From Beer Pong to Ballroom: A Real-Life Journey to First Dance GloryThe “We’re Not Dancers” Origin Story

When I first met Josh and Bri, they strolled into the studio laughing, coffees in hand, and declared confidently:

“We are absolutely, 100% not dancers. Like… not even a little bit.”

I smiled. This wasn’t my first rodeo.

They’d been together eight years, met at uni over a game of beer pong (Josh won, Bri claims he cheated — the jury’s still out), and were now planning a beach wedding in Papamoa. Dancing, they said, was not their vibe.

Until it was.

So, What Changed?

They’d been to a wedding where the couple did a choreographed dance to an old-school disco number, complete with jazz hands and confetti cannons. The crowd went wild.

“It wasn’t even good!” Josh told me. “But it was hilarious and fun and so them.”

That got them thinking. What if their first dance didn’t have to be a serious thing?

What if it could be fun?

Lesson One: They Stepped On Each Other. A Lot.

We started slow — literally. They chose a vibey, laid-back track they both loved (shoutout to Six60), and we worked out some simple moves that felt natural.

The first session involved:

• Three accidental toe-stomps

• One laugh-cry from Bri

• Josh yelling “LEFT! I MEANT LEFT!” at least twice

But they kept showing up. And something shifted.

From Chaos to Connection

By the third session, they were moving as a team. Not because the steps were perfect — but because they were listening to each other, reading each other, and staying present.

There’s something about learning a new skill together that levels the playing field. You stop focusing on who’s better and start focusing on how to support each other.

Their dance became this quiet metaphor for their relationship: playful, imperfect, and full of little surprises.

The Wedding Day Surprise

On the big day, their friends were expecting a quick sway, a safe choice, a fade-out.

Instead, they kicked off with a slow groove… and then BAM — mid-song beat drop, they launched into a cheeky foot shuffle and even nailed a little lift (shoutout Josh's rugby thighs).

The guests? Screaming.

Josh’s mum? Crying.

Bri? Glowing.

They didn’t just dance. They told a story.

What I Learned (Yes, Me Too)

Teaching couples like Josh and Bri reminds me that first dances aren’t about choreography. They’re about courage. Connection. Comedy.

You don’t have to be a “dancer.” You just have to be willing to show up, give it a go, and not take yourself too seriously.

Because the best moments — in dancing and in life — often start with beer pong and end with ballroom.

Planning Your Wedding in New Zealand?

If you're planning your big day in Papamoa, Mount Maunganui, Tauranga, Rotorua or Whakatāne — and you're not “a dancer” — you are exactly my kind of couple.

Let’s create something fun, simple, and 100% you. No pressure. Just a few laughs and some unexpected magic.

Book a free discovery session with SWAY — your first dance might just be your favourite memory.