Nothing gets a wedding reception off to a fun start better than a fabulous first dance. No matter what your style – from classy and elegant to wildly entertaining – Mary Scanlon will work with you to create a first dance that captures your personalities and will have your guests raving for years to come. Her first dance choreography has even been featured in the Wall Street Journal.

First Dance Tips:

Picking your music

Look for a song with a medium tempo. Often people make the mistake of picking an extremelyslow song. Really slow songs are sometimes even harder to dance than really fast songs. If it makes you want to move, it’s probably a great song to dance to. If it makes want grocery shop or take a ride in the elevator, it may be too slow.

Don’t be afraid to pick a song that isn’t a waltz or foxtrot. The song should represent your personality as a couple. I have choreographed great first dances that were to R&B, rumba, salsa, tango, pop, cha-cha, hustle and musical theater songs. What matters most is that you love the song. If you love the song, it will show when you are dancing. If you are having fun while dancing then your guests will love the song too, no matter what the style.

Editing your music

For your first dance remember to “KISS” (keep it short and sweet). I tell all my clients to edit their music down to 1.5 to 2.5 minutes – at most -. You will surprised at how long that seems when all eyes are on you. When you watch professional ballroom dancers competing on television, do you notice how they fade their music out after about a minute and a half? Five minutes of the same song gets boring to wacth even when you are watching professional dancers.

Coaching your partner

Never correct your dance partner. Your partner will take direccion much better from the professional who has been hired to teach the two of you. Most of the time your partner knows they made a mistake and just needs some practice to get it right. If you are repeatedly having the same problem in rehearsals, privately ask your dance instructor to work on it during your next lesson. Have fun and do your best to make your partner look good.

When to have the “First Dance”

Your first dance should be done as soon as you arrive at the reception. Have the DJ introduce you and go straight for the dance floor. An exciting first dance can set a festive tone to the night and serve as a conversation starter for guests who don’t know each other. It is tradition that no one is allowed on the dance floor until the happy couple have their first dance together. Having the first dance at the begining of the night opens up the floor for cute flower girls and adorable ring bearers to freely twirl around whiele their parents are finishing their meals. Also, it’s always best to have the first dance done before the champagne kicks in.

for more first dance tips visit: www.flipmedipme.com

Text copyright Mary Scanlon – Images by Miguel Mayo Wedding Photography 2009