Changing Lives through Dancing by David Woodbury
Arthur Murray Santa Monica
Recently I was enrolling a lovely couple on their wedding program. We had previously demonstrated their wedding dance and they had a wonderful first introduction lesson.
When we offered the option to perform their first dance at a dance party as a rehearsal, the groom said, “I do not like being the center of attention”. We shared the many benefits of practicing their first dance in public, then the groom said, “I realize now that I will not be performing, but we will be performing as one.”
His words were so meaningful and powerful. The bride hugged him, and we all paused just a minute to take in his kind words.
Truly, when you dance with your favorite partner, no matter if it is your spouse, your amateur partner, your competition partner, your sibling partner, the couple is dancing as one.
The best part of having a favorite partner(s) is that special feeling when you are dancing with them. When the moves come naturally, when muscle memory takes over and the dancing is in the natural stage, dancing with your fav partner is truly a wonderful experience.
When enrolling couples on their wedding plans, the brides say the most amazing things. They have given me so many dancing tips throughout the years. During our planning chats, I share so much of what I have learned and also listen to new ideas. We always honor our brides.
The grooms often share powerful thoughts about how they met, fell in love, proposed, and decided to get married.
We teach couples who come in on their first date for a dancing lesson! We love to see them months and months later as their love has blossomed. We have couples who have been together a few years and who want to have some fun. And our couples, married for 25 to 60 years who come in for so many different reasons. They all have wonderful stories to share.
If you are dancing just for you, may I suggest that you also love dancing with all your partners. Those friendships can be very powerful and can also last a dancing lifetime. I have loved dancing with many, many wonderful partners over almost 50 years.
Don’t worry that others are watching you. Truly they are watching the two of you as a couple on the dance floor with great admiration. They are saying how beautifully you are dancing together.
Every time you say “May I have this dance” dance together as one on the dance floor.
Thanks for reading,
David Woodbury