Get into position with your partner. Stand face-to-face with your partner and get into a basic partner position. If you are leading, put your right hand on your partner’s shoulder blade and interlock your left hand with their right hand, with your hands positioned in the shape of a pair of Cs. Your partner will put their left hand on your right shoulder.

• You can keep your clasped hands held as high as eye level or as low as waist level, depending on your preference. Just keep them relaxed, with a comfortable bend at the elbow, and don’t raise your partner’s shoulder.
• Leave about 3–6 inches (7.6–15.2 cm) of space between yourself and your partner.
• Make sure you and your partner agree on who is leading before you begin!

Step to the left with your left foot. Once you’re ready to start dancing, move your left foot out to the side in a smooth, gliding motion. Your partner will mirror you with their right foot. This is the first part of the basic “step-touch” slow dance move.

• If your partner is leading, let them initiate the first step, but try to move with them as smoothly as possible.
• Try to time your steps with the beat of the music. You may find it helpful to count along with the music in your head.

Bring your right foot over to meet your left. After taking the first step with your left foot, slide your right foot over so that it touches your left. Your partner should mirror this movement.

• Try not to bounce or dip as you bring your feet together. Aim for a smooth, gliding movement.

Repeat your foot movements in the opposite direction. Once you’ve brought your feet together, step to the right with your right foot. Then, bring your left foot over to meet your right. Continue this pattern throughout the rest of the dance.

• Alternatively, you can do 2 steps to the left and then 2 steps to the right.

Use your hands to steer your partner if you want to move around. If you’d like to move around the dance floor, use your hands to gently push or pull your partner in the direction you’d like to go. After touching your feet together, push with one hand and pull with the other at the same time that you step out on the next beat.

• For example, if you’re stepping left but want to pivot to the right, start by bringing your right foot to meet your left. Then, push your partner’s right hand with your left hand while gently pulling on their shoulder with your right hand, and step to the left at the same time.

Learn the Chicken Dance for lighthearted numbers. The Chicken Dance is a staple of many wedding receptions. It’s easy to do because there are just 3 basic moves, and you change them in time with the music. This is also a very low-pressure dance—no one cares if you mess up. To do the chicken dance:

• Raise your arms to shoulder level and line your thumbs up with your index fingers to create a shape that resembles a chicken’s beak. Move your thumbs up and down to simulate a chicken clucking.
• Then, ball up your hands and tuck your fists under your arms as though you have wings. Flap your wings up and down in time to the music.
• With your wings still in place, continue flapping but now stick out your backside, bend your knees and wiggle your bottom down toward the floor.
• Repeat these moves over and over until the song ends.

Master the hora for Jewish weddings. The hora is danced at many traditional Jewish wedding receptions to the song “Hava Nagila” or other traditional Jewish songs. The hora simply involves dancing in what’s known as a “grapevine” pattern:

• Step the left foot across to the right. Let the right foot follow. Step the left foot behind the right. Follow again with the right.
• This dance is performed in a circle with dancers either holding hands or throwing their arms over one another’s shoulders.
• The tempo of this dance is typically fast. Sometimes the music starts slowly, and the band speeds up the tempo as the song goes along.

Use basic slow dance moves for the Dollar Dance. At some weddings, the guests line up and pay a dollar (or more) to dance with the wedding couple. You can use basic slow dance moves for this dance, but it’s really not about the moves; it’s about having a few moments with the bride or groom to express your happiness for the couple and compliment the wedding ceremony and reception.

• In some cases, men dance with the bride, and women dance with the groom. Other times, both men and women dance with the bride.
• Holding on and simply swaying in place is perfectly acceptable if it makes it easier to have a personal conversation.

Take a dance class to learn some basic moves. There are dance classes for every style of dancing from hip-hop to ballet, break dancing to salsa. Search online for the classes in your area. Whatever style of dance you’re interested in, you could probably benefit from a ballroom dancing class as the steps of many other dance styles have their roots in some ballroom basics.

• When you are being taught a routine, look at what the teacher is doing. Try to copy it exactly. If it doesn’t work, watch the teacher again and look for the little things they do that make it easier.
• Go ahead and ask your instructor for tips. Experienced instructors have worked with hundreds of students and have ideas that can help you overcome whatever it is you’re finding to be difficult.
• Even a few hours of class time can help you learn the basics and build your confidence.

Join a flash mob to boost your confidence. A flash mob is a spontaneous public performance—usually a dance—that appears seemingly out of nowhere and then disappears just as quickly. While these dance performances may seem spontaneous, the truth is that they’re usually fairly well rehearsed in advance. You can find flash mobs online, join them for a several-week rehearsal period as the group learns a dance, and then perform with the mob in public.

• Some flash mobs put videos online with instructions for learning and rehearsing the planned dance.
• Flash mobs welcome people of all skill levels; their focus is on having fun and creating a joyful scene, so the more people who participate, the better.
• You’ll also learn some great dance moves and connect with other people who enjoy dancing.

Watch dancing on TV to find inspiration. Dancing is a wildly popular activity, and you can get plenty of exposure to it just by watching TV. Try tuning in to reality television dance competition shows. Focusing on the steps might be a bit challenging. Instead, pay attention to how loose the dancers are, how much confidence they display, and how much fun it looks like they’re having on the dance floor.

• Popular current dance shows include Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance.

Rent a classic dance movie to get new ideas. There are so many dance movies to choose from. See as many as you can or pick and choose those that speak to your particular interests. For example:

• Check out Dirty Dancing or Shall We Dance to watch 2 dance novices develop confidence and grace and learn to perform with pizzazz.
• Watch Footloose or Flashdance to see the power of dance as a form of defiance against uptight authority figures and personal circumstances.
• Rent anything starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers to be inspired by the grace and elegance of these famous dance partners.
• Watch Stormy Weather to see the Nicholas Brothers push the limits of tap dancing.

Participate in a dance competition to hone your skills. Ballroom dancing competitions, officially known as DanceSport events, are held all over the world. Check online for a competition near you. Joining a dance competition can help you set specific goals for yourself and encourage you to build your skills.

• Check out websites such as the International Grand Ball, United States Dance Championships, and the Access Dance Network to name just a few.

Put on comfortable dance shoes. Choose a well-fitting shoe with a flexible, thin sole for the dance floor. Stay away from platform shoes, since that thick sole and heel make it difficult to feel the floor. Be sure, too, that your feet feel secure in your shoes. Backless sandals are best left at home. Do not wear sneakers or other shoes with rubbery or sticky soles for ballroom style dancing, since these can make it hard to move your feet smoothly across the floor.

• Different styles of dance call for different types of shoes, so do some research about what’s needed for your preferred style. For example, sneakers are great for hip hop or freestyle dancing, while heels are ideal for Latin dance styles.

Be prepared for the heat. If you tend to perspire, choose garments made of natural fibers. Tank tops and halter tops can look great, but sweaty or clammy skin could be a turn off if a partner asks you to dance. Drop a pack of moist towelettes and a travel-size powder in your pocket so you can freshen up when needed.

• If you’ll be dancing with a partner, avoid wearing slippery materials, like silk. Your partner may have a hard time holding onto you if their hands get sweaty.