Wedding First dance lessons: Frequently Asked Questions - general information: all dance styles

FAQ: FIRST DANCE FOR YOUR WEDDING

LESSONS CLASSES AND CHOREOGRAPHY IN NYC

with Peter Jones

FIRST DANCE/ WEDDING DANCE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS for engaged couples!

“Peter totally blew us away in what he was able to teach us!” CHECK OUT Peter on NBC's "I Do"

“BEST INVESTMENT we made in the whole wedding.... Peter's a miracle worker."

“Neither of us had ever danced before, and after a handful of lessons we took before the wedding, we felt confident and able to dance in front of our friends and family. Amazing!”

_____________________________________________________

HOW MANY LESSONS DOES IT TAKE?

Ten lessons is a solid goal to begin to gain some level of mastery for your ballroom/ Latin or Rhythm dance and is what's necessary to nail full song choreography. For many couples, the first stages of comfort and confidence dancing together hits at about the 5-7 lesson mark. NOTE: You'll have your own goals and expectations for your first dance, and for dancing in general!
To choreograph or not? Some couples prefer to freely comfortably and romantically ‘go with the flow’, others find it a bonding experience to learn a special dance routine. I generallly recommend a combination of both!
Back to the Top

HOW MUCH ARE LESSONS?

FIRST LESSON Special (purchased in advance)		$89
Single lessons		$106
FIRST STEPS - Get started with the basics	3 Lessons:	$320 (3% off)
CRASH Course	2 double sessons	$415(5% off)
SPOTLIGHT First Stages Comfort/ Confidence	5 Lessons	$520 (6% off)
INTERMEDIATE/Advanced	8 Lessons	$810 (8% off)
SHOWSTOPPER Full custom routine	10 Lessons:	$990 (10% off)
TRANSFORMATION	15 Lessons:	$1400 (16% off)

IN-HOME lessons		$150
ZOOM lessons		$90
Check the Rates page for current specials

Back to the Top

IS THE PRICE PER PERSON OR PER COUPLE?

The rate is for the lesson, whether for a couple or an individual
Back to the Top

WHAT IS A GOOD LENGTH?

2.5 to 3 minutes is a good length! Less than 2:00 is just too short, you don't get the opportunity to show what you've learned, but you also don't want it to be too long! If your song is 4+ minutes, you might want to edit it. But - it's your party, end your dance whenever you want, I think. The DJ or band will be responsive to what you do, don't worry!
Back to the Top
______________________________________________

WHAT IS THE CANCELLATION POLICY?

36 hours notice required to reschedule or cancel a lesson without charge, as that is when I can obtain a partial refund of the cost of reserving the space fir the lesson. Contact Peter at 917-375-3027.

There are no cash refunds. In most situations, a dance lessons certificate equal to the value of/ for any unused lessons cancelled with more than 36 hours notice can be issued as a gift certificate.
Back to the Top

CAN I PURCHASE DANCE LESSON GIFT CERTIFICATES?

Gift certificates are emailed within 24 hours of receipt of funds. One gift option is for individuals or couples to contribute a portion of a Wedding package. Contact me and let me help you organize it.
Back to the Top

HOW LONG ARE LESSONS

Lessons are 45 minutes.
Back to the Top

IS IT A PRIVATE ROOM

In general, being alone in a room is not necessary or even particularly useful when learning how to dance. A Private Lesson guarantees optimal individual attention from the instructor, however, you are NOT guaranteed a private room. A Studio is typically shared with other couples doing their own lessons. Distractions are actually very useful in the process of practicing, they are a part of the real world, where ultimately the goal is just to dance... easily and effortlessly.
Back to the Top

WHEN SHOULD I START?

Because of a Bride and Groom's hectic schedules, dance lessons should preferably start ~3-4 months prior to the wedding day.
Getting started 5-6 months before the big day allows time to become truly comfortable dancing together.
If possible, however please try to give at least three months. It allows for flexible scheduling and ample time to nail your dance.
Back to the Top

TELL ME ABOUT THE FIRST LESSON!

The FIRST LESSON is a full length, single/ introductory lesson where we get to know one other, see what a dance lesson is actually like and, if we want to work together, get an idea about what you'll want or need in terms of your lessons.

A full length class, it's a flat $85, ($21 off the regular single lesson rate.) If you're happy with the work and want to continue, you can select a package or continue doing single lessons. A package allows me to do a lesson plan, and packages save on the per lesson rate, but you can certainly purchase lessons singly. I generally request that you pay for the lesson in advance to guarantee/hold the reserved time.
Contact the STUDIO
Back to the Top

DO WE OFFER IN-HOME LESSONS

In-home lessons taught at the student's apartment or home are an option for Manhattan, Hoboken or Jersey City/ other boroughs are occasionally possible.
$140 per 45 minute lesson for the service; may be taught by a staff instructor.
CONTACT THE STUDIO
Back to the Top

WHEN ARE THE LESSONS TAUGHT?

Lessons are scheduled on a first request basis: Weekdays: (Generally evenings 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM, early afternoon/lunchtime 11am-2:00), or Weekend days

WHERE ARE THE CLASSES?

Studio Locations
I teach in multiple studio spaces

240W37th Street

320W37th Street

520 8th Ave NOTE: Westchester/(Hawthorne) by arrangement!

CONTACT the Studio about Zoom lessons option

In-Home NYC lessons are sometimes possible, with an additional fee
Back to the Top

WILL MY DRESS AFFECT OUR DANCE?

Yes. Optimally the dress will be 1/4"-1/2" off the floor all the way around so you don't step on it when dancing backwards! Also, if the bodice is tightly fitted or strapless, you may not be able to comfortably raise your arms up to do a twirl. (So we'll just have to modify that turn, so you don't have to raise your arms!)
Back to the Top

WHAT SHOULD WE WEAR?

Wear something comfortable, but ladies, please don't wear open-toed shoes! As you are learning, there will inevitably be occasions when, yes, he might step on your toes. (You will learn how to dance with him so that your toes are always clear.) Also, ladies, don't wear your actual wedding shoes to the first lesson, though if you have similar heels, they’re fine. A good rule is just to wear comfortable shoes, but not flip flops or sandals as they make dancing more difficult.
Back to the Top

WHAT IS THE INSTRUCTOR'S BACKGROUND, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE?

A certified dance instructor for more than twenty years (Ballroom, Latin, Ballet, and Jazz), Peter Jones is a Broadway Theater Institute Faculty Fellow, an instructor with and on the Board of Directors of the Manhattan Dance/ Theater and an Advisory Board member of Bick Goss' Musical Mondays Theater Lab. He has taught at Fred Astaire, with Pierre Dulaine, at West Side Dance Project and HB Studio, the American Youth Theater, at Cornell and Columbia Universities, at Trinity College (Dublin, Ireland), in London, Nice, Paris and at Lincoln Center. He is staff/ Faculty of the Theater Workshop.

Peter trained under Pierre Dulaine, Cailin Heffernan, and Lyle Bradshaw. He founded the AmericanYouthTheater with Erich Rausch
The teachers he hires are all certified dance instructors whom he trains specifically for wedding dance instruction.
Back to the Top

ANIMATED STEP PATTERNS

Click here for animated step patterns for foxtrot, waltz, swing, salsa, tango, cha cha

SOME FIRST DANCE SONG SUGGESTIONS

Wedding Dance Lessons Homepage