Welcome Maddie!

This past January, I met Sarah, who helped me grow into a team! She has been teaching couples for a few months now and I have loved seeing her connect with them and choreograph such beautiful first dances. This October she is expecting a sweet baby girl and will be taking some time off to relish in all of the newborn snuggles. Which leads me to introduce to you our newest instructor Maddie, who will be helping take on some couples at the height of wedding season! I’m so excited for her to get started and see the magic she creates for our couples.

Here is a little more about Maddie’s background:

Maddie fell in love with movement growing up in Tampa playing sports and dancing. She pursued concert dance at Blake High School and received a BFA in Dance from the University of Utah with a strong emphasis on choreography.  After college she completed a 450 hour comprehensive Pilates certification and moved to New York City. Here, she pursued her passion for dance, choreography, and love for teaching. She choreographed for Mark O’Donnel Theater, Arts on Site, and danced in a short film by Chris and Alex Lee. Maddie continues to follow her love for movement teaching pilates and dance in the Tampa Bay Area. Her passion is helping people feel confident and at ease in their bodies.  

Jamie + Kyle - “You’re Still the One”

Jamie booked her and Kyle’s lessons almost a year in advance (couples, take note!) thinking they would need extra time to get comfortable with dancing. I truly think people underestimate their abilities because although I could tell they were a little intimidated during the first lesson, by the second lesson they looked like total naturals! Granted, this is also because they were amazing and did their homework (practiced!). I always stress to my couples how important it is to practice the steps in the comfort of your own home, because that plays a huge part in how comfortable you look and feel with your dance. It also helps me because if there is something that doesn’t feel right to you when you’re practicing, you can come back your next lesson and we can tweak it.

Jamie and Kyle were one of the very first couples to get married at the newly built The Tampa Edition, which if you haven’t visited yet for a meal or drink, I highly recommend you check it out, it’s g o r g e o u s!! They chose the perfect cover of “You’re Still The One” by Teddy Swims which I will definitely be adding to my First Dance Songs Playlist. Their photos by Ashtyn Brooke Photography turned out beautifully. I especially love the candid shots and think it truly shows they were in the moment during their first dance… *heart eyes*

Shannon + Kyle- “Nobody’s Love”

Shannon reached out to me after she and her fiancé Kyle tried practicing for their first dance a couple months prior to their wedding. She mentioned that they had tried learning some moves from Instagram and YouTube but ended up getting tangled instead (super common btw!). They had chosen Nobody’s Love by Maroon 5 and although it held a special meaning to them, it proved to be rather challenging to figure out how to dance to on their own. Most people would say “forget it” and just settle on a typical first dance song however Shannon shoots wedding films and wanted a song she hadn’t seen done before. 

Within two lessons, they learned a simple first dance with some added spins and a lift for the bigger moments of the song. By the third lesson, they solidified the choreography so that it looked natural and they no longer had to think of the steps. I was so impressed! #firstdancecouplegoals

Shannon and Kyle were lucky to have the incredible husband and wife duo of Dewitt for Love photography to capture their wedding- I absolutely loved all the different shots they were able to get of their first dance! I had a blast getting to know S+K and loved creating a first dance they truly enjoyed-congrats again to this lovely couple!!

Shannon writes: “We were about 5 months out from our wedding when we chose our first dance song (Nobody's Love by Maroon 5) and we realized we had NO clue how to dance to it. It's a bit of an unusual tempo for a first dace song and we had no clue what to do. I found Amanda on Instagram and I'm so happy I did. My husband and I have zero dance experience but Amanda made it really easy! She took her time with us & had soooo much patience when we had to ask her over and over which foot goes where! lol I was a little nervous about a choreographed dance feeling over produced or a little cheesy, but it didn't look or feel that way one bit with Amanda. She tailored the dance specifically to us, and our skill/comfort level. She was an excellent communicator and made sure we felt good with every new move she gave us. We had so so so much fun taking lessons with her. It was easily one of if not THE best decision we made in the wedding planning process. It gave the two of us something fun & different to do during a somewhat stressful time of planning. We really looked forward to our lessons and were sad when it was over! We had a wonderful first dance the day of the wedding and have amazing photos (included) because of it! We otherwise probably would have just swayed back and forth awkwardly! lol I cannot recommend Amanda enough, truly. I think this is something every couple should do!”

Macy + David - “Unforgettable”

When Macy reached out to me about her first dance, she mentioned she wanted something classic and traditional., yet she was nervous about looking rigid and unfconformatble. Trust me when I say I strive to teach you steps that suit you. Just like clothing for example, a dress will not look the same on everyone. So when I choreograph a dance, I really try to keep the couple in mind based on skill level and even personalities. Where as if you were to go to a ballroom dance studio, they will in fact teach you a certain style of dance that often times takes years to perfect.- no shade to that but your first dance is just that. It should be natural, comfortable, and you should enjoy it rather than stress over it!

Macy and David had their reception at a Tampa staple, Oxford Exchange so the song they chose “Unforgettable” went perfectly with the venue’s vintage, classy vibes. I also met with Macy and her dad so they had some basics down rather than winging it (you know how dad’s can get)!

When I saw how their first dance came out in photos, I was blown away- absolutely stunning work by Sarah + Ben Photography. Wouldn’t you agree! Congrats again to Macy and David!!

Growing into a team…

Every year, since I started this little passion project, I have had to turn down more and more couples because I was not able to fit everyone into my schedule without compromising the quality of my time, effort, and creativity. But doing so would always leave me with the icky feeling that one of those couples would either have to stumble through their first dance with little confidence or would have to settle for a less dynamic version of what they imagined for their first dance.

So for a while now, I have been calling out to the universe (and also tirelessly reaching out to every single person I know in the dance community) to connect with the right person that would not only be qualified but would match my excitment when it comes to dance, love, and weddings! And let me tell you, the universe answered!

I am over the moon about introducing you to Sarah- she will be helping me take on more couples and I am confhident that she will make all of your first dance dreams come to life- whether it’s as simple as making you feel comfortable in the spotlight or creating a fun dance to surprise all of your family and friends!

“Hey there, I’m Sarah! I’m SO excited to be working with Amanda and can't wait to get started this week!  

A little about me: I started dancing in my hometown of New Orleans and went on to get a BFA in Dance from the University of Florida (Go Gators!). After college, I moved to Los Angeles to begin a career in Arts Administration while also helping a world-renown choreographer produce two pretty cool shows around the city. Once my husband and I got engaged, we made the move back to Florida and started planning our dream wedding and of course, our first dance. Given that my husband and I grew up acting and dancing, we knew our first dance needed to be something special and unique to us. While it took a little time to agree on the steps, we still look back and cherish those nights of rehearsing in our living room. Honestly, they’re some of my favorite memories to date!" 

Fun facts about Sarah:

• I have a fur baby named Bruno. He's a 5 year-old Vizsla who plays hard and sleeps harder. 

• I was a member of the Dazzlers at UF! 

• I've been fortunate to perform and work at some iconic performing arts venues - my favorite being the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. 

• I'm a sucker for sweets, Reese's peanut butter cups to be exact, and I have an unhealthy obsession with HGTV. 

What do you look forward to most in 2023?

“New challenges and opportunities! It sounds vague, but I've been itching for ways to grow both personally and professionally.”

Shelby + Dad- “Uptown Funk”

Shelby grew up dancing and mentioned her dad also participated in a few of her recitals. *cue excitement because I also grew up performing “dad + daughter” routines at my shows*. Only difference is I had to drag my dad to rehearsals. Well let me tell you, Shelby’s dad was born to be a Dance Dad. Not only did he want a 3 minute long routine, he also did not want it to be simple, ha! I was happy to oblige because I knew this man wanted nothing but to have fun with his daughter and make her proud. After about 4 lessons, we finished a fun surprise dance that I’m sure will be one of his favorite memories. (If you scroll to the last pic, you’ll see him LIV.ING.) Props to photography by Joy + Everette that captured the sweetest photos of these two!

Haleigh + Brian “Still Into You”

Haleigh and Brian were the sweetest duo to work with. I really need to start filming some before and after interviews of my couples because this one would’ve been golden! I had a feeling Brian wasn’t entirely convinced that he had made the right decision with dance lessons but I secretly like the challenge of putting in extra effort to win over the groom - in the end, they ALWAYS tell me how they couldn’t have imagined “winging it”. They chose a super cool rendition of Still Into You, originally sang by Paramore -promise you’ll get goosebumps listening to it. I was so happy with how Haleigh and Brian’s dance turned out and even happier seeing their first dance photos- I mean, just SO naturally b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l!!! Shoutout to Beca Hale Photography for capturing these sweet moments so wonderfully. Congrats again guys!!

Ben + Steph “Golden Hour”

Once in a while, I get couples who want to take full advantage of their wedding dance lessons “experience” and don’t mind me getting a little creative with their choreography. I got lucky with Ben and Steph because not only were they willing to try more intricate steps but they made it look so easy! Their wedding reception was held at the Drake Hotel in Chicago which, fun fact, has also famously hosted scenes from Risky Business and My Best Friend’s wedding. Their first dance took place in the Gold Coast Ballroom of the hotel which was so fitting since they chose “Golden Hour” by Casey Musgraves as their first dance song. Another fun fact: this ballroom is nearly the size of Buckingham Palace’s ballroom! Carasco Photography captured their dance stunningly - Don’t they totally give off Prince and Princess vibes!? Congrats again to this beautiful couple!!

Whitney + Brandon- “Back In the Day”

During my first conversation with Whitney, I knew she was one of MY PEOPLE. She told me if you could have every dance at her wedding choreographed, she would lol! Her and Brandon are both surfers and fell in love listening to a deep house song on repeat. Their dilema: they absolutely loved this song but didn’t know if they could use it as their first dance song choice. (Listen to it here) Isn’t it SO GOOD?! It has such a care-free, feel-good vibe with the catchiest beat! I RARELY ever discourage couples from songs, especially if it holds a special meaning for them so I told her, “let’s do it!” We started off slow just like the song and planned a fun lift for the funky saxophone solo and honestly it’s become one of my favorite dances yet! We finished their dance lessons early so Whitney invited her dad to come in for a few simple moves they could use for their father/daughter dance. I learned that the love for dance runs in the family because daddio has got some MOVES! I’m so happy I was able to help both Whitney, Brandon, and her dad AND had so much fun with them! Congrats again Whitney and Brandon!!

Photography by Elizabeth Dugan

Kaitlyn + Colin- “You Are the Best Thing”

OK, I may be a little biased with this one because Kaitlin and Colin chose the same song that I did for my first dance. Surprisingly, in the 3 years that I’ve been teaching couples, they are the only ones who have picked out the same song as me! These two are the definition of CHARMING and they make you feel like you’ve been friends with them for years! It was a breeze teaching them their dance because they are so easy-going; can you tell by how relaxed they look in their photos? :) Even when the person in charge of their music played the wrong version of their song, they continued with their planned dance like PROs and nailed it- They enjoyed every second and so did everyone watching! Congrats again Kaitlyn and Colin, it was such a pleasure creating your first dance!
Photography by Alyssa Shrock

Claire + Joe “Imagine”

Claire is the kind of bride who had her wedding music playlist picked out before her dress. Her and Joe chose the song “Imagine” by Ben Platt and although it’s a bit more upbeat than most traditional first dance songs, I love how they went with something that fit their personalities and wedding style. As a dance teacher, it’s SO refreshing to work with a song that’s not commonly used (although I do love me some Ed Sheeran) - I’m always up for the challenge of choregraphing steps to an alternative beat. Before starting lessons, Claire was worried their dance would be limited to what little dance experience they had together, but like I tell all of my couples: trust your partner, trust me, trust the process, and everything will turn out better than you ever expected :) I don’t think she would have ever “imagined” her first dance would include a seamless lift by Joe that made for one of the best photos of the night!

Photography by Jessica Cruz

Alyssa + Mike “There’s No Way”

Alyssa and Mike reached out to me almost a year out from their wedding date- stating they didn’t have any prior experience with formal dance lessons but that they “have energy and love dance floors”- my kind of people!! They wanted some contemporary moves mixed in with classic first dance spins and the song that they chose fit that description perfectly. From their very first lesson, Alyssa and Mike were both 110% commited and became more excited with every piece of choreography. When I tell you the “energy” she originally spoke about radiated through each photograph of their first dance, I am not exagerating!! And don’t get me started on the incredible videography by Love It Wedding Films (I’ll share a short clip of their dance below) - run, don’t walk, if you haven’t hired them for your wedding yet!! Congrats again Alyssa and Mike, you two were a DREAM to work with.

Photography by Jennifer Martin

Anndi + Tom - Hiphop Remix

When Anndi first messaged me about wanting to do a mix of styles for her first dance that included hiphop, salsa, dirty dancing, AND footloose, I could not contain my excitment!! Honestly, I had to read the message a few times to make sure I was reading it right! It’s not often that I get all of my favorite music genres in one request. She envisioned something completely out of the box for her first dance to a unique mix of Can’t Help Falling in Love by UB40, Only You by Mase, and Let’s Get Married by Jagged Edge x ReMarqable- Go ahead, listen and try real hard not to start dancin’- I loved her idea! Anndi and Tom commited to lessons, traveling an hour+ to learn their first dance and although Tom was skeptical at first that they would be able to finish the dance in time (the grooms always are), they crushed it and I had a blast teaching them. They are such a sweet, fun couple and I am so happy Anndi trusted me with making her vision come to life!

J. Rayne Photography

Father+Daughter dance- “Tootsie Roll”

Jim contacted me last summer about learning a dance with his daughter Joie, for her wedding in January. I cannot tell you how excited I was to hear that he wanted to surprise everyone with something fun and outrageous after they danced to the traditional dad+daughter song.

A little FUN FACT about me is that growing up, my local dance studio put on a D+D dance as their opening number for their annual recital- so for about 10 years I dragged my dad to practice to learn a themed routine ranging from “Surfin USA” by the Beach Boys to “Air Force Ones” by Nelly (lolz). Let’s just say it was a fan favorite from the recital crowd and absolutely some of my favorite chidhood memories.

I had a blast teaching this duo their dance and Jim told me he looked forward to each lesson, not to mention he traveled from Texas for each one! I was a little nervous because Jim confessed he hadn’t practiced much the weeks leading up to the wedding, but by the looks on their faces in these photos, I can tell they pulled it off AND it was a big hit!

Photography by Jannette De Llanos

Carly + Seve “I Am Yours”

These two are the definition of FUN!! Carly and Seve wanted their first dance to be super special by starting with a sweet song by Andy Grammer and then busting out into something upbeat to surprise their family and friends and boy, did they nail it!! I absolutely loved their dedication to every single move I threw at them and the way they learned, danced, and performed, was truly a choreographer’s dream- the only thing I regret was not crashing the party to have witnessed their first dance LIVE! Well, it’s a good thing they had one of the best photographers in Tampa (who also happened to be my wedding photographer) Ashlee Hamon!! Listen, if you’re going to have an epic first dance, you’re going to want to hire a photog who knows how to capture the BEST photos for it!

Kelly + Cassidy

Kelly and Cassidy eloped in November on a gorgeous island off of the coast of California but still wanted a reception back home with all of their closest friends and family, first dance included! I absolutely loved how their first dance turned out- especially because they ended up mixing TWO songs from their favorite artist, Allen Stone, to combine a slow song with a more upbeat song for a surprise part of their dance (my favorite)! I really enjoy seeing how couples find every opportunity of their wedding to make it unique to them (they even had adoptable puppies at the reception courtesy of FairyTail Petcare!!). These two also got to see Allen Stone perform at the Tampa Theater a few days before the party and just after finishing their lessons with me- talk about an amazing pre-wedding experience to put the cherry on top!

Congrats again to Kelly and Cassidy! Photos by Marc Edwards Photographs

Check out that confidence!!

The pups were even enjoying the show!

Shelby and Evan “First Try”

Shelby first inquired about dance lessons as part of her premarital counseling assignment. Honestly, I think this is a GREAT IDEA. Learning a dance as a couple requires patience, communication, support, respect, and a sense of humor- all very important qualities of a healthy marriage! I could tell Evan wasn’t so sure about the dancing thing from the get go, but what I did notice is that he wanted to do whatever made Shelby happy (smart man!). I was honored to be the neutral party during their lessons and I can proudly say that Shelby and Evan came out of their lessons with a unique first dance and (hopefully) as a stronger couple :) They chose First Try for their song that is “filled to the brim with soul”. I love couples who are intentional about their first dance song and if you haven’t listened to this one- I highly recommend it! Maria Aleja Photo captured this dance beautifully and I especially love the last shot of the proud groom!! Congrats again to Shelby and Evan!

The First Dance from a photographer’s POV

Photo by Caroline Allen Photography

Still not sure whether you should plan a choreographed first dance for your wedding? Well, I thought I would ask Caroline Allen Photography , a local (and incredibly talented!) photographer to give her thoughts on the topic. Because who’s better to give advice than the person who will be capturing all of your precious memories on the big day?!

I think you might be interested in what she has to say:

“As a photographer, capturing a couple's first dance is one of the many important moments on a wedding day. However, the first dance is often underutilized when it comes to getting some pretty amazing photos. Yes, it’s technically easier for your photographer to capture photos of you slowly dancing in one circle. But those photos are going to be repetitive and although unique to the couple, they’re going to look the same as everyone else’s first dance photos.

Having a choreographed first dance not only creates dynamic photos but it will keep your guests engaged. I can’t tell you how many times in the background of my couples first dance photos that their guests are completely checked out. But what I can tell you is 100% of the time during a choreographed first dance there are no guests staring at their phones and that’s just facts.

What I like to do with my couples who are doing a choreographed first dance is make sure I roughly know the choreography so I’m aware of what’s coming up and where I need to be to freeze those moments. Usually they’ll have a video on their phone that I can watch or during cocktail hour they'll go into the reception space and practice. Either way, getting eyes on your first dance gives your photographer the opportunity to make sure they can position themselves accordingly and the end result is always magic. Choreographed first dances are not only photographer approved but HIGHLY recommended!”

Your First Dance Questions answered

So you’ve listened to your song, tried dancing to it with your fiance in your living room, kitchen, wherever and decided you want to do a little something more than sway back and forth for an entire 3 minutes and 52 seconds…

You inquire about lessons but wonder….
”I don’t even know what I want”
”We’re not big dancers!”
“I just don’t want to step on each other’s toes.”
“When should we start?”
“I don’t want anything too cheesy!”

Let me tell you a little bit about my process and help answer some questions you may have.

What if I don’t want choreography? 

So a bit on the word “choreography”: Anything other than swaying back and forth is considered choreography. The good thing is, I know how to make it look more natural and can choreograph a simple or more complex dance depending on what you’re looking for. I start by teaching you a few basic steps. Our first lesson is very important to me because this is where I really get to know you as a couple, learn how you move together, understand what you’re comfortable with and what you’re willing to try. I would say I’m really good at reading people and if I feel you’re more reserved I will keep the steps more conservative. If I learn you’re more of the outgoing type, I may plan a fun lift or twirl! After the first lesson, I listen to your song about a dozen more times (don’t worry, I never get sick of it!) and choreograph steps to teach you at our next lesson.  The good thing about my process is that nothing is set in stone. If you don’t like something, we can change it. If something doesn’t look great, we switch it up. This is why I encourage my couples to practice after each lesson and really feel out the moves. That way they can come to the next lesson with any questions or ideas.

When should we start?

I recommend starting to practice for your first dance about 2 months out from your date. That gives us some buffer time for events you may have surrounding your wedding like showers, bachelor/ette parties, holidays, being out of town, etc. Other things to consider are my schedule and the studio availability. I feel as though 2 months is a good window of time for you to practice but not give it so much time that you get sick of it or your song!

How many lessons should we take?

I offer 2 and 4 lessons packages with the option to add on any additional classes if you feel you need extra time (and dedicated space!) to practice. Two classes are for those with busy schedules and wanting something a little more than the slow back and forth sway. In 2 hour long sessions, I can teach you a few basic steps to the tempo of your song and even a simple dip. For those needing more guidance with dance, looking to learn something more complex, or even wanting to add a second song (usually upbeat and funky!), four 1 hour lessons are a better fit. 

How long should my dance be?

I recommend a first dance be no more than 2 minutes 30 seconds. A little less than 2 minutes being the ideal amount of time for you to WOW everyone and hold their attention for just the right amount of time. This is especially true if there will be more dances (mother/son, father/daughter, etc). The length of your first dance usually goes hand in hand with the number of lessons you should take→ if you want to dance to your entire song without any edits or fading, you will likely need more lessons. Just something to think about when choosing songs. I can also help with deciding what part of the song to fade out or can usually help with making simple edits.

I hope this information helped answer any questions you may have had or give you a bit more insight of what it’s like to take lessons with me! Feel free to email me about anything I didn’t mention. Happy to help with making your first dance a memorable one!

Kristina and Wyatt “Speechless”

Before every first lesson I like to get a feel for a couple’s dynamics. Are they both in on this together? Is one being dragged in by the other? Does one person have preconcieved notions of what “dance lessons” should look like or even feel like? So, I casually ask some questions as I’m setting up the music. As we started Kristina and Wyatt’s first lesson, I asked Wyatt “On a scale of 1-10, how much do you enjoy dancing?” He responded with a strong “ZERO.” …..*insert yikes emoji face*. Kristina had given me a heads up about her shy guy but I really wasn’t expecting a zero! I don’t believe anyone TRULY hates dancing. Maybe they don’t like people looking at them when they dance, or maybe they THINK they can’t dance, but really are just underestimating their abilites. It’s become like a little challenge for me to change the way people percieve dancing or even to change the way they feel when they dance. A challenge I’ve loved taking on with my couples! From the minute of their first lesson to the end of their last, it is truly a transformation. Gaurds have been dropped, more smiles start to appear, and bodies are more at ease. So once Kristina and Wyatt finished their dance, I asked him the same question again. His response: “Now that we’ve gone through the lessons, I actually can’t imagine not having taken them. What would we have done? Just swayed the entire time!?

*insert smirking face emoji*

Let’s just say the smile you see below is from a guy that’s truly enjoying himself! Congrats again K+ W! Your first dance photos are stunning!

Photography by Ashlee Hamon