics "you’re my lady" Or, if you wanted to end it early, it would happen after the lyrics "baby through the years, even when we’re old and grey, i will love you more each day, because you’ll always be the lady in my life” (this happens around the 2:12 mark)
In this case you would tell your DJ to fade out your song as you dip.
LET’S PUT IT INTO ACTION! Listen to the end of your song (or find a quiet moment where the music dies down) and practice ending your dance with a dip.
Last but not least, let's talk about your first dance exit. This will happen just after your dip, and will give you a smooth transition off the dance floor, so you're not just standing there.
The good news is that your exit can be as simple as walking off the dance floor hand-in-hand, or as fancy as being carried away in your husband’s arms.
GO AHEAD AND TRY IT! After you finish your dip, practice exiting the dance floor any way you wish.
And, there you have it… how to practice dancing to your first dance song, and the three must-have moves that will make you look like you know what you're doing on the reception dance floor.
If you would like to learn these moves, plus four bonus moves that will make your first dance more beautiful and interesting, check out my crash course below!
Check Out My Ultimate First Dance Prep Course For Non-Dancers
Everything you and your fiance need, to prepare for your first dance and feel confident on the dance floor!
