FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do we need lots of space?

No, we don’t need too much space at all to get you dancing together. Not to worry if you don’t have terribly much space. We make the most of what you have! Moving some furniture out of the way in the largest space you have available is usually enough to make it work. If you can stand next to each other and stretch your arms out, then that’s enough! If that isn’t an option, potentially a friend or family member has a larger space we can utilise. Or we can easily hire a studio space for you. This can be a studio in your local area or in Central London if that works better with your schedule. Please note this can limit availability sometimes and the hire fee of the studio is not included in your dance package, it is an additional cost.

What do I need to prepare for the lesson/s?

Before your first lesson we will send out an online consultation form to gather final details such as your address, song choice and what your vision is for your First Dance. Your instructor will then have all the information they need to make your lessons the most productive they can be. For the lesson you will need your wedding shoes (or similar) to learn in and to clear some floor space. Sometimes showing a photo of your wedding dress to your instructor can help make sure we are teaching the right moves for you. Your instructor will bring your music and a speaker. Feel free to dress comfortably, your instructor will just be in their activewear as we like to keep it relaxed.

We are total beginners when it comes to dancing, will only a lesson or two really help?

Majority of our couples have never danced before so you are in good hands. We teach at your pace, ensuring you feel comfortable with the moves as we go. You’ll be surprised with a little guidance and some practice just how much you will learn and how much your dancing confidence and skills can grow quite quickly! One lesson is better than none. With one lesson you will learn how to hold your partner, basic leading and following, some simple footwork, a spin or two and maybe even a dip!

Do you teach lessons for Same-Sex couples?

Of Course! Our lessons are not prescribed for any one type of couple at all! We are here to help any same-sex, gay or non-binary couples in the same way as anyone else. Our instructors are experienced in helping same-sex couples find their way around the dance floor. Whether it to be some simple steps just to get you through your chosen song, or if you would like a show-stopping dance no one will ever forget, we have the tools to help you make it your perfect dance for your perfect day. Here are The Next Step Co. we are proud Allies to the LGBTQ+ community and support equal civil rights and gender equality.

What styles of dance do you teach?

Skies the limits! All of our instructors are trained in all styles of dance so to help you create your perfect wedding dance. With this in mind, many of our couples don’t know what style to begin with, so we will always start with the complete basics of ballroom dancing. Then when we listen to your chosen song we choose the ballroom steps that match the tempo/vibe. But maybe your song has more of a Latin vibe, or swing feel, so we will suggest some steps to go with it. We like to approach our Wedding Dances very open with a fusion of basics from many styles - not necessarily sticking to a syllabus of dance. You can expect to learn following and leading skills, a variety of turns and spins, a few types of footwork, and if you’re up for the challenge some lifts and dips!

What is included in the package? Are there any extra fees?

Your Wedding Dance package cost is essentially for your teacher’s time and knowledge, all the practice materials you may need, any music editing you need, a write-up of your dance/choreography notes on request and ongoing support until the big day! Your personal instructor comes to you. We try to match you with the perfect teacher, but if for some reason your instructor lives over an hour away from you then you will need to pay a small travel fee, anywhere between £5-£40 depending on the situation. If you have decided that your home is not suitable and you would like your lessons in a Dance Studio, the hire fee for the studio rental will be added on top of your First Dance package. Dance studios generally range from £25-£50 per hour, the more central the studio the more expensive they tend to be.

Do we choose our song? Can we choose multiple songs?

Absolutely! We want you to choose your song. We are here to help you create a Wedding Dance that feels right for you so choosing the perfect song that reflects you is SO important. Our suggestion is to try and find a song that is meaningful to you both or a song that captures how you feel about each other. You don’t need to worry about the length of the song because we will simply edit it to make it the perfect length for you. If you are struggling to find a song we can help guide you. Whether you want to look through our song library or need help narrowing down from a few shortlisted options, we can definitely help you through the process either over email, the phone, or in person. Sometimes having a lesson with us to trial dancing to each song is the perfect way to narrow it down.

You can most definitely have two or more songs! Some couples like to start slow and end with something up-tempo! Some couples decide that a mega mash-up is the way to go! We can defiantly help achieve this by editing the music alongside you to make sure it sounds perfect. (Tracks that include more than 3 songs may incur a small music editing fee) If this is what you are thinking we do recommend you have several lessons as learning different styles/tempos will take a little bit longer than the average slow dance.

What times can we book? When are the lessons?

We are really flexible to fit into your busy schedule, weekday nights and weekends are most popular but we will be able to find an instructor if you prefer a weekday lesson. The after-hours and Saturday lessons do get booked up quickly, so I would contact us well in advance if you have time restrictions for your lessons. On weeknights you can expect either a 6pm or 8pm lesson, or weekend lessons are anytime between 10am and 6pm. We do have limited availability so please contact us to find out your local instructor and what days/times they have available.

When should we start our lessons?

The earlier the better! The earlier you start, the more time you have to refine and finesse your moves. However, we do recommend having your final lesson no less than two weeks out from the big day when learning new steps. A re-cap lesson to make sure you are feeling super confident just before the wedding is a great idea! If you have months to prepare then you can decide if you would like your lessons spread out over a few months, giving you lots of time to practice in between each lesson, or if you would rather start closer to the wedding and have the lessons weekly or fortnightly, so you have time to consolidate between lessons.

We understand, a lot of couples do leave their Wedding Dance to the last moment, we can still help out with some last-minute emergency lessons that will definitely help you feel more prepared and confident. For anything under 2/3 weeks away please call 07776 353636 to check availability right away.

What do we wear for the lessons?

Feel free to dress comfortably. Our instructors wear activewear as we like to keep this casual, and is easy to demonstrate in - so anything that you feel comfortable moving around in. We recommend you wear your wedding shoes (or similar) in the lessons. If you are having multiple lessons and would like to learn the new steps in something more comfortable like socks or trainers, that is completely fine, as long as you have enough time practising in the shoes you will be wearing on the day. This is also for men as much as ladies, it is important to break in your new shoes before the wedding day so there’s no risk of blisters on the day.

Is full prepayment required to secure my booking? Do I need to pay a deposit?

If your lessons are under a month away then we will need the full amount to secure your booking. If you have booked months in advance then you are only required to pay a deposit to secure your lesson dates. The remainder of the amount is due before your first lesson. Please speak to us if you need other payment options.

What areas do you cover?

We are lucky to have wonderful teachers all over! In Central London, Greater London, Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Kent.

We cover all of London Boroughs, Barking & Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Bromley, Camden, City of London, Cobham, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith & Fulham, Haringey, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington & Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond on Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Walton-on-Thames, Wandsworth, Westminster, Weybridge

We cover all of Surrey, Guildford, Tandridge, Woking, Camberley, Epsom, Walton-on-Thames, Reigate, Staines-upon-Thames, Banstead, Chertsey, Addlestone, Leatherhead, Dorking, Esher, Egham, Firmly

We cover all of Essex, Basildon, Braintree, Brentwood, Castle Point, Chelmsford, Colchester, Epping Forest, Harlow, Maldon, Rockford, Tendring, Uttlesford

We cover all of Berkshire, Bracknell Forest, Reading, Slough, West Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham

We cover all of Kent, Ashford, Canterbury, Dartford, Dover, Gravesham, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Shepway, Swale, Thanet, Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge wells

Have any other questions? Feel free to contact us below…