e with pantomimed gestures along with the carefully practiced dance moves. Some couples have even gone so far as requiring their entire bridal party to take several dance lessons, and wear silly costumes. The trend in elaborately choreographed first dances is getting so popular that some of these routines are frequently viewed on YouTube, and even show up on the national news.

So, why is the simple first

There comes that magical moment at every wedding reception where all else stops, and all eyes gaze toward the center of the dance floor. It is empty except for the bride and groom as they prepare for their first dance as husband and wife.

The first dance is an age-old tradition – originating with formal balls in Europe where the person with the highest social position, often the Emperor or King, would have the first dance, thereby signaling the official start of the event. For events of lesser nobility, the host and/or hostess would have the first dance.

Formal balls have become a thing of the past. Gone are the once common knowledge and skills of ballroom dancing, but luckily not completely forgotten thanks to dance studios and instructors. Many couples, in the desire to avoid showing their friends and family that they each have two left feet and possess a distinct lack of rhythm, have opted for at least a few dance lessons so they can gracefully twirl around the dance floor with a more polished look on their wedding day. And if they prefer to practice solely in the privacy of their own homes, dance instruction videos and DVD’s are available.

However, a new first dance practice is suddenly emerging. No longer are couples simply doing a foxtrot, waltz, or that old stand-by, the old "high school sway." In its place is a professionally choreographed routine rivaling something you’d see on a theatre stage during a musical. This trend is becoming more common, as couples across the country reenact scenes from "Dirty Dancing," Michael Jackson’s "Thriller," and the opening sequence to "The Spy Who Loved Me," complete with pantomimed gestures along with the carefully practiced dance moves. Some couples have even gone so far as requiring their entire bridal party to take several dance lessons, and wear silly costumes. The trend in elaborately choreographed first dances is getting so popular that some of these routines are frequently viewed on YouTube, and even show up on the national news.

So, why is the simple first

ve the first dance, thereby signaling the official start of the event. For events of lesser nobility, the host and/or hostess would have the first dance.

Formal balls have become a thing of the past. Gone are the once common knowledge and skills of ballroom dancing, but luckily not completely forgotten thanks to dance studios and instructors. Many couples, in the desire to avoid showing their friends and family that they each have two left feet and possess a distinct lack of rhythm, have opted for at least a few dance lessons so they can gracefully twirl around the dance floor with a more polished look on their wedding day. And if they prefer to practice solely in the privacy of their own homes, dance instruction videos and DVD’s are available.

However, a new first dance practice is suddenly emerging. No longer are couples simply doing a foxtrot, waltz, or that old stand-by, the old "high school sway." In its place is a professionally choreographed routine rivaling something you’d see on a theatre stage during a musical. This trend is becoming more common, as couples across the country reenact scenes from "Dirty Dancing," Michael Jackson’s "Thriller," and the opening sequence to "The Spy Who Loved Me," complete with pantomimed gestures along with the carefully practiced dance moves. Some couples have even gone so far as requiring their entire bridal party to take several dance lessons, and wear silly costumes. The trend in elaborately choreographed first dances is getting so popular that some of these routines are frequently viewed on YouTube, and even show up on the national news.

So, why is the simple first

family that they each have two left feet and possess a distinct lack of rhythm, have opted for at least a few dance lessons so they can gracefully twirl around the dance floor with a more polished look on their wedding day. And if they prefer to practice solely in the privacy of their own homes, dance instruction videos and DVD’s are available.

However, a new first dance practice is suddenly emerging. No longer are couples simply doing a foxtrot, waltz, or that old stand-by, the old "high school sway." In its place is a professionally choreographed routine rivaling something you’d see on a theatre stage during a musical. This trend is becoming more common, as couples across the country reenact scenes from "Dirty Dancing," Michael Jackson’s "Thriller," and the opening sequence to "The Spy Who Loved Me," complete with pantomimed gestures along with the carefully practiced dance moves. Some couples have even gone so far as requiring their entire bridal party to take several dance lessons, and wear silly costumes. The trend in elaborately choreographed first dances is getting so popular that some of these routines are frequently viewed on YouTube, and even show up on the national news.

So, why is the simple first

longer are couples simply doing a foxtrot, waltz, or that old stand-by, the old "high school sway." In its place is a professionally choreographed routine rivaling something you’d see on a theatre stage during a musical. This trend is becoming more common, as couples across the country reenact scenes from "Dirty Dancing," Michael Jackson’s "Thriller," and the opening sequence to "The Spy Who Loved Me," complete with pantomimed gestures along with the carefully practiced dance moves. Some couples have even gone so far as requiring their entire bridal party to take several dance lessons, and wear silly costumes. The trend in elaborately choreographed first dances is getting so popular that some of these routines are frequently viewed on YouTube, and even show up on the national news.

So, why is the simple first

e with pantomimed gestures along with the carefully practiced dance moves. Some couples have even gone so far as requiring their entire bridal party to take several dance lessons, and wear silly costumes. The trend in elaborately choreographed first dances is getting so popular that some of these routines are frequently viewed on YouTube, and even show up on the national news.

So, why is the simple first dance of old heading in this theatrical, dramatic direction? Why are more and more couples trying to put on a show? A definitive answer is hard to come by, as there are many different hypotheses. Many claim that it is the fault of an "all about me" society. That many couples desire to "one up" other couples, so they choose to be as elaborate and showy as possible, so they become the focus of everyone’s attention. Some think that the media is to blame. With so many talent style programs on these days – ‘America’s Got Talent,’ ‘American Idol’ and ‘Dancing with the Stars’ – perhaps they just want to get into the act. Another thought is that this trend stems from the fact that we currently live in a culture that is just less traditional than ever before, including weddings. Since today’s brides and grooms are making less traditional wedding choices, why should their first dance remain traditional? Isn’t the wedding day all about the couple and what they want anyway?

Sure, a wedding ceremony and reception is about the couple, there’s no denying that. After all, they, and the celebration of their new life together, are the reason for the day’s events and the gathering of friends and family. On this day, all eyes are going to be on the bride and groom anyway, regardless of what they are doing, or how they are doing it. So the bride and groom need to carefully think about what these eyes are going to see. They are the host and hostess, and as such, should put careful thought into what they are providing for their guests.

Like the hundreds of thousands of other wedding guests across the country, their guests will witness ma