Local Dance Class Helps Wedding Couples Find Their Rhythm

We have officially entered wedding season. For many couples, the hardest part of getting married isn’t popping the question, finding a venue, or compiling the guest list—it’s the three minutes spent in the middle of a dance floor with hundreds of eyes watching your every move.

To combat those pre-wedding jitters, a local class making its way through the northwest metro to teach couples everything they need to know before they take center stage.

From Hinge to Hitched

The journey for Sam Konsor and Haley Castle began in 2021. While the world was navigating pandemic lockdowns, their relationship was blossoming online.

“We met on a dating app called Hinge,” Konsor recalled. “It’s worked out.”

“The apps really do work sometimes,” Haley added with a smile. “Surprisingly.”

Four years after that first digital connection, Sam popped the question. Now, with their October wedding fast approaching, the Golden Valley couple is in the thick of planning. While they have secured the major vendors, they recently turned their attention to the “little details”—specifically, their first dance.

“We have two left feet, I would say,” Haley admitted. “We’re not great dancers.”

Sam Konsor practices a dance with his fiancée, Haley Castle, during the Wedding Dance Rescue class in Golden Valley.

A Beginner-Friendly ‘Rescue’

To solve that conundrum, Sam and Haley joined seven other couples at Brookview in Golden Valley for a workshop titled “Wedding Dance Rescue.”

The class is led by longtime instructor Deanna Constantine, owner of Constantine Dance Classes. She understands that not everyone enters the room with a background in ballroom dance.

“This is very beginner-friendly,” Constantine said. “I know 50 percent of my class usually doesn’t want to be here, their partner signed them up. But they’re good sports.”

Over the course of two hours, Constantine guides couples through classic steps, simple sways, fancy twirls to add flair, and the “romantic dip” for a perfect photo finish.

However, the goal isn’t for the couples to take home a “Dancing with the Stars” trophy, but to build enough confidence to look graceful and relaxed.

“I try to impart on my students that you don’t necessarily want this to be an extremely stressful part of your day,” Constantine explained. “There are other things to be concerned about. So let’s just give you something attainable.”

Deanna Constantine shows off a dance move to a group of students in her Wedding Dance Rescue class at Brookview in Golden Valley.

However, Constantine is quick to remind her students that the class is just the starting line.

“I say you shouldn’t have even bothered coming to class today if you’re not going to practice,” she noted. “You really have to practice up until your wedding day.”

As for Sam and Haley, the nerves haven’t completely vanished, but they feel better prepared to trade their “two left feet” for a steady beat.

“Now we know we need more practice, so there’s plenty of time to keep going,” said Konser.

“We’ll take all the time that we can to get good at dancing, for sure, before the big day,” added Castle. 

How to join

Deanna Constantine is teaching the Wedding Dance Rescue class through July at various community centers across the metro, including:

Maple Grove: May 17, June 8, July 13
Plymouth: May 30, July 28
Golden Valley:  June 16
Cost: Approximately $40 per person. 
More information:  www.constantinedance.com 

Deanna Constantine’s Wedding Dance Rescue Class is at community centers around the Twin Cities for the next several months.

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