How to Dance at a Wedding

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Dancing at a wedding is a common practice. If you're wanting to get out on that dance floor but you're not the best dancer, don't worry. There are some simple moves you can do to blend in with the crowd, whether you're dancing with a partner or by yourself. When you're comfortable with those movements, you can try something more advanced. Also, if you find yourself at a Jewish wedding, you may want to try the Hora, as it's a group dance; it's fairly simple once you get the hang of it!

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Using Basic Movements with a Partner

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  1. If the song is slow and you don't want to get too fancy, an easy position is to just embrace each other if you don't mind getting close. One person could have their hands around the other's neck, while the other has their hands around the first person's back. [1]
  2. This technique works best in an embracing position. You can just step side to side and move your body slowly back and forth to the beat. [2] The important thing is to be close to your partner. [3]
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  3. Traditionally, you have a leader and a follower in a dance hold. If you're the leader, face the follower and place your right arm on the other person's back on the left side just behind their shoulder. If you're the follower, place your left arm on top of the leader's right arm and grab their upper arm. Then, both of you extend your other arm out to the side and clasp hands. [4]
    • Typically, you're about 1 foot (0.30 m) apart in this position, though you can get closer.
  4. [5] [6] The reason you have a leader when you're dancing is so that you don't trip all over each other. To guide your partner as the leader, apply light pressure with both hands, moving your partner the direction you want to go. [7]
    • For instance, if you want to start turning to the right, pull a little with your right hand on their shoulder while you push a little with your left hand that's clasped in theirs.
    • If you're the follower, make sure you are relaxed, engage with your partner, and make sure you're paying attention to your partner's cues and moving with them. [8]
  5. If you're bored with just swaying, one of you can spin the other. To do so, step back a little and lift the other person's arm above their head. Then they can turn around under it while still holding on. [9]
    • Don't get too crazy with your twirls. You don't want to take another couple out!
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Trying Simple Dance Steps with a Partner

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  1. To do it, simply step out with your right foot on the beat. Bring your left foot over and tap it next to your right foot on the upbeat (the light beats between the louder beats). Then go in the opposite direction. Step out with your left foot and tap with the right foot next to your left. [10]
    • You can do this basic move by yourself on a fast song or with a partner on a fast or slow song.
    • When dancing with a partner, get into the traditional dance hold. Both of you can step-touch at the same time, but you'll be stepping out with the opposite foot. So if you're the leader, you'll step out with your right foot first while your partner steps out with their left.
  2. You don't have to stand in one place with this move. The key to moving around the floor is to change positions when you step out. So if you want to turn to your right, step to the right and to the back a little. When you step with your left foot, step forward and to the right a bit instead of out to the left. With each step, you're moving to the right, which will eventually turn you toward that direction. [11]
    • Always guide your partner when moving if you're the leader. As the follower, always pay attention to your partner's guidance!
  3. For this step, if you're the leader, start with your left foot; the follower starts with the right. As the leader, step forward with your left foot and then step forward with your right foot on the beats; if you're the follower, step backward with your right foot and then backward with your left foot. Then, if you're the leader, you'll step to the left with your left foot and "close" the step by bringing in your right foot; the follower will do the opposite, stepping out with the right foot and bringing in the left foot to close. [12]
    • These movements are considered "slow-slow-quick-quick," meaning the forward/backward movement is done more slowly and the step out/close is done more quickly. [13]
    • Keep your back straight but bend your knees a little with this movement.
    • If you're the leader, make sure you're gently guiding your partner around the room with hand pressure on the shoulder and through your clasped hands.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Dancing Alone or to a Fast Song at a Wedding

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  1. This move is very simple. Spread your feet apart to shoulder-width. Bend your knees and dip your body slightly when you hear the "boom" part of the beat. Bounce back up when you hear the "clap" or the second part of the beat (known as the upbeat). So basically, you're just bouncing your body up and down by bending your knees. [14]
    • To make this move look less stiff, move your upper body, too. Twist your upper body back and forth a bit on the beat or sway back and forth. Bring your arms up and snap along as you turn to the beat. Alternatively, just bend your arms at the elbows and swing them to the left and right as you turn your body.
  2. Step out with your right foot to the side on the beat. Bring your left foot over to tap next to your right foot on the beat, dipping your body down slightly as you do. Then, step out with your left foot to the side and bring your right foot over to tap, dipping your body slightly. Keep going back forth on the beat. [15]
    • Don't be afraid to use your arms, too. Try bending them at the elbows and swinging them along with your step-touch move to the beat.
  3. Step out with your right foot to the side and tap with your left foot like you normally would with the step-touch. However, when you step out with your left foot, go to the left but go back a step at the same time, so you're making a diagonal move. Bring your right foot back to meet your left and tap, then step out with your right foot to the right side. After tapping with your left foot, move it forward and to the left at the same time, making a diagonal movement. Bring your right foot up to meet it. [16]
    • When you step out with your right, you're making the top of the box. Then when you move with your left, you go diagonally across the box. The right step at the back makes the bottom of the box, and then you move diagonally across it again.
    • Start over again once you get back to your first position!
    • This adds some fun movement without getting too crazy.
  4. Step back with your right foot and bring your left foot back to meet it, tapping as you do. Pivot your feet slightly to the left by putting your weight on your heels and moving your toes around. Step back with your left foot and bring your right foot back to tap. Keep moving back this way for a few steps. To move forward, do the opposite, stepping forward instead of backward. [17]
    • This is similar to the box move. However, instead of returning to the starting position, you keep moving backward or forward.
    • Try swinging your hips out to the side as you step backward or forward.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Dancing the Hora at a Jewish Wedding

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  1. Your right hand should be palm up while your left hand should be palm down. Find a place in the circle and grab the hands of the people next to you! [18]
    • In some Jewish traditions, women and men will be in different circles, so pay attention and join the correct one!
  2. Move your left foot out to the side and put your weight on it. Then, bring your right foot behind your left foot. Move your left foot out to the left again. [19]
    • This part of the movement is fairly quick, going on the beat and then the upbeat. The kicks that follow are on the beat.
  3. As you shift your weight to your left foot, do a little hop and kick your right foot out. Just kick it up in the air so that it goes out in front of your left foot a little ways. [20]
    • You don't have to leap up in the air for the "hop." It's just a little bounce on your left foot.
  4. As you bring your right foot down, hop a little on it. As you do, kick your left foot out in front of your right foot, just like you did when you kicked the other way. [21]
  5. Once you've got this step down, it's just a matter of repeating it through the whole song! As you do, the circle of dancers will slowly move to the left because you keep stepping out with your left foot as part of the movement. [22]
    • Keep the movement at the level you're comfortable with. If you don't want to hop or kick very high, that's fine! Also, don't worry about making a mistake. You're definitely not that only one.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Where should I put my arms if I'm slow dancing?
    Andrey Stanev
    Professional Dance Instructor
    Andrey Stanev is a Professional Dance Instructor specializing in ballroom, Latin and wedding dance. With over 25 years of instruction and dancing experience, Andrey is also the Owner of Ballroom Dance in NYC, a studio based in Manhattan, New York and in Hawthorne, New York. He was born and raised in Bulgaria and won the Bulgarian National Championship for Ballroom and Latin Dance in 2000-2001. He has also worked at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio where he received the Award for Outstanding Performance in the advanced department of teaching.
    Andrey Stanev
    Professional Dance Instructor
    Expert Answer
    If you want to use basic ballroom position, face your partner, then put your right hand on your partner's shoulder blade and use your left hand to grasp their opposite hand.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/2015092527384/wedding-dance-lessons-where-london/
      2. ↑ William Orrock. Professional Dancer & Instructor. Expert Interview. 5 July 2022.
      3. ↑ https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/2015092527384/wedding-dance-lessons-where-london/
      4. ↑ Andrey Stanev. Professional Dance Instructor. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
      5. ↑ Andrey Stanev. Professional Dance Instructor. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
      6. ↑ William Orrock. Professional Dancer & Instructor. Expert Interview. 5 July 2022.
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc1esMeDb5k&feature=youtu.be&t=146
      8. ↑ William Orrock. Professional Dancer & Instructor. Expert Interview. 5 July 2022.
      9. ↑ https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/2015092527384/wedding-dance-lessons-where-london/
      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc1esMeDb5k&feature=youtu.be&t=41
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc1esMeDb5k&feature=youtu.be&t=146
      3. ↑ Andrey Stanev. Professional Dance Instructor. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
      4. ↑ Andrey Stanev. Professional Dance Instructor. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
      5. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/ben-westons-best-dance-moves-for-men-2014-3
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc1esMeDb5k&feature=youtu.be&t=49
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYkUfIfF-C8&feature=youtu.be&t=70
      8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdkSQ7Rrq5w&feature=youtu.be&t=116
      9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww5uSzT0Wes&feature=youtu.be&t=31
      10. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGTho2a9t9k&feature=youtu.be&t=23
      11. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww5uSzT0Wes&feature=youtu.be&t=43
      12. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww5uSzT0Wes&feature=youtu.be&t=49
      13. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww5uSzT0Wes&feature=youtu.be&t=90

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