Your song. Your style. A first dance that feels like you.
Your song.
Your style.
A first dance that feels like you.
PRIVATE WEDDING DANCE LESSONS IN THE SUTHERLAND SHIRE
I teach couples how to dance together – not just how to perform a dance.
In your wedding dance lessons, we’ll learn how to lead, follow and move together naturally first. From there, your first dance can be as beautifully simple or deliciously over-the-top as you want it to be.
Come dance amongst the dresses with me at the Barefaced Atelier in Caringbah. Just your song, your style, and the two of you. I’ll take it from there.
LEARN TO DANCE TOGETHER
NOT JUST MEMORISE CHOREOGRAPHY
CONNECTION OVER CHOREOGRAPHY
YOU DON'T OWE YOUR GUESTS A PERFORMANCE
MAKE IT YOURS
THERE IS NO "RIGHT" FIRST DANCE
ENJOY EVERY SECOND
THE GOAL IS TO ENJOY IT
LEARN TO DANCE TOGETHER
NOT JUST MEMORISE CHOREOGRAPHY
CONNECTION OVER CHOREOGRAPHY
YOU DON'T OWE YOUR GUESTS A PERFORMANCE
MAKE IT YOURS
THERE IS NO "RIGHT" FIRST DANCE
ENJOY EVERY SECOND
THE GOAL IS TO ENJOY IT
A LITTLE ABOUT KAITLIN.
As Barefaced Bridal’s resident professional two-left-feet fixer, I love helping couples feel comfortable, confident and genuinely excited to step onto their dance floor.
I’ve been dancing for more than 30 years, with more than 20 years of teaching woven throughout. So while your first dance might be new territory for you, it’s very familiar for me.
So, whether your goal is simply something a little more polished than the classic awkward sway, or a full 10/10 routine with all the bells and whistles, every lesson is tailored to your experience, your music and your vision.
And because everyone learns differently (I don’t expect you to remember everything instantly!), we’ll write things down, take videos as we go, and share it all in our private group chat – so when you practice at home, you’ve got something that actually makes sense to you.
The best first dance isn’t the most complicated one. It’s the one you’ll remember for all the right reasons.
kaitlin serrano.
Professional Two-Left-Feet Fixer
& Dance Industry Professional
Now let's talk music.
THE SOUNDTRACK TO YOUR DAY.
From the song you walk down the aisle to, your reception entrance, first dance and the one that gets everyone on the dance floor – the music becomes part of the memory.Â
Here’s a little inspiration to help you find yours, plus a few of the people I trust to bring it all together.Â
PEOPLE WE LOVE FOR THE MUSIC.
Private First Dance Lessons in Caringbah, servicing the Sutherland Shire & beyond.
Learning your first dance shouldn't feel like homework. Whether you're complete beginners or you've danced your whole life, private lessons are built around the two of you - your song, your comfort level, and the story you want to tell on the floor. Based in Caringbah, I work with couples across the Sutherland Shire and greater Sydney in the lead-up to their wedding day.
what to expect
Every couple starts somewhere different. Some simply want to feel comfortable taking the floor together, move naturally and enjoy the moment. Others want something more detailed, with musicality, choreography and a few bigger moments along the way. Either way, we start with the same thing: learning how to dance together. How to lead. How to follow. How to find each other again if you forget what comes next. Connection over choreography, always. The choreography can be as simple or as spectacular as you want it to be - but underneath it, you should still be able to dance with each other.
frequently asked questions
Where do first dance lessons take place?
Lessons are held right here at the Atelier in Caringbah – our space dedicated to all things weddings: The Dress, The Dance and The Day.
It’s a practical choice as much as a beautiful one. As a bridal stylist as well as a dance teacher, I understand how gowns actually move: the drag of a train, the swing of a full skirt, dancing in heels and keeping your heel off your hem.
So what you learn in your lessons translates to how you’ll actually move and feel on your wedding day, not just how it works in trainers during practice.
Do we need any dance experience for our first dance?
None at all! Most couples arrive at their first lesson having never danced together before, and that’s genuinely the norm, not the exception. Clumsy, self-conscious, convinced you have two left feet? That’s honestly who I love working with most. I build everything from wherever you’re starting, and there’s no routine you need to arrive (or leave) knowing. Just the two of you, and we go from there.Â
What if one of us hates dancing?
It’s more common than you think! It’s usually more a fear thing than actual hatred. Your lessons are built around whoever’s less keen – I never push someone into feeling like a performer. Sometimes the answer is a simpler routine than you’d expect; sometimes it’s having someone confidently lead so the other person can relax and follow. It’s always about connection first.Â
How long does it take to learn a first dance?
Every couple is different. It depends on your experience, how much time you have, what you want your first dance to look and feel like and – importantly – how much you’re willing to practise between lessons.
My approach is to teach you how to dance together, not simply memorise a routine. We’ll build the skills to lead, follow and move comfortably as a couple first, then layer in as much choreography, musicality and those special little moments as you want.
That means if you forget what comes next on the night, you can keep dancing. And long after the wedding, when your song comes on (or you’re slow dancing together in the kitchen) you’ll still know how to move together.
I won’t know exactly what you need until we’ve danced together. As a guide, though, five lessons gives most couples enough time to build those foundations and create a confident, comfortable first dance with a little wow moment, particularly if they practise between sessions.
When should we start first dance lessons before the wedding?
Three months out is where I’d love couples to start. It’s not about needing that much practice time – it’s about protecting your brain’s capacity to actually learn. By the final few weeks before a wedding, most couples are deep in decision fatigue, and there’s genuinely less mental space left for something new to sink in. Starting early means your first dance can be enjoyable to learn, rather than one more thing competing for attention. That said, it always comes back to your specific goals and timeline. Only got 2 weeks? I’ll make it work.
How do we choose our first dance song?
Start with a song that actually means something to you – or one you just love! If it makes you both smile, everything can be shaped around that. The sweet spot for a first dance is between 2 to 3 minutes, but don’t let that rule anything out because I can edit music down while keeping the integrity of the song intact. So length shouldn’t be a deciding factor in what you choose. With years of teaching behind me, I’ve built up a real bank of patterns and styles to draw from, so I’ll always bring you options that suit your song, whatever the tempo. And being a bridal stylist too just means I’m quietly thinking about your dress while I’m at it.
What's the difference between private and group first dance lessons?
Less than you think! 4 × 4 metres is a fairly typical wedding dance floor, and it gives us plenty to work with – even for a dance with a bit of movement.
I’ve worked with couples getting married across NSW, Australia and around the world, so I’m very used to creating first dances for different venues, floor sizes and spaces.
Got a grand ballroom floor instead? We can absolutely choreograph to fill that space too. If you know your dance floor dimensions, bring them along and I’ll make sure what we create works beautifully in the space you’ll actually have on the night.
Can you choreograph a surprise wedding dance?
Absolutely – surprise dances are one of my favourite things to choreograph. It’s not just about the steps either; as a bridal stylist too, I’m thinking about the whole reveal – whether there’s a costume change involved, how choreography works with what you’re actually wearing, and how to keep the whole thing a genuine secret from your guests without losing any polish on the day. If you’ve got a surprise in mind, tell me the concept and we’ll build the choreography around it.
Do we need to do a full choreographed routine or can it be simple?
It can be as simple as you want it to! If you want help keeping off each other’s toes and avoiding the awkward sway, that’s absolutely achievable. If you want a show-stopping routine with all the bells and whistles, also achievable. Neither is “more” right – the best first dances are the ones that feel like you. If you’re not sure what you want, I can help figure that out too. There is no one-size-fits-all.
How much floor space do we need for our first dance?
Less than you think! 4×4 meters is a typical dancefloor size at weddings, and it’s enough – even for dances with a bit of movement in them. Got a grand ballroom floor instead? We can absolutely choreograph to fill that space too. Having worked with couples at venues right across NSW, I’ve got a good feel for how different floors and layouts actually play out on the day – so wherever you’re getting married, we’ll build something that genuinely fits.