Tag: Dance

First Dance

Beth & Tom’s First Dance

Maisie

“Both of us agree it was our favourite part of the pre-wedding planning and activity”

Beth & Tom had a May wedding surrounded by loved ones and the beautiful scenery of The Dorset Museum. Afterwards, they moved to Charlton Down Village Hall to continue their celebrations but before we continue, we must go back to a few months before they tied the knot…all the way back to planning their First Dance.

Dancing their First Dance
Photography by Kerry Jane Photography

I received a message from Beth at the beginning of 2025 saying they wanted some dance lessons to prepare for their First Dance. They chose a full package which is 5 hours worth of lessons and they travelled just over an hour each time to see me. I’m always flattered when people are willing to travel that far to me! After speaking further to Beth about her dress and giving them extra details about their lessons, we got started. They began in February, giving them plenty of time to relax and enjoy the experience!

The song this wonderful couple chose wasn’t one I had heard before. The first time I listened to it, I knew it would be a little challenge for me to choreograph to but I’ll always welcome a challenge- especially when the song is so meaningful to the couple. Their choice was Sweet Thing by The Waterboys and when emailing me, Beth described it as “potentially a bit unusual”. Within a few minutes of choreographing, I had the key moments set down and was excited to get into the room with them! The song grew on me so much as I got to know it and now I know every word.

Onto the dance-floor:

Their First Dance lesson
First First Dance lesson!

Everyone’s always nervous when stepping into a new environment and I felt that from Beth and Tom on their first session (as I do with most couples as they enter the studio for the first time). I noticed a few re-assuring squeezes being shared and some nervous giggles but after a some runs of their first few moves, I felt tensions ease and they were simply just dancing together. I was there too as their third wheel and new best friend, of course! During lessons, I do whatever I can to make each couple feel relaxed and comfortable and help them connect and bond with one another.

At the end of each session, I film my couple’s progress so that they’re able to see it from another perspective and to help for reference if they’re practising between sessions. After receiving their video after their second lesson, Beth replied saying “we’re having a great time learning, will get practising” and that they did! Every time they turned up to lessons, no matter what had happened in-between (and a lot had happened in-between), it all flowed so easily and they were ready for more! The next message I received was “thanks for being so encouraging, we’re really enjoying the choreography and your teaching”. These messages are always SO lovely to receive, I’m always so grateful to hear such positive feedback.

Their last First Dance lesson
The last session!

Saying goodbye to these ‘Sweet Things’!


The time then came to say goodbye, I felt like a proud Mumma bird watching her babies fly the nest. Sounds dramatic but after 5 hours of laughing and bonding with a couple, it’s so bittersweet watching them dance their last first dance practise. I was really proud of this choreography and how Beth & Tom had put their own flares on it too to really make it theirs.

Skipping forward again to their day, their First Dance looked like a movie through the photos and videos. Have a little here if you’d like to see more! The amazing Becky from Thompson Wedding Films captured it all so beautifully. Make sure to have your tissues ready for Tom’s words!

Congratulations Beth & Tom, wishing you all the happiness and cosy kitchen dancing that you deserve!

Dancing a lift during their First Dance
Photos by Kerry Jane Photography

Your turn to dance!


If you’re looking for someone to help you with your First Dance, to boost your confidence and to give you an enjoyable experience you can have together in the lead up to your wedding, I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to get in touch!

Best wishes,
Maisie, MRC DANCE 💃

PS: I couldn’t not post Beth & Tom’s full review…
“My partner Tom and I had first dance lessons with Maisie leading up to our wedding, both of us agree it was our favourite part of the pre-wedding planning and activity. Maisie choreographed a lovely routine to our chosen song (which was a less common choice!) while taking our ability into account. Maisie is an extremely competent and patient teacher, and is also a kind and fun person which made lessons with her a delight. We loved every second and both felt so happy at our wedding dancing the routine ❤️

Also as an extra note, both Tom and I have danced before in some capacity but I’ve not danced since I was a teenager (I’m now 29) and the lessons with Maisie reminded me of how much I love it. So thank you Maisie, not only for the wonderful fun lessons, but also for bringing me back to a childhood love of dance and encouraging me to pick it up again 😊”

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The Strengths Of A Small Business

Maisie

Picture this.

The all-too-familiar feeling of being sat in lockdown #1, biscuits on your right, cup of tea on your left and the 8th series of the week playing in the background whilst your mind whirs away with all possible thoughts. One of those thoughts that kept popping up for me was “What have I learnt in lockdown?”. I hadn’t learnt a new language or started yoga like others I’d seen all over social media. I had, however, learnt more about self care, self worth and about myself than ever before. Having this time to reflect and see more from the outside looking in, I was able to think about the changes I would want to make with my life. A little while after, my small business MRC DANCE was born.

“So, why not just pay a fiver a month for those unlimited online pre-recorded classes?”

Dance is a competitive field, with so many classes and styles available, I wondered how mine would be different? For me, it’s not just a job, it’s something I genuinely enjoy and want others to as well. I want to make each and every individual feel happy. I want to bring out confidence in others and build their skills so they feel accomplished. MRC DANCE is more than just a business to me, as cheesy as it sounds. It allows me to make other people feel worthy, strong, carefree. (Not to mention all the other great feelings everyone should experience, even if for just half an hour).

My classes are live, so, when appropriate, I can help those who aren’t clicking with a step or those who aren’t feeling as confident in themselves and I can do it genuinely- live! It’s also so great as I get to have a chat with my clients and learn more about them too! “You got a new job? Amazing” “How’s your dog after it’s op??”. When a class is pre-recorded (and we’ve all been a victim to this), it is so easy to skip the class or ‘just leave it until tomorrow’. Tomorrow never comes and we’ve lost out on another class.

A happy dance teacher waiting for her class to begin!
Waiting for a class to begin!

This blog post was not really meant for plugging my small business, but to remind those other small business owners to remind themselves- we might be called a ‘small businesses’ but we are mighty! We’ve earnt it and we’re rocking it.

As always, stay safe and keeeep dancing!

Maisie, MRC DANCE 🙂

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How to boost confidence through dancing!

Maisie

Hi everyone! I saw a post on ‘memories’ pop up on one of my social media accounts about young girls I used to teach who were struggling with confidence and decided to write a little post on it, hopefully it helps at least one other person!

Confidence is a funny thing. I never used to have any self-confidence, especially through my school years and just after, when transitioning into my early young-adult stage. People very often don’t believe me when I tell them that as now- I can stand up in-front of a crowd and teach! But my lack of self-confidence was crippling, I struggled through so many basic things that I now just blissfully stroll through and that’s the reason why I’m passionate about teaching and helping others discover and build their confidence.

I like to remind people that confidence doesn’t just appear overnight. Like anything, it needs to be worked at and needs to grow but my goodness when it grows, it is bloomin’ beautiful and perseverance is absolutely the key.

5 things I try to instil into people when teaching:

1) Every body is a dance body

2) You’re never too old to start dancing

3) Try and travel outside of your comfort zone even if it’s just once

4) Be different, not better

5) Just have fun!

I believe praise is what helps people grow the most confidence, whether it comes from an outsider or the individual themselves. I absolutely love giving praise as often as possible, I love to encourage individuals to give themselves praise too, a little bit of self-love goes a long way. You’ve aced that move you couldn’t do last week?? Amazing!

And this is where dancing has so far helped me through more than just confidence with dancing, but with life. It has helped me express myself and has helped me become the small-business owner, independent woman and positive person that I am today. So if you’re reading this now, YOU ARE ENOUGH! Go and attend that Street dance class, dance like nobody’s watching, cheer on your friend that also doesn’t believe they’re enough and figure out who you are by doing all these great things and then love the person that blooms from it all.

Remember to give my Instagram page a visit- I’m always posting reels and stories to try to spread the love, positivity and confidence! Also, if you want to start building up your own self-confidence- I’ll also leave a little link to my classes below!

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3 reasons to Dance!

Maisie

In the modern day you constantly get told that movement, dance, yoga, running etc are all good for you and the majority of people think “Yeah, yeah, heard it all before, it’s good for you” and then leave it there, putting it down to the fact it’s exercise and exercise is healthy for the body. Now, that is true and that is one of the main reasons to move but it does not stop there.

1st reason to dance, in my opinion, would be because it makes you feel good. Forget for a second about the effect dancing has on your body, but think of what it does to your brain. It stimulates. It helps to release those yummy endorphins which bring you positive energy and good vibes- one of my favourite dance quotes comes to mind here… “Why be moody when you can shake your booty”. Silly, I know, but very true! It’s also scientifically proven to help with memory, in many studies it has shown to reduce the risks of Dementia.

2nd reason to dance. It’s a fun workout?? Never thought I’d catch myself saying that but it’s fantastic for getting your body moving by not having to go to the gym and see all those people lifting weights, result! I get sweaty with every Fit-fun Dance class I do and the amount of steps afterwards always amazes me! And it’s currently all done from the comfort of my own home!

3rd reason to dance. There is SO much variety! I alone teach Ballroom, Latin, Street Dance, Fitness Dance, dances for weddings, Freestyle and there are still so many more styles! This in turn means so many different genres of music, what a bonus!

With all this being said- remember not to just join a dance class because of the benefits it’ll do for you physically, think of the positive impact it will have on your mental health too. I have had many messages about how my classes have impacted someone’s mood in a positive way and there is genuinely no better feeling than knowing you’ve helped towards making someone feel happy.

Speak soon!
Maisie, MRC DANCE <3