# First dance > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/First_dance > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/First_dance.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_dance > Source revision: 1309152828 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Tradition in balls and weddings in various cultures For other uses, see [First Dance (disambiguation)](/source/First_Dance_(disambiguation)). This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "First dance" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (June 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Aristocrats gathering around [Emperor Franz Joseph](/source/Franz_Joseph_I_of_Austria) at a ball in the [Hofburg Imperial Palace](/source/Hofburg_Imperial_Palace), painting by [Wilhelm Gause](/source/Wilhelm_Gause) (1900) The **first dance** is an element in a number of traditions, being an opening of a certain [dance](/source/Dance) function: [ball](/source/Ball_(dance)), [prom](/source/Prom), [wedding](/source/Wedding), etc. ## Balls In the context of balls, the term "first dance" has two meanings. At various formal balls the first dance was led by the guest of honor, which was usually the person of the highest social position in a given context, such as a member of the royal family, if any were present. Their dance was the opening of the ball. As these were generally long [country dances](/source/Country_dance), the guests of honor would be the first people to go down the set, not the only two people dancing for the entirety of the first piece of music. In 17th-century [France](/source/France), the [minuet](/source/Minuet), also called "the Queen of Dances", was the first dance. In the [Victorian era](/source/Victorian_era) of [Great Britain](/source/United_Kingdom_of_Great_Britain_and_Ireland) the first dance was a [quadrille](/source/Quadrille).[1] In 19th century [Russian Empire](/source/Russian_Empire) balls were opened with [Polonaise](/source/Polonaise_(dance)). [2] Another meaning is the first occurrence of a young lady in a social gathering. It could have happened either during a usual ball or during a specially arranged [debutante ball](/source/Debutante_ball) or [cotillion](/source/Cotillion). ## Weddings A bride and groom enjoying their first dance at their wedding The "first dance" of a married couple is a popular element at modern European and [American](/source/United_States) [wedding receptions](/source/Wedding_receptions) or post-wedding celebrations. The newly married couple, as the guests of honor at a dance, open the dancing.[3] The style of dance is a personal choice. Some couples opt for a rehearsed, choreographed dance, whereas sources like etiquette columnist [Judith Martin](/source/Judith_Martin) feel that performing a choreographed duet for spectators is inappropriate.[3] In the past, the couple did not dance the first dance alone. In her 1922 guide, [*Etiquette*](/source/Etiquette_in_Society%2C_in_Business%2C_in_Politics%2C_and_at_Home), [Emily Post](/source/Emily_Post) recommended that newlyweds not join the dancing until after their guests had begun, and simply dance with one another first before moving on to other partners.[4] This occurred while other guests continued dancing, and was not given particular attention or treated as a performance. In the current times, [ballroom dance](/source/Ballroom_dance) is not a skill that is common within society. Therefore, some modern couples either [slow dance](/source/Slow_dance) or learn a dance, whether it be a ballroom dance style or a choreographed dance routine. The music to which they dance is also highly varied, with modern chart hits often being selected.[5] Teaching and rehearsing the "first dance" is now a service offered by [dance studios](/source/Dance_studio), independent dance instructors and specialist wedding dance tuition companies.[6][7][8][9] ## Other - At "[Studniówka](/source/Studni%C3%B3wka)", a kind of [prom](/source/Prom) in [Poland](/source/Poland), the first dance is usually a [polonaise](/source/Polonaise_(dance)),[10] which students usually have to practice before the ball. ## Metaphorical use Today, in modern day, the phrase "to open the ball" has become a [figure of speech](/source/Figure_of_speech) for initiating an activity which will be subsequently continued by others. The term has been used in descriptions of battle scenes.[11] ## See also - [Wedding music](/source/Wedding_music) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Thomas E. Hill, "Essential Handbook of Victorian Etiquette" (1994) [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-912517-12-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-912517-12-3) (paperback) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Kenneth. ["Balls"](http://www.rusartnet.com/russia/culture/traditions/balls). *www.rusartnet.com*. Retrieved 2016-09-10. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Manners_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Manners_3-1) Martin, Judith; Martin, Jacobina (2010). [*Miss Manners' Guide to a Surprisingly Dignified Wedding*](https://archive.org/details/missmannersguide0000mart_a1u6). New York: W. W. Norton & Company. pp. [272–3](https://archive.org/details/missmannersguide0000mart_a1u6/page/272). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-393-06914-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-393-06914-3). Originally printed in ["Tentative Steps at the Wedding Reception"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/22/AR2008072202662.html). *The Washington Post*. Miss Manners. July 23, 2008. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Post, Emily (1922). "The Day of the Wedding". [*Etiquette*](https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.125556). New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Wedding Band Setlist"](https://www.pulseband.co.uk/setlist/). *Pulse Wedding Band Glasgow & Ayrshire*. Retrieved 10 September 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Wedding first dance lessons: everything you need to know"](http://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/2015092527384/wedding-dance-lessons-where-london/). *HOLA*. Retrieved 2017-01-25. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Your Bridal Dance Lessons Sydney"](https://web.archive.org/web/20231031012844/https://www.yourbridaldance.com.au/). *www.yourbridaldance.com.au*. Archived from [the original](http://www.yourbridaldance.com.au/) on 2023-10-31. Retrieved 2017-01-25. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["wedding dance lessons | first dance lessons | wedding dancing lessons"](http://www.weddingdaydanceuk.co.uk/). *www.weddingdaydanceuk.co.uk*. Retrieved 2017-01-25. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["First Dance Melbourne | Melbourne Wedding Dance Lessons"](http://www.first-dance-melbourne.com.au/). *www.first-dance-melbourne.com.au*. Retrieved 2017-01-25. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Studniówka"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161020191908/http://www.ohsopolish.com/2012/01/studniowka.html). *www.ohsopolish.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.ohsopolish.com/2012/01/studniowka.html) on 2016-10-20. Retrieved 2016-09-10. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** From [Rudyard Kipling](/source/Rudyard_Kipling)'s "The Drums Of The Fore And Aft": *Over that pock-marked ground the Regiment had to pass, and it **opened the ball** with a general and profound courtesy to the piping pickets; ducking in perfect time, as though it had been brazed on a rod.* v t e Weddings Collective Elopement Handfasting Same-sex White Pre-wedding Marriage proposal planner Marriage proposal Engagement Banns of marriage Wedding planner Wedding registry Bridal shower Engagement party Wedding invitation Bachelor party Bachelorette party Stag and doe party Marriage license Prenuptial agreement Rehearsal dinner Locations Wedding chapel Gretna Green Las Vegas Clothing Western dress codes Formal White tie Morning dress Semi-formal Black tie Black lounge suit Informal Suit Wedding dress Contemporary Bridal crown Dress Evening gown Ball gown Cocktail dress Garters Casual Objects Chuppah Las arras Lèbes gamikòs Wedding cord Wedding favors Wedding mandapa Wedding ring Wedding ring cushion Wishing well Participants Bride child bride Bridegroom child bridegroom Bridesmaid Bridesman Flower girl Groomsman Page boy Officiant Traditions Ahesta Bero Bedding ceremony Bridal Chorus First dance "Indian" Wedding Blessing Jumping the broom Lychgate Money dance Music Polterabend Pounded rice ritual Pyebaek Trash the dress Unity candle Walima Wedding March Wedding photography Wedding reception Wedding videography Food and drink Wedding breakfast Wedding cake Wedding cake topper Cookie table Groom's cake Hochzeitssuppe Jordan almonds Kolach (bread) Korovai Loving cup Place card By religion or culture Anand Karaj (Sikh) Arab Assyrian Ayie Ayyavazhi Bengali Hindu Bengali Muslim Brunei Malay Chinese Pre-wedding customs Catholic Hajong Hindu Islamic Iyer Jewish Mandaean Mormon Odia Persian Poruwa ceremony Punjabi Quaker Saint Thomas Christian Shinto Timorese Vőfély (Hungary) Zoroastrian By country Ethiopia Vőfély (Hungary) Iceland India Myanmar (Burma) Pakistan Philippines Russia Sri Lanka Ukraine United Arab Emirates United States United Kingdom England and Wales Scotland history Vietnam Honeymoon Honeymoon registry Consummation Other Black wedding Elopement Maiden and married names Marriage vows Newlywed Royal weddings Self-uniting marriage Sequel wedding Shotgun wedding Knobstick wedding Wedding anniversary Wedding crashing Wedding vow renewal ceremony Womanless wedding --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [First dance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_dance) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_dance?action=history)). 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