February 09, 2005

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Palo Alto Online

Putting your best foot forward

Dance lessons ease getting around in the gown

by Jamie Schuman

After saying "I do," many couples, relieved to no longer be on stage with the spotlight on them, get ready to let loose and party.

But newlyweds with stage fright might also be concerned about the first dance. Even for couples with skills that rival Baryshnikov and Britney Spears, formal wedding attire can pose new problems for the traditional dance. Luckily for brides and grooms, area dance studios offer private lessons just for preparing for the first wedding dance.

Students in these classes not only get tips on dance steps, but also learn about proper etiquette -- such as how to traditionally enter and exit the dance floor -- and how to move gracefully in formal attire.

Directors of local studios recommend couples come in a few months before their wedding, but also do crash courses for those who realize a week before the big day that they do not know how to tango, foxtrot or rumba.

Couples should start planning dancing lessons at the same time as scheduling their disc jockey or band, Alice Louise, director of Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Redwood City, said.

"You don't get an instant replay on this one, so we need to get it right," said Louise, whose studio offers private lessons for couples.

For those who have some dancing skills, moving gracefully in formal wedding attire can create new challenges. A big wedding dress can sometimes weigh up to 40 pounds.

And most women do not have experience walking -- let alone dancing -- with a train at their back. While many women bustle up their train before dancing, area studios still spend time dealing with the challenge of formal attire.

At Beaudoin's School of Dance in Palo Alto, owner Flo Beaudoin encourages brides to-be to come to class in a dress or skirt similar in length to what they will wear on their big day.

She also recommends brides practice in shoes similar to their wedding shoes, but not to wear their wedding shoes. "If the man is not up to it, he may be stepping all over the new shoes," Beaudoin said.

Her advice for ladies on danceable wedding attire: wear a dress that is not too tight below the knee and shoes with backs. And, she says, either skip the shawl or practice dancing with it a lot.

At Arthur Murray, couples get a wedding consultation in addition to dance lessons. There, Louise takes down information on the shape and length of the wedding gown, and passes it along to the teacher, who will fine-tune steps to accommodate the dress.

And men also go under the microscope. For them, the studio focuses on sleeve length. A man's bare arms should not show when he is dancing. "It's not all about steps and patterns," Louise said. "It's about the total package."
Both studios work to accommodate the schedules of professionals. Arthur Murray offers classes from 1 to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Beaudoin's School of Dance has time slots before work, during lunch hour and in the evenings. At both centers, dads also can get in on the fun -- they also offer courses on the traditional father-daughter dance.
In a box:
Sources:
Arthur Murray, Redwood City (650) 216-7501 Beaudoin's School of Dance, Palo Alto (650) 326-2184

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