Spice things up with these steamy flicks.
Updated Oct 14, 20249 Wedding Dance Lessons in San Francisco for Bay Area Couples
Break out your best moves from Bachata to Bollywood.
by Raven McMillan
Updated Jun 12, 2024
The initial dances at your reception are crucial, setting the mood for the rest of your celebration and marking a pivotal moment in your big day. Whether you dream of a romantic duet, a heartfelt parent-child routine or a lively performance with your entire party, find the right wedding dance lessons in San Francisco. Looking for something specific? Here's how to find dance lessons that suit your style—just enter your location and sort by distance, award winners, music genres or diversity on The Knot Vendor Marketplace. To kickstart your journey on the right note, we've curated a selection of top San Francisco wedding dance lessons to help Bay Area couples craft their perfect start.
Steps To Love Wedding Dances in San Francisco, California
Erin Parsley of Steps to Love, an LGBTQIA+-owned studio, proudly offers inclusive, personalized wedding dance lessons in San Francisco for couples of all genders and orientations. With packages ranging from "the basic but lovely" to "the deluxe," which includes everything from the first dance to a father-daughter moment to a surprise flash mob, Erin offers a full-service repertoire for your reception.
- Dance Style: Erin creates choreography in a range of styles.
- What Couples Love: Dance lessons with Erin are so fun it feels like a date night.
We Evolve Dance in Santa Clara, California
We Evolve Dance, based in Santa Clara, offers professional wedding dance lessons in the San Francisco Bay Area led by accomplished Latin and ballroom instructor William "Wil" Orrock. With more than 20 years of experience, Wil coaches more than 50 engaged couples each year focusing on technique, joy and personal connection. Specializing in a variety of dance styles and packages, We Evolve Dance provides custom choreography for couple dances, parent dances and even wedding party lessons.
FEATURED VIDEO FROM THE KNOT
- Years of Experience: 20 years
- Dance Style: Wil can do it all including bluegrass, classical, country, disco, EDM, hip-hop, jazz, klezmer, Latin, polka, pop, R&B and rock dances.
- What Couples Love: Wil is a great communicator and is flexible with his teaching style and choreography.
CM Dance Company in San Jose, California
At CM Dance Company, an AAPI-owned studio led by Christine B. Maldonado, couples enjoy a memorable learning experience in a private studio that allows them to decompress from wedding planning. You'll begin with a 90-minute session that includes an hour of dance instruction and a thorough consultation for $250 and subsequent sessions are $150 per hour, with options for on-site instruction at an additional fee. CM Dance Company offers "honor dance" sessions for the parents of the to-be-weds and "surprise dance" routines for those looking to add a playful element to their wedding day.
- Years of Experience: 12 years
- Dance Style: Christine loves sharing steps from country, dance, disco, folk, hip-hop, jazz, Latin, polka, pop, R&B and rock genres.
- What Couples Love: You'll have fun and still be challenged to try something new in the best way with Christine.
Fredrika "Freddy" Keefer in San Francisco, California
With 13 years of experience coaching first dances, Fredrika "Freddy" Keefer specializes in boosting couples' self-esteem for their wedding day. Offering packages from beginner waltz turns to advanced choreographies, she can tailor routines to any style, including mashups like "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers into "Turn Down For What" by Lil' Jon. Whether you're looking for a memorable first dance, a flash mob for your wedding party or a surprise solo Freddy provides personalized, one-on-one San Francisco wedding dance lessons to ensure you feel fully prepared to party on your wedding day.
- Years of Experience: 13 years
- Dance Style: Inquire for more details.
- What Couples Love: Freddy makes lessons fun and easy to learn even in a short amount of time.
Emily Coles Dance SF in San Francisco, California
Emily Coles Dance SF, an LGBTQIA+-owned studio, offers private wedding dance lessons in San Francisco with owner and instructor Emily Coles, a pro with more than 15 years of experience. Her lessons prepare couples for their big day and provide an opportunity to connect and enjoy the process, with options to incorporate unique elements like a dance class during the reception.
- Years of Experience: 15 years
- Dance Style: Classical, dance, disco, Latin, pop and R&B dances
- What Couples Love: Emily fosters a warm, welcoming environment, ensuring couples have fun while learning.
The Dance Loft SF in San Francisco, California
Led by Val Cunningham, The Dance Loft SF offers top-quality dance lessons in a judgment-free atmosphere. Their wedding packages include a one-hour lesson with elegant entrances, fun moves, twirls and a big dip; a five-hour package featuring their "partner flow" program with spins, turns and a grand finale; and a 10-hour package that adds more complex moves and styles. For couples wanting to nail their moves like the pros, the 20-hour package includes a deep dive into Latin and ballroom styles.
- Years of Experience: 25 years
- Dance Style: Val is proficient in many styles, but her passion lies in the street/club style of lindy hop swing, Cuban salsa and Argentine tango.
- What Couples Love: Everyone leaves feeling much more comfortable getting on the dance floor.
The Dance Affair in San Jose, California
The Dance Affair offers by-appointment-only wedding dance lessons near San Francisco taught by Erica Fairfield and her team. Prices start at $120 for a 60-minute lesson, with discounts for multiple lessons booked in advance. Couples can choose their music, which can be edited to fit their dance routine and lessons are tailored for all experience levels. Erica's dance lesson tips include taking at least two to three sessions and considering wedding attire and shoes you plan to wear.
- Years of Experience: 35 years
- Dance Style: Inquire for more details.
- What Couples Love: Routines are easy and fun and the price for lessons is reasonable.
Bollywood Dance Central in San Francisco, California
Bollywood Dance Central electrifies your wedding day with couple choreography, sangeet performances and lively Bollywood or Bhangra troupes that bring high-energy fun to your big day. With the option to hire dhol players that add to the excitement, this Asian-owned wedding dance studio offers a little extra element to your reception that will both delight and entertain all of your guests.
- Dance Style: This team has the moves to create choreography in the styles of Bollywood, Bhangra, semi-classical and Bollyhop.
- What Couples Love: High-energy choreography that adds a fun entertainment factor to any reception.
Symbolic Dance & Fitness in San Francisco, California
Ava and Rodolfo lead this Latinx-owned business and boast more than 50 years of combined teaching and performing experience. Symbolic Dance & Fitness offers private wedding dance lessons in San Francisco for a more sophisticated sway or a flashy, full-out routine. With competitive prices starting at $110 per lesson and discounts on multi-lesson packages, they accommodate all levels, genders and musical preferences. The duo strongly recommends starting lessons three to four months in advance, but they're skilled enough to make last-minute bookings work too.
- Years of Experience: 50 years combined experience
- Dance Style: Bluegrass, Caribbean, classical, country, disco, EDM, folk, jazz, klezmer, Latin, mariachi, pop, R&B and rock dances
- What Couples Love: Ava and Roldolfo can do a lot with your music and choreography to make you feel confident even if you've booked a last-minute lesson.
