New BCAE Class Helps Couples Perfect Their Wedding Dance

Photo courtesy of BCAE

Consider your wedding dance your first test as husband and wife, hanging onto each other for strength, attempting to stay strong, and trying not to hurt each other.

Or look at it as the first time you embarrass yourself together.

Either way, there’s a lot more to your wedding dance than just keeping the beat.

“The first dance sets the stage for marriage because it’s a chance for the couple to show their loved ones and themselves that they can work together, as a team,” says Boston Center for Adult Education (BCAE) dance instructor Gail Gardner. “They move across the dance floor as they’ll move through their lives—with teamwork and cooperation to create fun and joy while not taking themselves too seriously.”

No pressure, right? Imagine dazzling your guests as you work the dance floor in unison. A grand entrance. A “WOW” ending. Staying upright the entire song. Sigh. Dare to dream.

Actually, it’s possible, even for the clumsiest of couples.

“First Steps,” a two-night wedding dance workshop at the BCAE, is ridding Boston couples of their four left feet. Held March 24 and 31 from 7:15 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. and taught by Gardner, you’ll learn to dig down deep for some So You Think You Can Dance-style confidence as you choreograph a dance to your wedding song. You and your partner will learn to work your dance space together, moving comfortably across the floor and even executing some impressive turns.

With no more than seven couples in the class, the format provides plenty of individual attention throughout the class. You might even learn a move or two from another couple’s tune, which you can break out at your own reception.

Whatever your romantic melody of choice—be it Ray LaMontagne’s You Are the Best Thing or Etta James’s At Last—bring it on a CD, your phone, or MP3 player, and get ready to rock—or at least Viennese Waltz.

The next “First Steps” classes are March 24 and 31 from 7:15 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. One registration required per couple ($138). The BCAE is located at 122 Arlington St., Boston, bcae.org.

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